We like Mr Scruff, we do, here at the Week. Not only were we big fans of his nights at The Music Box, in Manchester, during our student years, but he's also a big tea drinker and draws lovely cartoons. What's not to love?

And, when we're arranging this interview, it's Mr Scruff – aka Andy Carthy – himself, rather than a PR or manager, who e-mails us to set it all up.

Not that we were expecting any Mariah-style diva antics but, you know, it's nice to see.

The reason for our chat is his upcoming Keep It Unreal show at the O2 later this month.

Anyone who's seen him in action will know his reputation as one of the quirkiest and most experimental DJs out there is well deserved, so you can look forward to a heady brew of jazz, soul, hip hop, funk, disco and house, with a splash of reggae, dubstep and possibly some other musical genres that haven't even been invented yet.

"I'm very fortunate to never really have bad gigs," Andy tells The Week.

"I think the main thing about my shows is that there's a good mix of people and music. I've been DJing for nearly 30 years now and a lot of the music I play is the music that inspires me and gets me excited.

"If it gets me excited enough to jump round the kitchen and do the washing up then on a good sound system, it's going to sound great."

While Mr Scruff brings an element of humour to his shows, thanks to his cartoons and some of his more offbeat track selections, don't be fooled into thinking he's anything other than a perfectionist.

"I'm very, very particular," he says. "I'm very particular about the sound. Bad sound to me is like going to the cinema and seeing a massive rip in the screen.

"I'm very nerdy and geeky before a show, making sure it's all perfect. I'll double and then treble check but when I'm DJing it's about relaxing then.

"I couldn't imagine not doing this. It still feels like a hobby. I'm just as enthusiastic as I was when I started and I'm very careful not to treat it like a job.

"I'm still into the same records I was buying when I was doing a paper round but obviously I've come across a lot more since then as well."

We'll end with a warning to the girls – you might want to wear flats for the night, as Mr Scruff is renowned for his marathon sets.

"When I started in the 80s, there wasn't really such a thing as guest DJs," he says. "Most people played for six or seven hours. It's just how I grew up."

Mr Scruff is playing at the O2 Academy in University Road, Leicester, on Friday, February 17. Tickets are £12 in advance.

www.o2academyleicester.co.uk