Who is his father?

He is very entertaining.

I love that he doesn't claim it's 'magic', and that he is entirely open about the fact that all he uses is a clever mix of suggestion, misdirection, manipulation, psychology and showmanship.

He does the same 'magic' tricks as Paul Daniels et al.

That kitten thing the other day for example. Christ even knows what that was about - we flicked over halfway through, and even thoug hI had not the faintest idea what was going on, I described exactly what would happen. And then it did. Golly.

He is very entertaining.

I love that he doesn't claim it's 'magic', and that he is entirely open about the fact that all he uses is a clever mix of suggestion, misdirection, manipulation, psychology and showmanship.

I'm sure that you aren't seeing the full picture, like any TV, there will be times when it doesn't go right, so he doesn't show it, but even taking that into account it's often very impressive.

It's good TV.

My girlfriend was seriously concerned that the kitten was going to be killed the other day... Tsk, I soon put her straight.

All this stuff about psychology is nonsense, isn't it? Occam's Razor tells us that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one, so clearly, you are some sort of alien psychic and all the "mental manipulation" stuff are just so us normal humans don't freak out and burn you are the stake!

Shhh. Don't tell anyone.

I think his Russian Roulette show was one of the best pieces of TV I've ever seen.

He's able to make incredibly compelling hold-your-breath stuff even though you know you're being tricked and manipulated.

There was a really good video floating around [my local video store]

I've enjoyed all Derren Brown tv shows, he seems like a nice bloke too*. I would say I'd like to have a pint with him, but one half of my brain says KEEP AWAY FROM THE TRICKSY MAN.


*take note David Blane, actually just fuck off.

For example, he'll have a conversation with you and keep throwing in the words "red" and "car", than at the end he'll ask what you want most for Christmas, and you'll say "a red car", even though you don't, not really.

There was a really good video floating around [my local video store] in which he explained how he did several of his sleight-of-hand and more simple suggestion and psychology-based tricks.

Or Daily Mail, blatantly.

That one is awesome.

I really like his stuff. Apparently, his book, "Trick of the mind" is reet good, like. But I've not read it.

I went to see him live a few months ago, and he was mind-blowingly awesome.

All the people he picked were done by throwing frisbees out into the crowd, and getting them to pass them on, so no stooges likely. He did one amazing trick which was to get someone to guess a three digit number he had written down, or win £10 if they got it wrong.

The guy immediately got it wrong but Derren convinced him to have another go, and guess another three digit number. He was wrong again, so Derren duly handed over the tenner. Before he went off stage though he asked him to unfold the note and read what was written on it. There was a message saying "I will get him to say this number" with an arrow pointing to the serial number. Yes, it was the six digits he had just guessed.

I know how this one works.

The way I *think* it's done is that somehow the...