Hoaxus pocus gun stunt

DR · 08-10-2003, 12:35 PM

POLICE confirmed yesterday that magician Derren Brown’s Russian roulette TV stunt WAS a hoax.
A top cop said: “There was no live ammunition involved and at no time was anyone at risk.”

Brown’s illusion was shattered by Lenny Harper, Deputy Chief Officer on Jersey, where Sunday’s Channel 4 programme was made.

He added: “A company brought a number of props to the island and they included a quantity of blank ammunition.

“There is no way we would allow anybody to put themselves at risk.”

Millions of viewers saw Brown, 32, put a revolver to his head and pull the trigger several times.

Finally, he fired a supposedly live bullet into sandbags — appearing to guess which of the pistol’s six chambers it was in.

Our You The Jury poll of Sun readers showed 63 per cent believed it was a sick stunt.

But Brown’s dad Robert, 64, of Purley, South London, said: “Everything Derren did was above board.

“I know how he did it but I’m not going to tell you. It was a live bullet.”

**Maffu** · 08-10-2003, 01:15 PM

a] Sun readers? Jesus.

b] People have given this too much thought. Even if it were a live round, which we've no proof it wasn't, he was never going to get harmed. Ever. It was a very very clever stunt.

Why can't people just accept this, and move on? I was waiting for some kind of backlash. This, I guess, is it.

**Bunjiweb** · 08-10-2003, 01:21 PM

An obvious hoax that was bound to be unearthed at some point... meh thinks this was one of Derren Brown's worst illusions yet, and was truely unbelievable most of the time.

Ben

**Raz316** · 08-10-2003, 01:28 PM

still, he didnt shoot himself did he? His ability to 'read minds' is still pretty damn impressive

**Mallus** · 08-10-2003, 01:32 PM

Even if it was a blank it would have still caused nasty damage to him at that range. Who cares anyway? I enjoyed the show and was on the edge of my seat all the way through

**wol** · 08-10-2003, 02:58 PM

I like the way he picked the people that were the easiest to read and influence!

Yeah nice mess!

Wol

**Drunken Poncho** · 08-10-2003, 06:25 PM

id rather have someone whose voice makes it easy for me to tel whci chamber the bullett im about to fire at my head is in than not...

its pretty obvious he can tell things from peoples voices. Hes very good at it. But he genuinely looked pale faced and scared out of his pants.

It was never in question that he would know what barrell it was in reeeeally....

BTW did anyone see the show magick after it ? lol that was some funny stuffs.

**kemosabe** · 08-10-2003, 07:43 PM

nah, i dont think it was a hoax, but I do think he made it a bit 'extra' and over the top when he pretended that he had made a mistake (when he fired an empty chamber at the bag the 1st time).
He obvoiusly knew where the bullet was and acted the last bit out to shock viewers.
If he immediatly knew where the bullet was and shot it out at the bag then that wouldnt have been that special and wouldnt have made for very good TV.

**Anders** · 08-10-2003, 09:34 PM

He’s a “Psychologist Illusionist” apparently. I thought it was interesting the way he picked impressionable people and how he could read the people he selected, e.g. with the coloured chairs that they sat in. However, because he lied about the round being live, it makes me wonder if all the other stages in selecting people were also faked. If it was all faked then that sucks, but if as I suspect, he only lied about the bullet being live, then it’s still impressive.

**SilentDeath** · 08-10-2003, 10:40 PM

a non live bullet would have also done considerable damage to the side of his head, tbh id prefer live than not, ud die quicker, cos he woulda died even if it was a blank.. or if he didnt then he woulda probly be deaf, no career left, and some kind of injury on the side of his head...

i think its very good how he tryed to read ppl, ive thought about this and decided im worse at reading ppl that most over ppl i know.. so im gonna think about it a bit till i get bored ...

**gobbo** · 08-10-2003, 10:58 PM

I actually think it wasn't a fake. I beleive it was a live bullet, but still it was aa setup in as much as he knew which chamber the bullet was in, as no way would he shoot himself on live tv?!

**Russ** · 08-10-2003, 11:25 PM

a blank round can kill you, it just doesn't go pop .. :E

**steve threlfall** · 08-10-2003, 11:27 PM

Yeah and they did demonstrate that- it is gunpowder and he would have died

**Cesium** · 09-10-2003, 08:40 PM

Originally posted by Drunken Poncho
id rather have someone whose voice makes it easy for me to tel whci chamber the bullett im about to fire at my head is in than not...

its pretty obvious he can tell things from peoples voices. Hes very good at it. But he genuinely looked pale faced and scared out of his pants.

It was never in question that he would know what barrell it was in reeeeally....

BTW did anyone see the show magick after it ? lol that was some funny stuffs.

come on woulnt u b scared out of ure pants. no matter how good u were.

**Korky** · 09-10-2003, 08:51 PM

Well even if it was a hoax he had my breath held when he had that gun to his head.

**Bruno** · 09-10-2003, 08:54 PM

It made for good telly whether it was or not.

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