Derren Brown: How To Win The Lottery (The Events)

Here's a prediction: at least half the audience who watched Derren Brown on Friday night, to learn how he predicted the mid-week National Lottery, will be very frustrated right now. Why? Well, because the illusionist didn't really reveal anything –- he just gave us 60 minutes of a persuasive mathematical argument (that lost credibility when it strayed into that automatic writing nonsense), before giving us a tongue-in-cheek account of how to fix the Lotto machine itself.

Ultimately, it was left up to individuals to decide which "explanation" for his Lotto feat was more likely: a mathematical system based on the "wisdom of crowds", or a covert operation to manipulate the National Lottery from the inside? Of course, both theories distracted us from the altogether more plausible third option: that it was, indeed, a simple trick that the nation had probably worked out for themselves. Ater all, I'm now doubly suspicious that Derren Brown didn't even show his 24 "oracles" their own group prediction before the draw was made. Seriously, what did he have to hide? Five blank balls would be my guess.

But while the destination reached may have created animosity in those expecting a black-and-white answer, I think the journey was worth it. To illustrate his psychological ideas, theories and principles, Derren employed enjoyable set-pieces –- from a man being asked to crush dozens of plastic cups underfoot (one of which contained a knife, ready to stab his flesh), to a fun piece of "deep maths" that explained how seemingly unpredictable coin tosses can be influenced.

Ultimately, How To Win The Lottery was an entertaining and enlightening hour that sidestepped the audience, making it easy to forgive the lack of a definitive answer to the titular trick. After all, Derren Brown created a national talking point for a few days, drew more ratings for his Wednesday night prediction than the lottery draw itself, and I dare say has boosted lottery ticket sales in the process. In this day and age, where television is fragmented and moments of collective wonder are in short supply, I continue to admire Derren's showmanship and his ability to get audiences thinking, so I find myself commending the fact he didn't break the Magician's Code by just spilling the beans.

I'm happy to be left with a head full of theories... but I still say he used a split-screen...


11 September 2009
Channel 4, 9pm