Last September illusionist/mentalist/goatee-enthusiast Derren Brown announced that he would, on live television, predict the result of the UK’s National Lottery. Although Brown’s numbers were correct, no-one, bar a couple of shall we say intellectually un-inquisitive individuals that appeared on his show, bought his explanation of ‘deep maths’ and ‘the wisdom of the crowds.’ Pretty soon a consensus emerged that the method he employed was most likely a form of split screen camera trickery. ‘Superhero of scepticism’ Captain Disillusion recently put together a brilliant video that comprehensively explains how the effect was probably achieved. He then goes on to deride Brown’s own explanation as “pseudo-scientific mentalist drivel” and criticises him for lying to the nation. Brown has always recieved a chorus of critism from sceptics, but after his lottery stunt he may have a new problem: even the general public aren’t buying it anymore.
