Derren Brown Exposes Fraudulent 'Psychics' with Richard Dawkins

Derren Brown is one of our leading conjurers, specializing in mentalism, the illusion of reading people’s minds. I interviewed him for my Channel 4 TV documentary, Enemies of Reason. We talked about cold reading and how the technique is used by frauds who pretend to communicate with the dead, as well as by honest conjurers.

Derren himself is an honest conjurer and a sharp critic of charlatans who abuse their skills, lucratively pretending to supernatural powers, which of course, they don’t have. I have just listened to the interview again, and I must say I find it one of the more interesting interviews I have done. See if you agree.
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[RichWoods]

My favourite story about a medium was an incident that took place in a theatre in Northern Ireland. After the medium had done her usual introductory stuff and asked if anyone had anything they'd like to ask her. A young man in the audience stood up and said, very emotionally, "I... I've lost me Da." "Oh, you poor dear, " the medium responded. "I'm getting a J... Does J mean anything to you? Joe? John?" "James! His name is James", the young man replied, with surprise on his face. "Yes, James, my love. James is telling me he's in a good place, but he's missing you dreadfully. He wants you to know..." "Wait!", calls out the young man. "I've found him. Here he is!" and points at the elderly man sitting next to him, grinning from ear to ear.

[timafranco]

I know so many people who need to watch this. The trouble is, they still wouldn't be convinced it's all a load of bollocks...

[zwerko]

I remember this interview. On the subject of comforting people - just because it comforts people doesn't make it right. Heroin can comfort people as well...

[helencahn]

This phenomenon is why people support crazy politicians no matter what they do.

[auturgicflosculator]

Thanks Prof, always nice to hear conversations with people who aren't railing against reality the whole time.

[stevenreid]

Fascinating discussion between two very intelligent, rational thinkers. Big fan of both for their respective works.

[maxmac]

Derran did a show a few years ago called 'Messiah'. It's on YT and is a fascinating insight into TV evangelism.

[MikeTheBizGuy]

Great conversation, really interesting. The camera was rather unpleasant though, made me feel dizzy 😂😂😂

[carolinekuchta]

The easy targets are often vulnerable people who are also targeted by some religious groups too. Many people are desperate for ‘answers’ or comfort. Sad that charlatans target them.

[davidrobinson]

I find mentalists like Derren more fascinating and entertaining than those who describes themselves as psychics. To know it's a trick yet be amazed all the same is a marvellous feeling for the audience.

[qkrtcns]

'You know a John... a john, yes? John? James, maybe? Yes yes. A James. James. Thats right. James is a man, yes? Yes yes. Now James said something nice to you once, didn't he? Yes yes. And you liked that didnt you? Yes yes. And sometimes James would eat food, wouldn't he? Yes yes. And he'd chew the food and swallow it, yes? Yes yes. He wants me to tell you that something good is going to happen to you, and to be happy when it happens. Yes yes.'

[FigmentHF]

I read both Derren and Professor Dawkins books at a very formative age, when I was struggling with conspiracy theories and supernatural ideas. Both books set me on a much more empirical and rational trajectory, so thank you.

[slotcarpalace]

If you have never seen it, I highly recommend watching Johnny Carson and the Amazing Randy absolutely destroy Uri Geller.

[josmith]

Wow, the greatest living debunker of the supernatural and Richard Dawkins.... TOGETHER,

[jasonsmith]

I love Derren Brown, can't wait to watch this episode!

[DiamondCake]

What I find amusing is why these “spirits” the psychics are communicating with give clues like “my name begins with J and I’m an old man” instead of just telling them their name and other info. But then after these vague clues they can give full coherent sentences like “well, your husband is telling me he loves you and is in a happy place”.

[skipintroux]

As long as I can remember when anyone asked me my star sign, I would always say one that wasn’t mine. Then invariably they would tell me a bunch of reasons why they can see why I am that sign, or read my fortune from the paper or whatever, and then when they are finished I sting them with “oh sorry wrong sign!” and then tell them my real one. 😂

[MahaMdini]

''being open minded is not about accepting things mindlessly, being open minded is about having the information and then making the best decisions you can''

[robwakefield]

The problem is that if you search hard enough for ‘answers’ there will always be someone happy to charge you for the service - be it con artists or religions ( same thing really). The truth that comes with time is that there simply aren’t answers to some questions and that can be hard to accept.

[martinward]

When I was about 20 I saw a palm reader for a laugh. She told me there was a blonde and a brunette in my life. My mother (blonde) and my girlfriend (brunette) were outside and could be seen through the window! She said I would marry the blonde! 😆😆😆 My mother was very young looking and often mistaken for a girlfriend!