If you missed last nights episode or just want to see it again, you can now find it available for viewing on 4oD:
Or if you have already seen the show and want to join in the discussions and find out further information about each of the shows, head over to our Derren Brown Investigates pages.
"
Derren, just watched your show and i thought it was truly amazing.
Obviously that guy is cold reading, quite badly on the last attempt, and how he went into a rage when he found that you had been in the presence of the woman before the reading. How he thought that since you had briefly met her that you had made her skeptic, and so much more. I found it highly amusing that whenever you told him something that MIGHT have been a way on how he got the information, he objected furiously and hardly let you talk. I dislike people like Joe, especially now that its apparant he cannot ‘connect’ with the spirit world and all that jazz.
Thank you for that wonderful program,
Scott
Deffo worth a 2nd watching !
Wonder if Mr Power and his Sister will tune in again…..
Looked for it earlier (wanted to watch it again,) and it wasn’t there. Now I CAN watch it again. Weeeeeee!
You know this whole business with the psychic and the toilet? Well someone just mentioned on the Guardian website when Derren first visits the fraudster, he immeadiately goes to the bathroom. A little bit of dramatic irony?
Lovely little nod to the audience there…Hehe.
As ever, top quality viewing.
But I think that the two extreme possibilites – namely, that he’s a conman; or that he’s really channeling the dead – miss out on a third option …
I once had a date with a guy who was genuinely psychotic (previously diagnosed, but stopped taking his medication) who told me his voices were telling him all about me. I wonder how many other channelers are genuine, in that they really do hear voices, but (albeit unknowing) fakers, in that the voices are imaginary.
Alternatively, of course, you might wonder how many people who are genuinely channeling the dead are diagnosed as mentally ill. But that’s been pretty much covered in fiction for ages.
Watched your program last ight. Looks like this person was coldreading. Perhaps you should have given him tougher tests ie predicting future events. There would be no way these could be fixed.
Utterly brilliant exposure of yet another con man, making a dishonest living, legally from vaunerable people. Your handling of the programme was honest and respectful at all times, giving that idiot enough rope to hang himself, he didn’t need any help. These people should be prosecuted for fraud and obtaining money by deception in my opinion. E x
I’m no expert in psychology but it looked clear as day even to those with the most basic grasp of this subject that Joe Power acted – and perhaps more pertinently reacted – like a man who’d been rumbled; nervous smiles, instantly defensive, speaking over his questioner, refusing to discuss, backing out on the test… And what was with his toilet ritual on arrival at each home? *imagines comedy sketch where he rolls up sleeve to reveal earlier prepared notes*
brilliant show!
the guy was such a fraud, i agree i hate to see people like him prey on the vulnerable for money,
did you see his house, the size of that tv, i bet he cant believe his luck!
one fraud exposed, will the next one hold up i wonder
Yeah, but did you see the gorilla? xP
I personally believe the show last night was amazing.
This may sound awkward but, there was something I notcied, it could me just over reacting. But uhm..
When the “medium” visited the homes of both the women he offered to do a reading for, the first thing he did when entering their homes was use their “loo”? I’ve assumed either he generally needed to go. Or he went to do something? Like he had a notebook? Maybe that was when he wrote down his suggestions or wrote common factors that are usually a “hit” with these believers.
What do you think?
Like many, Can’t wait for more “investigations” ;D
“This service is not currently available in your area”
I live in the United States.
Hi Derren,
I watched your show last night and was wondering why you didn,t investigate mediums like Tony Stockwell, Gordon Smith, Derek Acorah, Colin Fry and David Wells.
I noticed there was a lot of editing and yes Joe was cold reading at times but not all mediums are fake.
So in all fairness you should try investigating the mediums i mentioned above and see what comes of it.
Anyone else pick up on the ‘going to the loo’ bit at both readings?
great show, found it highly amusing and cringing at some points! that guy is such a fraud how so many people can be taken in by him, but then again if your confident enough you can pull in anyone especially people that are grieving or suffering with a loss and want to believe in something. thought it was especailly funny when he met the last lady and got mad when nothing he said made sense! also i noticed he goes to the toilet when ever he enters someones house thats obviously him trying to look at photos or pics on a wall to get info on that perso,n so great idea to do the last set up not in the ladies house without him knowing! – made great tv.
How many times did that guy need to pee? Every time before a cold reading while the client was waiting in another floor of the house for him.
Fantastic!!..simply amazing Derren. Thank you so much. I was waiting for so long to see these “phenomena” analyzed in a scientific way. Thanks a lot…
Great show!
Did anyone else find it odd that Joe kept going to the toilet before each of the two readings?
Maybe he was taking a quick scan for family photos and things that he could use for his BS lol.
Loved the show last night! also noticed that before every reading he went upstairs ‘to use the toilet’, probably to try and snoop around for any extra information he can…
That was a slick, fair and clever prog and highlighted the cons of such a profession that such vulnerable people rely heavily on. I am a natural psychic but I do not do it as a business as it is too riddled with error and can lead to false hope for many. when I first showed my \’gift\’ a great tutor of mine showed a group of us percieved intuition ( cold reading etc) and then asked me to \’read\’ – one guy was so impressed he followed me home and sat with me and my partner for hours!! However i know it is so easy to slip into cold reading. You can find yourself watching the person for a reaction but I never asked outright if I had the dead person right etc. That Joe was a joke. Good on you Derren. do more of this. sort the crap out. You are amazing!! Thank you.
I just watched the show; truly amazing. Now what I noticed, and this may be purely coincidence, is that he always seemed to need to use the bathroom -or to look around the house to gather information-. This appears to be a way around cold reading.
This show proved one thing though, That the idea that this “mediumship” really works will always be possible however it is extremely unlikely. It appears to be a version of the “God Exists” argument with less pro arguments.
Hello Derren
I’d just like to congratulate you on last night’s Derren Brown Investigates. Unfortunately I haven’t finished viewing it yet as I’m in University Halls where internet is sloooooww. But I can safely say it’s one of my favourite things you’ve ever done! I’ve seen everything you’ve ever done on tele, so thought it may be slightly repetetive, but NO!! It’s BRILLIANT!!! Everything I’ve ever wanted you to do! Favourite part so far: Derren: “You went to the Maldives…. you have silver/blue cats…” Joe: “You had a mini at some point? (After seeing her in it outside), there’s been a problem with one (out of
of your cat’s paws.” Joe (to Derren) ” See Derren, I like to give FACTS.” PAAAAHahahahahahahahah
What. a. monkey.
xoxo
“The rope snapped tight around Joe’s neck when he encountered a woman called Roz, who’d answered an advert from Derren requesting someone to submit themselves to Joe’s uncanny powers. No matter what names, numbers, colours or shapes Joe tossed out, none of them hit the mark. ”
fyi, that was NOT me!
Derren, really brilliant show.
I’m just glad joe powers didnt do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JaRObcLsds
Derren’s way too nice to do the confrontational thing. Unnatural yet enthralling to watch him take on Mr P.
Loved the show, as a former believer and someone who visited a spiritualist church and had tarot readings done I’m really pleased that you’re out there questioning the methods mediums use. The way Joe Power reacted to those questions says it all really. I’m now a bit of a reluctant sceptic, wanting to believe, but not seeing any real evidence and I’m glad I was always hopeless when I tried to do tarot myself (never charging of course!) as it meant I wasn’t resorting to cold reading and dishonesty!
Derren I really don`t know how you kept so cool with that man, Joe Power. He was so agressive and controling. I watched it with my husband and we were trying to read his body language and eye accessing, he definitely was very defensive and not wanting to disclose too much with the eye stare and being a safe distance behind the screen he tickled us greatly (not sure I would have wanted to have been as close as you were to him though lol). I am actually a believer, having a very good friend who is a psychic and has proved time and time again with valid information (stuff I haven`t told her i hasten to add before you jump!!!!!). However I certainly do not believe in Mr Power, the name gives great insight to the person behind it he! he! So full of his own glory but it makes sheeple happy!
Is there a way for us outside the U.K to watch this? Always annoying to see you post series and so on, on that 4oD site. Why limit the series to U.K only? I know its the network ( Channel 4 ) who does this and they probely own the rigths to the show, but f you find a way to post series on the net somewhere that is available for all of us that would be great.
Very much enjoyed the show, and thought Joe actually showed many traits associated with a narcissistic style personality – childlike tantrums/rage, insulting when ‘shown up’ in any way (such as to the poor woman in the club audience – ‘you may not be quick enough to think but I am’ type comment), deflecting any questioning on Derren’s part back at him in an overly dramatic, histrionic manner, ridiculous one-upmanship with Derren at the Hollyoaks set in the style of ‘look at me I’m the best, I’m the best’……
So Rob and Dave, definitely thinking along the same lines!
Derren I loved your new show!!
I hate people that say they can talk to the dead its just wrong !!! And you showed us how cold reading worked.
Big fan in The Netherlands
Sjoerd
good god hearing all about this and not being able to see this is driving me nuts it’ll probably be ages before this screens in NZ and they will probably put it on late at night
Good show Derren but you of all people know televising anything leaves it open to corruption as the show has to be made interesting enough for viewers to watch. A good example of this is Yvette Fielding in most haunted screatching saying she has heard or seen something in the dark then the night vision camera turns immediatley onto her face just to show how scared she is, the camera should be pointing noise has come from. Also your show did not make the distinction between a psychic and a psychic medium. there is a difference. If you really want to see genuine mediums at work you should take your cameras to a a few spiritualist churches to watch their sunday services these are scattered all over the country. You will get a good cross section of what mediumship is and all various abilities
Bravo, Derren! You were so fair to that guy. It amazes me how you were able to keep composure. I only wish you had a camera follow him into the bathroom because I suspect that he was looking for family photos.
Derren,
I’ve always been fairly critical of your work in the past due to the way your acts are portrayed as something more than could be explained rationally.
However after watching the first 30 seconds of your new show where you state that “I give the impression that I have paranormal abilities, but I don’t”, I seem to have a much greater respect for you after this very frank and honest opening statement, a great start to the show.
Thanks
just watched it, twas awesome! can’t wait to see the others!!!!
like many I noticed the whole “going to the bathroom” thing, and was quite surprised that the bathrooms weren’t checked to see if there were old family photos or whatever.
also, defensive much? any time Derren made a decent point, mr. medium got all argumentative and had a very I-want-to-run-away look about him.
all in all, very entertaining.
This is the type of guy who can’t handle being exposed. Some of us know what Derren is capable of and how much more knowledgeable he is than this joke.
Nice show, glad to see Derren back; always enjoyable videos, but wasn’t the best entertainment factor due to Joe not being able to admit defeat on any of the questions (he makes the worst excuse in every scene).
I guess if you claim so much and then you’re suddenly exposed by Derren who is much better, there’s not much you can do but rage and argue. If you know how Derren does his stuff you couldn’t agree more with him and see how much of a joke these mediums are, but in Derren’s shoes; you have to understand how hard it is to explain why he’s such a fake without hard evidence. You just have to believe us. Keep it up Derren!
@Nikolai
Its so it can be sold to other networks in other Countries
You may find someone bootlegs it onto youtube, but it wont be there for long if it does
Has anyone seen the ridiculous response letter written on Joe’s website? Check it out here: http://www.joepower.co.uk/joe-power-news.html
He just doesn’t get it. He was made to look like a fool and now he is thinking of legal action. Hope he manages to get over himself so that the “spirits” can get through!
Great episode. Looking forward to the rest. High quality stuff as always from Derren.
Brilliant! i knew after watching you being interviewed by Richard Dawkins on his website that you would be a powerful tool in the bringing down the empire which is built on lying, cheating, money making. intrusive charlatans. Please people do no just assume that Joe powers is alone because EVERY psychic works by the same principles. Keep up the great work Derren time to start an revolution of believing in Science over spiritual phenomina, besides its way more interesting.
Derren, how calm are you?!! I am sure I am not alone in feeling the hairs rise in annoyance with how rude your investigat-ed turned out to be! I do hope he apologised
Liked your considerations of how even if Joe was not contacting the not-so- alive, he still has a valid role in providing comfort – well put!
Anyway just wanted to offer thanks for another fascinating bit of viewing…and as for how lucky I am – on to more Derren-fabulousness this week in sunny Wimbledon – whoooop!!! I CANNOT wait – 3rd live show and I am sure it will once again exceed any expectations.
PS (just strolled through the sunny town and noticed rather a few BIG lorries – are you filming here too…OOO I do hope so – shout if you need any help!)
Stay brilliant.
Hi Derren,
Please can you do an investigation in to the science or probability of how the ouija board works? Surely if it does work there is a scientific reason why?
Msg from Abeo: This was covered in the Science of Scams series: http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/tv-shows/science-scams/
Nothing to do with the post, but I would very much appreciate it if Derren used his superpowers to vanish the bloody dust cloud from the icelandic volcano.
My sisters and I are supposed to fly from Barcelona to the UK this saturday to see Mr. Brown in Wimbledon and we would be very disappointed if we had to miss it.
I watched your programme and was very disappointed in the biased way you came to your conclusion. I am very open minded about this subject. I have seen spirit people in a solid state and conversed with them.
I occasionally visit spiritual meetings and have seen far better local mediums demonstrate. You should consider doing an unbiased programme inviting someone like Darren Brittain. He will blow your mind away without any doubt. It was noticeable that you did not conduct this programme with more experienced mediums. Perhaps you did not want to see a positive outcome.
Yours very disappointed
Brian Wain
Great show Derren!
Have you ever seen readers who claim to be able to read the subconscious through picture analysis? I.e random doodles set around what appear to be tarot symbols (in this instance I saw). I saw one of these on television and a lot of the statements made were quite generic (like barnum statements I suppose), and sat well with a receptive audience. Looking through it I personally wasn’t convinced, have you experienced this form of ‘psychology’ before? I am sure it may well be a valid means to read into the psyche to a point, but this performance that I saw left me feeling very sceptical indeed.
Thanks,
Me.
I found the most disturbing thing about this otherwise excellent programme to be Joe P’s’ arse-crack peeking out of his hipster jeans…
Just read Joe’s statement on his website about the show and I am unspeakabley annoyed and feel sick.
He seems to have found a terrible reason for all his failings in the show, and yet again he fails to mention why he said “forget about the affair” to claire and then tried to avoid it.
Tbh I hope he does loose all business from now on, and he can try to take legal actions like he says but the proof is on film and it shows he is a charlatan who uses nothing more than cheap tricks and cold reading.
This show was frustratingly brilliant in that it completely exposed an array of different techniques used by psychics/mediums etc. Everything from cold reading to basic observation like “do you drive a mini?”. Which brings me to another catalogue of elementary questions like why would the dead be telling you trivial information like that? A quick facebook search prior to a reading would give you such information, never mind being blatant enough to simply catch a glimpse in the car park. These are all no brainers to be honest. What I think was great is that Derren captured the culture of mediumship and the people that buy into them. He quite rightly talks about how it doesn’t matter how well you disprove its authenticity, what the seeker seeks the prover proves. If they want belief they wil
Hi i was watching and saw that both times mr power asked to go to the toilet. now i think he walked round looking at the photos upstairs and got some of his information from them. what fo you think?
I watched the show and enjoyed it. But as far as Joe is concerned the basic question boils down to this: would people lie and manipulate others in order to protect their own livelihood, I guess the answer is inevitably yes. Is this really that surprising? I’m a big fan of Derren but I do wonder to what extent he, almost by definition of being an “illuisionist” ( however you could describe Derren’s wide skill set) cheats or does research on those individuals whose minds he claims to read? I say I wonder, but at the same time I don’t think I really want an answer! I enjoy the effect too much to want to spoil it by knowing how it’s done! I think the poeple at the £10 session Joe held might just feel the same way, they were happy with their experience and isn’t that what counts in the end?
A quick further comment and suggestion from me. I would really like to see an analysis of horoscopes and the astrology business. To me, this is the biggest con perpetrated on a mass audience all over the world on a daily basis. Would be good to know if there is any evidence in support of the Shelly von Strunkles of this world.
Admittedly I was SO happy with the way Joe was exposed. During my younger more immature years, I believed or wanted to believe in supposed mediums and psychics. I\’ve lost count of the amount of money I\’ve wasted. But I’ve learned not to pay someone to tell me what I want to hear, I can just as easily lie to myself.
Thanks for the show, as usual, very entertaining to watch
Do people tend to keep medicine bottles of departed people in their medicine cabinets for a while which have personal details on. Hence the need to visit the toilet for research?
Magnificent as always Derren, I know so many people that put great stock in people like this. I begged as many of them as possible to watch your show and sadly while they accepted Mr Power to be a fake they still insisted their experiences with psychics where all the genuine article.
One thing I picked up on like many other people was the ritual of going to the toilet upon arriving at peoples homes, something you also did. I would love to know the reason for this if possible? Simply looking for things like family photos on the wall or something else entirely?
Derren,
The first program was good.
Joe Power has claimed that the lady, arranged by yourself, has revealed that she was bullied by you. This was broadcast by a local BBC radio station on which he was featured. It is a very childlike response to his own inability to empirically prove his mediumship. The toilet thing…well he does carry a rather large bag with notepads in it and he does have the ability to see things on his way round the house (ie: photos, religious items etc.)
The final reveal in your program was a great way to end.
The demand and supply of this type of act is a booming business, it is a shame..
Looking forward to the rest of the series,
Chris
Very much enjoyed it, though it made me sad too that so many vulnerable people are conned into believing this. I liked the fact that Roz was so hard to cold read – she refused to do the work of saying “Oh, that would be my granny” or whatever. She just looked blankly at Joe the whole time.
I liked the bit where Derren gets it right about the cats and the Maldives, but I assume that’s because he did his research beforehand. The coup de grace was finding out that Joe’s sister lived next to Vanda (or whatever her name was).
And wasn’t Joe awful? He was just so aggressive and unpleasant – he could have made it easier for himself by at least putting on an appearance of charm. But he just looked like a guy who was very angry that he’d been rumbled.
Finally got around to watching the show last night, and thought it was fantastic. I have no belief in mediums anyway, and I don’t believe that anybody on earth can communicate with the dead. Joe Power was arrogant, rude, and clearly does not like being challenged.
I recently read Tricks of the Mind, and was looking out for the cold-reading methods which you described in that book. Joe was clearly using several of those methods – he is a con-man, nothing more.
If you read Derren’s blogs you’ll know he can potentially rage
so I guess since he was making a documentary he had to hold his temper, even after being accused of nonsense. It was awesome at 42 minutes in; how Derren had to change his stance in order for Joe not to stomp off in anger, if it were someone else, Joe would’ve been decked. I’m assuming the next few mediums aren’t going to be much different, Be prepared Derren! Keep up your cool and act smart like you do 
At least Joe admits using cold reading now. Nice one and keep up with the great work at Brown towers.
Hi Guys,
Please check out my blog about the Derren Brown Investigates show, your comments are welcome.
http://bit.ly/aZqw7m
Thanks, Martyn
Joe Power goes to the loo. With his laptop. Again.
@Martyn – Greg may soon become very much in awe of Derren by the next episode!
I just posted on Joe’s website for the 15th time, all neg messages are being ignored in the most part, yet lots of ppl are comin out from the woodwork sayin “havin seen joe in 13 years but i know he wudnt lie”
Hmmmmm dream on
Joe, cold read my arse and tell me what im thinking =)
I was hoping that the fake name and fake address given to Mr. Powers’s last client was actually a real person whose biography fit the reading. That would show that Mr. Power’s researched people before he met them.
I wish that Derren would have absolutely proven Mr. Powers to be a fraud. But that might have required dishonesty on the investigator’s part.
the best part of the show was when mr. powers said that, unlike derren, he came up with “facts” like: 1. an issue with a cat paw.
apparently, derren’s divination of cat ownership and breed in the first place was not a fact?
this joe (no) powers really doesnt deserve this publicity.
Hi Derren
The first episode of your new series was absolutely terrific. The medium was a complete fake, although he was obviously trying to prove otherwise with the set up of his first reading. The revelation at the end of the show that his sister lives next door to the woman he was reading proved his fakery and was also a poor attempt at attempting to look genuine. I think he may have underestimated the consequence of appearing on the show, but I am glad that he has been caught out, although certain individuals will continue to have faith in him.
The worst thing about fake mediums is that they use people’s misfortune and emotional distress to gain nothing more than money. If someone is a genuine medium, they should be happy to be tested in any way possible.
The best bit about JP’s ‘response’ on his website is where he complains that “I was not told about who I would be reading for, or what her name was\”, and then complains that this is unfair!
So Jo – you didn’t get to do reaseach on your subject, and then claim that this means you then can’t do a psychic reading. Fantastic, you’ve just essentially admitted to hot reading.
Paul B
Just a quick thought about the: “going to the loo thing”. In my country it’s verry common for people to have a birthday calendar in the toilet. All the information from the first reading could be found in such a calendar. Names, birthday’s and (sometimes) age of loved ones/family. Great show.
quite clearly that guy was cold reading, but the test that Derren proposed to do, a blind reading, has been done successfully in the US. I forget the psychic’s name but I hope he investigate him. I also hope Derren investigates a trance medium healer in Abadania Brazil who operates with no blood and scrapes eyeballs!
And is automatic writing not a paranormal ability? ! !
I finally got round to watching this last night (which is unusual for me – the call of a Derren Brown show, about skepticism? I’m normally first in line!) – what a fascinating and revealing first episode, I enjoyed it very much indeed.
Joe “Power” made my skin crawl. I realise that you were uncomfortable questioning him, and sometimes that was very obvious, but his nervousness, as the show continued, became more apparent and further evidence to this complete sham he’s using to exploit vulnerable people. The further he lied about it (and the lies came thick and fast, especially toward the end during your grilling), the more I disliked him. He is a dishonest man who prays on the bereaved, and if what he’s doing isn’t the genuine article, then he should be thoroughly ashamed. Well done, DB!
Just watched this and loved it. I wish they’d mentioned something about the toilet situation though. I think they were leaving it up to the audience to decide really, rather than suggesting he was having a root around in their houses. He totally was though (in my opinion).
Excellent first show. I thought Derren was being more than fair and polite. His knowledge of eye movement, linguistics and facial expressions would have told him the correct answer about Joe’s honesty or trustworthyness immediately. He’s obviously full of crap. What surprised me is that nowhere in the show did Derren elaborate on the fact that Joe immediately visits the loo whenever he reaches the house where a reading is to take place. Surely he can gather quite a lot of superficial information about the inhabitants if he has free reign of the top floor for a few minutes. Pictures in the hall, bedrooms, a general idea how many males, females, people in general there are in the pictures. How many dead. He might also gather information from the magazine collection in the loo for all we know
Thank you, Derren, for raising awareness of the spiritual charlatanism. Being an ex- spiritual person, I used to go a lot to psychics and fortunetellers, spent quite a bit on them and made many poor decisions as a consequence .
Found Joe Powers very cocky and annoying, I can\’t understand why with all his spiritual powers Mr Powers could not read the friendliness and healthy curiosity in Derren\’s \’\'aura\’\'?Maybe his was just to busy covering up his smart ass mistakes and defending his ego. Loved an open minded approach to the investigation, a lot to learn from Derren.
DVB is the best
I could tell people more about spirits than that liverpool lad last week.
Couldn’t stop laughing at the end when derren found out that his sister lived next door to that woman he gave a reading to. Classic!!
being a gracious person is not a prerequisite for the dead to choose to speak through you : ) i think you’re marvelous, derren, but i’m afraid this series will induce a lot of fremdscham for me.
It was clear to anyone with half a brain that the Joe Power guy is a fake.
He was completely embarrassed.
He got nothing of any value correct.
These people are parasites and should be avoided at all costs.
“I am seeing 3 family members, or maybe 2″
“No it’s actually 1″
Doh.
What a fraud..
I truly hope his career plummets because of this. Unfortunately it probarly wont because as DB said, people want comfort, not the truth.
As to derren knowing he was a fake straight away, id have to agree. I have a very basic knowledge of micro-expressions, linguistics and eye movement in regards to deception and Joe Power’s couldnt stop giving himself away.
And id assume his toilet trick (which iv seen alot of these people do) was that he’d nose about the house abit on the way there and back.. Pictures, decoration and organisation will give you a broad insight into the person who is recieving the reading.