On this day in history: Derren Brown born.
Derren Victor Brown (born 27 February 1971) is an English magician, mentalist, painter and self-professed sceptic regarding paranormal phenomena.
Your comments welcome.
ENIGMA nominated for second Olivier!
For those in the US, the Olivier Awards are the equivalent of the Tony’s – Theatreland’s highest accolade. In 2006, “Something Wicked This Way Comes”, written by Derren and his collaborator Andy Nyman (who also directs the shows) won an Olivier, and was the first time that any sort of magic show had won such an esteemed award. Now Enigma is shortlisted, the show that Derren is about to reprise on a 5 month sell-out tour, his longest yet due to huge demand. It kicks off in Swansea this week.
Details for tickets are available on this blog. We believe extra tickets have now been made available in Torquay for Valentine’s weekend. If you find your theatre is sold out, you can try for returns or, if you wish, keep an eye on eBay, where they sometimes appear for huge amounts.
Derren says, “Touring with the stage show is by far my favourite part of the year. I’m so excited to get it up and running again. This tour had to double in size to accomodate demand, which makes it doubly fun to do. Particularly this show, which is such a massive pleasure to perform.” On the subject of a possible second Olivier, he added, “It’s amazing to be nominated. And if the show does win, it has the advantage that means that if you come and don’t like it, then you’re wrong and I can prove it.”
There are whispers of Derren hitting Broadway with a show in 2011. Nothing has been confirmed, and no details are being offered.
Coops and Iain, two of the small crew that travels with Derren, are personally requesting this year that the more “generous and sexy” fans bring them packets of Roast Beef Monster Munch. “They can be left at stage door before the show. Leave your details and we’ll announce a prize for the person who leaves the most…”
They don’t know what they’re letting themselves in for.
Anyone attending the show is respectfully asked by Derren to keep its contents secret…
Coops is at it again.
Not content with his job as the Mr Browns trusty assistant, Coops has taken to re-editing Family guy and is not applying for a job at Disney. Follow him on Twitter @lordcoopy where I’m sure you’ll find out about more of his shenanigans.
Tweety, tweet, tweet
As our twitter accounts start to burn up we’re seeing DB reach 100,000 – so if you’re number 100k we’ll be sending you a free little prize just get in touch and we’ll give it to the Royal Mail to lose on your behalf.
@derrenbrown is the main DB account – say something interesting or send links in for a response. Art news, competitions, offers and funny stuff will be coming from the wonderful @lordcoopy. Things that are amusing but just a bit “too blue” to put on the blog (like this for example) from @phillisdorris feat. @AbeoDBArt (you must be over 18 to follow Phillis&Abeo and not be squeamish or easily offended).
Please don’t email us about twitter – just twitter us. If you twitter us something good and we re-tweet – your @username gets tattooed on Coops bottom.
Twitter image above from the fantastic Steave Hearn
Scam of the week
The new telephone ’scam’ has arrived. I received a call from a ‘representative’ of BT, informing me that he was dis-connecting me because of an unpaid bill. He demanded payment immediately of £31.00, or it would be £ 118.00 to re-connect at a later date. The guy wasn’t even fazed when I told him I was with Virgin Media, allegedly VM have to pay BT a percentage for line rental! I asked the guy’s name – the very ‘English’ John Peacock with a very ‘African’ accent – & phone number – 0800 0800 152 0800 0800 152.
Obviously the fella realized I wasn’t believing his story, so offered to demonstrate that he was from BT. I asked how & he told me to hang up & try phoning someone – he would dis-connect my phone to prevent this. AND HE DID !! My phone was dead – no engaged tone, nothing – until he phoned me again.
Very pleased with himself, he asked if that was enough proof that he was with BT. I asked how the payment was to be made & he said credit card, there & then. I said that I didn’t know how he’d done it, but I had absolutely no intention of paying him, I didn’t believe his name or that he worked for BT. He hung up.
Did 1471 & phoned his fictitious 0800 number – not recognised. I phoned the police to let them know, I wasn’t the first! It’s only just started apparently but it is escalating. Their advice was to let as many people know by word of mouth of this scam. The fact that the phone does go off would probably convince some people it’s real, so please let as many friends & family be aware of this.
This is good but not that clever. He gave the wrong number – it should have been 0800 800152 0800 800152 which takes you through to BT Business. The cutting off of the line is very simple, he stays on the line with the mute button on and you can’t dial out – but he can hear you trying (This is because the person who initiates a call is the one to terminate it).
When you stop trying he cuts off and immediately calls back. You could almost be convinced! The sad thing is that it is so simple that it will certainly fool the elderly and vulnerable. Obviously, if this scam is real, once they have your credit/debit card details, there is nothing to stop them cleaning out your account.
Thanks to Carl for this.
Batman AND Superman – Imagine it!
AIRPORT SECURITY: What’s your name?
PASSENGER: Batman.
AIRPORT SECURITY: Your real name, please.
PASSENGER: My name IS Batman.
AIRPORT SECURITY: Are you trying to be funny?! What’s your surname?
PASSENGER: Superman.
Airport security handcuffs him & puts him in a locked security facility.
Then they checked his passport…
I really hope this is true.
Thanks go out to Dave for sending me this.
C x
Errrrrrrrrrgh!
I know Derren Tweeted this but if you haven’t got Twitter you really shouldn’t see this!
This, a horrible looking sea-dwelling parasite attacks fish, burrows into it, and then devours its tongue.
Over 5 million viewers
Watched the show last night – and the response was been overwhelmingly positive: 75% luvvin’ it, 15% happy but confused (Derren likes that part), and 10% hating it and shouty. With apologies from DB to that 10%, we now move to Week Two. Enjoy.
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LC x"
