Hero at 30,000 Feet
Derren Brown, the acclaimed psychological illusionist, returns to Channel 4 for an amazing 70 minute special on Wednesday 8th September at 10pm. Hero at 30,000 Feet takes an ‘average Joe’ on an extraordinary psychological journey which will culminate with him facing a life-changing decision of whether to take control of a Boeing 737 packed with passengers, which he believes is about to fall out of the sky. Viewers will also witness the extraordinary personal challenges the subject has already been through with Derren in the run up to this event, as he becomes empowered by life-skills that transform his unconfident character.
Derren Brown says: “I hope it’s a show that people take something from. We easily let life pass us by, and ultimately this is about engaging with life and understanding that it is the choices we make right now that define us, not what we’ve done in the past. “One unwitting volunteer gets to have a deep understanding of this, and for him to experience real and lasting change, I have to push him to the extreme.”
A master showman, Derren describes Hero at 30,000 Feet as his “favourite and most ambitious TV project to date” and promises to have the nation glued to their seats as the drama unfolds in his latest Channel 4 special. It follows the success of previous television specials such as Russian Roulette Live, Séance, The Heist and The Events – a series of four 1 hour specials which included How To Win The Lottery and How To Take Down A Casino.
His latest feat will see Derren using his powers to make positive, lasting change to someone’s life and has involved months of planning and secret filming. He says: “The show was born from a desire to do something edifying. The experience of doing it has been truly extraordinary: genuinely changing someone’s life in such a good way has left us all on cloud 9 ourselves.”
Derren has answered a lot of comments left on the blog after the show. Click here to see the answers.
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OMG!!! how good does this sound, i cant wait
good luck derren xxxxxxxxxx
Be proactive. Take risks. Live.
p.s. love Derrens work.
I hope it’s me!! I need change.. Big time. Anyways whoever it is is a very very lucky person to have the ultimate genius taking them by the hand. Go Derren go and good luck to Channel 4, Objective Productions and anyone else involved.
I’m looking forward to this. It’s gonna be great.
I seriously cannot wait!!
Wow, this looks great! Can’t wait for it! I also can’t wait for Derren’s new book, comes out on my birthday, yay!
This Kinda reminds me of this thing back in the day where David Copperfield used hypnosis to play this card trick over the TV. He somehow had me pulling the same damn card everytime!
I feel like Mr. Brown has somehow caught me watching is Video’s over the internet… Yes, I know it’s “technically” pirating but how else am I suppose to watch it when the my country likes to censorship things like hypnosis and magic…. (mainly because it uses it to “mind fuck” and “control” it’s own citizens using it.)
I could swear I caught my own country trying to use me to “stage an Apocalypse” Fucking America!!! That is one Hooker that needs slapped, HARD!
Thanks for the Help Derren! <3
Love Always,
Walter Nick Godat (Messiah)
Muhahahahhaha!!!!!
So can we presume that the man in question already knows of his participation in the show, or will it be a surprise to him on Wednesday night?
Oh yeah I am a flippin Hero hear me roar! lol <3
Any way we can watch this in the U.S.?
I can’t wait to see it, and hopefully to take something from it, too! Thanks, Derren
x
I am sooooooooo excited, this sounds incredible, can’t wait.
x x x
Is there going to be a new series apart from this special though?
Can’t view the trailer on my I phone!
Was this participant chosen from the applications accepted here recently? Are those applications still active? I didn’t apply then, but maybe I should for the future.
“The show was born from a desire to do something edifying.”
Thank you, Derren. This is why I follow you. Not only are you entertaining and clever, you seem like someone trying to be good (all-be-it in a scary sort of way).
I am SO excited! Derren is so damn clever. I look forward to every new show, and I cannot wait for Wednesday!
Isn’t this truly fantastic, that a man tries to use all his powers to make someone else a better person, (and he does it in a very entertaining way too) and let that someone have a life-altering experience that will increase his self esteem and confidence for ever. It is this sense of artistic showmanship that makes him stand out of the crowd of conjurers. Am looking forward to see this. Can’t wait!
I cannot wait for this. A new special, a new book. I don’t dare ask when Enigma comes on TV for fear of being overly demanding…
Good luck Derren! Cannot wait until Wednesday, I Love it when I see you live on stage so I hope it all goes well for you in this extraordinary new show.
Making everyone watch this, friends, family and neighbours, look spectacular!!
Sounds interesting. Love the picture above. Looks pretty cool.
Let’s hope all these things will become available “all over the world”.
So many people that would love to watch it but where it wont be on tv.
Dear Derren,
please could you go back to card tricks and making people believe they are bending spoons when they are not.
Yours,
A very loyal follower.
ps looking forward to the new book…
yes looks good but something that is freaky is the fact that he puts ” a plane that he belives will fall out of the sky “
@Rory -ditto! Shame my “psyhic” senior won’t watch DB. Watching Flight of the Pheonix. Vision record button set.
What about all the other people on the plane? Do they all think it’s crashing? Isn’t this a very bad idea?! I would hate to be told I was gonne crash just to see if a guy who lacks confidence is gonna step up…
Am I the only one hoping that a TV show might lead to some tour dates being announced soon, whilst he’s right in the front of people’s minds? =o) x
cant wait for the tomo night will there be any others ? (hope so )
Hey….. this promises to be a very very exciting and thrilling event…. there is something about this man that leaves a lasting effect on you and you leave his presence knowing that your paths will cross again because he’s planned it to do so…. very weird but reassuring feeling!!
Mitz x
Hello, you said you need to approve comment posts quicklly, why dont you just host a live chat using coveritlive? It takes about 5 mins to set up if that…just a thought!
Msg from Abeo: It’s so we have somewhere for people to go long after the show and read through all the discussion and continue to add to it if they wish
We will have a look into that for next time though.
This is gona be soooo awesum!! Derran is truely a ledgend!! haha!! =D XxXxX
Best of luck on this extraordinary endeavor Derren from all of us in the U.S. Your work is so intriguing and is always the center of a good evening in front of the TV. If only we could get 4 here in the states, best of luck again and to see you stateside soon!
Ooh so excited!…. have been waiting for some fresh content for ages…especially after the events let down. I think this will redefine Mr Brown as the mastermind performer he is. Will it be as good as the Heist? I guess we’ll soon find out… Let the games begin!!!
looks epic, can’t wait to watch it.
Just one question though surely this person must have seen the adverts on tv or people talking or has Derren done something about this?
Also if I was flying tonight I would be a bit curios lol
20 mins to go and counting! is it me or are the mins just dragging till ten !!!?
Not long now…..
GOOD LUCK DERREN!!!
X
@tigger2009 I swear the minute hand on my clock just went backwards!
DERREN,
YOU NEED TO GET YOURSELF A JOB IN THE GOVERNMENT,
PERSUADING THE WORLD TO BE BRITISH AGAIN, YOU COULD DO IT IN ONE SHOW!
Donny Darko inspired!
Watching it at the moment, it’s definitely not what I expected, saying that you never know what you are going to expect with Derren.
Adverts now, but i can’t wait for the rest to show, and it’s amazing how he can do all this to make someone cope with that situation.
…I’m speechless.
Derren
Looked feasable until the Garden Scene at 2am, lost its credability for me but good luck anyway.
So he had no idea cameras were watching him in bushes and in his room all that time……
OMG.. THIS IS MESSING WITH A MANS MIND .?????????
Seems too far-fetched, even for Derren!
Derren, you’ve got some skills. when are you going to share them?
Of the other 99 people Derren tried this on, 3 are dead, 12 seriously injured and the rest are in mental hospitals. This one worked brilliantly, as Matt is now a policeman, but often tortured by strange erotic dreams about Derren Brown in his back garden showing him pictures of sperm.
Im soooo intrigued! Derren, you are one of a kind. I cant even start to count the number of times you’ve made me say ‘what the……??’ and kept me thinking for days!
Good Luck Derren
x
Class Paul you are a God !!!
Not sure if I believe the suggestion of the guy featured in the programme would just get up and walk outside…………..hmmmmm
oh and why would a guy be wearing G Star clothing and hat and working in insurance advisor????
don’t slag me! I love Derren, have been to 2 of his shows, just need more convincing. Is some of this artistic licence?
is this for real iv never seen anything like this its amazing
So far so good, loving the dream theme, music seems borderline Inception soundtrack though!
OMG he is doing this near my house :s !!!
I think this might be a mock up like the lottery. Still top entertainment
good acting all round?
Is this a suggestive programme for suggestive people cos I’m not finding any of this real! He’s usually pretty good too, bit disappointed
Ohhh… I’m not sure about this one. Convincing someone they are dreaming when they’re actually standing outside in the cold and rain? And what if the policeman’s house had had an alarm?!
Derren, I love you, but I’m really not getting it….
Really interesting so far, I’m enthralled.
Did anyone else noticed that Derren was getting rained on next to the crocodile and Matt wasn’t though? ¬¬
It would be nice to be 100% sure this is all totally true.
Extremely sceptical of this to be honest.
Maybe the recruitment process to find a “Matt” was flawless, but I have never known a man so unassuming, unquestioning, or innocent as him. Does such a man exist, really? Surely at some point he would just think “ah, I see, it’s just Derren fucking with me!”
Is it possible to take a very suggestable person and turn them into someone who isn’t suggestable …. That’s what I want to know!
It’s too far fetched, I love Derren’s stuff but I think this cannot be real! Hypnosis is not meant to be able to make you do anything you wouldn’t normally do, the croc did it for me!
It’s filmed like beadles about, except cameras can now walk down the street on the other kerb without being hidden, and his reactions are completely unrealistic! Hidden camera show it is not, staged filming it is!
Watching at the moment, I’m normally a big fan of Derren’s work but Matt’s acceptance of his “dreams” and his subsequent actions are far fetched. I’ve never suspected Derren of using stooges before but this one is straining my trust right now. Keen to see how it turns out though.
finding this very intriguing but were the camera shots panning his house filmed while he was at work? how did they get the shots so he wouldn’t notice….i love the theory behind Derren’s experiments (if u can call them that) but find some of the technical aspects hard to grasp… (as in how did they manage to get away with that?!)
I’m liking the show but I’m thinking Derren has a little sadistic side (i.e the train track!) Wish I could go through that transformation myself but I’d crumble!
this is fantastic, but really did not expect anything else. the straight jacket was awesome. Thanks Derren keep it coming just cant get enough.
Brilliant thouroughly enjoying the show.
really enjoying this. seems like a nice guy so hoping it all works out for him, even after the show
i’m also intrigued by the ethics involved do participants get debriefings etc… so many questions as to how this can be done!
Why didn’t you pick me ????
(not that I’m bitter)
Here in Jersey the airport is CLOSED. I thought this was live???
It’s light outside the plane…..
So the only live bit is Derren standing by the plane talking…..
Darren n ur production team, perhaps u want to be more careful of the diff angle of the camera if u r reli following someone, n the rain seems to juz on u, if it’s reli showering, surely matt will wake up as he feel cold! Wht u change was the perception of audience still watching this programme, not Matt! N the end will be matt save the people for sure
Go Matt!!
This is superb! Derren, you scare and inspire me in equal measure!! xxx
I love the guy behind derren filming it all on his phone XD x
Forget ethics!
It feels like I’m watching Donnie Darko… in a good way, obviously! I wish Derren was wearing that rabbit costume from the film, that would make me very happy.
Derren would you come to dinner please ?
You rock!
You are incredibly inspiring, thank you for giving the public the encouragement to realize that we are all able to achieve what we want, that inner strength is in all of us, all we need is a push in the right direction
@caz: “finding this very intriguing but were the camera shots panning his house filmed while he was at work? how did they get the shots so he wouldn’t notice”
Noel Edmonds used to do it on his Saturday night shows in the 1990s with hidden cameras behind the victim’s tvs.
are we meant to believe this?
Way to go Matt, what a true hero !!
Touching, fantastic. Bravo Mr Brown
that was fantastic. Well done Matt. there should be more people around to help others when there is trouble about. Shame you cant alter the nations way of thinking Derren. what a great show thanks to everyone for doing it.
That was sublime.
8/9/10 11:12 … love it!
Not sure what to make of that. So much of it just looked staged. Once again, is it we, the audience, who are the unsuspecting participants here?
That was awesome…
Best ending of a Derren show ever! Just wanted him to land that damn plane! Even if it was a set up, it was excellent telly!
Only thing I didn’t get is why did Derren have to be live? It didn’t make any sense.
Unless we’re going to get another HERO show in 30 days.
So, another show in a months time..?
What can I say an absolutely fantastic show. True emotions shown by all I feel all warm inside now, Well done Derren and Crew. xxx
08:09:10 11:12…….. my journey begins.
Bloody he’ll, derren is an amazing chap , unbelievable .Unmissable viewing.
You should be very proud of yourself too Derren, it’s the best show you’ve ever done, certainly the most heartfelt. We can’t help but take something from this for ourselves, too. How extraordinary that is! xxxx
That was the most fantastic tv! Had me in tears!
im guessing that countdown at the end is for us
Somebody elses journey is just beginning…….
Another show or was that end bit just to inspire us to live our lives to the full?
No1 has a spare straight jacket do they….
HOW BLOODY FANTASTIC! I was bursting with pride, inspired and raring to get going on my journey – Derren, you are a pure legend! Fabulous stuff. Cx
Fantastic , great build up . The only words i can use to describe it just fantastic
Super … All inspiring Derren Brown at his best. 10 /10
Very moving! hopefully the people watching Big Brother stuck around and watched this, they need it.
WoW That was amazing. I was PROUD of him. And im def taking something from it. (never posted a comment on something like this before..thats astart lol)
Brilliant. Best one yet. Made me cry. Proper stand up guy.
Bloody brilliant show Derren but I thought you looked like you were enjoying Matt’s terror just a little too much when he was in a straitjacket on the railway line!
Does Matt really want to be a policeman?
You’ve just shown him ‘thinking’ he’s trespassing & taking the abandoned party goods. Did he really not try to contact the Party Firm?
Thanks Derren
@ caz the other one
i can’t help it! psychologist at heart taught by the BPS that i must stick to the ethics!! though Derren intrigues the shit outta me! they def didnt teach us that at uni!
That was amazing and very captivating.
Excellent and inspirational.
Me next please!
8/9/10 11:12 was clever
Awe Inspiring. Matt, you are fantastic!!! (And Derren, never stop doing what you’re doing. You are the master).
Derren, that was brilliant. Can’t wait to see what you do next.
The most amazing piece of television I’ve ever seen. Humorously presented, but massively inspiring. Matt, Derren and all involved are, without sounding patronising (patronising, of course, meaning ‘to talk down to someone’), a credit to themselves, eachother and, well, everyone.
Incredible.
Congratulations Derren!
I am so proud of Matt AND YOU!!! WELL DONE!!!
BUT THE QUESTION IS….. WHO IS NEXT????
30 DAYS……..
Well done lad, very entertaining as usual!
wow cant get over what ive just watched, bloody amazing, i never comment on these things but i felt i had to left a lump in my throat, and i think its helped me make some changes in my life, brilliant and thanks
Truly inspring, u have changed this mans life forever. Makes me believe I can achieve anything I want to. Well done Derren but most of all CONGRATULATIONS Matt.
Incredible Derren, congratulations to you and the team. I, for one, am inspired. I hope many more people are too. Thankyou.
Derren, please be my friend!
This may be a stupid question but the counter at the end mean he is planning to do this to soemone else in a different style?
That was amazing. Derren is pure genius. How lucky was that guy to get picked. Lots of us are like him me included, and I cant ever imagine making them choices even with Derrens help. I was crying at the end thats how much it affected me. I hope its real and not trickery, as this gives everyone hope.
That is freky does something else happen in thirty days??? I want to know!!!
I’m sorry – was a little disappointed because Matt seemed like an actor, as did his girlfriend. Derren, you are a master illusionist which is why I always watch your programmes, but it seemed too staged and not an experiment…
Really amacing. Everyone has a hero inside.
That was so amazingly brilliant, every other TV show will now seem terrible by comparison – nice one!!!
messed with my mind, soo good
Utter brilliance great to watch !!!
Thanks for an inspiring show Derren .. I can completely relate to the guy on the show his life is like so many others and you have changed him for the better… makes me want to try and change my own attitude and life stuck in a rut. Fantastic mate well done! 30 days and counting
Derren brown amazing programme insperational and nail bitting all in one. well done
Amazing,didn’t expect the show to be so emotional. Feel my self esteem being boosted, so inspiring.
Thank you!!
fantastic show, it really shows what people are capable of if they don’t live their life in fear – absolutely amazing
Astonishing!
Remarkable bit of TV. I’m going to change things in my life from this moment on after watching this show.
Funny how we just go about our daily lives doing the same routine. Saying we’ll do this and that and never bother.
By thought, the things are bought to you. By action you receive them.
Come on everybody! You can do it, just like I’m going to.
Good luck!
I’ve been suffering from Panic Disorder for four years now and watching this show truly inspired me!
Thank you both, Matt and Derren!
Radiotimes website: We confess: RT’s powers of persuasion weren’t enough to coax even a dribble of information from Channel 4 on the illusionist’s latest two-stunt special (one tonight and one in just over a month’s time).
Very excited!
Outstanding and astounding. I was in tears at the end and I am not much of a cryer. I have read the book and seen the shows and even with an idea of what Derren gets up to he still manages to twist my noodle. How uplifting and how cool.
I feel all warm and fuzzy and have a huge grin on my face…. and a new and unexpected sense of determination to get off my backside and do something interesting with my life…. Excellent show. Well done yet again, Derren!
As the brother of the ‘victim’ i can assure you this isn’t a mock up,a set up or fake in ANY way!! To see Derren’s work first hand and to see the change in Matthew is unbelivable!
Thank you Derren!
Congrats to everyone involved, trully gripping!!
I’m so proud of you Matthew!
Absolutely brilliant Derren, very inspiring! I can see a lot of people on Twitter who clearly can’t see the full intentions of the exercise and don’t realise what you did for Matt!
Personally… I’m almost ashamed to admit that it had me in tears a few times, because I’m in a very bad patch of my life right now and the fact that you were willing to help someone who was in the same situation just for their own benefit is so touching! Makes you seem like one of the few genuinely altruistic people left in the world!
I’m hoping that ending was a not-so-subtle way of saying you’re doing another one of these shows in a month’s time?? =o)
Loved it, can’t wait for another one!
This has to be the most interesting thing i’ve watched on ‘normal’ tv for a long time. Now I wont be able to sleep tonight, will be too busy thinking about things..
That was the most fantastic thing I have ever seen on TV…. It is so heartwarming to know that it really is possible to enable people to find their own inner courage… well done Derren… it truly was an awesome show. I would so love to make that journey myself !!!
LOVE IT! So proud of young Matt….not sure I could step up to the challenge. Well done lovely Derren and crew. x
How amazing was this show! One of the best Derren Brown shows I have seen. Truly inspiring to see Matt come from being stuck in a rut to a complete individual. Well done to Derren, Matt and all those involved in this programme.
Amazing, and an emotional programme, watching Matts moment of turning into a hero was aww inspiring and emotional… thank you for making me realise now is the time to change my life…. well done Matt.
I love watching Derren, but I’m sorry this didn’t convince me at all. I don’t believe anyone would be tempted to walk around a person’s house and touch their possessions, even if they’d had the idea planted in their mind.
I wanted Derren to appear and say hah! fooled you viewers and reveal what it was REALLY about. I always maintain that I would be a suggestable type, indeed I was ‘stuck to my seat’ during the previous show, but this I am afraid didn’t convince me at all. (I want to believe!)
Awesome show, loved the ending made me think. thank you Derren.
Little bit disapointed, i dont know much about airlines, but i know planes have co-pilots, and i would have thought the crew would step in next.
Appreciate its all about catching the guy in the moment, but the silly pretence ruined it for me
Amazing show! Goose BUMPS!I wanted to be him! and i dont mean Derren this time…. the guy was amazing! I wish that one day I can be as brave as him and walk through the streets of London by night, without being scared and afraid of homeless people!
Derren Brown you inspirational man you. :}
That guy was so lucky
I’d love to be on a show like that.
I hope he does do another on in 40 days.
Derren is great.
It was a good show
As the brother of the ‘Victim’ i can assure you this is in no way a set up, mock up or fake in ANY way!! To see Derren’s work first hand and see the transformation in Matthew is unbelivable!!
Contratulations to everyone involved….well done Derren!!
Matthew we are so proud of you!!
Dan and Stace
x
(I hate getting CAPTCHA wrong and having to rewrite the comment ): )
Wow. Firstly, wow at calm Derren having idle chatter, and not rushing to help him out of the straitjacket. That was my favourite part.
Secondly, wow at what happened to Matt. Was a brilliant special really inspiring.
I have never been so emotionally engaged with a TV show before. I was bursting with pride for Matt and am not ashamed to say I was welling up at the end. Perhaps my own journey must be beginning?! I am truly inspired. Derren – you are a true genius!
Amazing, Inspirational T.V. Well done Derren. As always a treat. 8/9/10/11/12 pure Genius!
Hope it inspires me to do something amazing as well.
Little but disapointed.
It was the pretense of the finalie runied it for me. I’m no expert on airlines, but i know that planes have co-pilots, and i’m sure the crew would be next to jump in if a problem existed.
I know he got caught up in the moment, but still.
And when he started to kiss his cross…..
Derren, you’ve done so much better.
what a show Derren! best thing i’ve probably ever seen amazing what you done to that man , you are a genuis and legend i love watching your shows. That man is so lucky. Maks me really want to change myself Really looking forward to your next episode
Truly incredible. Kudos to Derren, and Matt did an outstanding job… Well done on changing your live.
Another inspiring show from Derren Brown, i’d rather do this one than try outwitting a revolver.
Good work, can’t wait for the next show Derren does.
x
Truly inspiring TV. Thank you Derren.
Wow,
Just an amazing show, was wondering why Derren was live, amazing.
Loved the jack in the box thing, just a great metaphor for Matt coming out of his shell over that month.
Can’t wait for the nexy one!
Now to watch it again….
That was fantastic. It’s made me feel like I can do things. I can’t put it into words without it sounding massively wanky but I do feel incredibly inspired. It feels very exciting. And I’m usually such a bloody cynic, honestly. Nobody’s immune from the Derren Effect!
OH WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!
That was sooooo goood!
I felt the sense of achivement when you smiled about the decision Matt chose.
My aunt was one of the plane actors in the head scarf.. she told me she took a picture with.. not sure if my autograph is as good as that :[
but I CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE!
It turely inspired me to do something exciting before starting university in a week... lets hope its not jumping infront of the train in a straight jacket.
Very Proud of Derren :] x
Amazing … Truely.
I feel in a similar situation as Matt. I’m 22, living with my mother, low self-confidence and have been dreaming of joining the Army for years. My whole life has been a tale of procrastination. That 30 day timer at the end of the show was for me. My life starts here. The show has totally and utterly inspired me. I AM changing my life. I have one life and I MUST live it.
Thank you Derren, Matt and everyone involved in tonights show.
Illusion or not.. very inspiring.. loved it.
Wow!! Well done Matt! Had a little tear in my eye – really felt it was the beginning of a completely different life for him! x
Ok need to check the garden tonight for Derren Brown…
That was fantastic, I really feel I can relate to Matt. This is the kind of show that needs to be on television, instead of shows designed to exploit peoples weaknesses and crush them. Well done Derren and Matt!!
This was inspiring and wonderful and yet left me feeling empty.
What happens if you feel you have the potential, but never come upon an opportunity to fulfill it?
Regardless, Matt’s journey was amazing and I am so happy for him – I would say I hope he continues to live his excellent life to the full, but I get the feeling there’s no way he won’t now!
Congrats again Matt and thank you Derren – you continue to leave me slack-jawed with awe.
wow i even had tears in my eves how proud must his family be if only me lol was very impressed with the whole concept well done Derren
Wow, Derren, this was just bloody brilliant – as always. I’m actually kind of lost for words – I think I need to watch it again before I can comment properly, soz!
Awesome
No gods, no angels, just human beings dragging themselves out of the dirt. Thanks so much for that Derren it was fantastic. Heres to the Humans!!!
To Matt, the HERO of this show,
YOU DID IT ON YOUR OWN. Well done – you moved us to tears.
Just reading these comments and wondering if any TV show has ever had such an inspirational effect on so many people before. I honestly feel ready to change my life tomorrow and clearly I’m not alone.
How does he do that…????
Matt is a legend!
wonder if he will become a policeman now.
Everyone be on the lookout for Derren in your garden…
next time……………10011010…..
Possibly the biggest wake-up call to stop watching life go by I’ve ever witnessed. Right now, I feel as though the JFDI lever in my brain has just been yanked to the ‘ON’ position. Tomorrow morning I will introduce the world to the person I’ve always wanted to be. I hope this feeling lasts!!!
Find it really cool how everyone is positive on this! i have been getting fed up with all the negativity on all the other pages! Was really cool! i want to audition for the next show or what ever. I really wanna be part of one of these things they are really cool!!! and Jack go for it mate you only live once! i wish i wasnt 19 and at uni so i could have something to be inspired for! i love uni already though
Sorry Derren, this one seemed very…staged . I just don’t buy it really. Still, look forward to your next work.
Very enjoyable show. I’ll be interested to see in 2 or 3 days time if everyone who commented on here is back in their daily unchanged routine…
I think the next one may be on 10/10/10 at 10:10 ?
OMG Derren brown such an inspiration to all who aspire to be somebody and get somewhere, How do u have such an amazing talent??? if i had your talent i would save so many people close to me who need to re educate their mind set !!! Fancey a challege?? although i think it would be an impossible challenge but your skills would definatly be pushed to the limit.
good luck with your next project and wish you every thing good that life has to offer to you!!
Loved the show, but…I find the whole thing hard to believe due to the sole fact that his ‘girlfriend’ was far too attractive to be going out with him – Apparently he was stuck in a rut in a reasonably dead-end job, lived with his mum, had little/no self confidence and was pretty average looking. That girl was a stunner. Tall, blonde, blue eyes; easily a 9. There’s no way in hell she would be interested in him!
Given the apparent 2nd part coming up in 30 days, this show was likely the set-up to create the precedent, and get the next person in the frame of mind to believe that such change is possible.
Not sure if the guy was an actor or not. But strangely enough it doesn’t really matter. The show was clever and got the message across.
Well done Derren
Derren, thank you so much. For years people I have known have tried awful self help books and failed because the system was useless, but thought that it was all their fault. You showed that a competent and knowledgeable person can help effect positive change in others. In other words- Derren you fookin rule! what that that man did tonight hopefully will inspire others without them having to think that their lives are in danger.
Amazing. Truly risen to the pinicle of the magic circle. To work with something perceived as a large jet plane that inspires individual courage to rise above to often difficult situations gives spirit to people to stand up and face strife that normally just bubbles under the surface. Many thanks and a big congratulations.
So, when the hell is Derren presenting a game show for real?
Maybe he’s the banker in deal or no deal?
hmmmmmmmmm
good work fella,
i love feel good emotional enlightenment, but telling the nation to go and get what they want is maybe a too dangerous idea when most people are allready hypmotised into thinking they want , cars, holidays, massive t.v.s, computers, iphones to wreck the plannet ect ect ect not their fault just the mass greedy feeding frenzy were in.
did like the point of personal goals as long as its creative and not selfish
self worth from the inside
just a pity you have to sell honest happyness to pay the man.
Wow ! ‘This is your life’ just got upgraded. I think Derren could have made a bigger deal about the time,
I checked my phone and of course it read 8/9/10/11:12 Brilliant ! Congratulations Derren. Truly impressive.
The live date/time-check brought home the message.
Although I am still on the sofa currently ;-0
J
Can’t wait for 10/10/10 at presumably 10 past 10
I actually will attempt to change my life by then.
I feel like I can do it, I’m ready to accept a challenge or two.
Thanks Derren
Life-affirming, life-enhancing, life-changing! The most inspirational thing I’ve ever seen on TV. Thanks to all concerned. Time now to go out and make a difference.
I have chewed my nails, cried with pride at the end and immediately switched over to Channel 4+1 to watch it all over again. I don’t give a hoot what the cynics say, this was a truly inspirational programme. Congratulations to Matt, go out and grasp the life you deserve and congratulations to Derren and his team. Thank you so much. More please, soon! (My brain is racing. Won’t sleep a wink now!).
That was amazing! I think I was shaking for Matt when he was ‘landing the plane’, a true hero! Watching for Derren in my garden like everyone else, although my cats have been a little weird so maybe he’s already there!
that was amazing love derren and his skills and well done to the guy in the show was shouting at the telly for him to stand up and was so pleased he did it must have been life changing i just know wont be signing up for any progs wth derren involved as much as i like him dont think my head or heart could cope!!! But well done look forward to more and as always!!
Enjoyed the show, brilliantly done as always. We would love to get Derren on ipi-radio sometime to chat about the work he’s done with the many fake mediums etc. Email me for more info.
Why would you even bother doing it with an actor?
Matt is the real deal.
P.S. Do you think Derren had a play around in the flight simulator?
Very very intriging. Would love to have a private session with him. Wonder what he would say about me. Very inspiring though stirred something inside, confidence, confusion not exactly sure.
What a fab show Derren, absolutely inspirational – even if parts of it had me sweating (train track, robbers).
Not sure I’d have risen to the challenge Matt , you really are a star and really do deserve to go far !!
Brilliant Derren,…..absolutely brilliant!! I really want to know the books you are reading right now, because some of the things you are doing now are just awesome.
And, as for Matt,….you just proved to thousands of people and yourself, what can be achieved when you take that step over the threshold of ‘FEAR’ and step into a whole new world. I haven’t quite done what you did, but I have had the opportunity to CROSS that threshold of FEAR,…..it is such an awesome feeling. And Yes,…I too had a little tear in my eye for you. Well Done Mate,….you WILL make a Superb Policeman,…I know you will.
And Derren,…well,…I can’t wait until the next programme. You are certainly studying some material that I am VERY interested in. And good for you for helping Matt to overcome his fears.
Amazing. Derren make yourself a cup of tea. Stick some relaxing tv on and rest. You have done us proud. Come get me in 30 days.
As many others have written, I had tears streaming down my face at the end of the show. Derren is not just a genius but a truly altruistic philanthropist. I decided to stop reading the book I was reading, switch on my computer, look up this address and leave this comment because the programme meant so much to me.
I’m not really like Matt but I have had a terrible year for many many reasons and to see someone make someone’s life better just means the world to me (right now). Thank you for keeping my faith in humanity, Derren, please keep doing what you’re doing and I hope I can continue to make the world a better place in some small way soon.
I don’t watch much TV and would call myself a cynic, but I was utterly moved and inspired by Matt. It was the most uplifting thing I have seen in a very long time. Well done Derren, can’t wait for the next one!
The show 2nite was amazing! I cheered when Matt stood up on the plane and even shed a tear at the end. Truly inspirational stuff! Derren you are truly amazing! And another installment? Cant wait!! Xx
Absolutely fantastic Derren!! Thank you, you have truly inspired me….I just don’t know how well I will sleep tonight. x
I wish I was suggestable! You’re brilliant Derren – you suggested someone into being a hero. Power, intelligence and magic… you have it all! Want my number?
Hmmmmmmmmmm
I don’t think there will be another episode, the countdown was meant for us to go change our own lives.
Great work derren, loved the straightjacket scene, making him feel trapped when it only takes a few seconds to escape with the REAL instructions was a genius way to make him feel in control of a fearful situation.
@Bree – I’m in the exact same place as you – I try to take every opportunity I get which will lead me towards my goal in life (to be happy) but those opportunities seem to be very few and far between!
Truly inspiring.
Hats off to Derren and production team for another fantastic show
Just the line of “Davenports instructions” had me wetting myself laughing, and seeing Matts face when he realised what was going on made it. Really interesting and inspiring. Well done to all Matt, and all involved
Just watching again on C4+1 and still felt chuffed for Matt when he volunteered! What a super pair of heroes!
That was so awesome, and moved me to tears.
I would love to have that kind of opportunity, but it would help my husband reach his potential, if only he could see how much more he could be.
I have loved all Derrens entertainment, but for me this really reached another level.
I would love to know how Matt’s life develops now!
Thanks,
Jules
DERREN, DERREN, DERREN,
You da man! A rare one 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
That was awesome! I feel like I am in this box all the time and am just stuck. So much fear, and over stupid things as well….when really, there’s no need for it. FREE ME!!! Lol. Great show. What you did was amazing and I just love you even more than before, haha! If that’s possible. To have such a positive effect on people and to change their lives must feel incredible.
You’ve just got it all, haven’t you
Very positive show if makes one person follow there dreams worth every penny
Excellent comment Calvin Saxby, I couldn’t have said it better.
ive just watched the show and it gave me goosepimples its kinda made me belive that inside me i can change things myself well i am gonna
Really enjoyed every second of that programme ….as always it was a rollercoaster ride and even though I knew Derren wouldn’t let Matt ‘die’ on the railway track…my heart was still racing. There was so much in this programme that I found inspiring and I am now wondering if I should be content with “just getting by”. Loved the idea of a ‘game show’ that was life changing….. Thank you to everyone concerned
Mr Brown, you are a class act We – really – are not worthy.
(Airline pilot; graduate zoologist; passionate atheist; awed admirer of Prof Dawkins).
Truly inspirational! I’m going to watch it again now, it had such a big impact on me, I can relate so so much to Matt! I live my life in such a similar fashion. Starting tomorrow I am going to try my best to make some positive changes in my life! Please keep them coming ch4! and hope to be woken up by Derren in 30days! x
Absolutely brilliant – very emotional, uplifting – quite simply, Derren’s shows are unmissable. It’s amazing to see how someone can be brought out of their ‘comfort zone’ and do something extraordinary.
Matt – well done to you – I hope you go on from strength to strength.
Derren – just keep on making these spectacular events. Inspirational – just wish you could do it en masse so everyone “just drifting” could start taking positive steps – maybe you just have?! Just hope I can start changing those To Do lists into real action. Thank you for continuing to spellbind.
Absolutely fantastic show. I was actually in shock watching it.
The ending of the show, with him pointing out the: 8/9/10/11:12. Then he pushed the button and the timer started counting down…
Technically doesnt that mean that he is going to be working on another person over the next month? And also he said something along the lines of, “now its time for you to be a hero starting now…”
Just a thought
Derren Brown, you are my Hero. xx
what an amazing show, we watched him live in belfasts waterfront and didnt think that could be topped, i stand corrected!! fantastic derren. cant wait for the next show! inspirational!
brilliant show cant believe im blogging? did not know i could never done it before so i must have been inspired .can i be your next project i could do with it
I think he must have you all in a hypnotic trance.
First point, I loved the show. All the time when Matt was on or ‘on’ the plane I was rooting for him.
But Just a thought, if you don’t have the courage to embrace life or change it for yourself, if you have to be prompted, do you really deserve that change?
Like Calvin, I turned the computer on especially to say how much I enjoyed this programme. I wonder how many people up and down the country are looking at their own lives now !
Brilliant, scary and a bit sad too I thought. Fantastic!
A truly amazing show. It really struck a chord with me and I was in tears at the end. I felt so proud of Matt but it also made me reflect on my life. Lots to think about…….
I am actually sweating from every pore.
I have been admiring Derrens’ work for years but for me this surpasses everything he has previously done.
Maybe it’s because of my own fear of flying that i sit here feeling exhilarated, inspired and literally shaking.
Thank you Derren. I have recently made some really positive, life affirming changes to my own life and this show has made me even more confident to conquer more of my fears and believe that we make our own destiny.
Nice one Derren. You the man.
I have just watched the show and i am in total awe.
I am 19 and male and consider myself to have many of the things holding me back that
were holding Matt back. I feel they are defficencies that i can not fix.
maybe derren is more of a docter than a illusionist. I would love to have been in matt shoes
and would always want to be one of those people involved in this project. I do not sit back for some things
but i’m always held back by things that define your life and could make it special.
Derren i think this show was inspirational i am just sorry i am not a “subject” of yours
congratulations and the end intrigues me i hope this means another show next month
I’m so sick of hearing all the doubters. I fully believe it’s all real and what Derren did to Matt is just incredible. I can’t make a decision as to whether the Police will take him on as someone who entered someone’s house and sat down as well as taking a van and it’s contents without contacting the company to return them, or will they see him as a the hero that he was in the end. What do you lot think?
Also, does anybody know what the Jack In The Box was used to signify?
This had me gripped throughout and i could’ve easily let myself cry at the end through sheer pride and happiness for them all. Truly amazing.
Well done to the participant Matt that was VERY brave. and well done to Derren and ALL the crew it must have taken a lot of time and effort. But I just dont see why it was billed as a big “live” event when 90% of it was pre recorded.
V. enjoyable though will be tuning in in 30 days time
Just read through all the comments, I have to say fantastic show.Glad I’m not the only one reduced to tears by the end. Both my boyfriend and myself were vigoursly clapping when he stood up on that plane, Well bloody done. Its nice to see there are some good people still in the world. just imagine a world where everyone believed in themselves and helped others just like Derren did with matt the world could be a truly spectacular place. A tv show has never had such a profound effect on me as I’m sure many of you will agree it left me feeling like the world was my oster. Thank you Derren, with everything that has happened this year England really needed something like this instead of all the horrible stuff on tv at the moment. Counting the days till the next segment! WELL DONE DERREN!!!!
I did find some aspects slightly unconvincing, but I wanted to believe, I guess its just the sceptic in me, the part of me that says “this can’t be true… Can it?” I was really rooting for matt at the end, even my heart was racing! I think he went on a fantastic journey, one that I wish I could do the same, really thinking its time for a change and a new start? Lets see where I am in 30 days, is that what he meant at the end of the show?
I get the positives people are taking from it, of course most peoples lives are in a rut ( thats life) and most people have dreams they never grasped.
So people want to believe , we all want to believe a hero is some where within or that we can change the path of our lives. there is and we can and thats a good positive message to send out .
But show was too far fetched for me to believe matts reactions to all the events just were not believable.
too cool on the tracks , id be sayin derren bud get me the fook out of here lol , sleep walking once came out back second time came out the front , didnt feel he needed to pay the taxi , if i on a plane and no one can land it and no one else is coming forward , whats the alternative let it land its self ??
Been thinking about the message behind this for the past two hours and there’s a ball of fear building in my chest because I know what I have to do.
It’s time to take my life back and stop putting it off. There’s no pause button in real life. Terrified but starting tomorrow things are going to change.
8…9…10…11…12…
Hi Derren,
Yes the show was good and what you achieved for Matt, but you orchestrated those things to happen to him, in order that he would change from being a normal everyday person. If you had not put those things on his path in order to make him sit and think, he probably would have continued to be the same.
For the ordinary person in the street, those things are not going to happen, life just goes on, day in day out, it is only through some trauma in our lives that may cause a change in the way we see things and make us alter the course of our lives.
I am happy for Matt and his family, he has been one of the lucky ones, in that you gave him a helping hand by causing change to happen.
Best Regards
Catherine
Also as has been said every ones know there should be a co pilot there , and when the man in the cockpit said we just need anybody to matt i would be saying well mate you dont look too busy and you are a member of crew take me down lol.
picked up a wallet jumped instantly in a cab assuming the address was in the wallet as he said wait a min and ill tell you where im going
I am a bit confused with all of these people saying that it’s not possible to get someone to believe they are asleep when they are actually awake, my girlfriend does it all the time, she’ll wake up in the middle of the night when I go to the loo, we’ll have a full blown conversation and in the morning she tells me of this werd dream she had where we had a conversation (the one we actually had).
Also, at a sleepover with my friends, we got one person to walk across the house, brush his teeth and then rub toothpaste all over his face whilst he was asleep. The sub-concious mind is a fickle thing and is easily manipulated with the right wording and circumstances.
I’m also confused at the people questioning how he was filmed without him knowing. hidden cameras are rather small and easy to hid
I’m sorry, I put this in the wrong place….
I just loved it, Derren. Was such an inspirational programme to watch. I confess to having tears in my eyes at the end. I really felt what Matt had gone through and the courage it must have taken to do what he really thought he was doing when he landed that plane. It’s just remarkable what we CAN do as humans when we’re put in certain situations.
You seemed thoroughly emotional at the end Derren, and I can see how much it meant to yourself as well as Matt that he came through. I was watching it with a big smile and a small tear.
Congratulations on a marvellous piece of television that I shall think of and remember for a while to come.
LC x
Most things are as they are, for very good reason. Alteration, without thorough deliberation, courts disaster.
I had a boss, whose single alleged ability was playing the organ. I once quipped that while he was in a cinema, the audience smelled smoke. Immediately they panicked, and scrambled for the exit. He, however, climbed into the orchestra pit. Sat down, and began to caress the mighty Wurlitzer. So beautiful was the sound, that terrified people were transfixed. Many even returned to their seats. Thus his intervention alone, resulted in 538 people burning to death. Just a joke, right Derren? So please, please, please tell me that you weren’t the one. Responsible for convincing Tony Blair, that he had the faintest notion of what he was doing. When he took us into Iraq.
Very proud of YOU, Derren! Brimming with admiration and awe along with everyone, what a wonderful thing to do. See, you’re not all that bad! And they say it’s not a therapy! Milton et al would be glowing!
Fiddle de dee!
Right, I’m off to break in to someone’s pad and see what comes of it! It could be you!
Hero at 30,000 was amazing! This one has made me cry the most so far. I am soo excited to see what happens in 30 days. You’re a genius Derren!! xx
It just didn’t ring true. Who would throw a street party with that stuff? Weird reaction. Why would you volunteer to fly the plane, when there are staff on the plane who could bring the plane in, as well as any member of the public? It may well have happened as he said, but it was too odd to ring true.
And I’m a huge Derren fan.
Underlines the most important aspect of life most of us miss until it’s too late.Thanks to Derren for reminding us all……..slow down,take in whats going on around.Inspirational work at it’s best .Thank you
I never thought Matt was an actor but some of the filming and his reactions did give a lot of the programme a “staged feel”. Is it really that easy to wake someone up in the middle of the night and just by saying “you’re dreaming” get them to come out into their back garden, or a field, have a conversation, touch a crocodile and not wake up???
However, I am aware that what we saw must have been only a fraction of the total filmed footage.
By the time of the flight I was totally back on side, and on the edge of my seat and willing Matt to step up. When he did I found I was welling up like a good ‘un.
Hoping to hear more over how it was all achieved from Derren and also more from Matt and his family on the experience and how he is doing now.
Was worried watching Derren smiling that big smile while Matt tried to avoid getting hit by a train. These things sometimes freak me out.
I loved the bits of humor in the commentary (~ “i want him to find ansers – so i’m sneaking into his back garden”).
The pay-off at the end of the show was wonderful. I hope Matt will make himself a good life!
Ha people saying Derren’s show was fake. If only they had a deeper understanding of how Derren does these things they’d be instead impressed
It was enviable “magic, suggestion, misdirection, psychology and showmanship” Any magician would be envious. We impressed.
Well done everyone and as I’ve always thought – Derren deserves his place on TV more than any other TV appearing person. That’s debatable I suppose but all the others try to solve people’s problems by running compeitions for money.
What Derren did here was took a man to his dream and away from a rut.
Hmm, so Derren encouraged this guy to break and enter, receive stolen goods, put his life and those of the train driver & passengers in danger (if that was indeed real), and then to suppress all rational thinking and regard for his fellow passengers’ lives when he was apparently the only one able to land a plane? Surely he’s creating a master criminal and NOT a hero! What’s in 30 days’ time then? Someone diffuses a bomb Matt planted??
I adore Derren, but this was just not believable for me. As a sceptic, I believe in ethical treatment of human beings, and also free and rational thought. These were not displayed here by DB and subsequently Matt. I am hugely disappointed.
Wow. Derren, your programme was so inspirational and really motivated me. It really opened my eyes to hear how miraculous our lives really are, and I am not going to waste mine by living in fear any more. I suffer from anxiety and for too long I’ve not had the courage to do anything with my life. I start college next week and this programme has shown me that I CAN achieve this.
Even my dad cried at the end! I really hope there is another programme in a month’s time.
To the people that said it’s not real because there would be a co-pilot or the crew would step in and help- Derren said in the programme that the scenario would never happen in real life, presumably for those reasons. Matt would be unlikely to know what “should” happen in emergency as he had not been on a plane for ten years
Loved the show. But now I’m a little worried because derren featured heavily in my dreams last night!
Yasmin, you have never been in that sort of situation. So you can not truly know how you would react in the same experiences. I fully believe it happened as it did and feel we all would do the similar thing if given the same path.
Brilliant show. Really had me on the edge of my seat. Well done Derren
JsW
I think this all seems like a simple setup for the next person, we have been discussing this on our site and we prefer the mind boggling up front tricks that Derren does, The trick of the mind series was brilliant but since then the stunts have been getting a little bit too much for me, like the lottery stunt. where as the predicting the races was brilliant in its complicated simplicity.
Also the show was entirely edited how can we be sure any of it was not staged, Please come back with a more interactive / personal feel to the show.
Also if it is real well played Matt you did some amazing things and I dont doubt that. I was just expecting more from Derren. But like I said this might be leading onto bigger and better things with the next show. I do hope so.
Derren, I am a big fan. Your programme confirmed a lot of what I believe. I believe that a persons outlook can alter the way we see life and can promote positive responses from those around us. I try to live in the positive and try to value life. I work in a care home and understand we must never take for granted living for the now and make sure enjoyment for life is not postponed. Sometimes its difficult ‘taking the bull by the horns’ but its always worth giving it a go, better to of tried than to regret missed opportunities.
If nothing else your programme installed in me again that we humans are special and that anyone of us can be a hero. The scale of heroism may be different, you may be a hero to your children or to a plane full of people.
I wanted to like this, i really did. I’m a big fan, but this was highly implausible. The way it was shot made it feel like a high budget soap opera, with big establishing shots, and CLEAR evidence of multiple camera editing, which suggests numerous takes, mainly in the first ‘garden night’ scene, where we cut from opposing over-shoulder shots of Derren, AND Matt. Therefore, we would have the camera clearly visible.
Also, a lack of the ‘LIVE’ element was baffling, and furthered this disappointment. How people can believe that this was ‘covertly filmed’?
Maybe it was so real, it FELT scripted? i don’t know.
It did however stand up as a piece of feel-good television.
Ah well. Mr. Derren Brown, you are still admirable to me, i just liked it when you surprised us like so many times before.
I dreamt about Derren last night… does this mean I was really out in the garden?
I love you Derren but Stay Away From Me… Scary stuff.
It’s interesting to see what people take from this programme. I love Derren’s work but agree with those who felt a little dissappointed or said that parts of the programme didn’t ring true.
That said, I had tears in my eyes when Matt stood up on the plane. That was the climax, not actually landing the plane – I felt like I could have done that.
I think there’s two things to consider – the transformation of Matt, who I didn’t particularly like (sorry) and how many other people are saying they feel inspired.
Well done Derren – long may you continue.
It was an enjoyable piece of television and I’m pleased so many people feel inspired to better their lives, although I think the reason it didn’t affect me in the same way is that I am quite a proactive person already and I rarely feel stuck in a rut.
Easy explanations for Matt vs Derren in rain (cutaways when the rain had stopped) and lack of co-pilot (it was a designed exercise, not reality).
Most enjoyable bit for me was the train track. Genuinely heartstopping. I don’t understand how when he gets up on the plane it seems to be daylight and then when he goes into the cockpit it’s suddenly night. Not sure why that didn’t alert him to the fact something was up! Be great if someone from the DB team could answer these things. Is there a second one or is that it?
If he’s so much of a loser who can’t even hug his mum, how come he has such a good looking girlfriend? And to think you could convince someone they were dreaming is ridiculous. Still, it was a well made show and it seems to be inspiring people to think about changing their lives, so well done DB.
Interesting experiment about how the choices we make in life affect what we make of ourselves but some of the things Matt experienced seemed just a bit cruel to me. There was something not entirely convincing about the whole show… certainly apart from the final shot it wasn’t clear how much was really ‘live’. And did it really need to be live?
I’m always intrigued by Derren’s shows but I think they are actually more interesting if you watch them with a very healthy dose of scepticism and realise that much of the skill is in the deception and showmanship involved.
Wow. Watched second half today. Got bit freaked out last night I think because of the thought someone could be in your dreams like that. Felt very emotional when matt landed that plane! My tesco delivery man came just after I watched it and I was still a bit teary eyed so recommended he watch it too. Not in my house! Brilliant tv. Feel I can change my life too. Thank you.
A brilliant show – positive, life-affirming, exciting and intriguing. Well done Derren & team – another excellent piece of work and the best thing I’ve seen on TV this year.
Whether the program was real,staged or otherwise the main aim of the programme was to entertain and that’s what it achieved.if you are inspired by it to change your own life then all well and good.if like some you felt it was fake/staged -it may well be derren is after all a master of illusion and misdirection. Whatever your take on it the fact that derren kept you watching for sixty minutes and provoked discussion means that the fake/real/continuity/realalistic element is irrelevant
‘hey guys…this bloke right…he’s got a shit life and he does nothing, right. like, nothing. he has no drive…he won’t even hug his mum for fucks sake’.
‘blimey. how did you meet him again?’
‘oh…er….he made all the effort to come to an audition for a television game show’
‘oh right. coz that….i mean. well, that’s…that sort of doing something quite productive isn’t it? making all that effort just to get on a game show’
‘no it isn’t’
‘well…come on. it is. he probably had to book a day off work and everything’
‘…’
‘didn’t he? probably had to do a bit of travel to get to the audition. make a packed lunch. that’s effort that is.’
I just watched this program…
I’m not 100% sure what to say really, I was really looking forward to it, and as it started I thought, “WOW!”. The Hold up in the garage was convincing, and showed Matt to be a regular bloke (I would have dropped to the floor and do as I was told too), I even thought he showed himself up as a bit selfish “£400 that phone cost…” class reaction, it really was, and actually quite realistic. I accepted the whole “DREAM” scenario, where Derren appeared to convince Matt that he was dreaming and persuaded him to come into the garden. Then it all got a bit silly. For a bloke who wanted to BE a policeman, I found it unrealistic that he would break into a “policeman’s” house, When the bloke with the van was given a motivational speech by Matt, and “gave him” the van was also a bit silly, no-one would have used the stuff in the van in the way Matt did.
At points during the program I had tears in my eyes, The whole idea of the program was FANTASTIC and would have the power to actually change the way people think, and live, but I thought it was all fake, Something just gave me the impression that EVERYONE was a paid actor.
I’ve been left slightly dissapointed, I LOVE what Derren does, but can’t help feeling a little short changed by the whole thing,
Sorry Derren, but you didn’t quite pull it off this time
I wouldn’t normally comment but I thought this was probably the best tv show I’ve ever seen.
The train track scene was edge of the seat stuff, the reaction after the policeman’s house was hilarious, and I don’t think there could have been many viewers who prevented themselves from welling up at the end.
I visited this site expecting a wall of praise, and I’m shocked by the conspiracy theories.
Using actors for the main parts would not remain secret for long, and I find all of the comments above questioning the cuts used ridiculous. It’s a show that condenses 30 days in to 70 minutes. How are they supposed to make that show without making cuts? Do you think Derren would feel proud if he used actors?
Next you’ll be accusing him of using auto-tune to make his voice more hypnotic.
It was an amazing show and I can see why some of you may think that the whole thing was staged. Having met and worked with Derren I can say that he has made huge changes in my life. Just for the record it is a broadcasting offence to deliberately mislead the public and all of the tv output is carefully monitored by ofcom. If any of this was staged by law the team would have to clearly show that the scene in question was a reconstruction. So all of you naysayers buckle yourself in and watch out for those hidden camears cos as the National Lottery used to say it could be you!!!
Entertaining, but far feached!!
If you need an ordinary bloke that isn’t an actor next time, give me a ring!
” CLEAR evidence of multiple camera editing, which suggests numerous takes, mainly in the first ‘garden night’ scene, where we cut from opposing over-shoulder shots of Derren, AND Matt. Therefore, we would have the camera clearly visible.”
Or else it was a two-camera shoot
The cameras wouldn’t be visible. Camera ops work around each other all the time. I work in TV so I’m not guessing at that. It is fact.
Likewise people saying Matt would have noticed big cameras everywhere. Even broadcast quality HD-cameras can be small – see the Canon 305. Hidden SD cams webcam sized or smaller.
I do question how he was mic’ed up when he spoke to the van driver.
I can see how some of the ‘continuity errors’ people are talking about just come from 70 mins being a tight squeeze.
i agree with alan,it felt scripted plus the garden scene had to be done with multiple takes as the editing did not show the other camera’s,however i would love someone to explain to me why matt did not question the transition of day to night in the plane, as far as matt was concerned as he walked to the cockpit there is daylight beeming through the windows but when he is woken up by derren it is clearly night, so by just walking into the cockpit ( which took a few seconds) day changed to night.
I understand he was in a hypnotic state for ages but i thought that was something matt knew nothing about as the program gave the impression that in matts mind he had a seemless walk from his seat to the cockpit therefore it would still be daylight out of the cockpit window??
Any plot similarities to the film Airplane! were obviously purely coincidental.
‘There’s no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you’ll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?’
I was expecting to find out the Captain had had the fish at any moment…
Thank you for that Derren – I really enjoyed it.
Bout 7:30 the evening the show was broadcast I was driving in the Kirkstall/Bramley area of Leeds, on the flightpath into LBA, and I saw a Jet2 737 circling over Bramley at about 3000 feet for quite a while, banking quite steeply.
Same plane?
Certainly wan’t 30,000 feet!
very cool =D
When is this show being repeated?
Just phenomenal!
What’s even more outstanding is what goes unshown. The background work (on so many levels) to achieve this is almost unthinkable.
Whilst I understand the need to tread a line between giving away the golden goose, and only showing the golden egg itself (and this was the big one!), I’d love if you’d throw us a few more goose feathers from time to time.
Enjoyable and emotional (although the C4 advert for the box set at the end was jarring), but the lasting impression is a thoroughly uplifting one.
Matt.
coops the jack in the box could mean different things to diferent people but in essence it signify matt coming out of his box and being a different person. and derren do you not think that at some point you were getting demand characteristics from matt and played along as to not dissapoint ?
Hey you guy’s i’m a huge Derren and mentalist fan from Holland.
Just one question..if you where going to be on a ‘game show’ with Derren..would you
not check out his site and blog? And would you not have read the 1 day of this month
about the special that your the main character in?
And would you not have seen that it involved an airplane?
Your thoughts.
A thought about the hypnosis in the show.
Even if Matt wasn’t really hypnotized he would still say he really was because of peer pressure and being labeled
as a hero.
If he would say otherwise then ‘saving’ those people didn’t have any meaning wouldn’t it?
For our hero Derren this is obviously a win win situation to put susceptible Matt in.
Greetings and Derren i love your work.
I just finished watching this on Channel 4 OD. Matt is a lad that reminds me of myself; dead end job, quiet, no confidence, ambitions but not willing to do anything about it, still living at home etc.
After watching the whole programme of the poor lad being put through his paces, I felt sorrow. The terror in his eyes and how quiet he was when the train was approaching him on the track. and when the robber called Matt a loser.
When he got up to make his way to the cockpit I felt overwhelmed for some reason, I started to cry. But seeing everyone cheering for him, especially his family and girlfriend just made me cry some more. I wish that was me Being the hero. Full of confidence and courage..
Thanks to this show, Matt and Derren I am going to approach my dreams. Thank you
Gino, the references to the airplane were added only after the airplane sequence was filmed. Derren answered that one on Twitter.
I’ve now watched this 3 times and can’t stop thinking how lucky Matt was to get guidance from Derren. They’re both awesome guys. For any of the doubters you’ve got to understand one thing Derren is a genius
Oh and that Matt was a hero from the moment he chose to take control of the plane. Would you have the guts?
Berber Anna, thanks ever so very much as Derren would have put it:)
I had a look on twitter and found what you meant.
My mistake in thinking was, that i thought that the final day, was the actual day of the
live airing of the presentation..if that makes any sens to you haha
Thanks again
It does, as the ads did quite confusingly call the show ‘live’ when only Derren’s narration next to the airplane (including the restarting of the 30-day clock) was live. It would be pretty much impossible to show the simulator thing live, though, unless you wanted to devote half the show to it (as landing a plane probably takes more than the 5 minutes shown), so I suppose that’s why so little of it was actually live.
Derren you’ve done it again you genius!
. We’ve had yet another small and quite frankly, exciting chance to get a stepladder and have a crawl around that vast and peculiar brain of yours. Truly spectacular. 
. xxxx xx…. …
What would happen if Matt was not able to untie a jacket? Who would be responsible for a death?
I thought train was approaching very slow, wasn’t it?
Ilkin, of course it was. Wouldn’t make a very good programme if the protagonist died, now would it?
I don’t think Matt, being on the rails and scared out of his wits, noticed how slow the train was approaching. But it would need to be able to brake if he froze and didn’t get the straightjacket off, so it could really only travel at a snail’s pace.
Does anybody else feel similar to Matt from this show?
I have similar problems, and I also have major procrastination issues which I need to sort out. Maybe I will get around to it tomorrow…
Any ideas on how I can fix this problem?
The most remarkable aspect for me was how DB had to expose Matt to risk to bring about this significant behaviour change. Our education system and parenting styles fails to expose children to risk (through play or otherwise). Hence we are’ through natural selection’ removing the opportunity to develop altruistic, enterprising entrepreneurs and future captains of the industry. This is an important aspect and should inform future policy decisions.
Great programme which I watched with my Dad whilst visiting & we talked about it on the phone for days afterwards. It’s interesting to see people not believing the dreams. Apparently only 10% of us dream in colour, so maybe this explains the disbelief. My dreams are vivid & realistic with colour, sound, taste, weather etc etc! I guess Derren did his homework & knew Matt was a dreamer. An inspiring programme… still got me wondering…
I completely loved the show but noticed that the words LIVE were used quite prominently yet when we listen on TV we hear Matt asking the guy supposedly in the control tower ‘what do you want me to do’ and the reply ‘I want you to land the plane’. This teaser was shown before Matt had actually done this if it was LIVE as you were going to great lengths to portray..
I’d love you to publish my question and answer it but I’m guessing you won’t.
If it all works then Matts a lucky guy. I’d love to move things forward in my own life!
Sam: The last I read about that is that those statistics are only true for the generation that grew up with black&white television — generations before and after that actually mostly dream in colour. Interesting, isn’t it?
Vict: The word ‘LIVE’ was only plastered over the actual live bits, where you see Derren tell the story as he stands next to a plane, and where, eventually, the ‘new clock’ is started. The rest was taped a few weeks before the show, as far as I understand it.
Sam.. that is my point. It says LIVE on the screen whilst outside the flight simulator but the dialogue between Matt and control which supposedly had not yet taken place is played. It is much later that Matt talks to control LIVE and we hear the conversation of which a snippet is played earlier. I’ve watched it several times now. I love all Derrens work,Challenge. Really love it.. The word LIVE is there for a reason.
The same reason that ‘scientiets’ in advertisements wear white coats….
Would love to hear a response from Derren!
He has my email and with a little googling my mobile number. which he might ring one evening But will he take the bait?
made me cry and I’m a bloke and everything!
It was awesome!!
So exciting and thrilling.
I was away on holiday when this was originally screened and have just caught up with my SKY+
This is one of the most amazing programmes I have ever seen. I do agree that it seemed staged at points but I realise that is not he point. It was about Matt, but also it was for each and every person watching it. I broke down in tears at numerous points in the programme. This has definitely affected me. In some way I must connect with Matt and now on reflection I’ve identified that I lack confidence. I’m currently revising for a final assessment to become a chartered surveyor and I’m terrifed of failure. This has given me an almost perfectly timed boost.
This has given me the opportunity to grow … I intend to take it! Superb achievement Derren!
Am I the only one thinking that maybe something significant is going to be happening at around ten past eleven tonight?
Yes, Friday would have been 8/9/10 but most people think it will be tonight, 10/10/10 as that’s a more significant date.
Thing is, there’s no room on the schedule for a Derren show tonight. Unless Die Hard is just plonked in so it can be replaced with Derren’s show later.
You probably are, Jenna.
Surely it’s 10 past 10, or not at all
I agree wit kyle about the transition from day to night – from airoplane to flight simulator.
Is this far fetched – too far fetched to be real ?
If Derren Brown was to watch this as a skeptic about someone else doing the same programme would he believe it ? How would you know ?
I read the bit above about the staging and reasons why not matt might not be an actor – but wouldnt Darren Brown have to say that by necessity ? (i.e its unprofessional etc to use stooges)
Then again – what does it take to convince a skeptic ? (its the bit about making matt go to sleep just before the flight simulator which I find somewhat far fetched – any other opinions in the forum on this matter ?????
When’s the next show then? I also thought it might be 10/10/10, but 6 weeks on and no show!
Perhaps the plane crashed this time…
(I know, it’s only a joke!)
Yeah…… i have been trawling around t’internet trying to find out what happened to the second show.
I was a bit worried that the first show didnt do as well as expected and so the second show had been given “das boot” though i both hope and doubt that to be the case.
Help…………………….
Yes, could somebody please clear this up. It is going to be 12/11/10 at 9:08? There IS going to be another, isn’t there? I’m not imagining the timer at the end, am I?
Would be grateful for any answers from anyone.
Man-o-dreams: What do you find far fetched? The going to sleep itself, or the necessity of it? If the first, I have seen a few instant inductions irl, and it’s quite possible. Especially when someone is scared, which somehow seems to make people more susceptible to hypnotic suggestion. If the second, they needed to do that in order to get him to the simulator without interrupting the narrative (plane needed to land, simulation had to be started).
Rory: I interpreted the timer as a metaphor, saying something along the lines of “it took only 30 days to turn this life around, now here’s your 30 days”; an inspirational message to viewers. Not really as an announcement of another special along the same lines.
It would be unspeakably cool if Derren could have a go at recreating the so-called “Miracle” of Fatima. I’d bet if he thought about it long enough, it could be done… Would be an interesting challenge, anyway.
PS. Derren is awesome =)
Derren,
To conclude your most recent show, ‘Hero at 30000 feet’, you started a 30day countdown. 3 months have now past yet still there has been no followup. Was this to inspire your followers, or are you having trouble with your ‘subject’?
It would be great to know either way so i can look forward to or stop keeping an eye and ear out.
Also, you appeared in an advert on tuesday this week. i Cant seem to find this anywhere online. Can you help?
Yours in anticipation
I loved it even tho its been a couple of month ago since it flashed on the screen ive been watching almost every show you have made (sorry if i sound very creepy i swear im not a stalker!) anyway so yeh keep up the good work. Im hoping i can convince my mom to let me earn some tour tickets. Have fun bye
Will you be doing this kind of thing again? I loved it!
Hero has been a massive hit for me because you really helped Matt change his life and this is what I am interested in.
Thanks
J
This was fantastic! Too bad it couldn’t be aired in US….all my friends wanted to see it!!
Inspiring …..
This was just such a great show. It really made me think and now i want to do everything with my life. Thank you Derren brown, god bless x
Derren,
I’ll keep this brief. I cannot express how good it feels to have watched this show. As the credits rolled I found myself weeping since I identified with Matt so much. This message unfortunately doesnt allow me to express to you how moving, inspirational and life altering (for the better) this show has been for me. This episode has thought me so much about not just appreciating the good things in life but embracing new paths and taking the risks to further better myself. I wish I could say more but I just want you to know that I am an avid follower of your work. I will continue to do so and I wish you the very best in everything you pursue in life.
Thank you once again Mr. Brown.
Sincerely,
Gary Etchingham