HERO morning after
Morning all. Hope you enjoyed last night if you watched the show. I’m travelling home from a night at the Premier Inn at Leeds Bradford airport, where we were royally looked after throughout our wrap party in the affiliated Beefeater until godknowswhen by the wonderful Christian and Claire who should have been home in bed.
Like to think I stayed in the room that Lenny Henry uses when he’s passing through.
I’ve yet to see the final show and hope to catch it tonight. Bumbled through the live links and only had one moment of my life flashing before my eyes when I briefly completely forgot what to say. Not sure if it registered.
Making ‘Hero’ (as all the cool kids call it) was such a joy. Matt is sensational, and I understand his Facebook friends quotient rocketed during the show once his full name was mentioned. We’ve become good friends too. He and Liv are a very lovely couple.
The challenge for us was fitting everything into a seventy-minute show. The changes were manifold and there was much more story to tell. What you see is obviously very trimmed and edited and squashed into the time allotment. Reading the flurry on Twitter last night there was clearly a small percentage people who just refused to accept any of it, which is shame but of course completely inevitable. Some insisted Matt and Liv had to be actors. It’s impossible to please everyone, but I can certainly assure anyone questioning that sort of thing that I don’t use actors in that way, and it would be stupid to do so, as I’d have to find, kill or silence all their friends, families and acquaintances too.
It has been a real joy making the show. So often TV can be a cynical and joyless business, and to do something that feels worthwhile is a rare treat. And to go to such lengths for one person is so exciting. I was and am so proud of Matt, and meant what I said to him at the end.
It has been very heartwarming reading your responses to the show, particularly from people who have taken something personal from it, which was of course the hope behind the project. I chose Matt because he represents all of us. As many of you have asked how he is, he’ll be the first to tell you he’s a happy, changed man and currently sorting out a new place and career options. I spoke to him right after the show and he loved it. And he got over his fear of flying too, just in case anyone thought I had made it a thousand times worse…
I normally believe everything he does, just 2 things don’t quite add up. 1. If he was a bystander that never put himself forward for anything, why would he apply for a game show? and 2. Flight simulator graphics are not very good, it would be impossible to not notice your not flying a real plane… So I don’t know what is real…
If only we all had our own personal Derren to sort our lives out!
Last nights show was superb! We watched Derren at the Liverpool Empire in May. He amazed us then and still goes on to amaze us now!
Total Genius! π
Yet again you have come up with a brilliant show. I enjoyed every second that ticked by.
I thought it was a great show, very inspiring. I would have loved to have had a chance of landing that plane π
Hi Derren, absolutely loved the show and it’s still in my mind now. The ending was just great and it left me with a big goofy grin on my face which I only realised I had when it ended. Really looking forward to next month’s show and the next time you do a live show in Ireland, you last one in the Grand Canal was unforgettable.
I genuinely mean all of this and look forward to your future work π
I thought this show was truly inspiring, and inspirational. I cried my eyes out at the end i was actually proud of him myself and I dont even know the guy. I think everyone should watch the show and I feel a lot of people are very similar to matt and that’s why people can relate to how he was at the start of the show.
Darren you are a work of art!
Absolutely loved the show, Derren. You did a fantastic job, one of the most emotional, tense and uplifting pieces of television I have seen in years. Hats off, sir.
I’ve said this twice already on here, but what you did for Matt makes me want to hug you so hard, I’d break your ribs…in a good way. π
was amazingly done, very nice derren!
Had tears in my eyes at the end. I hope you plan to write something along the same lines.
Derren, absolutely brilliant and thrilling show last night! I think the edited and cut down version shown was a true accomplishment, and depicted the events and changes Matt went through in a stunning way!
Please pass on my best to Matt & family!
As always, a true master of the Occult and all her families. Good work bud! Can’t wait for the next one π
Truly inspirational. Emotions ran high and low. Thank you my friend! XXXXXXXXXX
Brilliant absolutely brilliant. You are one seriously talented guy.
Awesome show Derren – as always. You truly are a genius and Matt seems a lovely guy and you have inspired him to turn his life around. There was something in your show for all of us….if we choose to change. Thank you once again Derren!
Derren,
The show last night was amazing. I used to watch your shows always with the same question in my mind: “How did he do THAT?!”
I no longer worry about this, because the marvel of what I see before me is so astounding I don’t think I care to know. The last 15 minutes of “Hero” had my heart doing somersaults. I felt excitement and also a slight amount of worry for Matt, but kept faith that you’d done your work with him and he would pull through.
Thank you again for providing yet another remarkable show and a big congratulations for helping Matt (and I’m sure millions more) in helping him to embrace his life.
Bravo!
Daniel
what an amazing show, I got a bit teary at the end. it was so hart warming to see Matt’s life change for the better like that. you did good Brown! keep it up.
If you want to change my life for the better let me know… I don’t want to stroke a crocodile though… maybe tickle a penguin?
thanks for a great show, you never fail to impress me.
all the best
Chris
Absolutely loved the show. Totally made my day/week/month/year. I actually punched the air when Matt stood up to volunteer on the plane! It was really wonderful, thank you Derren and all involved.
I agree you cant please anyone but you certainly pleased me and the group of friends that watched it with me. Im looking forward to the next one! Well done and good luck on the rest of your ventures! C
This was a great show! tho I have one question – did Matt pay for that blue cab? (If it was a cab ofc)
Amazing, amazing, amazing! Thoroughly enjoyed every second of “Hero”. Derren is outstanding – a true master of the human psyche.
Glad you enjoyed it so much Derren cos i must say i loved it!! Wast the best special to date because it went much deeper then others and wasnt just for show π
You are a legend XD keep on making great shows π
Derren I would just like to say, myself and my fiance watched your Hero show last night and was blown away. I was in tears at the end – it was so Inspirational and moving. Thank you for making such a fabulous programme and I wish all the best to Matt and his family.
Thank you Derren for making us all open our eyes a little more.
Aimee x
Derren Brown never fails to amaze, Hero at 30,000 feet is a truly inspiring program that shows us what potential we have as humans. We get one chance at life, don’t waste a miracle before your eyes. The show has showed me that I could do so much more as the miracle that my life is. Seize every opportunity and don’t be a bystander when something happens, take action and be a hero.
Greetings from Chile, South America!
It was a very inspiring, and truly amazing show. Thank you for making this kind of T.V., from which we can learn, entertain and amaze ourselves.
I hope to see you live one day, but I’m afraid I’m waaaay too far from the UK…
Great work and shows that Derren tries new things and takes risks in doing these different shows!
Abeo- Will there be an dvd with all that extra footage in the works?
Congrats guys
Msg From Abeo: Not sure yet, but if we hear anything we will post it on the blog π
Truely excellent show last night (missed the setup because I forgot it was on) but was absolutely hooked to the very end. If that was the heavily edited version, any chance of a longer version for DVD or online?
INSPIRING! When he landed I started laughing in happiness! I got so involved in his story. Go Mat! Hopefully we’ll see him on the streets of Yorkshire as a police constiable soon! WELL DONE DERREN! Bye all! xx
take all my fears away, make me confident to do exactly what i want in life, take away my self conciousness, my total non belief , make me who i really am without fear
I really loved last nights show. It was amazing, I was on the verge of tears at the end. And it seriously affected me… Made me think. Great TV, and it’s a shame people were slightly shallow and didn’t see the meaning to it. I really think that affected millions of people – I hope I represent perhaps many of them.
But one mind-bending ending… I was left wondering whether there is going to be another episode in 30 days? After all, you did set the timer again… So… Perhaps…
But thank you. And thank you to everyone else behind the scenes; they should be appreciated too.
Loved the show,your best performance yet!u certainly picked the right man for the gig.like you say “Matt is like all of us”,that is too dam true in my case,talk about a wasted opportunity of life!I see that every time I look in the mirror.
Just one more thing I can say and that is,if you want someone to pass your vast knowledge onto please get intouch!
In fact this is a plead to you,I am very willing to drop everything in a moments notice to come and learn anything that you would so kindly like to teach to another person.think ‘Yip Man Bruce Lee’
Derren this is no wind up,please,I will be there tomorrow if you could give me this chance….
Joe
Linwood
Paisley
Oh and by the way – loved the reference to Davenports! It’s a great little shop… I remember seeing a straight jacket in there on the wall for quite a large amount… Perhaps that was the one you bought.
Although I do feel very out of place there. I just love looking around – I’ve never bought anything. Maybe one day we bump into each other…
Spent a small portion of my day arguing fruitlessly with a couple of people on a forum who refuse to believe any of last nights program could be real. Was everything 100% as it seemed No was everything fake No as always it was a mix of the two but to deny Matt and his family were real people having a real life changing experience is laughable. I must commend you Derren on the underlying theme of the show, I think the idea of a truly positive message (not in an x-factor way) was just too much for some viewers so used to sinicle TV….in the end maybe the whole idea was too scary and they had to add the sinacism themselves.
i nearly was the hero, i got a 4 seconds showing on tv, hope you choose me next time π
Derren, I really loved the show, and am definitely taking a lot away from it to think about. Of course there’s going to be the inevitable ‘fakes on a plane’ calls, (I’ve also read complaints from people disappointed that Matt didn’t land the real plane – WTF?) but regardless the message is still an important one. I thought Matt’s journey was amazing.
BTW Derren, you look REALLY good in the red checked shirt π
Hi Derren, loved the show last night. While watching, I was particularly struck by two movie references. When you talked to Matt in his garden and gave him the countdown, he goes to a golf course the next day… this is very similar to a scene from ‘Donnie Darko’ except that the main character actually wakes up on a golf course after being given his countdown while in a dream-like state. The second was of course ‘Fight Club’ in which Tyler Durden pretends to hold up a convenience store employee in order to shock him into pursuing what he really wants to do with his life. Were those parts of ‘Hero’ inspired by these movies? Do you think that Matt had seen Donnie Darko and made this connection to a golf course in his unconscious mind, or was this simply a coincidence?
Hello Derren I watched your hero at thirty thousand feet just now it was well rehearsed and i enjoyed a lot i just find it hard to believe that you got him to get out of bed, ha ha ha but your other tv shows are always so convincing. Many people think you are fake but I am not quite so sure due to your latest show. But I will keep on watching as always.
Hi derren, i just want to say i absolutely loved your show last night, it really made me think too about the way we live our lives. If im to be honest you truly inspired me and it makes me think, “Can i become like you??” if i could become half as intelligent as you and be blessed with the special gift you have please point me in the right direction. I am looking on the internet now to read up on hypnosis, it is truly fascinating. I will definintly be watching every show of yours from now on, sadly i missed the live one where you hypnotized every one at home too, i would love to watch that one. Congratulations on a great show, and the very best of luck for the future, i look forward to seeing much more of you and your amazing work and team. Congratulations!
Excellent show, knew it would be. Felt strangley emotional towards the end, not like me at all :s carry on with your amazing work, I was at your enigma show at Sunderland, got me on stage to play guess who, amazing π busy reading your book now and hope to learn alot from it, take care.
Fantastic show, sat on the edge of the sofa at the end of the show.
Sent out a great message aswell. Cheers Derren! xxx
Mr.Brown you are a wonderful man, what you did for one guy was amazing. Although Matt was a main subject in “Hero at 30.000 feet”, for me you are a real hero <3
World's happy to have you <3
I love you Derren! I never doubted you and i really can’t understand why a lot of people do. Was in tears at the end, brilliant show. Unfortunately it hasn’t made me any less scared to fly.
I love you Derren. . . . You are the man! X x
Excellent show.. I love all the shows but I really liked the fact that this one was more about happiness and personal confidence than magic. Although it did turn out to be magic in the end, I loved it when he said that this was the highlight of the career. Love Derren Brown. Bring on 30 days time!
Derren I think you are the real hero, using your skills to change peoples lifes positively. Just the fact you did this to one person using just your own work is incredible and you are inspirational to everyone.
And my acting buddy Vanessa was on your aeroplane! She loved the experience.
I’m counting down until you change someone elses life for the better!
Ps – you couldn’t drop us a line and tell us who will win the st. Ledger this sat ? Lol!
Cya
Danny x
I’ve been a fan for years Derren and have seen all the stuff you’ve done and the influence you’ve had on pop culture (i.e. The Mentalist and Lie To Me anyone?). And to hear you say to Matt that it was the pinnacle of your career to be standing in front of him after what he did was very moving put in that context. You sounded very sincere and I think of you a hundred times better after hearing it. I wish you all the best and I hope to see more of your work.
As Ever Derren you are Truly an inspirsation to us all. Always fascinating to watch. This show was wonderful, to help a young man turn around his life a give him new found confidence, Smashing !! I wish you could do the same for my son, I so related to Matts Mum. Sending only good thoughts.
Julia
Derren, you are amazing.
You have such special skills and use them for such good. Thank you for sharing them with the world.
Hero was great, I cried at the end too! I think it was entertaining and inspiring to everyone who watched it, so even if people think bits were faked (not that I do) … who cares?! It was a TV program that changed at least one life for the better.
Love you!
Lisa
PS – I had a dream with you in once and now I’m a little scared it was actually real!!
PPS – I for one didn’t notice you forget your lines!
What a wonderfully inspiring programme. Well done to derren and matt, you may just have turned my life around. Today I feel hopeful instead of hopeless for the first time in a long while!!!!!
I could really do with a Derren in my life right now π
One question – is there any chance of seeing some behind the scenes action??? As i’d pay to see the footage of Derren and the crew sneaking into gardens under the cover of darkness!
It was a wonderful programme, very inspiring and I felt a great sense of pride in Matt myself for the fact he took the opportunities that had been presented.
I also felt it was a nice presonal challenge – how much can we change our lives in 30 days???
Maybe a future blog post in the making – 30 days on – what did you do?
Sarah xx (Now married … no not because of the 30 day thing – that would just be silly π )
Derren, derren, derren…
You have taught us to look beyond the obvious and question the fakes. Be careful what you wish for π
I enjoyed it Mr B, thanks for the ride!
PS do another Stewie impression please….. it makes you so much more human!