Like all good 'magic' tricks, it's always a disappointment to find out how it's actually

done.

I don't subscribe to the fact that he pre-recorded every eventuality over a whole year, that would be pointless in achieving the end result.

My initial thought was the use of a split screen so that the correct balls could be deployed in the pre-recorded half of the shot, but as they used a hand held camera, not a locked off one that wasn't possible. Camera tricky can be ruled out because Derren's more clevererererer than that.... been in the audience for his live stage shows.

It was clearly the classic "magician's illusion". I don't subscribe to his pre-amble that in discussions with Camelot he wasn't "allowed to reveal the result before the BBC". He wouldn't have been revealing the result BEFORE the BBC by showing his choice of numbers as the draw hadn't taken place and therefore a result couldn't have been declared. Therefore by not revealing his hand before the draw implies the illusion taking place at some stage shortly after the draw to align the correct numbered-balls.

The fact that he stood almost motionless whilst the draw was on MIGHT have something to do it, and perhaps he was relying on people to flick back and forth to BBC1 on a number of occasions to check it was all live helped to divert attention.

I have no answers to how this was achieved, and as I intimated at the top I'm reluctant to find out how it was done, just want to enjoy it for what it was.

Posted By: Jim Nasium, Sep 10, 09:01:34