Magician to play Russian roulette on live television
Date: August 03, 2003
Source: skunc


NOT since Christopher Walken put a gun to his head in The Deer Hunter has there been such an air of anticipation about a game of Russian roulette, writes Will Iredale.
For Walken, the gamble paid off in career terms and he won an Oscar for his performance in the post-Vietnam era film. Now a British illusionist plans to carve his name in history by playing the game on live television.

Derren Brown, who describes himself as an expert in “psychological magic”, will ask a member of the public to load a single bullet into a six-chamber revolver.

Holding the gun to his head, Brown will repeatedly pull the trigger until, using “the power of mind control” he senses he has reached the loaded chamber. Then — if all goes according to plan — he will fire the bullet into the air.

The stunt, which will be broadcast on Channel 4, has already been criticised for glamorising violence and is likely to be closely monitored by television watchdogs.

But it could transform Brown, 32, into a modern-day Harry Houdini, the escapologist whose scrapes with death won applause from early 20th century audiences.

Last week Channel 4 started publicising the stunt in advertisements and initiated the search for a viewer prepared to load Brown’s revolver. Potential applicants will first have to respond to three questions that will reveal enough about their psychological make-up to allow the magician to decide whether he can trust them.

The stunt, however, is likely to be performed outside Britain to get around gun laws. The Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey are thought to be under consideration.

Exactly how Brown will ensure he does not shoot himself in October is the subject of debate among magicians. Some believe his gun may have adapted chambers that could provide a visual clue as to whether they contain a bullet. Alternatively, Brown may have trained himself to detect the slight weight difference between an empty and loaded chamber.

Channel 4 defended the roulette stunt. All necessary security precautions would be taken, it said, and viewers would be warned in advance “not to try this at home”.