On October 5th 2003 Derren made world television history when he played Russian Roulette live on Channel 4. Here's what the press had to say:
Is this the sickest tv stunt yet? Who I wonder had the idea of broadcasting this tawdry pornographic event?
Roy Hattersley, The Daily Mail
Inviting viewers to see a man risk his life is a moment of landmark depravity on television.
Mark Lawson, The Guardian
Shoots you, sir!
The Times
On Sunday evening I spent one hour studying a man whose brains could have been splatted over a camera.
That didn't happen, but while watching Derren Brown's Russian Roulette, I realised I was staring down the barrel of great TV. Voyeuristic, yes, sick, possibly. But great magic merged with reality television - what a blast.
I think we all knew he wasn't going to actually die but the look on his face as he held the pistol to temple is something I won't forget.
Maybe it was a con, but Derren Brown has that certain something - his mind control is, er, mind-blowing. Russian Roulette was a gamble but this high-calibre production hit me right between the eyes.
Dominic Mohan, The Sun
Even if the outcome of Derren Brown's Russian Roulette was never in serious doubt, the final minutes made gripping, disturbing television. Here was a home-grown attempt to dice with death that knocked David Blaine's pompous, protracted starvation stunt into a cocked top hat.
Though none of us would say we wanted Derren to die, we have been resentful of the suggestion that he might not. Even Brown's cultivated aura of arrogance was cited as proof that he wasn't really risking his life. They used to say that about Houdini, who died in 1926 when a stunt went wrong.
I believe Brown really did play Russian Roulette and the fact that we tuned into Channel 4 in case it went wrong disturbs me a little. But it was compelling television.
Nick Curtis, The Evening Standard
Tension, fear, excitement, horror, relief, joy, admiration. Rarely have I felt all those emotions with the space of an hour's telly viewing.
I sat there rooted to the spot, thinking "my god, this guy could blow his brains out in the next couple of seconds".
So does this make Derren Brown a liar? A conman? A cheat? A fake? No, it makes him a genius. How can we feel cheated when an illusionist pulls off the illusion of risk?
That's what magic is.
Dominik Diamond, Daily Star
As one of several million who watched, transfixed, tapping wood (the man should have been shot for his first name alone), I'm thinking of suing Mr. Brown for the return of that hour of my life wasted on a two-bit charlatan.
Matthew Norman, The Daily Mirror
Derren brown's Russian Roulette was sick and I refused to watch the programme.
Lorraine Kelly, The Sun
This is a depraved and tawdry teasing of it's audience's basest instincts - to see another person die. Channel 4 should be ashamed.
Alison Graham, Radio Times
You're fucking mad Derren!
Time Out
I rushed back from the pub to watch this. At least he could have injured himself.
Hadley Freeman, The Guardian
Russian Roulette made excellent viewing. I'm not going to come over all moralistic here because, frankly, if anyone is stupid enough to try Derren's dare at home then they're too stupid to live.
Kathryn Flett, The Observer
Far from damaging his reputation, Derren Brown's controversial Russian Roulette stunt was a magical masterstroke that confirms him as a showman of considerable talent.
Mark Borkowski, MediaGuadian.co.uk
TV stunt not a bang in ratings
We are happy or sorry to report - depending on what you expect from your televised entertainment - that British illusionist Derren Brown survived the Russian Roulette stunt that ran live-ish on the U.K."s Channel 4 over the weekend.
Akron Beacon Journal, OH (US)
I doubt whether I made many converts in my time as a tosser
At the weekend, according to reports in the news pages of the newspapers, which, it seems, no longer concern themselves with news, a magician, Mr Derren Brown, played Russian Roulette on television.
The Scotsman (UK)
StuntWatch
Derren Brown's Russian roulette stunt was a TV masterstroke, says Mark Borkowski
The Guardian (UK)
Riveting finale to Russian Roulette stunt
Channel 4's Russian Roulette was a mix of the intriguing and the genuinely tense. The intriguing element was the bulk of the show, as illusionist Derren Brown...
BBC News (UK)
Police expose Derren Brown hoax
Derren Brown, the illusionist who claimed he was playing Russian Roulette on television using a live bullet, was revealed yesterday to be neither...
The Guardian (UK)
Brown speaks out over TV roulette claims
Derren Brown has spoken about over the claims that his Channel 4 show Russian Roulette was faked. The stunt, broadcast live on Sunday...
Digital Spy (UK)
Enough to make you click the "Off" button
Billed as a psychological illusionist, Derren Brown did not, in fact, shoot himself in the head. The show was also not live but taped, just in case.
San Francisco Chronicle, CA (US)
Grabbing the Headlines
A British magician apparently "played" a deadly game of Russian roulette with a loaded pistol on a TV show Sunday despite criticism the stunt could lead to copycats, Reuters reports.
Salt Lake Tribune, UT (US)
Three million watch Russian Roulette stunt
More than three million people tuned in to watch mind control expert Derren Brown pull off his live Russian Roulette stunt on TV.
Ananova (UK)
Mum's terror at TV gun stunt
Illusionist Derren Brown's mother has revealed her fear as she watched him hold a loaded pistol to his head and pull the trigger in front of millions of television viewers.
This is London (UK)
Making magic cool...or cruel
Yesterday, in a widely condemned, much-hyped and some might say tasteless stunt, Derren Brown was due to play Russian Roulette "live" on British television.
Sydney Morning Herald (Aus)
Russian Roulette for live TV
An illusionist will play Russian Roulette with a loaded pistol live on British television tonight, amid protests from police and anti-weapons organisations.
News.com.au (Aus)
It would be suicide to try this at home
Derren Brown will tonight pick up a pistol, point it at his head and pull the trigger in a game of Russian roulette live on TV.
Glasgow Sunday Mail (UK)
Illusionist ignores critics to play Russian Roulette on TV
Derren Brown, the "psychological illusionist", is determined to press ahead tomorrow night with a game of Russian Roulette using a loaded gun live.
The Independent (UK)
...With Special Guest the Grim Reaper
"Derren Brown Plays Russian Roulette Live" will not actually air live. It will air with a several-seconds delay and some...
Washington Post, DC (US)
Brits condemn magician's plan for televised Russian Roulette
Britain's Channel Four television is paying self-styled psychological illusionist Derren Brown to stage a game of Russian Roulette with a loaded gun
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, FL (US)
Outcry over Russian Roulette show
Tony Bonnici, Daily Mail. Viewers will see illusionist Derren Brown put a loaded pistol to his head and pull the trigger.
This is London (UK)
Police condemn Russian Roulette stunt
Self-styled "psychological illusionist" Derren Brown is planning to stage a game of Russian Roulette with a loaded gun live on Channel 4.
ITV News (UK)
Mind expert in Russian Roulette stunt
Mind control expert Derren Brown is to put himself in the firing line for the ultimate TV stunt - televised Russian Roulette.
ITV (UK)
TV gun stunt to be held overseas
Illusionist Derren Brown is to stage a controversial Russian Roulette stunt outside the UK in order to avoid tight gun laws at home, it has emerged.
BBC News (UK)
Don't play Russian Roulette on telly
They fear mind control expert Derren Brown's Russian Roulette routine this Sunday on Channel 4 will spark copycat attempts especially from children.
Glasgow Daily Record (UK)
Public's gunning for Brown
What sort of person wants to put the bullet in the gun which might kill Darren, sorry, Derren Brown? Some 12,000 people applied ...
The Guardian (UK)