Derren Brown is a man who has appeared to play Russian Roulette on live television, using a revolver filled with genuine ammunition. But even by his standards, his latest stunt was a real jaw-dropper.
On Wednesday at 10.35pm, having boasted for days that he would predict the six main ball numbers in the midweek National Lottery draw, Brown went on-air, live across all Channel 4's terrestrial and satellite channels.
At exactly the same time, BBC1 broadcast the draw, also live. On the stage of the studio from which Brown was broadcasting stood a television, to show the BBC draw.
A few feet away, to the left as the viewer saw it, stood a clear plastic stand. On top of the stand were six white, lottery-sized balls.
Brown claimed the winning numbers, as predicted by him, had already been written on the balls.
They would, he said, be revealed after the draw had been made. The six main numbers drawn by the lottery machine were, in numerical order, 2, 11, 23, 28, 35, 39. And the numbers written on the balls in Brown's studio were, yes, 2, 11, 23, 28, 35, 39.
Brown had not bought a ticket for the NationalLottery.co.uk. That's a pity, because if he really did predict the right numbers he would have been the only person to do so. There were no claimants for the 2.4million jackpot.
How did he do it? The theory in more detail...

Derren has found a system
Every year someone claims to come up with a 'unbeatable' way of predicting the lottery. From statistical analysis of which numbers are 'bound' to come up soon, to using the sun, moon and stars (and your birth date) to find the right combination, you can buy a dozen such 'fool-proof' systems over the internet for a fiver.

However, you can watch the tv footage that proves Derren has indeed found a system that works. The cameras don't lie.

What is the system that successfully predicted the nationallottery.co.uk?

Unfortunately, we may never know.