Derren Brown "nails it" with Channel 4 viewers as he recreates his favourite trick live

Derren Brown returned to Channel 4 to celebrate his television career with a special, 20 Years of Mind Control – Live, featuring a special stunt with two oblivious members of the public, friends Rihanna and Tameeq.

The two fans were chosen at random and driven to the studio to play live his "favourite" nail-in-a-secret-cup trick, based on the classic "shell game".

Which cup did Tameeq place the nail under? It had to be red, that's what all the subliminal messaging throughout the show had been leading up to, right?

https://twitter.com/Karl_Downey/status/1295118319184478208

Brown's powers of suggestion remain undimmed, which many watching the two-hour special commented about on social media.

https://twitter.com/Jelly_TTBunting/status/1295118271809818626

As the stunt played out, Brown slammed his hand down on the blue, then the green cups. He admitted at his relief that the stunt and the subliminal messaging had worked out and then explained the ruse to his two guests.

The special had included subliminal red, nails and number one imagery all the way through it and key images had been placed at various points on the women's journey into the TV studio. The production team had even created a special TV ad for a new nail polish, "Red One", to hammer the message home.

Some viewers thought the subliminal messaging was a bit too obvious. But when you're risking doing grievous bodily harm to yourself, perhaps it's understandable to go heavy on the safety side.

https://twitter.com/11122X/status/1295121211836465153

Some viewers were onto him from the start, like this one. "I see you," she posted.

https://twitter.com/MelissaBanks_/status/1295098919286956033

Some viewers wondered if everything in Brown's television career had been leading up to this point.

https://twitter.com/TheSunnyOne2/status/1295098848864591877

What was it about the "nail" that was so suggestive?

https://twitter.com/Patch221596/status/1295098820565532672

Fans have always wanted to understand the powers of suggestion that mark Derren Brown out as an unreal entertainer. This woman was on to him from the beginning.

https://twitter.com/kaywitherington/status/1295110730916798464

Others were anxious that Brown's "suggestions" were leading them up the wrong path.

https://twitter.com/NatalieDawns/status/1295111080671424512

She need not have worried. Brown delivered on the promised stunt as the show cycled through many of his greatest experiments and TV events.

Some viewers felt a bit letdown by the trick, as a celebration of his 20 years on screen.

https://twitter.com/jameswarrender/status/1295123929347039232

But others were emphatic about why they've kept watching his ground-breaking, mind-bending shows.

https://twitter.com/iliko/status/1295120002463522817

This man posted about his firsthand experience of the Derren Brown phenomenon.

https://twitter.com/PeterWanless/status/1295098646598475776

While this man was just grateful for his career: "A wonder of a mind, artist and showman, and thoroughly lovely chap as well."

https://twitter.com/hamishblair82/status/1295115004631568385

Derren Brown: 20 Years of Mind Control – Live was followed by a repeat of his favourite TV stunt, Apocalypse, which was chosen by the public.

Or was it? We didn't notice a public vote. Was this just another example of his ability to confuse and suggest?

If you're looking for more to watch, check out our TV guide.