Read Derren Brown's GQ Interview

December's British GQ includes a great Q&A with Derren Brown, which you can read at: GQ. Here's my favorite exchange from the interview:

Who owes you an apology? 

Nobody. I do appreciate it when people say sorry, or thank you - it bugs me when they don't. But people fight their own battles and generally operate in the way they think is best, and if I had had all their life experiences up to the point that they did whatever annoying thing they did, I imagine I'd have acted in the same way too. And if you walk around with a self-pitying narrative about your life that includes people who owe you apologies, you need to reconsider. 

As always, most of DB's answer are tongue-in-cheek.

Derren Brown Doctor Who Tweet

Back in June, Derren tweeted "I'm probably not supposed to say this, but I am the new Dr Who."

There will be a new Doctor Who (Matt Smith is leaving and being replaced in the 2013 Christmas episode), but Derren is obviously joking in the face of rampant fan speculation.

Casing Derren Brown's Next Crime Scene: The Secret Gallery

News outlets have been reporting that next Friday's Derren Brown special will have him conducting a theft of a painting from art collector Ivan Massow in London. If you stop by the news section of Massow's website, you can see a mention of the DB special, and pictures of the gallery where the heist will apparently occur: Massow gallery. The page includes a picture of Derren at the gallery, as well.

When is Derren Brown's The Great Art Robbery on Channel 4? (and predictions)

The Great Art Robbery will air next Friday, December 13, 2013, at 9 pm on channel 4.

Any guesses about how DB will train a group of pensioners to steal a work of art (from an art collector who has been warned of the impending theft)? The concept sounds like Derren's past special, The Heist. Based on advance publicity, though, this time I suspect the crime will rely on the fact that people overlook the elderly.

My best guess is that DB's thieves will steal the painting in broad daylight, surrounded by other museum goers. They will go unnoticed because they are elderly, thereby making Derren's point about how we should pay more attention to the older members of society.

Derren Brown Bald?

Those who have been to Derren's latest stage show, Infamous, might be wondering why our favorite psychological illusionist has lost his hair. After seeing the show back in May, blogger Ellie Recommends commented: "I must admit, I'm still a bit mind-boggled at over 50% of the content of the show (as well as the fact Derren Brown is now practically bald!)."

After years of joking about his receding hairline, it seems DB has simply decided to cut his hair short, as many men do. Back in 2012 he tweeted that he was "Thinking of losing the goatee and cutting remaining hair right back" and attached a picture of a short haircut from earlier that year.

How Derren Brown made "This Is Not a Painting"

Check out the video explanation of Derren's not-a-painting promo for his upcoming art heist special at DigitalSpy: Not a Painting

Many AboutDerrenBrown readers probably guessed how the illusion was created, but it is still fascinating to see it done.

Psychic Sue Nicholson Challenges Derren Brown

New Zealand's Waikato Times interviewed self-proclaimed psychic Sue Nicholson, and she threw down a challenge for Derren Brown. Here is an excerpt:

Sue also dismissed claims from professional mentalist and skeptic Derren Brown that psychic abilities can be explained through a combination of reading body language, suggestion and keeping messages from the "other side" suitably vague.

Sue said she is able to receive messages using just an upside down photograph, "see if he [Derren Brown] can do that!" she said.

In fairness to Nicholson, she did go on to criticize fake psychics, but of course she insists that her psychic work is for real.

The Great Art Robbery - Watch the Trailer

It's time to watch the trailer for Derren Brown's upcoming (December 13) special, The Great Art Robbery: