The Stage

Chit chat - Mind games

Published Friday 3 November 2006 at 16:05

A post-Halloween flavoured chit chat or two this week.

Derren Brown - Croydon-born, beard-wearing mentalist, reformed God botherer and stalwart of The Stage’s Showcall directory - has just released his first book aimed at the common man, as opposed to superior magical beings, Tricks of the Mind.

Tabard was pleased to lay our hands on an early copy - soon I will be able to control your thoughts through this column - and was especially delighted to read about a run-in between Brown and psychic Derek Acorah in a hotel in Swansea.

Prior to the meeting - the pair’s first - Derren had been recently reported, allegedly inaccurately, as having claimed he hated “everything [Acorah] stands for” and saying that, when he dies [if Derren dies] he would like to come back and haunt the psychic because “that would scare the shit out of him”. Sentiments, however badly attributed, that I’m sure other sceptics out there might share.

As one might expect, it proved a tense occasion. In attendance was also one Myleene Klass, wearing oversized sunglasses - you might remember her from that reality TV karaoke thing.

According to Brown, the exchange of views was civil, if awkward, and he and Acorah both went their separate ways to their prospective shows.

A few days after the meeting, however, an article appeared in The Sun - its source, Brown suspects - and frankly, he probably has ways of knowing - was sources close to Klass.

It read: “Rival TV oddballs Derren Brown and Derek Acorah raised spirits - by having a slanging match in a hotel… An onlooker at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Swansea, said, “Derren came over to say hello but Derek looked peeved and asked, “Why are you always slagging me off?” Derren replied, “That’s the way I am. I’ve never seen your show, but I’ve reservations about you.” The pair started rowing, but Myleene Klass, Derek’s co-host for the new series of Ghost Stories, stepped in…. a crowd gathered before a pal pulled away Derren.”

I think we can safely assume that Myleene won’t be receiving an invite to the party when the book is launched this week. Brown goes on to add: “Perhaps Myleene’s penchant for wearing shades indoors prevented her from seeing the bewildering irony of her release.” Maybe they help with seeing the ghosts, though.