Derren Brown reveals new 'social experiment disguised as reality show' for Channel 4
Derren Brown and Channel 4 have announced Incognito, the latest experiment from the famed illusionist.
Derren Brown is fronting a mysterious new "social experiment disguised as a reality show".
The 54-year-old mentalist and magician is bringing new programme Incognito to Channel 4, which will see 10 strangers from totally different walks of life move into an institution for seven days.
Each person has a job which could be judged by other people - such as a priest, soldier or adult film star - and the goal is to hide their own identity while trying to suss out the other contestants' careers.
Derren will oversee the show and occasionally influence the players himself, while there are challenges which could give clues about their professions.
The illusionist said in a statement: "With previous shows I’ve normally had a clear idea of how things will conclude. This was very different.
“It’s a show about how we form opinions, live by our labels, judge others by them, and what happens when all that’s removed.”
Tom Beck, head of live events for Channel 4, insisted the programme is nothing like anything Derren has worked on before.
He added: "Any Derren Brown show is an event, but Incognito is unlike anything he has done before. A social experiment disguised as a reality show.
"It’s ambitious, mischievous, challenging and, with its central question about how our personal prejudices affect the way we judge others, it couldn’t be more timely.
“The end results are fascinating, moving and wildly entertaining and I can’t wait for people to see it.”
The programme is expected to air later this year.
Derren's most recent special was Sacrifice in 2018 - the first of his events made exclusively for Netflix - which featured unsuspecting participant Phil in a faked medical experiment designed to increase his empathy and bravery.
He was then put in a situation where he had to choose between saving his own life or taking a bullet for a stranger.
