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How did Derren Brown do it?

Firstly I would like to say well done Derren for predicting the lottery. I know if I could predict the lottery I wouldn’t tell anyone! But yes well done Derren Brown but how did you do it? Apparently we will find out tonight, but we will get the truth?

I was speaking with friends last night and they all admittedly said he is different, talented and unique which is inarguable. But is it possible to predict 6 numbers at a 1 in 14,000,000 chance? I don’t think so.

Here’s a few theories that might put your brain at ease:

• The projection theory -- The balls were blank when the programme started. Once the numbers were announced, they were projected on to the balls which were sitting on the platform, on top of an apparently perspex column – but was it? Variations: The numbers were laser-printed on to the balls, rather than projection; the balls themselves were a projection.
• The split screen theory -- We thought we were seeing Brown broadcasting live – and we were, in part. But while Brown was broadcasting live, the other half of the shot, with the balls in, was swapped for prerecorded footage of the balls, allowing someone in the studio to write the numbers on to them.
• The writing recognition theory -- When Brown wrote down the numbers on his big bit of card, that was linked to the numbers on the balls. So as he wrote the numbers (in numerical order) on the card, they were also written on the balls.
• The numbers didn’t actually exist theory -- Brown made us think that was something written on the balls, but actually there wasn’t. He either suggested it to us, or hypnotised us into thinking it.
• The podium was swapped theory -- Shaky camera work was used to cover up that the podium with the blank balls was swapped with a podium with numbered balls once they had been announced.
• The it all happened backwards theory -- The show was filmed backwards, including Brown’s speech -- and actually started with the numbers written on the balls. He didn’t actually write on the card. The show was then shown back to us in reverse, so it looked as if he had predicted the result.