Derren Brown - The Events - How to Control the Nation

Main article: How to Control the Nation
On Friday 18 September, the second event was broadcast [11] where Brown attempted to "control the nation" by forcing an inability to get up and walk away from the show. Brown showed a short film, consisting of rotating lines, that was meant to produce a sense of physical inability to rise from one's chair. Approximately half of the live studio audience appeared to experience this effect, though Brown claimed that the percentage of viewers experiencing the sensation would be lower in the less-optimal conditions of their homes. [ 12 ]

Brown claimed that his short film used a number of manipulative techniques which would cause involuntary actions if picked up by the viewer, including a message reassuring the watcher that they would remain safe if they remained exactly where they were. Brown later showed a second video which he described as containing a further subliminal message, informing affected viewers that any earlier threat was gone. Additionally, at points throughout the programme, an image was flashed to the viewers showing an illustration of a figure tied to a chair.