If the premise of Derren Brown’s new Netflix special The Push looks familiar, don’t panic, you’re not the victim of a Derren Brown psychological illusion. Broadcast on Channel 4 back in 2016 under the title of Pushed To The Edge, the special saw Brown create a set of circumstances to see if a regular person could be capable of murder. I won’t spoil it for those that didn’t see it, but people are capable of all sorts of things they didn’t think possible when under extreme pressure.

Although The Push is advertised as new, the first trailer features the same footage (including the same unfortunate member of the public), so I’m somewhat confused as to what The Push is offering. A re-edited version of what was broadcast two years ago? A longer version? The same version? Confusion aside, Brown is officially in business with Netflix and The Push is reportedly the first in a series of specials. It’s not uncommon for Netflix to buy the global rights to UK shows after they’re broadcast, BBC Two’s new drama Collateral is heading to Netflix next month when it concludes in the UK.

I’m a big fan of Derren Brown’s psychological trickery (or mind-fuckmastery if you prefer), and he has been absent from our screens for too long. While I feel mildly cheated that this isn’t a bonafide brand new special, I’ll still watch The Push just to see if there is anything different about the Netflix version.

The Push is available on Netflix worldwide on February 27.

Psychological Illusionist Derren Brown makes his much-anticipated US debut with the groundbreaking special The Push, which premieres on Netflix February 27. In The Push, Brown exposes the psychological secrets of obedience and social compliance. He expertly lifts the lid on the terrifying truth that, when confronted with authority, our natural instinct is to unflinchingly obey without question – to such an extent that even the most moral people can be made to commit the most horrendous acts, simply because they are told to do so.