The girl in the audience, Sam, announced that she had thought of someone whose initials were 'TH'. Esther Rantzen handed the sealed package over to Sam, who opened it up herself and took out the small writing pad inside. Viewers saw her look of surprise to find that the pad bore the initials 'T.H.' in bold letters two or three inches high. Esther Rantzen took the pad and displayed it to the camera. She asked Sam what she made of it. Sam said "I wouldn't have believed it".

Fact check: At the time the show was made I had already met Susan Blackmore many times and I knew her quite well. However, I had no influence whatsoever over which person she chose for this stunt. I did not influence Susan's choice in any way - it could literally have been anyone in the audience that day. Susan Blackmore does not know how this trick was done. The woman chosen, 'Sam', was not known to me. I had never met her before and I have never seen her since. She was not a plant, and her choice of initials was free and unrestricted. She does not know how the trick was done, and was genuinely surprised when she saw my prediction was correct. Esther Rantzen did not deceive or mislead either the studio audience or the viewers at home. She did not tamper with the prediction on my behalf or act as my stooge or confederate. She knows a little of how it was done (she is the Executive Producer of her own shows) but not the whole story.

I had a wonderful time doing the show, and I would like to place on record my sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone involved, and to the BBC for their outstanding professionalism.
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[ 'Esther', BBC Television ]

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