Laurence Rees is the head of the BBC History Programmes Unit.

Laurence Rees Esq,
The History Zone
BBC 2 Television
Wood Lane
London W12 7RJ

5th June 2000

Dear Mr. Rees,

Until now every programme that carried your name has been first class. However, this time you have been badly let down by the makers of 'The Houdini Myth'. It featured the professional trickster James Randi, a man who has set himself up as an expert on the so-called paranormal. He is in fact only an expert at deceiving the public.

The opposite is true about the "dead" Houdini making contact with his wife. You will see from the enclosed cutting from the Psychic News dated 9th April 1960 that Mrs. Houdini most certainly did make contact with her husband through the American medium Arthur Ford on 9th January 1929.

James Randi's offer of 1 million dollars to any person who can prove that so-called paranormal phenomena exist is also a trick because he will never have to part with his money:

1 He does not recognise the findings of independent scientists, he alone is the judge and jury!

2 His legal contract containing 12 conditions is outrageous. Clause 7 for example clears Randi of any blame if a medium is injured or even killed under examination!

I know the British public can rely on you putting the record straight.

Yours sincerely

Michael Roll

James Randi - His Amazing Role in the Great Psi Media Circus - an article by Sam Nicholls (1991)