For U.K. DISers...

[GeorgeG]

I'm watching "Most Haunted," which originates in the U.K., and I was wondering what the local take is on the show and, in particular, medium Derek Acorah.

I enjoy watching such programs and have a fair interest in the subject. I just don't know how to take Derek. If the show truly is not scripted and Derek comes on the scene with no prior knowledge of the local, he makes some astonishing revelations. However, when Derek talks to "Sam," his link to the spirit world, I really wonder about his credibility.

I'm hoping some of you might be able to lend an opinion or two about how this show, and Derek, are viewed in the U.K..

Thanks!

 

[catherine]

I haven't watched this programme, so I can't help. If you post this on the UK community board you might get might find get some answers there.

Good luck!

 

[emily1982]

hiya

i don't know much about the show, but i do know they do quite a few live programmes and also derek has now been replaced. sorry don't know much about it.

 

[Gonz Of Lancashire]

I'm watching "Most Haunted," which originates in the U.K., and I was wondering what the local take is on the show and, in particular, medium Derek Acorah.

I enjoy watching such programs and have a fair interest in the subject. I just don't know how to take Derek. If the show truly is not scripted and Derek comes on the scene with no prior knowledge of the local, he makes some astonishing revelations. However, when Derek talks to "Sam," his link to the spirit world, I really wonder about his credibility.

I'm hoping some of you might be able to lend an opinion or two about how this show, and Derek, are viewed in the U.K..

Thanks!

Most Haunted went live from my town a couple of years ago on Halloween as we are remembered for witch trials the same way as Salem is in the US. The programme runs over three nights, and as the nights go on, Derek gets more bonkers. I'm not a believer in any of the after-life stuff, but I truly believe that Derek does.

Only thing which was weird was one of the buildings that featured in the show was a place I used to work. The job I did was insurance, but now I return there as a window cleaner. Derek said that a boy was in the corner called John (my name), calling out for Alice (my grandmother's and daughters name). All this was in the office I worked in. They then went back to the studio to see if this married up with any stories from the past, and it did. There was a story of how over a hundred years ago a window cleaner spoke to a small boy (in that particular office). When the window cleaner went to ask for his money, he told the lady that he had been talking to a small boy upstairs, but the lady informed him her son died two years earlier and THERE WERE NO CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE!!!!!!!!. Derek went to DEFCON 5. Derek is likeable and as camp as a row of tents, Yvette Fielding is quite annoyng though.



Don't have nightmares.

 

[VSL]

I'm not a fan, but my FMIL loves him.

She (and FFIL and some friends) went to see him live about two years ago (I think it was him). Her [dead] father, apparently, came through and said some relevent things (the garden needed to be finished and stuff - and Derek knew his real name and his nickname... can't remember the details now). But some of those things could have been applied to almost anyone.

Personally, I think he's a little slimy and, while I do believe in the afterlife (or at least there being something after death), I'm not entirely sure whether I can take Most Haunted seriously. A lot of the time they seem to make a huge deal out of absolutely nothing (especially that Yvette person).

 

[GeorgeG]

Thanks for the replies!

Derek can come off as a bit of a whack when he talks to "Sam" and that makes me wonder about the whole show. We have a "Ghost Hunters" program here in the US that seems a lot more credible since they rule out anything they can't truly document.

Being interested in history, Most haunted is at least entertaining. I get a laugh when Yvette and some of the others get scared by any little sound. Maybe they chose the wrong career?

Thanks again.

 

[NMAmy]

Derek is likeable and as camp as a row of tents,

I LOVE this expression! You're right, he is.

DD and I love this show and watch them all as they become available on On Demand. Of course, we take them all with a grain of salt but they show some very interesting and beautiful locations.

We're planning a trip to England to visit DH's family and I keep trying to talk dd into visiting some of these places.

 

[PeterPanette]

Well, I truly believe in the Spirit world, but this show really gets on my nerves. They're so unprofessional about everything, and constantly pointing the video camera at their own face, instead of toward the supposed "action".

And Yvette and the "girls"....you can't hear anything because of their constant screeching and whining. I now drive my husband crazy, going around the house constantly saying, "Wat wuz thaht? Are you hahving a lahf??"

To borrow a UK phrase, Carl is as useless as a chocolate teapot. Such a hanger-on.

Now to Derek. I wish I could remember the link, but I read an interview with the parapsychologist guy (wish I could remember his name) that goes on most of the hunts with them. He's highly educated, and very credible. He said that Derek is a complete fake. He related an incident where they were going to a particular building, and he (the parapsych) talked some of the production crew into writing down a fake name - an anagram for "Derek is a Fake" - on some "research" paperwork. Well, wouldn't you know it, Derek starts communicating with Sam, and all of a sudden he starts yelling this (fake) person's name, and giving lots of details about him. The parapsych is noticeably trying to keep a straight face (we saw that particular episode), and keeps asking Derek to clarify details about this fake person.

Also, on another episode, he said that the owners of the Inn had been telling him about a haunted bedroom suite, prior to taping. Derek happened to linger around as they were talking about it, at a removed distance. So, as the show begins taping, Derek starts talking about a haunted bedroom suite, saying, "Oh this is the one, etc.," And he goes on and on, giving made up details, etc. Finally the owner of the Inn politely informs him that there is indeed a haunted bedroom, but it's not this one. Derek had eavesdropped, but had not gotten the correct location.

It saddens me a little, because I truly believe there are credible, trustworthy mediums out there, and shysters like Derek come along and give them a credibility problem in the public eye.

All that being said - do I keep watching? Yes.

By the way, I love the rowdy and rough Stewart....he always seems to stir up some spirit action.

 

[Disney owl]

Rubbish TV & that's being polite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!