Derek Acorah
Encyclopedia
Derek Acorah is a British
medium
. He is best known for his work on Most Haunted
, broadcast on Living, between 2002 and 2005. He recently presented the series Derek Acorah on Sky Real Lives. Although he continues to be a popular figure in live tours and television work, he has been criticised and parodied, often casting doubt over his legitimacy as a medium.
near Southport
, Lancashire
in North West England
with his wife Gwen, he also has a son from previous marriage. He works regularly in television and radio and has made personal appearances across the United Kingdom
, Europe
, the Middle East
, New Zealand
and the U.S.A..
Acorah claims that his first supernatural
experience came as a child when the spirit of his late grandfather - who died before Acorah was born - visited him.
in Northern Ireland and Stockport County before applying for the Australian League with the Australia
n team USC Lion.
When Acorah's football career ended because of injuries and homesickness
he returned to England and to Liverpool
. He claimed psychic powers were always with him and after a while he set up as a full time spirit medium based in his home city of Liverpool.
in Manchester
and broadcast on the Granada Breeze television channel. Following the success of his initial appearance on the show, he was regularly invited back to feature in a weekly segment. He later worked as a main contributor on a spin-off show called Psychic Livetime as well as The Psychic Zone was given his own show, Predictions with Derek Acorah where he would conduct readings on members of the public in their own homes.
In January 1998, Acorah, travelled to Los Angeles
where he took part in various paranormal investigations both in Los Angeles itself and in Hollywood.
He also conducted a live show on stage at the Vogue Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard
. In 2000 he returned to California
to record a pilot
for a new show named Connections with Derek Acorah. The show involved Acorah touring the streets of Santa Monica
giving impromptu readings to members of the public but the show was never picked up by any of the television networks.
In July 2001, Acorah was asked to feature in a new British television programme called Haunting Truths which was subsequently sold to Living and renamed Most Haunted. It was at this time that he arguably became Britain's most widely known medium and was described as "the sexiest man in Spiritualism". He worked on the show for six series until his departure in 2005. Acorah claims that he left the show to pursue other projects although the show's presenter, Yvette Fielding
is reported to have said that he was asked to leave after Ciarán O'Keeffe
, a parapsychologist
for the show, fed him misinformation to which he later responded during an investigation, presenting himself as being
possessed by the spirit of a fictional character.
In Spring 2003 Living also commissioned Antiques Ghost Show which shows Acorah demonstrating psychometry as he unfolds the mysteries of family heirloom
s. The show was not as popular as Ghost Towns, but it was generally well received. In one episode Acorah apparently was able to determine correctly the name and occupation of the previous owner of an object - an erotic sculpture from the Victorian period.
After Acorah's departure from Most Haunted, Living commissioned Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns
. In contrast to Most Haunted which mainly featured well known stately homes, castles and the like, this programme would involve the public and would highlight their stories of ghostly activity in less well known locations throughout the country. Derek, together with the presenter, would also knock on people's doors and offer them a private sitting in their own homes. Acorah was joined for the first two series by presenters Daniella Westbrook and Angus Purden
and also by Myleene Klass
and Rhodri Owen
for the third and final series.
In 2004 Acorah was presented with the Variety Club of Great Britain's Multichannel TV Personality of the Year Award, as chosen by its members.
To mark the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot
(1605), Living commissioned a one-off programme called Derek Acorah's Quest for Guy Fawkes which broadcast on Guy Fawkes Night
in 2005. Together with presenter and journalist Angus Purden
, Derek travelled the country visiting key locations in order to retrace the footsteps of Guy Fawkes
.
In 2007 Acorah travelled to Egypt
to film Paranormal Egypt with Tessa Dunlop
. This six-part series was commissioned by Living and produced by Ruggie Media. While in 2008 appeared in the feature film documentary Tattoos: A Scarred History.
Derek has his own show on Sky Real Lives, named simply "Derek Acorah".
In November 2009 Acorah featured in two programmes where he attempted to make contact with the spirit of Michael Jackson
, Michael Jackson: The Live Seance and Michael Jackson: The Search For His Spirit. The show was named the worst TV programme of 2009 in a poll of more than 9,000 Yahoo! users.
On 9th March 2011 Acorah took part in a live online seance. The event was hosted by The Sun which described him as the 'UK's foremost medium'.
, Acorah would appear to become possessed by spirits or an evil entity or would appear lost and confused. On one such occasion, Acorah said he was possessed by the spirit of a man called Kreed Kafer. In a later interview the programme's parapsychologist, Ciaran O'Keeffe
, said that the character was a fabrication he invented, and an anagram of "Derek faker". O'Keeffe had fed this name to Acorah prior to the programme, and he had subsequently repeated it during filming. In a separate interview, the show's presenter and executive producer Yvette Fielding
said that she believes it was a "fake possession".
, in his series High Spirits with Shirley Ghostman
, by Jon Culshaw
on the TV series Dead Ringers
and by Dawn French as 'Dawnie Acorah'. His newer show, Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns, is often a subject for Harry Hill
on his ITV1 show, Harry Hill's TV Burp
. He was spoof
ed by Hugh Laurie
on Saturday Night Live
in a segment when Laurie hosted the show in 2006. An Acorah-like psychic with bouffant blond hair, regional Northern England
accent and non-existent psychic abilities appeared in series 1, Episode 3 of Peter Kay
's Phoenix Nights.
He is also parodied in a routine by comedian Ed Byrne
in his latest DVD "Different Class" - claiming to know a couple's name after they had previously told it to him.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
medium
Mediumship
Mediumship is described as a form of communication with spirits. It is a practice in religious beliefs such as Spiritualism, Spiritism, Espiritismo, Candomblé, Voodoo and Umbanda.- Concept :...
. He is best known for his work on Most Haunted
Most Haunted
Most Haunted is a British paranormal documentary reality television series. The series was first shown on 25 May 2002 and ended on 21 July 2010. It was broadcast on Living and presented by Yvette Fielding. The programme was based on investigating purported paranormal activity...
, broadcast on Living, between 2002 and 2005. He recently presented the series Derek Acorah on Sky Real Lives. Although he continues to be a popular figure in live tours and television work, he has been criticised and parodied, often casting doubt over his legitimacy as a medium.
Personal life
Derek Acorah was born as Derek Johnson, but later changed his surname to what he claimed to be his grandmother's maiden name, Acorah. He lives in ScarisbrickScarisbrick
Scarisbrick is a village and civil parish in West Lancashire, England. It is spread out along the A570 so there is no real village centre, though the junction with the A5147 is close to the geographic centre...
near Southport
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
in North West England
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
with his wife Gwen, he also has a son from previous marriage. He works regularly in television and radio and has made personal appearances across the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and the U.S.A..
Acorah claims that his first supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
experience came as a child when the spirit of his late grandfather - who died before Acorah was born - visited him.
Early career
When he was 13, Acorah fulfilled a boyhood ambition to be a footballer when he signed for Wrexham, as an apprentice. Two years later he had moved on to Liverpool FC under Bill Shankly. Acorah played for the reserves, but after failing to make the first team, moved back to Wrexham. He later had spells with GlentoranGlentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
in Northern Ireland and Stockport County before applying for the Australian League with the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n team USC Lion.
When Acorah's football career ended because of injuries and homesickness
Homesickness
Homesickness is the distress or impairment caused by an actual or anticipated separation from the specific home environment or attachment objects....
he returned to England and to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. He claimed psychic powers were always with him and after a while he set up as a full time spirit medium based in his home city of Liverpool.
Television work
Acorah's television career began in 1996 when he appeared on a magazine programme called Livetime produced by Granada TelevisionGranada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and broadcast on the Granada Breeze television channel. Following the success of his initial appearance on the show, he was regularly invited back to feature in a weekly segment. He later worked as a main contributor on a spin-off show called Psychic Livetime as well as The Psychic Zone was given his own show, Predictions with Derek Acorah where he would conduct readings on members of the public in their own homes.
In January 1998, Acorah, travelled to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
where he took part in various paranormal investigations both in Los Angeles itself and in Hollywood.
He also conducted a live show on stage at the Vogue Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood Boulevard
-Revitalization:In recent years successful efforts have been made at cleaning up Hollywood Blvd., as the street had gained a reputation for crime and seediness. Central to these efforts was the construction of the Hollywood and Highland shopping center and adjacent Kodak Theatre in 2001...
. In 2000 he returned to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to record a pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
for a new show named Connections with Derek Acorah. The show involved Acorah touring the streets of Santa Monica
Santa Mônica
Santa Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
giving impromptu readings to members of the public but the show was never picked up by any of the television networks.
In July 2001, Acorah was asked to feature in a new British television programme called Haunting Truths which was subsequently sold to Living and renamed Most Haunted. It was at this time that he arguably became Britain's most widely known medium and was described as "the sexiest man in Spiritualism". He worked on the show for six series until his departure in 2005. Acorah claims that he left the show to pursue other projects although the show's presenter, Yvette Fielding
Yvette Fielding
Yvette Fielding is a British broadcaster, producer and actress. She is best known for being the presenter of the TV shows Blue Peter, Most Haunted and Ghosthunting With....-Early life and career:...
is reported to have said that he was asked to leave after Ciarán O'Keeffe
Ciarán O'Keeffe
Dr. Ciarán O'Keeffe is a British parapsychologist. He has held a Research associate position at Université de Toulouse, Le Mirail and also an online tutor position at Derby University. Previously employed at Liverpool Hope University, lecturing in Psychology with a parapsychology component, Dr...
, a parapsychologist
Parapsychology
The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir, and originates from para meaning "alongside", and psychology. The term was adopted by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research...
for the show, fed him misinformation to which he later responded during an investigation, presenting himself as being
possessed by the spirit of a fictional character.
In Spring 2003 Living also commissioned Antiques Ghost Show which shows Acorah demonstrating psychometry as he unfolds the mysteries of family heirloom
Heirloom
In popular usage, an heirloom is something, perhaps an antique or some kind of jewelry, that has been passed down for generations through family members....
s. The show was not as popular as Ghost Towns, but it was generally well received. In one episode Acorah apparently was able to determine correctly the name and occupation of the previous owner of an object - an erotic sculpture from the Victorian period.
After Acorah's departure from Most Haunted, Living commissioned Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns
Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns
Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns is a paranormal reality television series which featured noted Medium Derek Acorah as he visited towns in the UK to investigate hauntings. The team would travel in the "Ghost Town Van" and would allow townsfolk to tell the team about their encounters with hauntings in...
. In contrast to Most Haunted which mainly featured well known stately homes, castles and the like, this programme would involve the public and would highlight their stories of ghostly activity in less well known locations throughout the country. Derek, together with the presenter, would also knock on people's doors and offer them a private sitting in their own homes. Acorah was joined for the first two series by presenters Daniella Westbrook and Angus Purden
Angus Purden
Angus Purden is a Scottish television presenter. A teenage Mr. Scotland and model, he wrote for a local evening newspaper and is now best known for presenting do-it-yourself and Scottish lottery shows...
and also by Myleene Klass
Myleene Klass
Myleene Angela Quinn is an English singer, pianist, media personality and occasional model. She was formerly a member of the defunct British pop band Hear'Say.-Early life:...
and Rhodri Owen
Rhodri Owen
Rhodri Owen is a Welsh born and Welsh speaking radio and television presenter.-Biography:Owen was brought up in Gower, Swansea in a Welsh language speaking family, which is his first language...
for the third and final series.
In 2004 Acorah was presented with the Variety Club of Great Britain's Multichannel TV Personality of the Year Award, as chosen by its members.
To mark the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot
Gunpowder Plot
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.The plan was to blow up the House of...
(1605), Living commissioned a one-off programme called Derek Acorah's Quest for Guy Fawkes which broadcast on Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in England. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding...
in 2005. Together with presenter and journalist Angus Purden
Angus Purden
Angus Purden is a Scottish television presenter. A teenage Mr. Scotland and model, he wrote for a local evening newspaper and is now best known for presenting do-it-yourself and Scottish lottery shows...
, Derek travelled the country visiting key locations in order to retrace the footsteps of Guy Fawkes
Guy Fawkes
Guy Fawkes , also known as Guido Fawkes, the name he adopted while fighting for the Spanish in the Low Countries, belonged to a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.Fawkes was born and educated in York...
.
In 2007 Acorah travelled to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
to film Paranormal Egypt with Tessa Dunlop
Tessa Dunlop
Tessa Dunlop is a television presenter, radio broadcaster and historian. She has presented history programmes on BBC1 London, BBC2, Discovery Europe, Channel 4, UKTV History and the History Channel ....
. This six-part series was commissioned by Living and produced by Ruggie Media. While in 2008 appeared in the feature film documentary Tattoos: A Scarred History.
Derek has his own show on Sky Real Lives, named simply "Derek Acorah".
In November 2009 Acorah featured in two programmes where he attempted to make contact with the spirit of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Michael Jackson: The Live Seance and Michael Jackson: The Search For His Spirit. The show was named the worst TV programme of 2009 in a poll of more than 9,000 Yahoo! users.
On 9th March 2011 Acorah took part in a live online seance. The event was hosted by The Sun which described him as the 'UK's foremost medium'.
Controversy
Acorah's credibility has been questioned following his work on Most Haunted. On investigations for the programmeTelevision program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
, Acorah would appear to become possessed by spirits or an evil entity or would appear lost and confused. On one such occasion, Acorah said he was possessed by the spirit of a man called Kreed Kafer. In a later interview the programme's parapsychologist, Ciaran O'Keeffe
Ciarán O'Keeffe
Dr. Ciarán O'Keeffe is a British parapsychologist. He has held a Research associate position at Université de Toulouse, Le Mirail and also an online tutor position at Derby University. Previously employed at Liverpool Hope University, lecturing in Psychology with a parapsychology component, Dr...
, said that the character was a fabrication he invented, and an anagram of "Derek faker". O'Keeffe had fed this name to Acorah prior to the programme, and he had subsequently repeated it during filming. In a separate interview, the show's presenter and executive producer Yvette Fielding
Yvette Fielding
Yvette Fielding is a British broadcaster, producer and actress. She is best known for being the presenter of the TV shows Blue Peter, Most Haunted and Ghosthunting With....-Early life and career:...
said that she believes it was a "fake possession".
Parody
Acorah has been parodied by comedian Marc WoottonMarc Wootton
Marc Wootton is an English character comedian. He is perhaps best known for his role as the fake medium and psychic, Shirley Ghostman, on the BBC Three series, High Spirits with Shirley Ghostman and he also appeared in Nativity!- Career :...
, in his series High Spirits with Shirley Ghostman
High Spirits with Shirley Ghostman
High Spirits with Shirley Ghostman is a British television comedy show broadcast on BBC ThreeIt features character comedian Marc Wootton playing an effete and slightly vicious fake medium/psychic...
, by Jon Culshaw
Jon Culshaw
Jonathan Peter Culshaw is an English impressionist and comedian. He was educated at St Bede's RC High School, Ormskirk and St John Rigby College, in Orrell, Wigan....
on the TV series Dead Ringers
Dead Ringers (comedy)
Dead Ringers is a UK radio and television comedy impressions broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and later BBC Two. The programme was devised by producer Bill Dare and developed with Jon Holmes, Andy Hurst and Simon Blackwell. It starred Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Phil Cornwell, Kevin Connelly and Mark Perry...
and by Dawn French as 'Dawnie Acorah'. His newer show, Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns, is often a subject for Harry Hill
Harry Hill
Harry Hill , is a Perrier Award–winning English comedian, author and television presenter. A former medical doctor , Hill began his career in comedy with the popular radio show Harry Hill's Fruit Corner.-Personal life:Hill was born in Woking,...
on his ITV1 show, Harry Hill's TV Burp
Harry Hill's TV Burp
Harry Hill's TV Burp is a British television comedy programme produced by Avalon Television for ITV and hosted by comedian Harry Hill. The show presents a satirical look at the week's television, including extracts from TV shows with added sketches, observational voice-overs, and guest appearances...
. He was spoof
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
ed by Hugh Laurie
Hugh Laurie
James Hugh Calum Laurie, OBE , better known as Hugh Laurie , is an English actor, voice artist, comedian, writer, musician, recording artist, and director...
on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
in a segment when Laurie hosted the show in 2006. An Acorah-like psychic with bouffant blond hair, regional Northern England
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
accent and non-existent psychic abilities appeared in series 1, Episode 3 of Peter Kay
Peter Kay
Peter John Kay is an English comedian, writer, actor, director and producer. His work includes That Peter Kay Thing , Phoenix Nights , Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere , Britain's Got the Pop Factor... and other independent productions which have included two sell out tours.-Early career:Peter Kay...
's Phoenix Nights.
He is also parodied in a routine by comedian Ed Byrne
Ed Byrne
Ed Byrne is a Perrier Award-nominated, Irish stand-up comedian, voice over artist and actor. He has presented television shows Uncut! Best Unseen Ads and Just for Laughs, and is a regular guest on various television panel games...
in his latest DVD "Different Class" - claiming to know a couple's name after they had previously told it to him.