Most Haunted

At first we were impressed that Derek (aka "Degsie" to fans) could pull out historical facts from the ether with the help of his psychic guide Sam (an ethiopian who lived centuries ago).

We so wanted to believe!

The show Most Haunted has been a huge ratings winner for a little cable channel in UK - and the show crossed over onto our basic cable in the USA. It does nicely for Travel Channel in the USA.

After a little digging and googling - and reading about some behind-the-scenes entrapment by the crew who planted fake info to Derek before tapings -- we are now bigger fans than ever.

We know from media reports that he was slyly given anagrams of the words "Derek Lies" (Rik Eedles) and "Derek Faker" (Kreed Kafer) and he grabbed onto the names he overheard from the crew and sure enough these fake names of souls promptly came through during the taping !! Brilliant! We love this show anyway!!

Derek may give hope to millions that there is something in the next world, and sweet souls are in "visitation" among us -- but to us - "Degs" is simply a classic TV showman.

A few seasons into the series - Degs began to get possessed during seances. He would bellow and hiss as the supposed spirit persons who were hanging around old cellars, castles and manors.

In one classic show, he became possessed by the spirit of a pagan hag and barked at an interviewer when asked "her" name -- Degsie hissed: " What's YOUR name, leper ?!! " After these entertaining possessions, Derek usually collapses into a heap, is escorted out and his work is done. ("Derek, come forward!")

Derek (a former footballer turned spirit medium) supposedly arrives at these "haunted" locales "with no prior history of the building." However, many of these locations are famous "haunted" UK tourist destinations (many with "ghost tours" available to the public).

Sometimes Derek forgets a date or a surname - but he usually covers by getting distracted by another spirit and the question is never answered.

The show is hosted by a former UK child star named Yvette Fielding. Co-hosted by her campy historian colleague and part-time ghost walk tourguide Richard Felix, with "base line readings" taken early in every show by Phil Wyman (thru season 4). Phil is a husky and cute lad prone to wearing tight dance club Tshirts. I love Phil!!

Watch for: Yvette sitting in a dark empty manor and asking ever so politely "is anybody here?" --- "please make a noise if you can hear me." --- "a noise...a bump...anything".

Watch for: Derek being "drawn" to "an area" and after being prompted by Yvette if he'd like to go towards another room, he says "may we?". (Yes! we want to yell-- That's why you are there!)

Watch for: Derek to use A lot of descriptive words to reveal very little info.

The MH producers perhaps became hostile towards -or- jealous of Derek's antics & fame - and he left the show after 6 seasons to star in his own spin off series "Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns" (where he has even more over-the-top possessions, and brings celebrity to ordinary people's haunted houses. In the spin off series, attention seekers drop by the "Ghost Truck" for pre-interviews. How handy!).

Most Haunted was a cult sensation in the UK - with French & Saunders even spoofing it on their BBC comedy special.

After 7 years of investigations and a parade of psychic mediums, the show has uncovered little in terms of proof of hauntings or the paranormal- except the occasional bump in the night, TV sets that turn on & off, and those frequent "light anomalies" (which look a lot like dust floating past digital handi-cams).

Most Haunted with Derek Acorah and his predictable enthusiasm, edginess and histrionics is a terrific way to pass an evening in front of the telly --with or without "a grounded soul in visitation".

I generally like this genre of TV show, but this is just all around bad TV. When I first got satellite TV I noticed that the Travel Channel frequently airs the "haunted shows". I looked forward to it, but quickly discovered that this show is not worth it. The locations are somewhat interesting, but everything is so staged, fake, and melodramatic it is nauseating. Every little dust particle that flies by is a spirit orb! Derek and his supposed possessions are obviously the sad (to the point of pathetic and comical) attempts of a man who dreamed of a career in the world of dramatic stage acting. I'd have to b#tch slap him just for acting stupid if he started that crap around me. I would strongly recommend "Ghost Hunters" on the SciFi channel instead. They deal in evidence, not theories, melodramas, and so called spirit mediums. They sometimes come up with nothing (so does Most Haunted), but that is part of their point. They want to prove that it really all may or may not be real, and can sometimes just be logically explained.

I just find that brilliant. The cry from Derek Acorah when he senses his spirit guide telling him something.

Most Haunted is a brilliant series. Although it is a serious investigation, I find it good that the crew do have a mess and laugh behind the scenes or even on camera, showing that they are real people and do not put on an act on camera.

Now in the fourth series, I'm happy to say I dedicate my Tuesday nights to UK Living on cable. I come downstairs and the remote is handed to me. Various family members leave the room, so i sit by myself and enjoy the program even more.

The first series was an excellent start, although I find the most annoying thing about it is Jason Karl, the parapsychologist/investigator. He was too chatty for the show, asking pointlessly detailed questions to derek that at times I think bored Yvette as we could tell by the look on her face.

Series 2 came along and it was even better. Jason Karl had finally gone, replaced by the calmer paranormal investigator Phil Wyman (who only asks questions when appropriate, not every 2 seconds), Richard Felix came along and has now taken over from Jason as the annoying one, but only his voice(before the end of every sentence, he pauses, then says something), more fascinating results were captured (polterghiest activity in The Station Hotel, Derby) and Yvette got a new haircut! This by my opinion is the best so far and the funniest to watch.

Series 3 is a little better than series 2, although I cant say much as I haven't seen as many episodes of series 3, yet, I think that Yvette got a new haircut!

Series 4 is just starting and sounds promising to be the best yet, according to my friend who has told me of a face appearing in a mirror in one of the episodes, with all the crew seeing it.

The Most Haunted Live editions are also very good to watch and it is an ingenious idea to use audience and home participation in the show. My favourite so far would have to be Most Haunted Live At New Year, all because we finally had the pleasure of seeing Matthew Smith go out into the darkness himself.

The team are funny yet serious at the same time, making the show a joy to watch.

I am looking forward to the rest of the new series, the Easter Weekend 3 day special and many more adventures with the team to come. 100% brilliant television!

And just think, we have Sam to thank for all this. THANK YOU SAM!!!

If this is a show of real investigations, they are going about it all wrong. Yvette screams way too much. My group was professional, we did not scream or run like chickens with our heads cut off.

This is one of those shows that deserves it's own drinking game. Every time the host shrieks or cries, take a drink. Every time Derek says "Slaughter", take a drink. Every time they say that a place isn't haunted, drink a whole fifth of Everclear.

Where does one begin to unravel how stupid this show is? Yes, they go to interesting places. Yes, the UK is filled with spooky places to investigate, but it's amazing that EVERY site they travel to is chock full o' ghosts.

Yvette Fielding is about as scientifically minded as a carnival barker at the freakshow. She flips out as soon as the light are off, and every bump or cobweb is a sign that someone is trying to contact her.

Derek Accora is ridiculously cheesy, especially when he goes into trances that supposedly lead to him "channeling" an evil spirit. And his "spirit guide" Sam, Derek's imaginary friend whom he thanks profusely throughout the show always manages to give him half-correct clues that lead them to another room where Yvette will nearly pee her pants.

Be sure to take a drink whenever the disclaimer at the bottom of the screen suggests that there's no proof to back up whatever Derek says. It happens often, so you'll probably be toasted after one full episode.