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Added a full list of television work which was incomplete. Have edited out some of the over-long dwelling on the claims of fakery. This section is deemed to be Acorah's tv work and is not a page for others to continue their campaign.
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==Television work==
==Television work==
In July 2001, Acorah was asked to feature in a new British television programme called ''Haunting Truths'' which was subsequently sold to [[Living (channel)|Living]] and renamed ''Most Haunted''. 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{{by whom|date=March 2013}} to have said that he was asked to leave after [[Ciarán O'Keeffe]], a [[Parapsychology|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, which led Fielding and the programme makers to question Acorah's credibility. Acorah said he was possessed by the spirit of a man called ''Kreed Kafer''.
Acorah first appeared on television with the niche satellite channel Granada Breeze in 1997 appearing in programmes such as ''Psychic Livetime, Psychic Zone and Derek Acorah's Predictions.'' In July 2001, Acorah was asked to feature in a new British television programme called ''Haunting Truths'' which was subsequently sold to [[Living (channel)|Living]] and renamed ''Most Haunted''. 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{{by whom|date=March 2013}} to have said that he was asked to leave after [[Ciarán O'Keeffe]], a [[Parapsychology|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, which led Fielding and the programme makers to question Acorah's credibility. Acorah said he was possessed by the spirit of a man called ''Kreed Kafer''. Acorah has always denied what O'Keeffe had to say and his version of events but was prevented from properly defending himself by the fact that he was bound by a confidentiality agreement with Antix Productions, the programme maker and owned by Yvette Fielding and her husband Karl Beattie.


Whilst filming ''Most Haunted'' Acorah was also offered and filmed a one off series of programmes called ''The Antiques Ghost Show.''
In a later interview Ciarán 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.<ref name=SPOOKY>{{cite web|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16303507&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=spooky-truth--tv-s-most-haunted-con-exposed-tv--name_page.html|title=Spooky Truth: TV's Most Haunted Con Exposed|publisher=[[The Daily Mirror|The Mirror]]|author=Matt Roper|date=28 October 2005|accessdate=7 May 2007}}</ref>


Following his departure from Most Haunted, Acorah hosted a programme following the life of ''Guy Fawkes'' before commencing the filming of ''Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns ''which ran for three series. In 2007 Acorah filmed a series of programmes for Living Television named ''Paranormal Egypt.''
In a separate interview, the show's presenter and executive producer [[Yvette Fielding]] said:
<blockquote>Unbeknown to us, Ciaran O’Keeffe had suspicions about Derek and decided to plant some information to see if it would be repeated. He left a piece of paper around with the name ‘Kreed Kafer’ on it and said, within earshot of Derek, that he was a nasty South African jailor. When we started filming, Derek decided to get possessed by this fake person. The name is actually an anagram of Derek Faker. We tell people everything is real, then it turns out he was a fake, so he had to go... I was more angry than anything. I was upset that someone we considered to be close could do that.<ref name=Metro>{{cite web|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_article_id=23243&in_page_id=11|title=60 SECONDS: Yvette Fielding|publisher=[[Metro (Associated Metro Limited)|Metro]]|author=James Ellis|date=30 October 2006|accessdate=2 November 2006}}</ref></blockquote>


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.<ref>[http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/s/2069327_celebrity_medium_derek_acorah Celebrity medium Derek Acorah – Entertainment – getreading – Reading Post]. getreading (15 April 2010). Retrieved on 2012-05-16.</ref>
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.<ref>[http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/s/2069327_celebrity_medium_derek_acorah Celebrity medium Derek Acorah – Entertainment – getreading – Reading Post]. getreading (15 April 2010). Retrieved on 2012-05-16.</ref>


In November 2009 Acorah featured in two programmes where he said he was attempting contact with the spirit of [[Michael Jackson]], ''Michael Jackson: The Live Seance'' and ''Michael Jackson: The Search For His Spirit.''<ref>[http://sky1.sky.com/derek-acorah-to-attempt-to-contact-michael-jackson Michael Jackson: Live Seance – Sky1 HD]. Sky1.sky.com. Retrieved on 2012-05-16.</ref> The show was named the worst TV programme of 2009 in a poll of over 9,000 Yahoo! users.<ref>[http://latestnews.virginmedia.com/news/uk/2010/01/20/jackson_seance_named_worst_tv_show News – News – Virgin Media]. Latestnews.virginmedia.com. Retrieved on 2012-05-16.</ref>
In November 2009 Acorah featured in aprogramme where he said he was attempting contact with the spirit of [[Michael Jackson]], ''Michael Jackson: The Live Seance'' and ''Michael Jackson: The Search For His Spirit.''<ref>[http://sky1.sky.com/derek-acorah-to-attempt-to-contact-michael-jackson Michael Jackson: Live Seance – Sky1 HD]. Sky1.sky.com. Retrieved on 2012-05-16.</ref> The show was named the worst TV programme of 2009 in a poll of over 9,000 Yahoo! users.<ref>[http://latestnews.virginmedia.com/news/uk/2010/01/20/jackson_seance_named_worst_tv_show News – News – Virgin Media]. Latestnews.virginmedia.com. Retrieved on 2012-05-16.</ref>


On 9 March 2011 Acorah took part in a live online seance. The event was hosted by ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'' which described him as the 'UK's foremost medium'.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/3447660/Derek-Acorah-webchat-with-the-dead-post-your-questions-on-Tuesday-at-midnight.html | location=London | work=The Sun | title=Acorah webchat with the dead | date=7 March 2011}}</ref>
On 9 March 2011 Acorah took part in a live online seance. The event was hosted by ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'' which described him as the 'UK's foremost medium'.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/3447660/Derek-Acorah-webchat-with-the-dead-post-your-questions-on-Tuesday-at-midnight.html | location=London | work=The Sun | title=Acorah webchat with the dead | date=7 March 2011}}</ref>

Revision as of 12:15, 7 July 2013

Derek Acorah
Derek Acorah on the first series of Most Haunted
Born
Derek Francis Johnson

(1950-01-27) 27 January 1950 (age 74)
Bootle, Merseyside, England
Known forMost Haunted, Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns, Granada Breeze, Antiques Ghost Show
SpouseGwen Acorah (1995 - Present)

Derek Acorah (born Derek Francis Johnson on 27 January 1950) is an English medium. He is best known for his work on Most Haunted, broadcast on Living TV (2002–2005). He recently presented the series Derek Acorah on Sky Real Lives.[1] 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.[2][3]

Personal life

Derek Acorah was born as Derek Johnson, but later changed his surname to what he stated was his grandmother's maiden name, Acorah. He lives in Scarisbrick near Southport, Lancashire in North West England.[4] He has a son from a 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 US.

Acorah states that his first supernatural experience came as a child when the spirit of his late grandfather visited him.[5]

Television work

Acorah first appeared on television with the niche satellite channel Granada Breeze in 1997 appearing in programmes such as Psychic Livetime, Psychic Zone and Derek Acorah's Predictions. 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. 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[by whom?] 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, which led Fielding and the programme makers to question Acorah's credibility. Acorah said he was possessed by the spirit of a man called Kreed Kafer. Acorah has always denied what O'Keeffe had to say and his version of events but was prevented from properly defending himself by the fact that he was bound by a confidentiality agreement with Antix Productions, the programme maker and owned by Yvette Fielding and her husband Karl Beattie.

Whilst filming Most Haunted Acorah was also offered and filmed a one off series of programmes called The Antiques Ghost Show.

Following his departure from Most Haunted, Acorah hosted a programme following the life of Guy Fawkes before commencing the filming of Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns which ran for three series. In 2007 Acorah filmed a series of programmes for Living Television named Paranormal Egypt.

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.[6]

In November 2009 Acorah featured in aprogramme where he said he was attempting contact with the spirit of Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson: The Live Seance and Michael Jackson: The Search For His Spirit.[7] The show was named the worst TV programme of 2009 in a poll of over 9,000 Yahoo! users.[8]

On 9 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'.[9]

Canceled Appearance

In 2013 he canceled a show at Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline, Fife, due to “unforseen circumstances” according to the venue's website. His booking agent Brian Shaw said the date had been changed more than a week in advance because “It made more sense to do that due to the other upcoming dates on Derek’s tour and for personal reasons.”[10]

Bibliography

  • The Psychic World of Derek Acorah: Discover How to Develop Your Hidden Powers – Derek Acorah with John G. Sutton, Paitkus Books, 2003
  • 'The Psychic Adventures of Derek Acorah: Star of TV's "Most Haunted", Element Books 2004
  • Ghost Hunting with Derek Acorah – Derek Acorah, Element Books, 2005
  • Most Haunted: The Official Behind-the-Scenes Guide – Yvette Fielding, Derek Acorah, 2005
  • Haunted Britain – Derek Acorah, Harper Element, 2006
  • Haunted Britain and Ireland – by Derek Acorah
  • Ghost Towns – Derek Acorah, Harper Element, 2006
  • Derek Acorah's Haunted!'
  • Derek Acorah – Amazing Psychic Stories'
  • Derek Acorah – Extreme Psychic'

References

  1. ^ Official Derek Acorah Series Page. reallives.sky.com
  2. ^ Derek Acorah responds to séance criticism – TV News. Digital Spy (9 November 2009). Retrieved on 2012-05-16.
  3. ^ SPOOKY TRUTH: TV'S MOST HAUNTED CON EXPOSED TV – 3am & Mirror Online. Mirror.co.uk (28 October 2005). Retrieved on 2012-05-16.
  4. ^ The Scarisbrick psychic on show in Liverpool – Derek Acorah speaks. Southport Visiter (9 May 2008). Retrieved on 2012-05-16.
  5. ^ "About Derek". Official Derek Acorah website. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  6. ^ Celebrity medium Derek Acorah – Entertainment – getreading – Reading Post. getreading (15 April 2010). Retrieved on 2012-05-16.
  7. ^ Michael Jackson: Live Seance – Sky1 HD. Sky1.sky.com. Retrieved on 2012-05-16.
  8. ^ News – News – Virgin Media. Latestnews.virginmedia.com. Retrieved on 2012-05-16.
  9. ^ "Acorah webchat with the dead". The Sun. London. 7 March 2011.
  10. ^ Hill, Patrick (9 June 2013). "Mystic Derek Acorah cancels psychic show due to 'unforeseen circumstances'". mirror.co.uk. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 10 June 2013. Fans were left fuming after Acorah apparently couldn't see what was about to happen in his own life

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