WITH his diamond earring, shiny designer suits and Scouse accent, Derek Acorah might seem more used-car salesman than spiritual medium, but he's won himself a legion of fans with his unique take on ghost-busting.
And now he's taking the show on the road.
Derek Acorah is coming to Manchester and Preston, but Most Haunted fans who are expecting him to start shaking and ranting like a man possessed will be disappointed - this is a more intimate low-key tour.
"Basically it's not going to be anything like they'll have been watching on Most Haunted or Ghost Towns," said Derek.
"This is a series of very intimate, enlightening and hopefully touching evenings where I will very humbly, very sensitively try to link people in the audience with loved ones who have passed away.
"Hopefully I'll be able to pass on messages and terms of endearment that will be helpful to people.
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"It could be a mother who has lost her son, a husband lost his wife, or a young person who died tragically over the Christmas period in an accident, these are the sorts of people that I'm going to try to help."
Derek shot to fame as the resident medium for Living TV's Most Haunted investigating haunted properties.
The programme proved to be a huge success with the viewing public achieving phenomenal audience figures.
But Derek had discovered he had the "gift" much earlier.
As a six-year-old he witnessed the spirit of his late grandfather, and from the age of nine his grandmother, a working medium herself, took him under her wing.
It wasn't until the eighties that Derek began in the trade himself though.
A former professional footballer for Liverpool Football Club, he didn't become a full-time medium until after a knee injury forced him to retire from the game.
Derek comes from a long line of working mediums, and unsurprisingly isn't pleased at any suggestion that mediumship isn't 100 per cent kosher.
"I always get annoyed when people say that mediums play on people's vulnerability, it is completely untrue," he said.
"At my shows we have such a cross-section of people from every strata of life: clergy, scientists, all sorts. To say they are all vulnerable is ridiculous. A lot of time the sceptics who decry mediumship have never even been to see one.
"I see so many people over the years and some of the most sceptical people have changed their minds after having an experience or watching someone else having an experience.
"Anyway, it's only a very small minority who have already decided they don't believe in it, most people are pretty open-minded."
Another topic that irks Derek (although he claims it doesn't) is illusionist Derren Brown, who has in the past spoke out about mediums, calling them con artists.
"I think Derren Brown would like to think that he bothered me, but he really doesn't," said Derek.
"I have been touring theatres for 15 years and during the time he's been around that's not affected the standard of my work or the amount of people who come to see me.
"If he is having an effect on mediumship, it's certainly not affecting my life.
"Derren has said a number of things about me on a personal level and I actually asked him about them when I bumped into him in a hotel in Cardiff once. He claimed he'd never said them, so we were fine.
"The following day I turned on Radio 1 and there he was talking in a similar vein saying he didn't believe in mediums, so he's telling me one thing just to get out of a tight spot and telling everyone else another.
"That tells you the measure of the man I think. There have been people like him around for years but they don't affect my job."
See Derek Acorah at Manchester Opera House on February 22 and 23. Box office: 0870 160 2874
The show is also coming to Preston Guild Hall on March 12. Box office: 01772 258858.
Derren has a point about Derek A. I mean this is a supposed "medium" who had to fake possessions and lie about made up spirit entities on Most Haunted (see Ciaron O'Keefe), if this guy was legit, why does he need to lie. I also know one person who saw Derek on his tour and said he tried to get more information OUT of an audience member than he wa actually giving her. As Derek says above "that tells you the measure of the man I think".
Derren has a point about Derek A. I mean this is a supposed "medium" who had to fake possessions and lie about made up spirit entities on Most Haunted (see Ciaron O'Keefe), if this guy was legit, why does he need to lie. I also know one person who saw Derek on his tour and said he tried to get more information OUT of an audience member than he wa actually giving her. As Derek says above "that tells you the measure of the man I think".
Posted by: Cynical Sue, Southern England on 10:39am Sat 16 Feb 08
It makes me laugh when you think Ciaran should have been able to prove everything he claimed and never proved a word of what he said. I find tht really odd given he is a parapsychologist by profession. That gives me the measure of him. I have seen Derek at his shows and have have witnessed him giving some really jaw dropping readings. He has even told people about the conversations they were having on the way to the theatre! I've never seen Darren Brown even begin to measure up to Derek's work.
It makes me laugh when you think Ciaran should have been able to prove everything he claimed and never proved a word of what he said. I find tht really odd given he is a parapsychologist by profession. That gives me the measure of him. I have seen Derek at his shows and have have witnessed him giving some really jaw dropping readings. He has even told people about the conversations they were having on the way to the theatre! I've never seen Darren Brown even begin to measure up to Derek's work.
Thats DERREN, not Darren! Ask Derek why he felt the need to re-inact a MADE UP spirit. Derren Brown tours SELLS OUT in minutes, DEREK doesnt so I think we know who is the more powerful man. Dereks TV shows only appear on Living or some other lesser viewed station, Derren gets good veiwing figures ON C4. Yeah, speaks volumes dont it love!
I think its funny how you think someone like Ciaron is lying when Derek is speaking gospel. One, two, three... your back in the room!
Thats DERREN, not Darren! Ask Derek why he felt the need to re-inact a MADE UP spirit. Derren Brown tours SELLS OUT in minutes, DEREK doesnt so I think we know who is the more powerful man. Dereks TV shows only appear on Living or some other lesser viewed station, Derren gets good veiwing figures ON C4. Yeah, speaks volumes dont it love!
I think its funny how you think someone like Ciaron is lying when Derek is speaking gospel. One, two, three... your back in the room!
That's just sad. Derek actually trying to make an attempt at making himself look like the one making more sense. He basically just said "I don't have a problem with Derren Brown, even though i'm insulting him as i speak". Sort yourself out Kreed Kaifer (if you don't know what i mean by Kreed Kaifer, look it up on Google. It's the name that PROVES Derek is a charlatan).
That's just sad. Derek actually trying to make an attempt at making himself look like the one making more sense. He basically just said "I don't have a problem with Derren Brown, even though i'm insulting him as i speak". Sort yourself out Kreed Kaifer (if you don't know what i mean by Kreed Kaifer, look it up on Google. It's the name that PROVES Derek is a charlatan).
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