Ask: Derek Acorah

Jan 20 2008 by Robert Weatherall, Sunday Sun

DEREK ACORAH is probably the best known spiritualist in the UK. He shot to public attention appearing in Living TV’s Most Haunted series alongside Yvette Fielding.

He left the show and started work on his own series — also on Living TV — called Derek Acorah’s Ghost Towns.

During one programme, he claimed to have been in contact with the spirit of Guy Fawkes. He has also embarked upon a series exploring the spiritual world of Egypt.

His early life was spent in Merseyside, where he first discovered his psychic abilities and became interested in spiritualism. He pursued a career as a footballer for many years, playing for Liverpool FC Reserves.

After release from Liverpool, Acorah played for Wrexham AFC and Glentoran, before emigrating to Australia to continue to pursue his footballing career. When he returned to the UK he held a number of jobs before embarking on TV work.

Derek will be appearing at the Sunderland Empire on Thursday February 7.

Tickets, costing £17.50, can be bought by calling 0844-847 2499 or visiting www.sunderlandempire.org.uk

YOUR spiritual guide is Sam. Do we all have a spiritual guide?

Yes, everybody does have a spirit guide who is designated to you at birth and who remains with you until you return to the spirit world.

WHEN did you first realise you could communicate with spirits?

My first experience was at the age of six when I saw my grandfather who had passed to the spirit world before my birth. All through my childhood and my youth I had various experiences demonstrating to me that I was in communication with the spirit world.

HOW do you respond to people who accuse mediums of being fakes?

I don’t respond to people who accuse mediums of being fakes as they are merely demonstrating ignorance.

WHAT’S the scariest supernatural experience you have had?

I would say that the scariest place I have visited during an investigation would be Brannigans in Manchester.

HAVE you ever contacted anyone famous?

I have conducted sittings for people who have been connected to famous people who have passed on to the spirit world so yes, I have been in communication with famous people.

IS it tempting for spiritualists to try and contact their own relatives who have passed on?

I would think that most mediums would tell you that their own relatives do make contact with them. We are no different to any other people who are constantly surrounded by their loved ones in spirit.

DESPITE all your dealings with the dead, are you afraid of death?

No.

WHEN you aren’t working, how do you spend your spare time?

I relax by being at home with my family. I have no hobbies as such but unwind by walking my dogs, watching football on television and revelling in the fact that I do not have to work to a diary.

WHY do you think programmes such as Most Haunted have grown in popularity in recent years?

It is my opinion that people have become more interested in the paranormal and are more open minded to the possibility that “ghosts” exist.

IF you didn’t have your ability what would you do for a living?

I would like to think that I would have been involved in sport in some way.