Derek Acorah

[poliphilo]

I believe in ghosts- no problem there. But I also  want to believe in Derek Acorah.

Acorah (for those who don't know him) is the psychic star of Most Haunted and Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns. He's a big, cuddly, Scouse guy with bleached blonde hair and an ear-ring, who used to be a professional footballer.

He's strong, he's brave- marching into haunted houses to confront the unquiet dead- but he's also in touch with his feminine side- empathic, nurturing, kind. He's fierce with the nasty spooks ("you coward! you scum!")  and gentle  with the poor lost souls who've lost their way and need pointing towards the light. The ladies love him.

There's just the one draw-back. There are- erm, how shall we put this?- questions about his integrity. On Most Haunted he was caught in a heffalump trap and wound up channeling invented spooks with names that were anagrams of "Derek Faker" and "Derek Lies" . On another occasion he got his locations mixed up and was recorded sensing the presence of spirits that properly belonged in a building on the other side of town. 

And then there was the time he ran into Richard Coeur de Lion in a Scottish castle the English king had never been anywhere near. Ghosts do move around, he explained.

So, like every other celebrity psychic in the history of psychism, he bends it a little. I like to think it's all down to the pressure to perform. It's not that he doesn't actually see dead people, it's that he takes out insurance in case he has an off day.

Because he's an archetype. He's Van Helsing, he's Denis Wheatley's Duc de Richelieu, he's Gandalf the Grey. He's shaman, magician, gatekeeper. Besides, he's really, really cute.

I don't just want to believe in Derek Acorah. I want to be Derek Acorah.

Comments

[shullie.livejournal.com]

So what you saying is you want is a spray on perma tan, and a tiny diamond earring and Bob's someone else's uncle.... :) I did give up watching it towards the end of the Derek era.. as well... I see dead people too... lol and he began to feel fake to me, and I was embarrassed for him!

As a medium, I think he was really good in the beginning and probably still is, but he did sell out. You do though have to wonder how much pressure was put on him to do so.... I mean you have all those people there, a screaming Yvette Fielding, Carl getting possessed pretty regularly too and the camera man who looks like Fester, running around and grunting... and well what else could Derek do, it don't suppose he could have just turned round and say.. 'Well actually there's no one here.' However, it did amuse me that all the 'possessions' seemed to have the same voice....

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't suppose you've been watching Ghost Towns then? It seems less fake to me.

And David Wells- Derek's replacement on Most Haunted- seems like the real deal. He's much less theatrical for starters.

But then I do so want to believe...

I've read comments from spiritualists who say no genuine medium would allow him/herself to be "possessed" in the Acorah style. What's your take on this?

[(Anonymous)]

Ah, so more people have spotted the big flaw that is Acorah. Well done! I know it's difficult to believe, but I'm afraid Ghost Towns is even phonier than Most Haunted! If you want to see what REALLY happens on Ghost Towns, I suggest you read my article on the very first Ghost Towns Live at York. I was privileged to be sent the raw footage of all three nights, and boy, is it an eye-opener! If you're interested, you'll find it on www.doublexposure.co.uk, and go to the Derek Acorah menu. Enjoy :) Emma Gee www.doublexposure.co.u,

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Well, he's not difficult to spot, is he? The embarassments just continue to mount up. It makes me sad.

Thank you for the link. I'll certainly come and have a look at your site.

[arielstarshadow.livejournal.com]

I think there's a reason it's the charlatans who tend to be the ones who end up on TV. The real ones wouldn't be all that exciting - because they wouldn't have an issue with saying "You know, I'm just not feeling anything" and that's too boring for television.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes, alas!

Even knowing that Acorah is a faker, I'll continue to watch him. He's so bloody entertaining.

[shullie.livejournal.com]

I have watched it a few times, though I thought the premis is great, I'm afraid it's not DA but those around him that annoy me, especially Marlene..

yeah I like David Wells, he does seem more the real deal...

I agree with the spiritualists, he did seem to allow them in to easily and to often. lol

I have been 'possessed' once, and I allowed that, but I wouldn't normally.. and don't. IMHO it's not safe for one thing, and hey I value my sanity! (what's left of it... and that's questionable!), espeically as those he was supposedly allowing in were in his mind, angry, 'bad' etc.

xxx

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes, he never seemed to be possessed by nice, peaceable spirits. Yvette Fielding has said in an interview that one of the reasons they let him go was because he was becoming increasingly prone to attacking the crew and his fellow presenters whilst under the influence.

[besideserato.livejournal.com]

You make me want to watch the show. And believe.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's a very entertaining show.

[besideserato.livejournal.com]

Peru, alas, has a somewhat limited selection.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Do you guys import any Brit TV?

[besideserato.livejournal.com]

That is an excellent question and I want to say yes. Unfortunately, I don't know for certain as I seldom watch any TV now.

I will ask around and see what I find.

[solar-diablo.livejournal.com]

Reminds me of the time Uri Geller had performance anxiety on Johnny Carson's show. I think the reason I like hearing people's ghost stories and psychic phenomena so much is that it's so far removed from my own experience. Maybe I'm simply not "dialed in" to supernatural frequencies, but I tend to go the route of Amazing Randy on these things.

Show me something concrete and empirical, and I'll be more inclined to take the ghost in your grandmother's attic seriously.