Most Haunted is a
BritishThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
paranormalParanormal television is a genre of popular television broadcasting. Its scope comprises purportedly factual investigations of paranormal phenomena, rather than the openly fictional representations found in such shows as The Ghosts of Motley Hall and Ghostbusters and cartoon/children's series such...
documentaryDocumentary film is a broad category of visual expressions that is based on the attempt, in one fashion or another, to "document" reality. Although "documentary film" originally referred to movies shot on film stock, it has subsequently expanded to include video and digital productions that can...
reality televisionReality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors...
series that premiered on May 25, 2002 on Living. The programme is based on investigating purported
paranormalParanormal is a general term that describes unusual experiences that lack a scientific explanation, or phenomena alleged to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
activity. It is shown on the
satelliteSatellite television is television delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by a satellite dish and set-top box. In many areas of the world it provides a wide range of channels and services, often to areas that are not serviced by terrestrial or cable providers.-History:The...
and
cableCable television is a system of providing television to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through fixed optical fibers or coaxial cables as opposed to the over-the-air method used in traditional television broadcasting in which a television antenna is required...
channels Living, Living2 and
Virgin 1Virgin1 is the flagship television channel operated by the British broadcaster Virgin Media Television. The channel was launched on 1 October 2007 at 9pm on Freeview, Virgin Media and Sky Digital, replacing Ftn. The channel is broadcast 24 hours on cable, satellite and Freeview complemented by...
(Formerly
FtnFtn was a television channel from Virgin Media Television transmitting free-to-air on Freeview and Virgin Media, and as a subscription channel on Sky Digital. The channel was broadcast between 6pm and 6am daily...
), primarily for the UK market. It is also shown in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on the
Travel ChannelThe Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television network that features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world...
, on the W Channel in Australia and Canada,
TV4 PlusTV4 Plus is a sister channel of Swedish TV4, owned by TV4 AB. The main focus of the channel is on entertainment, sports and lifestyle programmes.The channel was launched in 2003 on digital terrestrial, digital satellite and cable networks...
in
SwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe...
,
FEMFem is a Norwegian television channel targeting young women...
in Norway,
TV ONETV1, commonly referred to as TV ONE is the flagship station of state broadcaster TVNZ. TV1's studios are co-located with TVNZ corporate headquarters in Auckland. TV1 is the sister station to TV2 and the two stations have some cross promotion....
in
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
, Sub in
FinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland
, is a Nordic country and democracy situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. It borders Sweden on the west, Russia on the east, and Norway on the north, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland...
,
Stöð 2Stöð 2 is an Icelandic television channel of 365 corporation founded in 1986. It was the first privately owned television station in Iceland and it was established following the lifting of the state monopoly on television broadcasting.-News-related:...
in Iceland and
Star WorldSTAR World is an Asian English language cable and satellite television owned by STAR TV. The channel is the successor of STAR Plus, which is now an Indian Hindi language entertainment channel...
in Asia. It is produced by
Antix ProductionsAntix Productions is a television production company founded by Yvette Fielding and Karl Beattie in 2001. Based in Cheadle, in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, Greater Manchester, the company have produced shows for broadcasters such as Living and ITV in the UK and Travel Channel in the USA...
, led by
Yvette FieldingYvette Fielding is a British broadcaster and actress. She is the presenter of the shows Most Haunted, Most Haunted Live! and Ghosthunting with....- Early life and career :...
and her husband,
Karl BeattieKarl Beattie is the husband of Yvette Fielding, main presenter of Living TV's Most Haunted , a programme which investigates psychic and paranormal phenomena...
.
Production
The
Most Haunted team travels around not only the UK, but also
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
, the Netherlands,
RomaniaRomania is a country located in Southeastern and Central Europe, North of the Balkan Peninsula, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea. Almost all of the Danube Delta is located within its territory...
, and the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, investigating paranormal activity for 24 hours at a time.
Photography
The photographic style of the series has changed considerably since series 1. In the first series many elaborate shots were set up with an almost "theatrical" style, with illuminated windows and dry ice. Locations were often illuminated outside at night time, with blue and green colours. From series 1-3 there was extensive use of the
steadicamA Steadicam is a stabilizing mount for a motion picture camera, which mechanically isolates the operator's movement from the camera, allowing a very smooth shot even when the operator is moving quickly over an uneven surface...
, which provided gliding shots during Yvette's ghostly tales or for general views. In series 8 the team introduced a camera crane or '
jibIn cinematography, a jib is a boom device with a camera on one end, and a counterweight and camera controls on the other. It operates like a see-saw, but with the balance point located close to the counterweight, so that the camera end of the arm can move through an extended arc. A jib permits the...
' system for elaborate aerial shots of both Yvette and the locations. Most of the photography in
Most Haunted focuses on 'general views' also known as 'GV's' of a location and its surroundings. Most Haunted is filmed with both broadcast Sony DSR-570WSP & DSR-PD170P DVCAM cameras and Sony DCR-PC9E miniDV cameras. A Thermal Imaging camera is also used to detect & highlight cold & warm spots.
Music
Most Haunted
s music is composed by Alan ClarkAlan Clark is a musician who was one of the keyboardists for the English rock band Dire Straits.- Biography :...
, using loops and samples from the Spectrasonics sample libraries Distorted Reality, Metamorphosis and Biazzare Guitar (particularly in the earlier series).
Most Haunted Live on Stage
In 2010, Most Haunted will be touring the UK doing Most Haunted Live.
So far they will be heading to
Birmingham
- Sunday 31st January 2010
Aberdeen
- Friday 26th February 2010
Wolverhampton
- Friday 5th February 2010
York
- Friday 12th February 2010
Oxford
- Thursday 4th March 2010
Bristol
- Tuesday 9th March 2010
Most Haunted: Midsummer Murders
Originally intended to be Most Haunted
Series 10, Most Haunted: Midsummer Murders was an eight part series where Most Haunted
investigators attempted to solve murder mysteries in normal English villages. It was hosted by Most HauntedMost Haunted is a British paranormal documentary reality television series that premiered on May 25, 2002 on Living. The programme is based on investigating purported paranormal activity. It is shown on the satellite and cable channels Living, Living2 and Virgin 1 , primarily for the UK market...
historian
Lesley SmithLesley Smith is a scholar, historian, heritage publicist and actress. She is resident historian on the television show Most Haunted Live! and presenter of Most Haunted: Midsummer Murders...
. The series commenced on a weekly broadcast from 19 June 2007 to 31 July 2007 and the team visited (in order of broadcast)
Stoney MiddletonStoney Middleton, a village in the Hope Valley of the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, lies in the White Peak area of the Peak District immediately west of Calver.-History:...
,
NantwichNantwich is a market town in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The town gives its name to the parliamentary constituency of Crewe and Nantwich...
, Castleton,
PluckleyPluckley is a village and civil parish in the Ashford District of Kent, United Kingdom. It is located close to the North Downs, and is approximately 5 miles west of Ashford...
,
RuthinRuthin is the county town of Denbighshire in north Wales. Located around a hill in the southern part of the Vale of Clwyd - the older part of the town, the castle and Saint Peter's Square are located on top of the hill, while many newer parts of the town are on the floodplain of the River Clwyd...
,
TutburyTutbury is a large village and civil parish of about 3,000 residents in the English county of Staffordshire.It is surrounded by the agricultural countryside of both Staffordshire and Derbyshire. The site has been inhabited for over 3000 years, with Iron Age defensive ditches encircling the main...
,
TarvinTarvin is a village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The name comes from the Welsh word for boundary. It is about 6 miles east of Chester and is located near the junction of the A51 and the A54...
, and
BakewellBakewell is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from 'Beadeca's Well'. It is the only town included in the Peak District National Park, and is well known for the local confection Bakewell Pudding...
. An episode, shot in Lymm Village, saw the team investigate a suspect of
Jack the RipperJack the Ripper was a pseudonym given to an unidentified serial killer active in the largely impoverished districts in and around Whitechapel, London, in late 1888. The name originated in a letter by someone claiming to be the murderer that was sent to the London Central News Agency and...
. This episode was not aired on television but will be released in 2009 on the Midsummer Murders Complete Series DVD
.
Most Haunted: Recurring Nightmares
In Most Haunted: Recurring Nightmares, the presenters recall their most frightening visits.
Most Haunted USA
Most Haunted USA was an eight-part mini-series that aired on the American
Travel ChannelThe Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television network that features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world...
from 12 December 2008 to 30 January 2009. The series has also aired in the UK and includes the team's investigation at the famous Waverly Hills Sanitorium in
KentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. Kentucky is a Southern state situated in the Upland South, although the state is infrequently placed, geographically and culturally, in the Midwest. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a...
. In the UK, it will air as part of Series 11.
Other
Former shows include
Most Haunted: Extra which ran directly after premiere episodes of Series 2 to 9, documenting behind-the-scenes antics of the cast and crew on that night's location and
Most Haunted Live: Access All Areas a phone in show to discuss the preceding or following live event.
The team
Most Haunted features a main
presenterA presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
, a
historianAn historian is an individual who studies and writes about history, and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all events in time...
, a
psychic mediumMediumship is supposedly a form of communication with spirits.It is a practice in religious beliefs such as Spiritualism, Spiritism, Espiritismo, Candomblé, Louisiana Voodoo, Shambala and Umbanda...
and a
parapsychologistParapsychology is a controversial discipline that seeks to investigate the existence and causes of psychic abilities and life after death using the scientific method...
. Essentially the latter two are intended to create an even balance between paranormal and scientific explanations for the various phenomena that occur. Any information provided by the medium from claimed interactions with spirits is then analysed by the historian to see if it can be verified. The core investigation team are supported by some of the production crew, who appear in the show and are generally involved with the investigation whilst performing their normal crew role. Most of these on-screen crew members also take part in
séanceA séance is an attempt to communicate with spirits. The word "séance" comes from the French word for "seat," "session" or "sitting," from the Old French "seoir," "to sit." In French, the word's meaning is quite general: one may, for example, speak of "une séance de cinéma"...
s.
| Name |
Role |
Secondary Role |
Joined |
| Yvette Fielding Yvette Fielding is a British broadcaster and actress. She is the presenter of the shows Most Haunted, Most Haunted Live! and Ghosthunting with....- Early life and career :...
|
Presenter A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
/ Investigator leader |
None |
Series 1 |
| Dr Ciarán O'Keeffe |
Parapsychologist Parapsychology is a controversial discipline that seeks to investigate the existence and causes of psychic abilities and life after death using the scientific method...
|
None |
Series 2 |
| Billy Roberts |
Medium Mediumship is supposedly a form of communication with spirits.It is a practice in religious beliefs such as Spiritualism, Spiritism, Espiritismo, Candomblé, Louisiana Voodoo, Shambala and Umbanda...
|
None |
Series 13 |
| Lesley Smith Lesley Smith is a scholar, historian, heritage publicist and actress. She is resident historian on the television show Most Haunted Live! and presenter of Most Haunted: Midsummer Murders...
|
HistorianAn historian is an individual who studies and writes about history, and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all events in time...
and Studio Presenter |
Curator Tutbury Castle Tutbury Castle is a largely ruinous medieval castle at Tutbury, Staffordshire in the ownership of the Duchy of Lancaster. It is a Grade I listed building...
|
Series 10 |
| Karl Beattie Karl Beattie is the husband of Yvette Fielding, main presenter of Living TV's Most Haunted , a programme which investigates psychic and paranormal phenomena...
|
Investigator |
Television producer The primary role of a television producer is to control all aspects of production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
, DirectorThe primary role of a television producer is to control all aspects of production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
|
Series 1 |
| Stuart Torevell Stuart Torevell is a camera operator and rigger working for television production company Antix Productions on shows such as Most Haunted. He is a cousin of Yvette Fielding...
|
Investigator |
Rigger Rigger may refer to:* One who attends to the rigging of a sailing ship* Rigger , those who tend rigging in stage performance * Rigger , specializing in moving large/heavy objects* Parachute rigger...
, Camera operatorA camera operator is a person that operates a film or video camera for the purpose of recording a production to film, video, or a computer storage medium...
|
Series 1 |
| Catherine Howe |
Investigator |
Hair and Make-up |
Series 2 |
| Chris Burton |
Investigator |
Director of Photography A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
|
Series 11 |
The show has also featured guest mediums. So far these have been Ian Lawman, Ian Shillito, Gordon Smith,
Uri GellerUri Geller is an Israeli British entertainer well known for his trademark television performances of spoon bending and other physical effects. Geller has throughout the years claimed that he achieves these effects through psychokinesis and telepathy, though critics say they are easily replicated...
, Kevin Wade, Johnnie Fiori and Brian Shepherd. Some episodes have also included at least one celebrity. So far the 'celebrity' episodes have included
Vic ReevesVic Reeves is an English comedian, best known for his double act, with Bob Mortimer . He is known for his surreal and non sequitur sense of humour....
,
Nancy SorrellNancy Sorrell is an English model, actress, and TV presenter who has been married to Jim Moir since 25 January 2003. She appeared on the 2004 series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, and was later joined in the jungle by her husband...
,
Gaby RoslinGaby Roslin is an English television presenter and actress.-Early life:Roslin is the daughter of the former BBC radio announcer Clive Roslin, who was born and raised in London. Her family is Jewish, originating from Zimbabwe...
,
Scott MillsScott Mills is an English radio DJ best known for presenting The Scott Mills Show on BBC Radio 1.-Early radio career:...
,
Mark ChapmanAndrew Mark Chapman , also known as Chappers and Chopper, is the sports newsreader and Mills' sidekick on The Scott Mills Show on BBC Radio 1 in the afternoon.-Early life:...
,
Simon GregsonSimon Gregson is an English actor and is a cast member of the British popular soap opera Coronation Street as Steve McDonald....
,
Sue CleaverSue Cleaver is an English actress. She is best known for her regular role in Coronation Street.She studied at The Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre and her first television appearance was a small part in an episode of A Touch of Frost...
,
Carol ThatcherCarol Thatcher is a British journalist, author, and media personality. She is the only daughter of Margaret Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, a former British Prime Minister, and Sir Denis Thatcher, Bt....
,
Paul O'GradyPaul James O'Grady MBE is a BAFTA-award winning English comedian of television, radio and stage. He achieved initial fame as the creator of comic drag character Lily Savage, a vampish scouser known as the "Birkenhead Bombshell"...
and
Lee RyanLee Ryan is as a singer-songwriter, actor and member of the British boy band Blue.-Early life:Lee Ryan was born in Chatham, Kent. His parents split up when he was five years old. Lee mostly lived with his mother, sister Gemma and his grandmother. He was brought up in Plumstead...
. For the series 10 episode from Coalhouse Fort the team were joined by Scottish Paranormal Investigator & RCPS Scotland Co-Founder Ryan O'Neil (http://www.scottish-paranormal.co.uk) .
Former team members
The following is a list of former team and crew members who have had some significant input to the show so far.
| Name |
Role |
Duration |
Derek AcorahDerek Acorah is an English medium. He is best known for co-presenting Most Haunted, broadcast on Living, between 2002 and 2005...
|
Psychic Medium |
Series 1-6 |
| Jason Karl |
Paranormal Investigator |
Series 1 |
| David Scanlan |
Paranormal Investigator |
Series 1 & Live at Dudley Castle |
| Vicki Purewal |
Paranormal Investigator |
Series 1 |
| Rick Fielding |
Cameraman |
Series 1-4 |
| Ian French |
Director of Photography |
Series 1 |
| Mark Ellison |
Steadicam Operator |
Series 1 |
| Martin Huntley |
Location Sound |
Series 1 |
| Craig Harman |
Steadicam Operator |
Series 2-3 |
| Marcelle Lipman |
Makeup |
Series 1 |
| Neil Haggerty |
Editor |
Series 1-4 |
| Paul Harrison |
Post-production Sound |
Series 1-4 |
| John Baldwin |
Online Editor |
Series 1-4 |
| Phil Whyman Phil Whyman is a British musician, artist and television star who first came to prominence on LivingTV's cable ghosthunting show Scream Team where he was one of the 'contestants' who travelled throughout the UK investigating strange phenomena while living on an AirStream bus ; the show has been...
|
Paranormal Investigator |
Series 2-4 |
| Matthew Smith Dr Matthew Smith is an Associate Professor in Psychology at Liverpool Hope University and leads the . He has recently conducted research on replication issues in parapsychology and psychological variables associated with paranormal belief....
|
Parapsychologist |
Series 2-8 |
| Richard Felix Richard Felix was born 1949 in Stanley, Derbyshire and came to prominence as the historian on LivingTV's successful paranormal programme Most Haunted where from series two to his final episodes of Series 8 he has performed the role of folklorist and historian. In recent years, Richard has become a...
|
Historian |
Series 1, Series 2 - Series 8 |
| John Dibley |
Director of photography, Camera Operator |
Series 2-8 |
| Victoria Lysaght |
Production Manager |
Series 2 |
| Suzanne Vinton |
Script Supervisor |
Series 2-4 |
| Tom O'Carrol |
Location Sound |
Series 3-5 |
| David Wells David Wells is a medium and astrologer. Born in the community of Kelloholm in Scotland, Wells claims he discovered his abilities after suffering from pneumonia, learning astrology and studying the Qabalah to "ground" his abilities...
|
Medium Mediumship is supposedly a form of communication with spirits.It is a practice in religious beliefs such as Spiritualism, Spiritism, Espiritismo, Candomblé, Louisiana Voodoo, Shambala and Umbanda...
|
Series 4-9 |
| Ian Lawman |
Spiritualist Medium |
Series 4, Series 8 |
| Rachel Phillips |
Script Writer |
Series 5-7 |
| Alex Lysaght |
Location Manager |
Series 5 |
| Warren Baxter |
Editor |
Series 5 |
| Stefan Petecki |
Editor |
Series 5-7 |
| Louie Savva Louie Savva is an English former parapsychologist.He studied for his undergraduate degree in psychology at Goldsmiths College, and undertook his PhD under Professor Chris French, a noted UK skeptic....
|
Parapsychologist |
Series 6, 7 & Lives |
| Jon Gilbert |
Sound |
Series 6-8 (Some of Series 9) |
| Iain Cash |
Cameraman |
Series 6-10 (Some of Series 11) |
| Gordon Smith |
Spiritualist Medium |
Series 7 (3 Episodes of Series 8) |
| Ian Shillito |
Psychic Medium/Sensitive |
Series 8 (Guest medium) |
| Steve Parsons |
Paranormal Investigator |
Series 8 |
| David Bull |
Presenter |
Lives, 2002 - Halloween 2005 |
| Jamie Darling |
Presenter |
Live December 2005 |
| Richard Jones |
Historian |
Lives, 2003 - 2005 |
| Carolyn Hodgson |
Interactive Host |
Live, 2003 |
| Sally Matthews |
Floor Manager |
Lives, 2004 - 2006 |
| Roger Lucas |
Sound Recordist |
Series 10, 11 and Lives |
| Chris Conway |
Medium |
Series 13 (4 shows) and all of series 14 (Medium) |
Series 1-3
The first series began on 25 May 2002. Each episode had a duration of thirty minutes. However, reruns of these episodes have been re-edited to the full hour and titled Most Haunted Unseen. Added footage in these episodes is shown with a caption in the corner to distinguish it from the original version. The series concluded with an investigation of
Michelham PrioryMichelham Priory is the site of a former Augustine Priory near Upper Dicker, East Sussex, England, United Kingdom. It is owned and administered by the Sussex Archaeological Society.-History:...
on 17 September 2002, which was coincidentally the first episode to be produced. In the eighth series the team revisited this location to mark the 100th episode. During the break in series, the team aired three live investigations, the third of which led into the second series on 8 April 2003. From this point onwards episodes were accompanied by a supplemental Most Haunted Extra
. At this point, Extra was available as a ten-minute feature after the main show, accessible to viewers via the
red buttonRed Button is a button on the remote control for certain digital television set top boxes in the UK, Australia, Belgium and Malaysia. It is for interactive television services such as BBC Red Button and Astro...
. For Series two and three,
Phil WhymanPhil Whyman is a British musician, artist and television star who first came to prominence on LivingTV's cable ghosthunting show Scream Team where he was one of the 'contestants' who travelled throughout the UK investigating strange phenomena while living on an AirStream bus ; the show has been...
joined the show as a paranormal investigator, replacing the original parapsychologist Jason Karl, who left at the end of the the first series. The show remained unchanged at this point until Series 4.
Series 4-6
The fourth series commenced on 23 March 2004 with an investigation of
Owlpen ManorOwlpen Manor is a Tudor Grade I listed manor house of the Mander family, situated in the village of Owlpen in the Stroud district in Gloucestershire, England. There is an associated estate set in a picturesque valley within the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
. Most Haunted Extra became a thirty-minute programme, broadcast for half an hour after the main show on LivingTV. This series was the first series in which guest mediums joined the team during the investigations. This took some of the pressure off
Derek AcorahDerek Acorah is an English medium. He is best known for co-presenting Most Haunted, broadcast on Living, between 2002 and 2005...
who had been the only medium in the first three series. The main guest mediums involved during this series were Brian Shepherd ,
David WellsDavid Lee Wells is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher. Nicknamed "Boomer," Wells was considered to be one of the game's better left-handed pitchers, especially during his years with the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. He is one of 18 pitchers to have pitched a perfect game...
and Ian Lawman.
Series five commenced on 14 September 2004. It was preceded by a 3 night Most Haunted Live! investigation advertised as a countdown to the series. Phil Whyman was replaced with, then semi-regular, Ciarán O'Keeffe. Originally O'Keeffe viewed the footage recorded during the investigations and analysed it, putting forward his own views and opinions, which usually included suggestions as to other possible causes for the phenomena encountered. He shared this role with colleague
Matthew SmithMatthew Smith is the name of:*Matthew Smith , British painter*Matthew Smith , former acting Colonial Secretary of Western Australia...
who frequently attended the early Most Haunted Live events. Two missing episodes of series 5 that was filmed at London Tower and Kershaw House, was filmed but never shown for unknown reasons and is rumoured to be contained on the series 6 complete boxset. Following the departure of Phil Whyman after Series 4, O'Keeffe began to join the team on location. Yvette's brother Rick Fielding also left the show at the end of Series 4.
For series six, beginning on 22 March 2005 with an investigation of Bodmin Gaol, David Wells became a main medium alongside Derek Acorah appearing in every episode. This was Derek Acorah's last Most Haunted series owing to controversy he was involved in during its production which cast a doubt on his ability to perform his role. As such he did not appear in the final episode at Sinai House. The number of episodes for Series 6 was originally intended to be eighteen, with the last eleven being part of Series 7. Due to Acorah's departure the series was extended. This was the first series in which the team conducted 24 hour investigations over in the USA. Derek didn't return for the shows finale at Sinai House, when David wells was the main medium
Series 7-9
The seventh series began on 1 November, 2005 yet only ran for six weeks, shortened from an intended nine. Two of the final three episodes (at
Bamburgh CastleBamburgh Castle is an imposing castle located on the coast at Bamburgh in Northumberland, England. It is a Grade I listed building.-History:...
and
Chambercombe ManorChambercombe Manor is a Norman manor house located near Ilfracombe, Devon, which dates back to the 11th century and was recorded in the Domesday Book...
) were broadcast at the end of Series 8 and the last, at
Spitbank FortSpitbank Fort is a sea fort built as a result of the 1859 Royal Commission. The fort is located in the Solent, near Portsmouth, England.Work on constructing the fort started in 1861 but was soon halted for a review into the best way to defend the Solent and approaches to Portsmouth Harbour...
, was broadcast as special on
Boxing DayBoxing Day is a bank holiday or a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and countries in the Commonwealth of Nations with a mainly Christian population...
2006.
Parapsychologist
Louie SavvaLouie Savva is an English former parapsychologist.He studied for his undergraduate degree in psychology at Goldsmiths College, and undertook his PhD under Professor Chris French, a noted UK skeptic....
a regular on the
Most Haunted Live!Most Haunted Live is a spin-off of the paranormal reality television series Most Haunted and is also produced by Antix Productions. The show consists of paranormal investigations broadcast live over a period of one or more nights, usually with interactive sections that involve the...
events joined the team for a few of the investigations in this series covering shows which O'Keeffe was unable to take part in.
Series eight began on 27 June 2006 with the 100th investigation and a revisit to Michelham Priory. It marked the last appearance of
Richard FelixRichard Felix was born 1949 in Stanley, Derbyshire and came to prominence as the historian on LivingTV's successful paranormal programme Most Haunted where from series two to his final episodes of Series 8 he has performed the role of folklorist and historian. In recent years, Richard has become a...
as resident historian. He was not replaced until the tenth series. This series featured guest mediums
Gordon SmithGordon Harold Smith is a former United States Senator and businessman from the state of Oregon. A Republican, he served two terms in the Senate. Born in Eastern Oregon, Smith was raised there and in Maryland before attending Brigham Young University and Southwestern University School of Law. Prior...
, Ian Lawman, Ian Shillito and Kevin Wade.
An investigation of
South StackSouth Stack is an island situated just off Holy Island on the North West coast of Anglesey. It is famous as the location of one of Wales' most spectacular lighthouses.-Lighthouse:...
LighthouseA lighthouse is a tower, building, or framework designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire and used as an aid to navigation and to pilots at sea....
began the ninth series on 2 January 2007. Four episodes into the series, new episodes became known as New Most Haunted
in television listings and on-screen. This is the last series of Most Haunted
where Most Haunted Extra
accompanied each episode. After the first few episodes, Extra
was moved to Living2. Most Haunted Extra
last appeared accompanying Most Haunted: Midsummer Murders
. This was the last series to feature David Wells as a regular medium on the show.
Series 10-12
The tenth series of Most Haunted began on 19 February 2008 and came to a close at the end of April.
This series featured three psychic mediums: Johnnie Fiori, Barrie John and Brian Shepherd.
Lesley SmithLesley Smith is a scholar, historian, heritage publicist and actress. She is resident historian on the television show Most Haunted Live! and presenter of Most Haunted: Midsummer Murders...
replaced Richard Felix as resident historian on the recorded shows and travelled with the team to each location. The team were also joined by Scottish paranormal investigator Ryan O'Neill, a guest on episodes 1&2 of series 10 at The Coalhouse Fort.
Series 11 and 12 aired at the same time in alternation, totalling 17 episode series 11 had 9 locations filmed in the UK and series 12 had 8 locations filmed in the USA. The series' kicked off with an investigation at
Nunnington HallNunnington Hall is a country house situated in the English county of North Yorkshire. The river Rye, which gives its name to the local area, Ryedale, runs past the house, flowing away from the village of Nunnington...
in
YorkshireYorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the British Isles. Because of its great size, functions were increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have been subject to periodic reform. Throughout these changes, Yorkshire has continued to be recognised as...
and culminated with a visit to
Wookey HoleWookey Hole Caves is a show cave and tourist attraction in the village of Wookey Hole on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills near Wells in Somerset, England.Wookey Hole cave was formed by the action of the River Axe on the limestone hills...
Caves and Mill in
SomersetSomerset is a county in South West England. The county town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county. The ceremonial county of Somerset borders the counties of Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west...
. Series 11 also saw Brian Shepherd appear as official Most Haunted psychic, replacing the departed David Wells.
Series 13
Most Haunted Series 13 will begin on LivingTV on Tuesday 13th October 2009. On a posting via their
TwitterTwitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author's profile page and delivered to the author's subscribers who are known as followers...
blog in April 2009, the Most Haunted team commented that recording for the series had begun, with a list of some of the locations, including a return to
Blackpool Pleasure BeachPleasure Beach Blackpool is a family owned amusement park situated along the Fylde coast in Blackpool, England. It is the most visited theme park in the United Kingdom, exceeding more than six million visitors a year. The park is a privately funded business and is owned, managed and directed by the...
and
Pendle HillPendle Hill is located in the north-east of Lancashire, England, near the towns of Burnley, Nelson, Colne, Clitheroe and Padiham. Its summit is above mean sea level. It gives its name to the Borough of Pendle. It is an isolated hill, separated from the Pennines to the east and the Forest of...
.
Future
The future of Most Haunted in the USA is questionable. Travel Channel has yet to announce another live event or series to air anytime soon. It is thought Ghost Adventures was put on Travel Channel as a reason to get rid of Most Haunted. Although the lack of fans for the new "Ghost Adventures" series has many people wondering if Most Haunted will stay in America or not.
Lost episodes
During Most Haunted's run, there have been a few episodes which have been broadcast out of order than they have filmed and a few series which were changed to accompany the run on Living.
Series 6 ran for 29 episodes but was originally intended to run for 18 episodes. The original series 7 was intended to be a 17 episode series but due to Derek Acorah's departure, series 6 was extended with the first 11 episodes of series 7 added on. The last 6 episodes of series 7 were filmed without Acorah and with Gordon Smith.
Original Series 7 Episode List
01. Bolling Hall
02. Elvaston Castle
03. Smithills Hall
04. Peterborough Museum
05. Tissington Hall
06. Hellens Manor
07. Tretower Castle
08. Sinai House
09. Lower Southwood Cottages
10. Castle Keep
11. Woodchester Mansion
12. Coronation Street
13. The Old Church House
14. Mains Hall
15. American Legion
16. Leonis Adobe House
17. Wilmington Drum Barracks
After the first 11 episodes of the original series 7 were added to series 6, series 7 became a 6 episode series.
During the Most Haunted spin off series Midsummer Murders, the team filmed a 9 part series. However only 8 were ever aired. The 9th episode, filmed in Lymm Village and featuring a Jack the Ripper suspect, was never aired.
Series 10 was due to be a 20 part UK series but was made an 11 episode series after LIVING shelved the remaining 9 episodes for series 11, which was made up of the filmed UK episodes.
Controversy
On several occasions the former "Spiritualist medium"
Derek AcorahDerek Acorah is an English medium. He is best known for co-presenting Most Haunted, broadcast on Living, between 2002 and 2005...
was supposedly possessed by an entity, sometimes evil or sometimes "lost and confused". Two such cases exposed Acorah. Before the filming, Acorah had been fed disinformation twice about the non-existent ghosts of Kreed Kafer and Rik Eedles by the show parapsychologist Dr. Ciaran O' Keeffe. During the investigations, later broadcast, he presented the information as fact and even behaved as though being possessed by the fictional ghosts. O'Keeffe later revealed in the Daily Mirror that Kreed Kafer and Rik Eedles were anagrams of 'Derek Faker' and 'Derek Lies'. Even though O' Keeffe exposed Acorah, the paper also claimed that O' Keeffe had exposed the rest of the Most Haunted team. O'Keeffe later reported that he had been grossly misquoted and misrepresented in the article, and produced a response outlining his version of the show based on his observations and findings, saying he had exposed Derek Acorah and not the entirety of Most Haunted. The show's presenter and executive producer,
Yvette FieldingYvette Fielding is a British broadcaster and actress. She is the presenter of the shows Most Haunted, Most Haunted Live! and Ghosthunting with....- Early life and career :...
said in an interview that she believes it was a fake possession.
Although not mentioned by O'Keeffe, the Mirror article also brought into question unedited footage which appeared to show Fielding and
Karl BeattieKarl Beattie is the husband of Yvette Fielding, main presenter of Living TV's Most Haunted , a programme which investigates psychic and paranormal phenomena...
faking 'paranormal' occurrences such as ghostly bumps and knocks. Fielding denied the claims.
Further controversy centred on Derek Acorah again in the
West CountryThe West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
, this time in
DevonDevon is a large county in England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, although that is an unofficial name, rarely used inside of the county itself and often indicating a traditional or historical context. The county shares borders with Cornwall to the west and Dorset and Somerset to...
. On the first night filming "Terror in Torbay", Acorah mentioned a woman incarcerated by her jealous sister in the cellar of Lupton House, even coming up with the names Margaret and Eleanor. In this case, the facts were right, but the location was wrong. This is the well-known legend of
Berry Pomeroy CastleBerry Pomeroy Castle consists of a Tudor mansion within the walls of an earlier castle. It is located about a mile north-east of the village of Berry Pomeroy, near Totnes, Devon, England . It occupies a limestone outcrop that overlooks the deep, wooded, narrow valley of the Gatcombe Brook...
which was to be the last night's location. On the final night, at Berry Pomeroy, Fielding reminded Acorah that he had mentioned the incarcerated sister two nights prior. Acorah glossed over his mistake and changed the subject.
After many viewer complaints, the Television Regulator in the UK,
OfcomThe Office of Communications or, as it is more often known, Ofcom, is the independent regulator and competition authority for the communication industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established in the enabling device, the , but received its full authority from the Communications...
, cleared Most Haunted
of any deceptionDeception, beguilement, deceit, bluff, and subterfuge are acts to propagate a beliefs that are not true, or not the whole truth . Deception can involve dissimulation, propaganda, sleight of hand. It can employ distraction, camouflage or concealment...
of its viewers, and ruled that Most Haunted
is an entertainment show, not a legitimate investigation into the paranormal, and should not be taken seriously.
External links
Most Haunted
official website at Living TV (UK)
Most Haunted
website at Travel Channel (USA)
Antix Productions (production company for Most Haunted
)
Tribute to Most Haunted (fansite)