Most Haunted

Most Haunted
Genre Paranormal reality
Starring Yvette Fielding
Karl Beattie
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 17
No. of episodes 188[1] (list of episodes)
Production
Running time 30 minutes (Series 1)
45 minutes (Series 2–)
Production company(s) Antix Productions
Broadcast
Original channel Living TV (2002–10)
Most Haunted TV (2013)
Really (2014–)
Original run 25 May 2002 – present
Chronology
Related shows Ghosthunting With...
External links
Official Most Haunted

Most Haunted is a British paranormal reality television series. The series was first shown on Living TV between 25 May 2002 and 21 July 2010, a new online edition aired on 31 October 2013 with Really taking over broadcast from August 2014. Led by Yvette Fielding, the programme investigated purported paranormal activity in many locations in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and other countries. It was produced by Antix Productions and broadcast on the satellite and cable channels Living TV, Livingit, and Channel One. In the United States, it was broadcast on the Travel Channel.

On 4 June 2014 it was confirmed that Most Haunted will return to TV screens on Really on the 21 August 2014, with Yvette Fielding, Karl Beattie, Fred Batt and Stuart Torevell.

In December 2014, Yvette announced that Most Haunted would return for a 17th series. In January 2015 the UKTV channel Really confirmed that the show had been renewed for two brand new series, with the next new series to debut in June 2015. Each new series will consist of ten episodes.[2][3]

History

On 12 August 2011, it was announced that Sky Living had officially axed Most Haunted and had returned the rights to the show to Yvette Fielding and Karl Beattie. In 2012, it was revealed that Antix Productions partnered with Lionsgate to redevelop Most Haunted.[4]

As of July 2013, Karl Beattie has recently begun scouting new locations for a new series of Most Haunted.

Following on from the announcement that new locations were being looked at, Karl has now announced that Most Haunted will return as an online series for the moment as this is the best way to get the show to as many people as possible, all over the world. A brand new website is being built, which will host the episodes which will be able to be viewed at your leisure.

In April 2014 Yvette Fielding confirmed in an interview with Channel 4's Sunday Brunch that Most Haunted would be returning to television in late 2014; this was later confirmed on 4 June 2014.

Production

The Most Haunted team have travelled in the United Kingdom but also Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania, the United States, Italy, and Czech Republic, investigating paranormal activity for 24 hours at a time.

Photography

Presenter Yvette Fielding during filming on Series one

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. There was a high emphasis on quality production. From series 1–3 there was extensive use of the steadicam, which provided gliding shots during Yvette's ghostly tales or for general views. In series 8 the team introduced a camera crane or 'jib' 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 and highlight cold and warm spots. The style of the series changed somewhat after series five, losing its Most Haunted grungy look as it became more mainstream.

Music

Most Haunted's music was originally composed to picture by Alan Clark, using his own original sounds and samples and including some from the Spectrasonics sample libraries Distorted Reality, Metamorphosis and Biazzare Guitar. As of series 12, Alan Clark's music has been supplemented with additional stock music which was also used on the now defunct Unexplained Channel programme, Rest In Peace. Living TV also released a CD featuring Alan Clark's music remixed and original material written and produced by composer and producer Steve Deakin-Davies (The Official Most Haunted soundtrack Vol 1 The Ambition Company/Solo MH104)

On-screen team

Most Haunted featured a main presenter, a historian, a psychic medium and a parapsychologist.

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 séances.

Name Role Duration
Yvette Fielding Presenter 2002–2011, 2013-2014
Karl Beattie Producer, Director and Cameraman 2002–2011, 2013-2014
Stuart Torevell Rigger and Cameraman 2002–2011, 2013-2014
Chris Burton Director of Photography & Cameraman 2008–2011, 2013-2014
Fred Batt Demonologist 2010-2011, 2013-2014
Melanie Crump Hair & Make-Up Artist 2013-2014

The show has also featured guest mediums. So far these have been Ian Lawman, Ian Shillito, Israeli-born Uri Geller, Rochford's clairvoyant Kevin Wade, American-born Johnnie Fiori, Barrie John, Liverpool native Billy Roberts and American-born Patrick Mathews. Some episodes have also included at least one celebrity. So far the 'celebrity' episodes have included Vic Reeves, Nancy Sorrell, Gaby Roslin, Scott Mills, Mark Chapman, Simon Gregson, Sue Cleaver, Carol Thatcher, Paul O'Grady and Lee Ryan. For the series 10 episode from Coalhouse Fort the team were joined by Scottish paranormal investigator Ryan O'Neill.

Mediums

For the most of the show a medium accompanied the team on their investigations. The mediums are as follows:

Former team members

Name Role Years
Catherine Howe Hair & Make up Artist 2003–2011
Phil Whyman Paranormal Investigator 2003–2004, 2011
Richard Felix Historian 2003–2006
Dr Ciarán O'Keeffe Parapsychologist 2004–2009
Dr. Matthew Smith Parapsycologist 2004–2005
Iain Cash Cameraman 2005–2008
Chris Burton Director of Photography & Cameraman 2008–2011, 2013
Lesley Smith Historian 2008–2009
Simon Lucas Cameraman 2008–2009
Melanie Crump Hair & Make-Up Artist 2013

Episodes

Time slot

Series 1–3

The film crew for the first series, including guest Jason Karl (back, right)

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 Priory 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 button. For Series two and three, Phil Whyman joined the show as a paranormal investigator, replacing the original investigator Jason Karl of Lancashire as well as guest investigators Portsmouth native David Scanlan and Vicki Purewal who decided not to continue with the team, who left at the end of 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 Manor. 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 Acorah who had been the only medium in the first three series. The main guest mediums involved during this series were Salisbury native Brian Shepherd, David Wells and Scunthorpe's 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 (although he recently returned on the Live shows as a studio expert), 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 Smith who frequently attended the early Most Haunted Live events. 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.

Derek Acorah in series 1

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. The programme featuring Arreton Manor[5] included what was said to be the ghost of an 8-year-old girl named Annabelle Leigh who, in 1560, witnessed her oldest brother smothering their dying father Barnaby so he would quickly inherit the property.[6] The brother, after killing the father, was reputed to have strangled his sister and thrown her out of the window. Many sightings of a face at the window have been reported from the grounds when nobody was known to have been in that room. The Most Haunted team apparently came into contact with the girl who could be heard knocking in reply to their questions surrounding her death and whose presence could be felt.[6]

Medium Derek Acorah claims to have picked up on the ghost of a tall, robust woman named Ami Tetchnut who had links with The Hague and that of a very tall, gaunt man named Edward Bryan or Bryant who was knocked unconscious in the entranceway and taken away.[6] Medium David Wells also claims to have detected the presence of a pompous man named Henry and hard knocking on the front door from people who wanted him out; this heavy knocking has been reported by many others. While investigating the hallway, the Most Haunted team apparently witnessed the throwing of a book ironically about the ghosts of the Isle of Wight which Wells claims to have been thrown by Henry who had laughed at them.[6] Amateur historian Richard Felix claims to have looked at the book earlier and it had been one of three on the mantlepiece but has no explanation of how it was thrown.[6] Acorah claims that one of the rooms was used as a courtroom which had a poor sense of true justice and often innocent captives would be sent to the cellar from the courtroom, which was used as a brutal torture chamber.[6]

Some other paranormal activities reported and examined relate to "a girl with fair hair calling for her mother, a lady in a purple dress, a lady in a red dress with puffy sleeves, apparitions of a black dog; monks in the dining room, in the old monks quarters kneeling and praying, and in the gardens; and a lady in a white dress gliding across the four-poster bedroom before disappearing out of the window. " Cupboard doors opening on their own, doors being bolted and orderly stacking of the towels on the floors have been reported.[5]

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.[7] 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. Acorah didn't return for the show's finale at Sinai House, when David Wells was the main medium. Series 6 also marked a change in the production of Most Haunted. Editing and post production moved from 422 Manchester to Antix's own production facilities. This resulted in the loss of the original editor of the series, as well as a large number of film effects which were used, changing the visual style of the show considerably.

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 Castle and Chambercombe Manor) were broadcast at the end of Series 8 and the last, at Spitbank Fort, was broadcast as special on Boxing Day 2006. Parapsychologist Louie Savva a regular on the Most Haunted Live! 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 Felix as resident historian. He was not replaced until the tenth series. This series featured guest mediums Gordon Smith, Ian Lawman, Ian Shillito of Braintree, Essex and Kevin Wade.

An investigation of South Stack Lighthouse 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

The tenth series of Most Haunted began on 19 February 2008 and came to a close at the end of April.[8] This series featured three psychic mediums: Johnnie Fiori, Nottingham native Barrie John and Brian Shepherd. Lesley Smith 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 Coalhouse Fort.[9] In the Coalhouse Fort episodes of the show, an American psychic joined the team and claimed to have encountered the spirits of a bespectacled old man and his "gawky" son in the museum of the fort, who had been responsible for compiling the collection.[6] The team allegedly picked up the voice and moaning from the old man later in the night.[6] The psychic also claimed that there were spirits of animals in the fort, perhaps from horses who had been involved in its construction and claimed to have encountered the spirit of a pilot named Jeff and other air force men around the fort who had been there during World War I.[6] She also claimed that in one area of the fort she picked up macabre images of debauchery and sodomy where sexual favours were performed in return for food and money, also from World War I.[6] The team also apparently picked up countless examples of poltergeist activity in the fort with the unexplained throwing of stones, knocking and the occasional moaning, responses from taunts by the team for the ghosts to make their presence known.[6]

Series 11, 12 (USA) & 13

When series 11 was aired, Living merged Season 12 to series 11 to make it a longer season. Series 13 was aired, and featured 10 episodes including Speke Hall.

Series 14

Series 14 started in late May 2010, with an investigation into Berkeley Castle starting on 12 May 2010 and continue to show every Wednesday on Living at 22:00 BST. The series ended on Wednesday 21 July 2010.

2011 Special

A new episode of Most Haunted was released exclusively to DVD on 12 December 2011. This investigation was based at The Rifles Museum in Salisbury, England.

Series changes

During Most Haunted's run, there have been a few episodes which have been broadcast out of the order in which they were 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

  1. Bolling Hall
  2. Elvaston Castle
  3. Smithills Hall
  4. Peterborough Museum
  5. Tissington Hall
  6. Hellens Manor
  7. Tretower Castle
  8. Sinai House
  9. 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.

Specials & Series 16-present

After Most Haunted ended in 2010 on LivingTV, Karl Beattie began a fan campaign to get the show back on air. Most Haunted returned with a DVD special from The Rifles Museum in Salisbury and three episodes from The Royal Court Theatre, Bacup, England produced and aired especially online.

It was announced on 4 June, that Most Haunted will return to TV in August 2014 with a new 10 part series to air on the Freeview channel, Really. Yvette Fielding is confirmed to be returning to the show along with Karl Beattie. Former team members Stuart Torevell, Chris Burton and Fred Batt are also due to appear.[10] Welsh heavy metal band Bullet For My Valentine appeared in an episode of the show.

Most Haunted will air its 17th Series from June 2015 and a 18th Series is also planned to air on Really. It has also been hinted that there will be a Live Episode in 2015.

Yvette Fielding was interviewed on the James Whale (radio) Show, discussing the current show and her reasons for not using mediums. JWRS Ep. 80 April 2015

Sister shows

Most Haunted Live!

Main article: Most Haunted Live!

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 Haunted historian Lesley Smith. The series commenced on a weekly broadcast from 19 June 2007 to 31 July 2007 and the team visited (in order of broadcast) Stoney Middleton, Nantwich, Castleton, Pluckley, Ruthin, Tutbury, Tarvin, and Bakewell. An episode, shot in Lymm Village, saw the team investigate a suspect of Jack the Ripper. This episode was not aired on television.

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 Channel 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 Kentucky. It aired as part of Series 11 in the UK.

Most Haunted: The Live Series

In January 2010, Most Haunted returned for a spin-off of the live shows. These episodes differed from the previous live shows in that they were more like a series investigation, but broadcast live. The series was broadcast live every Saturday night and ran for 8 weeks, with each episode lasting two hours.

Controversy

On several occasions the former Spiritualist medium Derek Acorah 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 misinformation twice about the non-existent ghosts of Kreed Kafer and Rik Eedles by the show parapsychologist Dr. Ciarán O' Keeffe (under instruction from Karl Beattie, according to the now-defunct Bad Psychics website). During the investigations, later broadcast, Acorah 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'.[7] 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 , Yvette Fielding said in an interview that she believes it was a fake possession.[11]

Although not mentioned by O'Keeffe, the Mirror article also brought into question unedited footage which appeared to show Yvette Fielding and Karl Beattie faking 'paranormal' occurrences such as ghostly bumps and knocks. Yvette denied these claims.[7]

Further controversy centred on Derek Acorah again in the West Country, this time in Devon. 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 Castle 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.

There have been many viewer complaints about the show to the Television Regulator in the UK, Ofcom. Ofcom described the show as one "where techniques are used which mean the audience is not necessarily in full possession of the facts". Ofcom ruled that this was not fraud because Most Haunted is an entertainment show, not a legitimate investigation into the paranormal, and should not be taken seriously.[12]

See also

References and notes

External links