Ghost Towns Live - revealed!


GHOST TOWNS LIVE - York 27 - 29 January 2006 by Emma Gee

	BARB viewing figures:	Friday: 182,000 Saturday: 201,000 Sunday: 223,000
	When Acorah left Most Haunted for Ghost Towns I thought that would be the end of my interest in his television career. A completely new production team would be involved, the moles would fall silent, and I could retire to my knitting. How wrong can a woman be! Within weeks of Acorah’s last Most Haunted Live I had been contacted, not by one, not two, but THREE people, giving me inside information on Ghost Towns! From the first two contacts I discovered that Ruggie Media obtains a list of possible locations in a town from a local group or individual, who are also asked to provide any reports of paranormal activity, together with local history. I have not heard of any remuneration for this being offered... From the list, Acorah then helps to choose the locations! He also sees the historical report on the town! According to Ruggie Media this is “due to the short time they have in which to film”. So Acorah is directly involved even at the planning stage of the programme, and several people have refused to be involved once they have discovered this. I had no expectations of receiving much more than the odd piece of information here and there, but along came contact number three ... ... and... ... two days after Ghost Towns Live aired, a courier delivered three video tapes to my door. I had been sent raw footage of the programme! Once I began watching, I realised that now there is nobody to question Acorah, he has carte blanche to do and say what he pleases. It quickly became obvious that he was taking full advantage of the situation. Most readers of this will have seen Ghost Towns or Most Haunted, so I have no need to describe most of his ‘investigations’ in any detail, but will concentrate on the names he gave. However, the ‘Doorstep Divination’ was new to me. All I knew about it was what I had read in the show’s publicity blurb Using only his psychic abilities to guide him to a particular house in York, he will use his skills as a medium to give one lucky recipient a reading. *LivingTV* I was intrigued as to how this would work on a Live, and here I was seeing things which viewers are blissfully unaware of – prepare to be enlightened!

	"Paranormal Entertainment" That is how each night's programme was introduced, which immediately brought Richard Woolfe’s ‘paranormal bollocks’ comment to mind.
York Castle Gaol	Acorah provided the following names of prisoners: Eugene Aram – a famous case of possible injustice William Wilkinson - on database of prisoners Elizabeth Johnson – on database of prisoners Edward Toner (1805) – allegedly a nasty gaoler - no record of him found as yet.
Doorstep ‘divination’ 1 Using only his psychic abilities to guide him to a particular house in York, he will use his skills as a medium to give one lucky recipient a reading. LivingTV
See it for yourself on this >>>CLIP<<< This clip is copyright LivingTV and is shown for the express purpose of criticism and review in accordance with the Fair Dealing Provision of the Copyright Act.	So the LivingTV website makes it very clear that Acorah will only use his psychic abilities to guide him to the right house. On the night, this is emphasised to the viewers and studio audience, when they are told: "He'll drive around York, and Derek will wait for Sam to give him an idea of where to go."
See it for yourself on this >>>CLIP<<< This clip is copyright LivingTV and is shown for the express purpose of criticism and review in accordance with the Fair Dealing Provision of the Copyright Act.	Westbrook and Acorah, as they stood together, well away from the rest of the crew: DW: So we're just gonna look up the street ... to see wot yer feeling, yeah? Personally if it was me I'd say that one there that's got the picture in the window of you..... That 'd be really helpful Both laugh DA: Won't they see it? DW: No, no, no... Alright? DA: Yeah DW: It could be anywhere along this street ... DA: OK
So let's get this straight, shall we? They were going to drive around York, waiting for Sam to tell Derek where to go. Then the crew of the uplink van would set everything up, ready for the great divination... There's just one big problem with that... When Daniella and Acorah arrived at the location, not only was the uplink van already there, but up and running, and filming them as they arrived. Their cable was already laid and ready to run - a job that I am told takes at least five to ten minutes, so draw your own conclusions! But wait, there's more!
See it for yourself on this >>>LINK<<< This document is copyright LivingTV and is shown for the express purpose of criticism and review in accordance with the Fair Dealing Provision of the Copyright Act.	Anyone who visited the LivingTV Ghost Towns Live website and clicked on the Divination button will have found how they may be a recipient of a reading from Acorah if they lived in York. They were assured that if they downloaded the picture and put it in their window, then "No one from the Ghost Towns Team will visit you prior to the broadcast of the programme." And that's exactly how it should be, isn't it? We wouldn't want any of the team knowing the identity of the recipient in advance, would we? So how would they explain this?
See it for yourself on this >>>CLIP<<< This clip is copyright LivingTV and is shown for the express purpose of criticism and review in accordance with the Fair Dealing Provision of the Copyright Act.	DW: If she says yes, yes, yes, fine, I'm gonna... So how does Daniella know that the person who's about to open the door is female? By all means consider the possibility that she is also psychic, but as you read on you may want to change your mind ...
See it for yourself on this >>>CLIP<<< This clip is copyright LivingTV and is shown for the express purpose of criticism and review in accordance with the Fair Dealing Provision of the Copyright Act.	DW: Derek, show me which way you want to go? DA: I want to go that way, Daniella. I’m drawn very strongly this way. DW: You’re feeling the energy? DA: And it’s quite close as well. Yeah. You know, it’s like a pull, like a ... most definitely, yeah. And it’s HERE! DW: OK... That’s quick. OK.
READING:	Of the 6/9 names given by Acorah, the only ones accepted were: Mary – who turned out to be the sitter’s friend’s mother’s sister Ann – cousin who died ten years previously Although she accepted the dog, it was not her dog. (I think most people know of a dog that has been put down.) The other names not recognised: Lily maybe Lilian John/Jack Paul William/Bill Nor did she recognise Acorah’s stand-by in difficult times, the miscarriage!
See it for yourself on this >>>CLIP<<< This clip is copyright LivingTV and is shown for the express purpose of criticism and review in accordance with the Fair Dealing Provision of the Copyright Act. score: Acorah 2 – 5 Reality Selective memory obviously set in, as the following night the sitter dutifully told the studio audience how accurate the reading was.	Once off-air, the sitter remarked: “ ... a lot of it .. well, some of it didn’t ring true for me.” In fact, two-thirds of the reading meant nothing to her. It's most enlightening to see how disinterested Acorah is in her statement. How very caring!


Multiangular Tower, Museum Gardens The massacre of the Jews took place at Clifford’s Tower, which is to the south-east of the city.	The Roman Multiangular Tower forms part of the city walls, and is in the Museum Gardens, to the north-west of the city. Acorah and the team prowled around the Roman coffin made of stone that was found in Heslington, a few miles outside York, and placed in its current location in 1852. Here, Acorah senses a large number of Jews, who were slaughtered for their faith.
Doorstep ‘divination’ 2 Using only his psychic abilities to guide him to a particular house in York, he will use his skills as a medium to give one lucky recipient a reading. LivingTV
See it for yourself on this >>>CLIP<<< This clip is copyright LivingTV and is shown for the express purpose of criticism and review in accordance with the Fair Dealing Provision of the Copyright Act.	The team had already identified three houses by the window posters – one in a road to the left of their starting point, and two in the adjoining road, one on the left, the other on the right. The last was ruled out as being too far, so Acorah decided he was drawn to the one on the opposite side of the road. As they began walking towards it tragedy struck! The cables were too short to reach it, and with less than one minute to go there was a mad scramble back to the one in the road rejected earlier. As the pair hurry down the road, we hear ... DA: Whereabouts? Which one?”. DW indicates DA: Where is it? Where? DW: Here
READING:	Once inside the house Acorah took off his coat, and can clearly be seen looking around the room, where a keyboard and other instruments are very obvious!
See it for yourself on this >>>CLIP<<< This clip is copyright LivingTV and is shown for the express purpose of criticism and review in accordance with the Fair Dealing Provision of the Copyright Act. score: Acorah 1 [2 halves] – 4 Reality Once again, selective memory set in, as the following night the sitter dutifully told the studio audience how accurate the reading was!	The items/people accepted by the sitter were: Someone playing the keys of a piano – (what a surprise, but can’t be classed as a hit!) John - a name in family Recognised by not accurate: Caution with the photographs of orbs Something in the back to do with the level of the flooring affecting the cupboards Not recognised: An aunt with cancer David / Dave Margaret Catherine/Katy/Kate
OFCOM’s broadcasting code states: 2.8 Demonstrations of exorcism, the occult, the paranormal, divination, or practices related to any of these (whether such demonstrations purport to be real or are for entertainment purposes) must not contain life-changing advice directed at individuals. Meaning of “life-changing”: : Life-changing advice includes direct advice for individuals upon which they could reasonably act or rely about health, finance, employment or relationships.	Then Acorah took a step onto very shaky ground. Earlier he had suggested the sitter might be considering the course of action he should be taking now; that there were two pathways – “Do I do this, or do I do that?” The sitter had agreed, and later Acorah returned to the subject, asking if he had considered studying for a doctorate or something, to which he replied “At one point.” Acorah then told him that his (the sitter’s) grandmother was saying “That was wrong – she casts those thoughts away from you.”
St Mary’s Abbey Gallery, Yorkshire museum	Here we had the funniest sequence of the whole weekend. Under the feet of the audience, Acorah sensed a large group of spirits - Roman soldiers – together with an individual standing aloof from the group. He identified the individual as being the one who meted out justice.
Gnaeus Julius Agricola was indeed the Roman General who completed the conquest of Britain. He governed Britain for only six year - 78-84AD – and appears to have spent little time in York, which raises an interesting question...	Unfortunately for Acorah, he can only have seen the name written down, as he proclaimed him ‘Agri Cola’ ! There were some strange looks from the members of the Emmerdale cast – it appears they are rather better educated.
If an ancient Roman wanted to make himself known to Acorah, live, on television, why Agricola? Why not a full-blown Emperor – or even two? After all, Constantine I visited York, and promptly died – surely that should be good for a haunting or two? His son, Constantine the Great, was proclaimed Roman Emperor in York – what better way could there be to make sure he would be remembered? But enough historical speculation. Let’s get back to facts.
I was aware that Xavier was a name well-known to Roman Catholics – a friend attended St Francis Xavier School, which was one of the best in Liverpool - but when I came to research its origins I made a very interesting discovery. It was not used as a given name until after the canonisation of Saint Francisco Xavier in 1622, and there is no evidence that it was used as an independent given name until two centuries after that date.	Acorah became ‘possessed’ by a man named Xavier, who was slaughtered on the orders of ‘Agr Cola. To the delight of the audience, he ran around the floor on all fours like a demented dog, before hiding in a hole. Amusing – or pitiful, depending on your viewpoint – as the episode may have seemed, Acorah showed once again he was only play-acting, as he made a fatal error in his choice of name. Talking about the ‘possession’ later, Acorah says, “It was totally bolivious [sic] of what actually happened...” What actually happened was that he managed to get ‘possessed’ by a name that didn’t exist for another 1,700 years! Remarkable!

Antiques Centre, Stonegate	According to Acorah, Sarah Inns, aged 19/20, was raped and murdered, then buried in the ‘secret’ chamber under Stonegate. Possibly a prostitute, she was supposedly brought up in Stonegate, where an initial ‘J’ in iron can be see above head-height. So far I have been unable to confirm this person ever existed.


Psychic Museum, Stonegate	The Psychic Museum was co-founded by Jonathan Cainer and Acorah’s good friend, Uri Geller. They run ‘Ghost Nights’ – 9 pm to 2.30 am – with “A Midnight feast! (well, a selection of sandwiches, hot and cold drinks)” for ‘only’ £75... In the panelled room, Acorah becomes ‘possessed’
See it for yourself on this >>>CLIP<<< This clip is copyright LivingTV and is shown for the express purpose of criticism and review in accordance with the Fair Dealing Provision of the Copyright Act.	DA: Oh, it’s him! He’s got hold of me neck! Let go of me neck, you! Let go of my neck! Take it off! Sam! Step forward. Take his grasp from my neck. The guest psychics/ medium could not stop laughing at Acorah's antics Acorah quickly drops his head, pushing it forward, which leaves his coat apparently sticking up at the back. I wonder how long it took him in front of the mirror to get it exactly right
See it for yourself on this >>>CLIP<<< This clip is copyright LivingTV and is shown for the express purpose of criticism and review in accordance with the Fair Dealing Provision of the Copyright Act.	While Acorah's head is down, two strange breaths are heard, and commented on by those around the table. Both Daniella and Angus later confirmed they had heard the spirit's spooky breathing. I'm very sorry to disappoint them - and indeed anyone else who thought it was 'Tom', but Acorah did it himself!
See it for yourself on this >>>CLIP<<< This clip is copyright LivingTV and is shown for the express purpose of criticism and review in accordance with the Fair Dealing Provision of the Copyright Act.	He’s got hold of me coat now! Let go! Let me go! Oh! He’s got me legs now! Sam! Step forward! Stop it, Sam! Stop it now! AP: Derek, who is this person? Who is this man? DA: This is Tom! Let go of me! Let go! At this point Acorah hooked his feet under the cross spar below the table in order to hold himself in position when he flung his arms up in the air and pushed himself backwards, waiting until he is ‘rescued’! Later he explains, “He’s a bad vile intent” !
The Punch Bowl, Stonegate	There are supposedly three ghosts in the Punch Bowl Inn - a former landlord killed in a fire; a grey lady, who committed suicide; and a young woman, killed by a drunk when she refused his advances at a time when it was believed to have been a brothel. However, Acorah did not connect with the first two. Instead he went first for a traveller named Frederick Porter, ‘from a coastal area’, who was murdered in 1780 - 1800. I have not been able to find any record of this man as yet. Coincidentally [?], Acorah has come up with the name Porter before, in a coastal area – two or three of them, in fact – in Southport. Then came fourteen-year-old Izzie/Isobel/Isabella Kenwright, who was raped and murdered ‘very close by’ in September 1899. Once again I have not been able to find any record of her as yet. Acorah exclaims “The smell is a pugnant [sic] smell” ! He then claims it’s the smell of a corpse, and the bones are buried under the building, together with a number of others. He says, “She could be unearthed.” Then, just in case someone might actually try to do so, quickly adds, “It doesn’t matter to her now – she’s in her spirit body now.”
	Doorstep ‘divination’ 3 Using only his psychic abilities to guide him to a particular house in York, he will use his skills as a medium to give one lucky recipient a reading. LivingTV
See it for yourself on this >>>CLIP<<< This clip is copyright LivingTV and is shown for the express purpose of criticism and review in accordance with the Fair Dealing Provision of the Copyright Act.	Even before they start walking towards the house: DA: Do we know this guy’s name?
See it for yourself on this >>>CLIP<<< This clip is copyright LivingTV and is shown for the express purpose of criticism and review in accordance with the Fair Dealing Provision of the Copyright Act.	'Do we know this guy's name'?? What a very strange thing for a 'medium' to ask when he's being 'guided only by his psychic abilities', especially when there are two people in the house – a man and his wife, who was left out of the divination? Remember what was said on-air in the hub? And this? "No one from the Ghost Towns team will visit you prior to the broadcast of the programme." LivingTV Why should Acorah expect them to know his name?
	The door is opened by a man with a strong North-east accent. As everyone settles down, there is a clear shot of an inhaler on a shelf. Not one to miss out on such an opportunity, Acorah opens with:
	DA: Who suffered with his chest? Possibly asthma or asbestosis? An uncle figure? M: acknowledges it, but it transpires it was his grandfather DA: George, who’s George M: no response DA: Haven’t you got to go to Newcastle? M: No, the wife’s got to go to Sunderland! DA: OK, right, this is it! George is linked to the person who’s got to go that way. There’s a celebration linked with this trip. [No, it was a business trip!] DA: A lovely lady coming now, she would be – who is Alice? M: That would be my great-grandmother’s mother ... DA: Why don’t you like John? M: John?? DA: Now John’s not in spirit. There’s a mention of not liking John. M: seems to dredge up a memory of the name DA: Who uses the inhaler? [remember the inhaler on the shelf?] M: Myself DA: Your mother’s mother, your grandmother, please, who loves you – oh! Beyond anything she just put her arms around you and she’s looking back when you were a boy, and you know, she takes me back in memory with you when you were a baby, and it’s like as if to say you know, with the chest she used to rub – go on – she used to rub – what was this oil ..? this oil she used to give you ... erm... what’s that called? She’s mentioning these words... Did your grandmother used to give you serra... serrapafigs? DW: Syrup of figs! MD: Possibly, yeah
Hang on!!! Syrup of figs?? For a baby's bad chest?? Syrup of Figs: “An effective natural fruit laxative, giving reliable relief from constipation, and contains Senna, a highly effective yet natural laxative in a syrup of real figs.”. What a shame! There was Acorah, live on television, coming up to the home straight, thinking everything was going so well, when he talks himself into a corner! He desperately needs the name of an oil that could be rubbed on a baby’s chest. His mind clutches desperately at straws, and Sam, naughty Ethiopean guide that he is, goes and pops ‘Sirrupafigs’ into his mind! Classic! Acorah recovers and changes the subject rapidly
	DA: Who has ulcers? M: My dad DA: He’s going to be OK DA: You’re quite artistic, aren’t you? M: looks mystified DA: There’s someone wanting to be remembered to Paul. Who’s Paul? M: looking puzzled... Distant cousin DA: You’re going into a solicitor’s office M: Not at the moment, no. DA: What do you want doing at the back of the property M: initially looks puzzled. An extension DA: The lights – one light you should look at because it keeps shorting out? M: Not as far as I know
score: Acorah 2 – 5 Reality plus several bonus points to Reality for Syrup of Figs!!
Roman Bath House Museum	Acorah became ‘possessed’ by ‘Edward’, from the 18th Century. He was dressed in Victorian clothes, with long curly dreadlocks. Unfortunately for Acorah, Queen Victoria did not come to the throne until 1837 – the middle of the 19th Century!
	DW: That was alright, wasn’t it? A quick possession for a Sunday night! I enjoyed that!
divination final score: Acorah 5 – 14 Reality plus several bonus points to Reality for Syrup of Figs!! Reality is the winner - Acorah is a fake!	As I had suspected, Acorah's 'investigations' were of the usual standard - as inaccurate as they had been on Most Haunted, but the 'Doorstep Divination' proved that Ghost Towns is as fake - if not more so - than Most Haunted, and Acorah is the biggest fake of all. The problems with the cable encountered by the crew on the second night's 'divination' poses another problem. What happened to the spirits who were drawing him to the first house when they discovered the cable was too short? Did Sam send them back? If so, how did Acorah conjure up the spirits for the second house? Answers on a ... on second thoughts - don't bother. I think we all know the answer, don't we? So, both Derek Acorah, and Ghost Towns Live were fake. The production team knows it, Richard Woolfe knows it, Acorah knows it, and now you know it. Let's make sure that everyone knows it!

WANT MORE?	Digital Adventures in Wonderland by 'The Black Pig' click on the pirate flag

ALSO	Commentary by American skeptic, James Randi 10 February 2006 on the James Randi Educational Forum click here to read

AND last, but certainly not least...	Tony Youens, of A.S.K.E., has made a detailed analysis of Acorah's "first ever live Doorstep Divination" click here to read


Copyright 2006 Emma Gee www.doublexposure.co.uk
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