Derek Acorah

[[File:Derek Acorah Most Haunted lo res.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Derek Acorah in 2002.]] 
{{Psychic}}
'''Derek Acorah''' {{lived|1950|2020}}, born '''Derek Francis Johnson''', was a [[United Kingdom|British]] TV personality who claimed to be a [[psychic]] [[medium]], most notably on the television series ''Most Haunted''. He had also done other shows including ''Predictions with Derek Acorah'' and ''Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns'' and performed a stage act. Acorah was exposed as being a bit of a chancer in the early 2000s, and after that his following was more "ironic" than "iconic".

Nearly all the entities Acorah channeled coincidentally spoke with the same strong Scouse (Liverpool) accent he had, no matter where they came from. (If you don't know what Scouse sounds like, think of how the Beatles spoke, but rougher sounding in Derek's case. Kim Cattrall once spoke like this too, believe it or not.)

Acorah has now passed over to the other side himself, where he spends his time apologising to all the dead people who featured on his shows.

==Highlights==
*Acorah was a staple of the television (unintentional comedy) show ''Most Haunted'' from 2002–2014. The show featured Acorah, co-starring Yvette Fielding, and several other geniuses stumbling around in old buildings with infrared video cameras looking for [[ghosts]], during which Acorah would inevitably pretend to communicate with [[spirits]]. One memorable episode featured Acorah supposedly passing on a message from a deceased young woman: "Mary loves [[penis|Dick]]".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afwq6X9-rrc Derek Acorah Mary Loves Dick] YouTube</ref> In a later episode, Acorah was busted pretending to be possessed by the spirit of a fictional character made up by a fellow cast member.<ref>[http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16303507&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=spooky-truth--tv-s-most-haunted-con-exposed-tv--name_page.html Spooky Truth: TV's Most Haunted Con Exposed] ''The Daily Mirror''. 28 October 2005</ref>
*In 2010 Acorah's ''Michael Jackson: The Live Seance'' was voted the worst television program of the year.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/7038609/Michael-Jackson-The-Live-Seance-voted-worst-television-programme.html Michael Jackson: The Live Seance voted worst television programme] ''[[Daily Telegraph|The Daily Telegraph]]'', January 2010</ref> If he could predict these results, why attempt to make it?
*In 2012 Acorah claimed to have received news from his 'spirit guide' that missing child [[Madeleine McCann]] had died some time ago, but would soon be reincarnated. McCann's parents were reportedly "sickened" by Acorah's claim,<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/madeleinemccann/9270314/TV-psychic-Derek-Acorah-apologises-for-Maddie-is-dead-claim.html TV psychic Derek Acorah apologises for 'Maddie is dead' claim] ''[[Daily Telegraph|The Daily Telegraph]]'', May 2012</ref> although sadly there is no evidence that she is alive.

==Didn't see that coming==
Acorah's driving license was revoked for 28 months after the car he was driving struck another motorist's, causing the driver to have whiplash.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-26543089 Derek Acorah banned from driving after Southport crash] [[BBC|BBC News]], March 2014</ref>

The "should have known this was going to happen" joke was wheeled out again in March 2017 when a stage appearance was cancelled at the last minute by Acorah when he wasn't paid the fee he expected, and turned into a near-riot.<ref>[https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3185793/police-called-to-calm-angry-fans-after-tv-psychic-derek-acorah-cancels-gig-last-minute/ Police called to calm angry fans after TV psychic Derek Acorah cancels gig last minute], The Sun, 27 March 2017</ref>

Acorah's show ''Most Haunted'' has been the subject of many complaints to broadcasting watchdogs. In 2005 viewers complained that the show was deceiving viewers by claiming the paranormal was real. However TV watchdog Ofcom ruled that the show was not to be taken seriously, finding it went "beyond what we believe to be a generally accepted understanding of what comprises a legitimate investigation" and "should be taken to be a programme produced for entertainment purposes".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4500322.stm Ghost show cleared of deception], BBC News, 5 Dec 2005</ref> In 2013 a complaint was upheld for scaring children.<ref>[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/47135/obb226.pdf Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin], Ofcom (UK), Issue number 226, 18 March 2013</ref>

==See also==
*[[Psychic detective]]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Acorah, Derek}}
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:Psychics]]
[[Category:Entertainers]]

Categories: British people, Psychics, Entertainers