Background:

I had been a huge fan of Derek Acorah for many years. He first came to my attention when he was the Medium in the Living programme 'Most Haunted'. My eldest Niece and I used to love to watch him communicate with the Spirit world and this was the highlight of our week to see what happened to him and the Team. However it was always him that captivated my imagination.

About Derek Acorah:

Derek Acorah first choice of career was not as a Medium. He wanted to be a professional footballer, having been on Liverpool's books for the age of 15. But by 26 a knee injury had brought a premature ending to this career. He inherited his gift for Mediumship from his Grandma. From there is placed an advert in the Liverpool Echo for private readings and never looked back. He enjoyed many years of success with Television programmes such as Most Haunted, Ghost Towns plus James Whale's radio programme. He is regarded my many believers as the number one Medium in this country.

His show:

When my Niece told me she had managed to get tickets to see Derek Acorah's live 2009 Tour I was really excited. He as part of this tour was to play one night at the Wycombe Swan and I really looked forward to the night. The tickets were £20 which although quite expensive I thought would be worthwhile to see this man in action.

It was my first visit to this theatre and it appeared a wonderful arena. It was modern, clean and had had a good atmosphere about it. I did notice that the audience were mainly women and I wondered if it was that women are more open to the concept of the afterlife or if it was because he is a real showman. Finally the big moment dawned when the lights went down and the music started up. It was quite glitzy and probably a bit flash for me with the dramatic music, flashing lights and big announcement of Derek Acorah on stage.

He came on stage in a suit and looked exactly as he did on television, he was confident and looked very handsome. I was immediately impressed by how comfortable he seemed with several hundred people staring at him. He had not real props unless you call a table with a jug of water and a glass one. Immediately he introduced himself and tried to get the audience involved in the show, which I thought was a good ice breaker.

Then with the aid of his spirit guide Sam he tried to communicate with those who had passed on to the 'other side'. He told us a little about Sam who lived 2000 years ago in Ethiopia and who scratched out a living as a farmer, but was always a rebel within his community. I found Derek to be very clear and easy to understand as he spoke and also very witty as a stand up performer. I found his humour good and that fact he did not seem to take himself to seriously was for me refreshing.

However that was as good as it got for me. As Derek with the aid of Sam his spirit guide would bring people forward from the world of spirit who wanted to communicate with a loved one in the audience. Firstly, I found the information he was getting to be very weak and open to interpretation. Telling us he had a lady called Elizabeth who died in her 60's or 70's with a heart or chest problems, was a typical type line he would us. It could have applied to at least 10 members of the audience. He needed to be more specific but he never was.

Not only that the messages he was getting did not seem to be earth shattering or particularly interesting. After Derek would describe them a little he would say things like well John just wanted to say hello and let you know he is always with you and sends his love. I found it all quite dull and boring after all the excitement I had enjoyed over the years in Most Haunted.

Of course it may have been very different if he had picked me out and brought someone from my past back to speak through Derek to me. As I would have been able to tell, I hope from his descriptions and actions if it was all true or not.


I keep thinking sooner or later he will do something that will prove to me what a fantastic Medium he is. But as the show went on I become more disillusioned with it and really started to question weather it was all based on luck, generalizations and that people just wanted to hear and believe in him and the afterlife.

I will not say for man moment that Derek Acorah isn't a fantastic showman as he could have entertained us with his quick wit and his ability to think on his feet for hours. For me it was a fascinating evening but for me on that particular evening he did nothing to prove the existence of the afterlife and I found his Mediumship to be quite disappointing. I so wanted to be convinced but on this occasion he did not live up to my very high expectations.

It was just over two hours entertainment. What surprised me was it was literally just Derek show, no warm up act no nothing, which actually worked for me as he was the only person I wanted to see. On the way in a brought myself a programme, I wish I hadn't it cost £5 and was a mere 14 pages mainly of pictures of Derek with other celebraties. It told me little about his Childhood, his gift of being a Medium, instead to focused on his merchandise, his future Television Programmes such as 'The Three Mediums and Psychic magazines he writes for.

Conclusion:

All in all for me this was a very disappointing evening. I enjoyed seeing Derek Acorah in this flesh and seeing what a charismatic performer he is, but and this is the important thing, he failed to convince me of his Mediumship abilities. I found him too generalistic in what he said and I thought they could have applied to most people and sitiations. It was worth a visit but I am not sure I would do it again as my faith is now severally in doubt.

Thanks for reading my review.

This review is published under my user name on Dooyoo.

For more information about Derek Acorah: www.derekacorah.org

@CPTDANIELS September 2009.