About
Derek lives near Southport in the North West of England with his wife Gwen. They share their home with their two dogs – Jack, a Standard Poodle, and Penny, a German Shepherd Dog. Derek has always been a keen fish-keeper and is very proud of his Koi carp but recently he developed an interest in keeping chickens and ducks. His daily routine whilst at home now includes looking after the flock he was given for his birthday in 2011.
Over the years Derek has achieved international success with his television, radio and personal appearances across the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.A. He has conducted telephone consultations for people all over the world. His books have been translated into many languages including Mandarin and Russian.
Derek’s first supernatural experience came as a child when the spirit of his late grandfather visited him. When young Derek told his grandmother she was not surprised as Derek was to learn that she herself was a medium. His early career was playing football with teams such as the legendary Bill Shankly’s Liverpool Football Club. After leaving LFC he played for clubs such as Stockport, Wrexham and Glen Toran before leaving the UK shores to join the then premier Australian team USC Lion.
When Derek’s football career ended he returned to England and to his home town of Liverpool. He attempted finding a suitable niche in life but was never settled. His psychic powers were always with him and after a while he became a full time Spirit Medium based in his home city of Liverpool.
In the days when Derek was conducting one-to-one sittings, initially from a small shop premises in the Wavertree area of Liverpool and then subsequently from his office in Liverpool City Centre, nobody dreamed that the cheerful Scouse medium would one day grace their television screens. Only Derek and one or two noted mediums on the Liverpool circuit knew that Spirit “had something special” lined up for him. It was Lilian Starr who first told him “I can see your name in lights”. In those days Derek was surprised and wondered what on earth she meant. He had no idea that Mrs. Starr’s words would one day be borne out. All he had was his faith in the world and the word of Spirit.
As the years passed by, Derek’s popularity grew. Word went far and wide about the medium from Liverpool – “Acorah” was his name – and he was “the best”. It happened that one day a researcher for Granada Breeze, the satellite arm of Granada Television in Manchester, telephoned Derek. She explained that she worked on a programme called “Livetime”, a daily magazine programme presented by Becky Want. It being National Tea Week the following week, she had the idea that it would be different to invite a psychic on to the programme to talk about the reading of tea leaves. “But I’m not a tea leaf reader” was Derek’s immediate response. The researcher was not interested in the finer points of psychic abilities. She explained that her aunt had visited Derek at his office and had received a superlative one-to-one reading. In her opinion only Derek would be able to fit the bill for the programme.
And so it happened that in 1996 Derek presented himself at the Granada Breeze studios in Manchester. That one appearance on “Livetime” was enough to send the telephone lines in to melt down. The programme makers were delighted. Derek was asked back for the following week. Every week for the next five years Derek Acorah was a regular feature on Granada Breeze Television. A new and groundbreaking programme was created called “Psychic Livetime” in which Derek was a main contributor. With the developing interest in the paranormal being evident, Granada Breeze also created two more programmes – “The Psychic Zone” and “Predictions with Derek Acorah”. “Predictions” was the first television programme dedicated wholly to Derek Acorah. The programme was divided in to two sections, the first being Derek conducting readings for a small studio audience. In the second section Derek would be taken out to locations up and down the country where he would open himself up to the atmosphere and vibrations of the historic building in order to convey his findings in front of camera. He would also visit people who had contacted the television company in their own homes, conducting readings for them in front of the cameras.
Owing to the popularity of his contributions to these three programmes and to the fact that they were broadcast world wide, Derek’s name became known in places as far flung as Australia, New Zealand, India and the USA. From all over Europe and the rest of the world people would make contact in the hope of a reading live on air from Derek Acorah.
In January 1998 Derek travelled to Los Angeles where he took part in various paranormal investigations both in Los Angeles itself and the fabled Hollywood. The pinnacle of the trip for Derek was appearing live on state at the old Vogue Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. Three years later he was back in California where he shot the pilot of “Connections with Derek Acorah”. This show involved Derek touring the streets of Santa Monica wowing the American public with messages from their loved ones in the world of spirit.
In July 2001 and just before the closure of Granada Breeze Television Derek was asked whether he would be kind enough to donate his services to the making of a proposed new television programme. It was to be called “Haunting Truths”. He agreed to this request. The programme was sold to LivingTV and renamed “Most Haunted”. Derek spent five series and numerous live events demonstrating his phenomenal gift of mediumship and in communication with some of Britain’s most notorious spirits before deciding that it was time to move on.
Upon completion of series 5 in the autumn of 2004 Derek decided that he had done enough investigative mediumship in the format of the programme. Upon voicing his desire to leave “Most Haunted” LivingTV requested that he stay and complete series 6, together with Most Haunted Lives up to October 2005, thus ending his association at Hallowe’en in Hackney, London. There had been good times and there had been bad, and it was with no regret that Derek walked away on 1st November 2005.
He does remember with affection one highlight. In the autumn of 2004 whilst appearing live on stage at Torquay, Derek was shocked to be interrupted by the appearance of Dr. David Bull, the peoples’ favourite presenter and anchor-man of “Most Haunted Live”. David was there to present Derek with the Variety Club of Great Britain Multichannel TV Personality of the Year Award.
Of course Derek has not only been involved with “Most Haunted”. In the Spring of 2003 LivingTV also commissioned IPM’s “Antiques Ghost Show” – a programme which features Derek demonstrating psychometry as he unfolds the mysteries of family heirlooms. Initially aired in the UK, this programme has gone on to receive rave reviews from wherever it has been sold in the world.
Upon voicing his desire to leave “Most Haunted”, LivingTV did not want to lose Derek and so created “Derek Acorah’s Ghost Towns”. This was to be a different format to “Most Haunted” in that instead of concentrating on well known stately homes, castles, etc. the programme would involve the public and high-light their stories of ghostly activity in less well known locations throughout the country. Derek, together with the presenter, would also randomly knock on peoples’ doors in order to offer them a private sitting in the comfort of their own home. Derek was joined for the first two series by Daniella Westbrook and Angus Purden, and for the third and final series, by Myleene Klass and Rhodri Owen.
The 5th November 2005 saw the 400th anniversary of The Gunpowder Plot. Together with Angus Purden, Derek travelled the country visiting key locations in order to retrace the footsteps of Guy Fawkes for the programme “Derek Acorah’s Quest for Guy Fawkes.
In 2007 Derek travelled to Egypt where he filmed “Paranormal Egypt” with Tessa Dunlop. This six part programme was commissioned by LivingTV and produced by Ruggie Media. It was a fascinating programme which gave an insight into the lives and some of the mysteries surrounding the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt.
Derek’s next television project was a programme titled simply “Derek Acorah” on Sky Real Lives which again proved enormously popular with the viewing public.
Derek’s popularity has led him to be parodied by some of the country’s foremost “names”. He was delighted at the likeness portrayed by Dawn French as “Dawnie Acorah”, whilst John Culshaw’s and Freddie Starr’s portrayal of him leaves him breathless with laugher. Derek has appeared on numerous television programmes including “Dr. Who”, “The Paul O’Grady Show”, “Harry Hill’s TV Burp”, “This Morning”, GMTV’s “Lorraine”, “Brainiac”, “The Weakest Link”, “Livin with “Lucy and many, many more. In 2011 he was invited to join a team of celebrities to take part in the “Five Go To…” series. Derek found himself based in a villa in Lanzarote where he took part in various challenges to maintain his position in the house. He considers himself very fortunate to have been placed as runner up in the game.
It is now 2012 and Derek is continuing with his current True Vision Tour of the UK and Ireland where he astounds people with his level of mediumship accuracy. Labelled by some as “the best in the world”, Derek proves this to all every time he steps on to a theatre stage.
Most of you will be familiar with Sam, my Spirit Guide, having seen and heard me converse with him on television and radio whilst conducting telephone readings for callers to the various programmes in which I have been fortunate enough to take part. I have been asked on numerous occasions how it happened that I have Sam as my Spirit Guide, how we met and how we became so close.
The story begins over 2000 years ago when I was incarnated to this earth as a member of a family who lived in Ethiopia. My family were very poor farmers – I was one of five children, having two brothers and two sisters. We were all expected to help my mother and father to scratch a living from the barren Ethiopian area in which we lived. I however, was a rebel, even in those far off days and often used to wander off on my own.
In those days many travellers used to pass through our village. One of these men was well known to us all as he would frequently return.
His name was Masumai. He used to speak to the villagers of times of change; the people were drawn to him to listen to his philosophies – why we were all here on this earth and what was expected of us. It became evident to me, even at my young age, that he was blessed with special gifts – gifts which neither my father nor my mother had.
Although we were peaceful people, at times feuds would occur. I remember the awful day when a large group of men invaded our village.
There was much screaming and shouting and some homes were set alight. Many people were killed, my mother, father, brothers and sisters amongst them. I escaped harm because I had wandered a short distance from the village and when I heard the noise, I hid in some bushes on the outskirts. When the noise subsided and night fell I crept back to my home which had escaped the fires of the invaders. I was alone and terrified. For the first time in my life I had no-one. I was very tired and hungry and mortally afraid that the invaders would return. My nine year old eyes had witnessed so much but eventually exhaustion took over and I slept.
I awoke in the morning and remember feeling all over again the shock, the aloneness and the isolation – all these emotions enveloped my young mind. I crept out and managed to find a few scraps of food and a little water. Gathering these together, I fled back to my home and piled some wood behind the door to prevent anybody opening it from the outside. I stayed there on my own for three days.
On the fourth day I heard a loud noise outside our dwelling and someone shouted my name time and time again. It was Masumai. I ran to him, crying uncontrollably. He put his arm round me and held me close whilst I relayed to him what had happened to our village. He listened and held me tenderly and calmed me down. Despite my sorrow I felt uplifted. I was no longer alone. Masumai explained that my family were beyond hurt now, that they were in a world where no harm could come to them and that one day, I would be reunited with them. He told me that until that time came, he would be a father to me.
Masumai and I left the village and we walked to places I had never heard of. The weeks, months and years of walking and being with Masumai, listening to him talking to people in far off regions of Ethiopia allowed me a deeper understanding of this great yet simple man. We relied on the people of the villages to offer food and simple shelter to us in return for Masumai’s useful guidance. Masumai told me that one day I would be like him, but “not yet,” as I was only 13 years old.
Months passed and we found ourselves in an area which was unknown even to Masumai. He told me that he did not know the area or the people, so we would to be careful in our approach. We discovered that they were not very friendly people and had no regard to the teachings of Masumai. We decided that we would move on. We both felt that these people could be similar to those who had attacked my village four years prior. We carried on walking until we reached a small hill which had bushes on its slopes, and which would provide some cover for us for the night. We were both very hungry. Masumai asked me to find some small pieces of wood so that we could light a fire and at least be warm. I moved further and further away until I reached the edge of the village through which we had passed earlier. I noticed a delicious smell of fresh baked bread coming from one of the dwellings. Although I knew it was wrong to steal, I thought of how hungry and tired Masumai had looked and how much he had helped me and cared for me. I crawled very slowly up to a shelf where loaves of bread were on display. I grabbed three small loaves and crawled away.
I was almost back to where Masumai and I had set up camp for the night when I heard shouting and screaming. Before I knew it, I was surrounded by a circle of men. I felt a harsh pain in my side and then in my leg. I fell down. I felt as though I was falling backwards, backwards….but at peace…No more pain. I lost consciousness and my attackers obviously thought that I was dead as they left and went back to their village.
The next thing I remember is hearing the voice I loved and trusted. It was Masumai. He held me in his arms and cried, his tears falling on my chest. I told him not to cry…that there was bread hidden in my clothes.
Masumai tried to stem the blood flow from my wounds but he knew that he could not save me. He told me that I would have to come back to a new life and that when the time arrived, he would be by my side; my guiding influence from the heavenly side because, they that time, he too would have undertaken the journey I was about to make. He told me that the stealing of the bread was a spiritual act because I had not stolen it for myself, but to help another “But” he said “There is a payment for all things.”
In my first book, “The Psychic World of Derek Acorah”, I have catalogued my early experiences with spirit.
I have told the story of the meeting with my grandfather who had passed to spirit years before I was born and of my grandmother’s realisation that I was the one who had inherited her mediumistic gifts.
From that day onwards my grandmother gently tutored me and explained the workings of the spirit world. She taught me that we all have Spirit Guides and that I was no exception. She told me that throughout my lifetime many guides would come and go as I progressed along my spiritual pathway but that my main guide was a black man from the Ehtiopian region of Africa and that he would never leave me; that one day he would introduce himself to me.
Many years passed during which time I was fortunate enough to realise my boyhood ambition of becoming a professional footballer with Liverpool Football Club under the management of the great Bill Shankly. After leaving Liverpool I played for a number of teams and eventually ended my footballing career in Australia when, due to a knee injury, I had to retire from the world of football.
My first marriage to Joan had unfortunately failed and I was at a cross-roads in my life. I was living on my own and although I was working as a full-time Spirit Medium I had not yet developed the gift of clairaudience. This was about to change!
One evening I was in my home alone. I had just completed my evening meditation and was sitting listening to some music. Suddenly I heard a voice. The voice said “Hello Derek”. This was repeated four times. The voice then said “Hello Derek” – “I’m Sam”. Even though I was perfectly well aware that I was alone, I looked round expecting to see somebody. There was nobody there! Realisation dawned. At last!
My Spirit Guide has spoken to me. The words that my grandmother had uttered all those years ago had come true.
Long into that night we spoke to each other. Sam explained to me that the impressions and images that I had been receiving over all the years of my development regarding my past life in Ethiopia were “flash backs” to a time gone by when we had travelled together after the loss of my family in a village feud. He told me that he was fulfilling the promise he made 2000 years ago when he said that he would be my guiding influence from the heavenly side; that he would never forsake that young boy who had given his life in order that Masumai might eat. But why “Sam” and not “Masumai you ask yourself. The reason is simple. It is Sam’s wish that he be known by that name and not by the ancient name of “Masumai” of those long ago days in Ethiopia. He knew that I would be reincarnated into a white, Western world and I would not go back to the country where we both met.
Read More »About
Derek lives near Southport in the North West of England with his wife Gwen. They share their home with their two dogs – Jack, a Standard Poodle, and Penny, a German Shepherd Dog. Derek has always been a keen fish-keeper and is very proud of his Koi carp but recently he developed an interest in keeping chickens and ducks. His daily routine whilst at home now includes looking after the flock he was given for his birthday in 2011.
Over the years Derek has achieved international success with his television, radio and personal appearances across the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.A. He has conducted telephone consultations for people all over the world. His books have been translated into many languages including Mandarin and Russian.
Derek’s first supernatural experience came as a child when the spirit of his late grandfather visited him. When young Derek told his grandmother she was not surprised as Derek was to learn that she herself was a medium. His early career was playing football with teams such as the legendary Bill Shankly’s Liverpool Football Club. After leaving LFC he played for clubs such as Stockport, Wrexham and Glen Toran before leaving the UK shores to join the then premier Australian team USC Lion.
When Derek’s football career ended he returned to England and to his home town of Liverpool. He attempted finding a suitable niche in life but was never settled. His psychic powers were always with him and after a while he became a full time Spirit Medium based in his home city of Liverpool.
In the days when Derek was conducting one-to-one sittings, initially from a small shop premises in the Wavertree area of Liverpool and then subsequently from his office in Liverpool City Centre, nobody dreamed that the cheerful Scouse medium would one day grace their television screens. Only Derek and one or two noted mediums on the Liverpool circuit knew that Spirit “had something special” lined up for him. It was Lilian Starr who first told him “I can see your name in lights”. In those days Derek was surprised and wondered what on earth she meant. He had no idea that Mrs. Starr’s words would one day be borne out. All he had was his faith in the world and the word of Spirit.
As the years passed by, Derek’s popularity grew. Word went far and wide about the medium from Liverpool – “Acorah” was his name – and he was “the best”. It happened that one day a researcher for Granada Breeze, the satellite arm of Granada Television in Manchester, telephoned Derek. She explained that she worked on a programme called “Livetime”, a daily magazine programme presented by Becky Want. It being National Tea Week the following week, she had the idea that it would be different to invite a psychic on to the programme to talk about the reading of tea leaves. “But I’m not a tea leaf reader” was Derek’s immediate response. The researcher was not interested in the finer points of psychic abilities. She explained that her aunt had visited Derek at his office and had received a superlative one-to-one reading. In her opinion only Derek would be able to fit the bill for the programme.
And so it happened that in 1996 Derek presented himself at the Granada Breeze studios in Manchester. That one appearance on “Livetime” was enough to send the telephone lines in to melt down. The programme makers were delighted. Derek was asked back for the following week. Every week for the next five years Derek Acorah was a regular feature on Granada Breeze Television. A new and groundbreaking programme was created called “Psychic Livetime” in which Derek was a main contributor. With the developing interest in the paranormal being evident, Granada Breeze also created two more programmes – “The Psychic Zone” and “Predictions with Derek Acorah”. “Predictions” was the first television programme dedicated wholly to Derek Acorah. The programme was divided in to two sections, the first being Derek conducting readings for a small studio audience. In the second section Derek would be taken out to locations up and down the country where he would open himself up to the atmosphere and vibrations of the historic building in order to convey his findings in front of camera. He would also visit people who had contacted the television company in their own homes, conducting readings for them in front of the cameras.
Owing to the popularity of his contributions to these three programmes and to the fact that they were broadcast world wide, Derek’s name became known in places as far flung as Australia, New Zealand, India and the USA. From all over Europe and the rest of the world people would make contact in the hope of a reading live on air from Derek Acorah.
In January 1998 Derek travelled to Los Angeles where he took part in various paranormal investigations both in Los Angeles itself and the fabled Hollywood. The pinnacle of the trip for Derek was appearing live on state at the old Vogue Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. Three years later he was back in California where he shot the pilot of “Connections with Derek Acorah”. This show involved Derek touring the streets of Santa Monica wowing the American public with messages from their loved ones in the world of spirit.
In July 2001 and just before the closure of Granada Breeze Television Derek was asked whether he would be kind enough to donate his services to the making of a proposed new television programme. It was to be called “Haunting Truths”. He agreed to this request. The programme was sold to LivingTV and renamed “Most Haunted”. Derek spent five series and numerous live events demonstrating his phenomenal gift of mediumship and in communication with some of Britain’s most notorious spirits before deciding that it was time to move on.
Upon completion of series 5 in the autumn of 2004 Derek decided that he had done enough investigative mediumship in the format of the programme. Upon voicing his desire to leave “Most Haunted” LivingTV requested that he stay and complete series 6, together with Most Haunted Lives up to October 2005, thus ending his association at Hallowe’en in Hackney, London. There had been good times and there had been bad, and it was with no regret that Derek walked away on 1st November 2005.
He does remember with affection one highlight. In the autumn of 2004 whilst appearing live on stage at Torquay, Derek was shocked to be interrupted by the appearance of Dr. David Bull, the peoples’ favourite presenter and anchor-man of “Most Haunted Live”. David was there to present Derek with the Variety Club of Great Britain Multichannel TV Personality of the Year Award.
Of course Derek has not only been involved with “Most Haunted”. In the Spring of 2003 LivingTV also commissioned IPM’s “Antiques Ghost Show” – a programme which features Derek demonstrating psychometry as he unfolds the mysteries of family heirlooms. Initially aired in the UK, this programme has gone on to receive rave reviews from wherever it has been sold in the world.
Upon voicing his desire to leave “Most Haunted”, LivingTV did not want to lose Derek and so created “Derek Acorah’s Ghost Towns”. This was to be a different format to “Most Haunted” in that instead of concentrating on well known stately homes, castles, etc. the programme would involve the public and high-light their stories of ghostly activity in less well known locations throughout the country. Derek, together with the presenter, would also randomly knock on peoples’ doors in order to offer them a private sitting in the comfort of their own home. Derek was joined for the first two series by Daniella Westbrook and Angus Purden, and for the third and final series, by Myleene Klass and Rhodri Owen.
The 5th November 2005 saw the 400th anniversary of The Gunpowder Plot. Together with Angus Purden, Derek travelled the country visiting key locations in order to retrace the footsteps of Guy Fawkes for the programme “Derek Acorah’s Quest for Guy Fawkes.
In 2007 Derek travelled to Egypt where he filmed “Paranormal Egypt” with Tessa Dunlop. This six part programme was commissioned by LivingTV and produced by Ruggie Media. It was a fascinating programme which gave an insight into the lives and some of the mysteries surrounding the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt.
Derek’s next television project was a programme titled simply “Derek Acorah” on Sky Real Lives which again proved enormously popular with the viewing public.
Derek’s popularity has led him to be parodied by some of the country’s foremost “names”. He was delighted at the likeness portrayed by Dawn French as “Dawnie Acorah”, whilst John Culshaw’s and Freddie Starr’s portrayal of him leaves him breathless with laugher. Derek has appeared on numerous television programmes including “Dr. Who”, “The Paul O’Grady Show”, “Harry Hill’s TV Burp”, “This Morning”, GMTV’s “Lorraine”, “Brainiac”, “The Weakest Link”, “Livin with “Lucy and many, many more. In 2011 he was invited to join a team of celebrities to take part in the “Five Go To…” series. Derek found himself based in a villa in Lanzarote where he took part in various challenges to maintain his position in the house. He considers himself very fortunate to have been placed as runner up in the game.
It is now 2012 and Derek is continuing with his current True Vision Tour of the UK and Ireland where he astounds people with his level of mediumship accuracy. Labelled by some as “the best in the world”, Derek proves this to all every time he steps on to a theatre stage.
Most of you will be familiar with Sam, my Spirit Guide, having seen and heard me converse with him on television and radio whilst conducting telephone readings for callers to the various programmes in which I have been fortunate enough to take part. I have been asked on numerous occasions how it happened that I have Sam as my Spirit Guide, how we met and how we became so close.
The story begins over 2000 years ago when I was incarnated to this earth as a member of a family who lived in Ethiopia. My family were very poor farmers – I was one of five children, having two brothers and two sisters. We were all expected to help my mother and father to scratch a living from the barren Ethiopian area in which we lived. I however, was a rebel, even in those far off days and often used to wander off on my own.
In those days many travellers used to pass through our village. One of these men was well known to us all as he would frequently return.
His name was Masumai. He used to speak to the villagers of times of change; the people were drawn to him to listen to his philosophies – why we were all here on this earth and what was expected of us. It became evident to me, even at my young age, that he was blessed with special gifts – gifts which neither my father nor my mother had.
Although we were peaceful people, at times feuds would occur. I remember the awful day when a large group of men invaded our village.
There was much screaming and shouting and some homes were set alight. Many people were killed, my mother, father, brothers and sisters amongst them. I escaped harm because I had wandered a short distance from the village and when I heard the noise, I hid in some bushes on the outskirts. When the noise subsided and night fell I crept back to my home which had escaped the fires of the invaders. I was alone and terrified. For the first time in my life I had no-one. I was very tired and hungry and mortally afraid that the invaders would return. My nine year old eyes had witnessed so much but eventually exhaustion took over and I slept.
I awoke in the morning and remember feeling all over again the shock, the aloneness and the isolation – all these emotions enveloped my young mind. I crept out and managed to find a few scraps of food and a little water. Gathering these together, I fled back to my home and piled some wood behind the door to prevent anybody opening it from the outside. I stayed there on my own for three days.
On the fourth day I heard a loud noise outside our dwelling and someone shouted my name time and time again. It was Masumai. I ran to him, crying uncontrollably. He put his arm round me and held me close whilst I relayed to him what had happened to our village. He listened and held me tenderly and calmed me down. Despite my sorrow I felt uplifted. I was no longer alone. Masumai explained that my family were beyond hurt now, that they were in a world where no harm could come to them and that one day, I would be reunited with them. He told me that until that time came, he would be a father to me.
Masumai and I left the village and we walked to places I had never heard of. The weeks, months and years of walking and being with Masumai, listening to him talking to people in far off regions of Ethiopia allowed me a deeper understanding of this great yet simple man. We relied on the people of the villages to offer food and simple shelter to us in return for Masumai’s useful guidance. Masumai told me that one day I would be like him, but “not yet,” as I was only 13 years old.
Months passed and we found ourselves in an area which was unknown even to Masumai. He told me that he did not know the area or the people, so we would to be careful in our approach. We discovered that they were not very friendly people and had no regard to the teachings of Masumai. We decided that we would move on. We both felt that these people could be similar to those who had attacked my village four years prior. We carried on walking until we reached a small hill which had bushes on its slopes, and which would provide some cover for us for the night. We were both very hungry. Masumai asked me to find some small pieces of wood so that we could light a fire and at least be warm. I moved further and further away until I reached the edge of the village through which we had passed earlier. I noticed a delicious smell of fresh baked bread coming from one of the dwellings. Although I knew it was wrong to steal, I thought of how hungry and tired Masumai had looked and how much he had helped me and cared for me. I crawled very slowly up to a shelf where loaves of bread were on display. I grabbed three small loaves and crawled away.
I was almost back to where Masumai and I had set up camp for the night when I heard shouting and screaming. Before I knew it, I was surrounded by a circle of men. I felt a harsh pain in my side and then in my leg. I fell down. I felt as though I was falling backwards, backwards….but at peace…No more pain. I lost consciousness and my attackers obviously thought that I was dead as they left and went back to their village.
The next thing I remember is hearing the voice I loved and trusted. It was Masumai. He held me in his arms and cried, his tears falling on my chest. I told him not to cry…that there was bread hidden in my clothes.
Masumai tried to stem the blood flow from my wounds but he knew that he could not save me. He told me that I would have to come back to a new life and that when the time arrived, he would be by my side; my guiding influence from the heavenly side because, they that time, he too would have undertaken the journey I was about to make. He told me that the stealing of the bread was a spiritual act because I had not stolen it for myself, but to help another “But” he said “There is a payment for all things.”
In my first book, “The Psychic World of Derek Acorah”, I have catalogued my early experiences with spirit.
I have told the story of the meeting with my grandfather who had passed to spirit years before I was born and of my grandmother’s realisation that I was the one who had inherited her mediumistic gifts.
From that day onwards my grandmother gently tutored me and explained the workings of the spirit world. She taught me that we all have Spirit Guides and that I was no exception. She told me that throughout my lifetime many guides would come and go as I progressed along my spiritual pathway but that my main guide was a black man from the Ehtiopian region of Africa and that he would never leave me; that one day he would introduce himself to me.
Many years passed during which time I was fortunate enough to realise my boyhood ambition of becoming a professional footballer with Liverpool Football Club under the management of the great Bill Shankly. After leaving Liverpool I played for a number of teams and eventually ended my footballing career in Australia when, due to a knee injury, I had to retire from the world of football.
My first marriage to Joan had unfortunately failed and I was at a cross-roads in my life. I was living on my own and although I was working as a full-time Spirit Medium I had not yet developed the gift of clairaudience. This was about to change!
One evening I was in my home alone. I had just completed my evening meditation and was sitting listening to some music. Suddenly I heard a voice. The voice said “Hello Derek”. This was repeated four times. The voice then said “Hello Derek” – “I’m Sam”. Even though I was perfectly well aware that I was alone, I looked round expecting to see somebody. There was nobody there! Realisation dawned. At last!
My Spirit Guide has spoken to me. The words that my grandmother had uttered all those years ago had come true.
Long into that night we spoke to each other. Sam explained to me that the impressions and images that I had been receiving over all the years of my development regarding my past life in Ethiopia were “flash backs” to a time gone by when we had travelled together after the loss of my family in a village feud. He told me that he was fulfilling the promise he made 2000 years ago when he said that he would be my guiding influence from the heavenly side; that he would never forsake that young boy who had given his life in order that Masumai might eat. But why “Sam” and not “Masumai you ask yourself. The reason is simple. It is Sam’s wish that he be known by that name and not by the ancient name of “Masumai” of those long ago days in Ethiopia. He knew that I would be reincarnated into a white, Western world and I would not go back to the country where we both met.
Read More »About
Derek lives near Southport in the North West of England with his wife Gwen. They share their home with their two dogs – Jack, a Standard Poodle, and Penny, a German Shepherd Dog. Derek has always been a keen fish-keeper and is very proud of his Koi carp but recently he developed an interest in keeping chickens and ducks. His daily routine whilst at home now includes looking after the flock he was given for his birthday in 2011.
Over the years Derek has achieved international success with his television, radio and personal appearances across the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.A. He has conducted telephone consultations for people all over the world. His books have been translated into many languages including Mandarin and Russian.
Derek’s first supernatural experience came as a child when the spirit of his late grandfather visited him. When young Derek told his grandmother she was not surprised as Derek was to learn that she herself was a medium. His early career was playing football with teams such as the legendary Bill Shankly’s Liverpool Football Club. After leaving LFC he played for clubs such as Stockport, Wrexham and Glen Toran before leaving the UK shores to join the then premier Australian team USC Lion.
When Derek’s football career ended he returned to England and to his home town of Liverpool. He attempted finding a suitable niche in life but was never settled. His psychic powers were always with him and after a while he became a full time Spirit Medium based in his home city of Liverpool.
In the days when Derek was conducting one-to-one sittings, initially from a small shop premises in the Wavertree area of Liverpool and then subsequently from his office in Liverpool City Centre, nobody dreamed that the cheerful Scouse medium would one day grace their television screens. Only Derek and one or two noted mediums on the Liverpool circuit knew that Spirit “had something special” lined up for him. It was Lilian Starr who first told him “I can see your name in lights”. In those days Derek was surprised and wondered what on earth she meant. He had no idea that Mrs. Starr’s words would one day be borne out. All he had was his faith in the world and the word of Spirit.
As the years passed by, Derek’s popularity grew. Word went far and wide about the medium from Liverpool – “Acorah” was his name – and he was “the best”. It happened that one day a researcher for Granada Breeze, the satellite arm of Granada Television in Manchester, telephoned Derek. She explained that she worked on a programme called “Livetime”, a daily magazine programme presented by Becky Want. It being National Tea Week the following week, she had the idea that it would be different to invite a psychic on to the programme to talk about the reading of tea leaves. “But I’m not a tea leaf reader” was Derek’s immediate response. The researcher was not interested in the finer points of psychic abilities. She explained that her aunt had visited Derek at his office and had received a superlative one-to-one reading. In her opinion only Derek would be able to fit the bill for the programme.
And so it happened that in 1996 Derek presented himself at the Granada Breeze studios in Manchester. That one appearance on “Livetime” was enough to send the telephone lines in to melt down. The programme makers were delighted. Derek was asked back for the following week. Every week for the next five years Derek Acorah was a regular feature on Granada Breeze Television. A new and groundbreaking programme was created called “Psychic Livetime” in which Derek was a main contributor. With the developing interest in the paranormal being evident, Granada Breeze also created two more programmes – “The Psychic Zone” and “Predictions with Derek Acorah”. “Predictions” was the first television programme dedicated wholly to Derek Acorah. The programme was divided in to two sections, the first being Derek conducting readings for a small studio audience. In the second section Derek would be taken out to locations up and down the country where he would open himself up to the atmosphere and vibrations of the historic building in order to convey his findings in front of camera. He would also visit people who had contacted the television company in their own homes, conducting readings for them in front of the cameras.
Owing to the popularity of his contributions to these three programmes and to the fact that they were broadcast world wide, Derek’s name became known in places as far flung as Australia, New Zealand, India and the USA. From all over Europe and the rest of the world people would make contact in the hope of a reading live on air from Derek Acorah.
In January 1998 Derek travelled to Los Angeles where he took part in various paranormal investigations both in Los Angeles itself and the fabled Hollywood. The pinnacle of the trip for Derek was appearing live on state at the old Vogue Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. Three years later he was back in California where he shot the pilot of “Connections with Derek Acorah”. This show involved Derek touring the streets of Santa Monica wowing the American public with messages from their loved ones in the world of spirit.
In July 2001 and just before the closure of Granada Breeze Television Derek was asked whether he would be kind enough to donate his services to the making of a proposed new television programme. It was to be called “Haunting Truths”. He agreed to this request. The programme was sold to LivingTV and renamed “Most Haunted”. Derek spent five series and numerous live events demonstrating his phenomenal gift of mediumship and in communication with some of Britain’s most notorious spirits before deciding that it was time to move on.
Upon completion of series 5 in the autumn of 2004 Derek decided that he had done enough investigative mediumship in the format of the programme. Upon voicing his desire to leave “Most Haunted” LivingTV requested that he stay and complete series 6, together with Most Haunted Lives up to October 2005, thus ending his association at Hallowe’en in Hackney, London. There had been good times and there had been bad, and it was with no regret that Derek walked away on 1st November 2005.
He does remember with affection one highlight. In the autumn of 2004 whilst appearing live on stage at Torquay, Derek was shocked to be interrupted by the appearance of Dr. David Bull, the peoples’ favourite presenter and anchor-man of “Most Haunted Live”. David was there to present Derek with the Variety Club of Great Britain Multichannel TV Personality of the Year Award.
Of course Derek has not only been involved with “Most Haunted”. In the Spring of 2003 LivingTV also commissioned IPM’s “Antiques Ghost Show” – a programme which features Derek demonstrating psychometry as he unfolds the mysteries of family heirlooms. Initially aired in the UK, this programme has gone on to receive rave reviews from wherever it has been sold in the world.
Upon voicing his desire to leave “Most Haunted”, LivingTV did not want to lose Derek and so created “Derek Acorah’s Ghost Towns”. This was to be a different format to “Most Haunted” in that instead of concentrating on well known stately homes, castles, etc. the programme would involve the public and high-light their stories of ghostly activity in less well known locations throughout the country. Derek, together with the presenter, would also randomly knock on peoples’ doors in order to offer them a private sitting in the comfort of their own home. Derek was joined for the first two series by Daniella Westbrook and Angus Purden, and for the third and final series, by Myleene Klass and Rhodri Owen.
The 5th November 2005 saw the 400th anniversary of The Gunpowder Plot. Together with Angus Purden, Derek travelled the country visiting key locations in order to retrace the footsteps of Guy Fawkes for the programme “Derek Acorah’s Quest for Guy Fawkes.
In 2007 Derek travelled to Egypt where he filmed “Paranormal Egypt” with Tessa Dunlop. This six part programme was commissioned by LivingTV and produced by Ruggie Media. It was a fascinating programme which gave an insight into the lives and some of the mysteries surrounding the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt.
Derek’s next television project was a programme titled simply “Derek Acorah” on Sky Real Lives which again proved enormously popular with the viewing public.
Derek’s popularity has led him to be parodied by some of the country’s foremost “names”. He was delighted at the likeness portrayed by Dawn French as “Dawnie Acorah”, whilst John Culshaw’s and Freddie Starr’s portrayal of him leaves him breathless with laugher. Derek has appeared on numerous television programmes including “Dr. Who”, “The Paul O’Grady Show”, “Harry Hill’s TV Burp”, “This Morning”, GMTV’s “Lorraine”, “Brainiac”, “The Weakest Link”, “Livin with “Lucy and many, many more. In 2011 he was invited to join a team of celebrities to take part in the “Five Go To…” series. Derek found himself based in a villa in Lanzarote where he took part in various challenges to maintain his position in the house. He considers himself very fortunate to have been placed as runner up in the game.
It is now 2012 and Derek is continuing with his current True Vision Tour of the UK and Ireland where he astounds people with his level of mediumship accuracy. Labelled by some as “the best in the world”, Derek proves this to all every time he steps on to a theatre stage.
Most of you will be familiar with Sam, my Spirit Guide, having seen and heard me converse with him on television and radio whilst conducting telephone readings for callers to the various programmes in which I have been fortunate enough to take part. I have been asked on numerous occasions how it happened that I have Sam as my Spirit Guide, how we met and how we became so close.
The story begins over 2000 years ago when I was incarnated to this earth as a member of a family who lived in Ethiopia. My family were very poor farmers – I was one of five children, having two brothers and two sisters. We were all expected to help my mother and father to scratch a living from the barren Ethiopian area in which we lived. I however, was a rebel, even in those far off days and often used to wander off on my own.
In those days many travellers used to pass through our village. One of these men was well known to us all as he would frequently return.
His name was Masumai. He used to speak to the villagers of times of change; the people were drawn to him to listen to his philosophies – why we were all here on this earth and what was expected of us. It became evident to me, even at my young age, that he was blessed with special gifts – gifts which neither my father nor my mother had.
Although we were peaceful people, at times feuds would occur. I remember the awful day when a large group of men invaded our village.
There was much screaming and shouting and some homes were set alight. Many people were killed, my mother, father, brothers and sisters amongst them. I escaped harm because I had wandered a short distance from the village and when I heard the noise, I hid in some bushes on the outskirts. When the noise subsided and night fell I crept back to my home which had escaped the fires of the invaders. I was alone and terrified. For the first time in my life I had no-one. I was very tired and hungry and mortally afraid that the invaders would return. My nine year old eyes had witnessed so much but eventually exhaustion took over and I slept.
I awoke in the morning and remember feeling all over again the shock, the aloneness and the isolation – all these emotions enveloped my young mind. I crept out and managed to find a few scraps of food and a little water. Gathering these together, I fled back to my home and piled some wood behind the door to prevent anybody opening it from the outside. I stayed there on my own for three days.
On the fourth day I heard a loud noise outside our dwelling and someone shouted my name time and time again. It was Masumai. I ran to him, crying uncontrollably. He put his arm round me and held me close whilst I relayed to him what had happened to our village. He listened and held me tenderly and calmed me down. Despite my sorrow I felt uplifted. I was no longer alone. Masumai explained that my family were beyond hurt now, that they were in a world where no harm could come to them and that one day, I would be reunited with them. He told me that until that time came, he would be a father to me.
Masumai and I left the village and we walked to places I had never heard of. The weeks, months and years of walking and being with Masumai, listening to him talking to people in far off regions of Ethiopia allowed me a deeper understanding of this great yet simple man. We relied on the people of the villages to offer food and simple shelter to us in return for Masumai’s useful guidance. Masumai told me that one day I would be like him, but “not yet,” as I was only 13 years old.
Months passed and we found ourselves in an area which was unknown even to Masumai. He told me that he did not know the area or the people, so we would to be careful in our approach. We discovered that they were not very friendly people and had no regard to the teachings of Masumai. We decided that we would move on. We both felt that these people could be similar to those who had attacked my village four years prior. We carried on walking until we reached a small hill which had bushes on its slopes, and which would provide some cover for us for the night. We were both very hungry. Masumai asked me to find some small pieces of wood so that we could light a fire and at least be warm. I moved further and further away until I reached the edge of the village through which we had passed earlier. I noticed a delicious smell of fresh baked bread coming from one of the dwellings. Although I knew it was wrong to steal, I thought of how hungry and tired Masumai had looked and how much he had helped me and cared for me. I crawled very slowly up to a shelf where loaves of bread were on display. I grabbed three small loaves and crawled away.
I was almost back to where Masumai and I had set up camp for the night when I heard shouting and screaming. Before I knew it, I was surrounded by a circle of men. I felt a harsh pain in my side and then in my leg. I fell down. I felt as though I was falling backwards, backwards….but at peace…No more pain. I lost consciousness and my attackers obviously thought that I was dead as they left and went back to their village.
The next thing I remember is hearing the voice I loved and trusted. It was Masumai. He held me in his arms and cried, his tears falling on my chest. I told him not to cry…that there was bread hidden in my clothes.
Masumai tried to stem the blood flow from my wounds but he knew that he could not save me. He told me that I would have to come back to a new life and that when the time arrived, he would be by my side; my guiding influence from the heavenly side because, they that time, he too would have undertaken the journey I was about to make. He told me that the stealing of the bread was a spiritual act because I had not stolen it for myself, but to help another “But” he said “There is a payment for all things.”
In my first book, “The Psychic World of Derek Acorah”, I have catalogued my early experiences with spirit.
I have told the story of the meeting with my grandfather who had passed to spirit years before I was born and of my grandmother’s realisation that I was the one who had inherited her mediumistic gifts.
From that day onwards my grandmother gently tutored me and explained the workings of the spirit world. She taught me that we all have Spirit Guides and that I was no exception. She told me that throughout my lifetime many guides would come and go as I progressed along my spiritual pathway but that my main guide was a black man from the Ehtiopian region of Africa and that he would never leave me; that one day he would introduce himself to me.
Many years passed during which time I was fortunate enough to realise my boyhood ambition of becoming a professional footballer with Liverpool Football Club under the management of the great Bill Shankly. After leaving Liverpool I played for a number of teams and eventually ended my footballing career in Australia when, due to a knee injury, I had to retire from the world of football.
My first marriage to Joan had unfortunately failed and I was at a cross-roads in my life. I was living on my own and although I was working as a full-time Spirit Medium I had not yet developed the gift of clairaudience. This was about to change!
One evening I was in my home alone. I had just completed my evening meditation and was sitting listening to some music. Suddenly I heard a voice. The voice said “Hello Derek”. This was repeated four times. The voice then said “Hello Derek” – “I’m Sam”. Even though I was perfectly well aware that I was alone, I looked round expecting to see somebody. There was nobody there! Realisation dawned. At last!
My Spirit Guide has spoken to me. The words that my grandmother had uttered all those years ago had come true.
Long into that night we spoke to each other. Sam explained to me that the impressions and images that I had been receiving over all the years of my development regarding my past life in Ethiopia were “flash backs” to a time gone by when we had travelled together after the loss of my family in a village feud. He told me that he was fulfilling the promise he made 2000 years ago when he said that he would be my guiding influence from the heavenly side; that he would never forsake that young boy who had given his life in order that Masumai might eat. But why “Sam” and not “Masumai you ask yourself. The reason is simple. It is Sam’s wish that he be known by that name and not by the ancient name of “Masumai” of those long ago days in Ethiopia. He knew that I would be reincarnated into a white, Western world and I would not go back to the country where we both met.
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