Derek Acorah (born Derek Francis Johnson on 27 January 1950) describes himself as a spirit medium. He is best known for his television work on Most Haunted, broadcast on Living TV (2002–2010). He has received a lot of criticism casting doubts over his legitimacy as a medium.
Personal life
Born Derek Johnson in Bootle, he is known professionally as Derek Acorah. He lives in Scarisbrick near Southport, in North West England.
Acorah together with his wife Gwen is a patron for the charity Pathfinder Guide Dog Programme, a registered charity which provides seeing dogs for blind people.
Acorah has also raised many thousands of pounds for The Anthony Nolan Trust.
Biography
Acorah was on the books of Liverpool FC during the Bill Shankly era but was released by the club without playing a first team game. He carried on playing at other clubs and finished his football career in Australia.
Acorah’s television career commenced in 1996 with the satellite TV channel Granada Breeze. He appeared on Granada Breeze for five years starting off initially on ‘Livetime’ then later appearing weekly on ‘Psychic Livetime’. He also appeared on ‘Predictions’ which started out as a showcase for various studio guests but later became a vehicle for Derek alone and renamed ‘Predictions With Derek Acorah’.
In July 2001, Acorah was asked to feature in a new British television programme called Haunting Truths, which was subsequently sold to Living and renamed Most Haunted. He worked on the show for six series. In 2002 Acorah featured in a series of programmes made by IPM Productions named Antiques Ghost Show and in 2004 Acorah was presented with the Variety Club of Great Britain’s Multichannel TV Personality of the Year Award, as chosen by its members.