Most Haunted

Photography

Presenter Yvette Fielding during filming on Series one

The photographic style of the series has changed considerably since series 1. In the first series many elaborate shots were set up with an almost "theatrical" style, with illuminated windows and dry ice. Locations were often illuminated outside at night time, with blue and green colours. There was a high emphasis on quality production. From series 1–3 there was extensive use of the steadicam, which provided gliding shots during Yvette's ghostly tales or for general views. In series 8 the team introduced a camera crane or 'jib' system for elaborate aerial shots of both Yvette and the locations. Most of the photography in Most Haunted focuses on 'general views' also known as 'GV's' of a location and its surroundings.

Most Haunted is filmed with both broadcast Sony DSR-570WSP & DSR-PD170P DVCAM cameras and Sony DCR-PC9E miniDV cameras. A thermal imaging camera is also used to detect and highlight cold and warm spots. The style of the series changed somewhat after series five, losing its Most Haunted grungy look as it became more mainstream.

Music

Most Haunted's music was originally composed to picture by Alan Clark, using his own original sounds and samples and including some from the Spectrasonics sample libraries Distorted Reality, Metamorphosis and Biazzare Guitar. As of series 12, Alan Clark's music has been supplemented with additional stock music which was also used on the now defunct Unexplained Channel programme, Rest In Peace. Living TV also released a CD featuring Alan Clark's music remixed and original material written and produced by composer and producer Steve Deakin-Davies (The Official Most Haunted soundtrack Vol 1 The Ambition Company/Solo MH104)^[7]

Former mediums

Between series 1 and series 14, a medium accompanied the team on their investigations. The mediums were as follows:

• Derek Acorah (Series 1–6: 2001–2005)
• David Wells (Series 4–8 & 9: 2004–2007)
• Gordon Smith (Series 7, 8: 2005–2006)
• Brian Shepherd (Series 4, 5: Series 10–13: 2008)
• Chris Conway (Series 14, 15: 2009)

The show has also featured guest mediums. So far these have been Ian Lawman, Ian Shillito, Israeli-born Uri Geller, Rochford's clairvoyant Kevin Wade, American-born Johnnie Fiori, Barrie John, Liverpool native Billy Roberts and American-born Patrick Mathews.

It was decided for series 15 onwards that psychic mediums would not be used in the format.

Former team members

Series 1–3 (Living Years 2002 - 2010)

Known as "Most Haunted with Yvette Fielding and Derek Acorah" (This nickname was used until series 6)

The film crew for the first series, including guest Jason Karl (back, right)

The first series began on 25 May 2002. Each episode had a duration of thirty minutes. However, reruns of these episodes have been re-edited to the full hour and titled Most Haunted Unseen. Added footage in these episodes is shown with a caption in the corner to distinguish it from the original version. The series concluded with an investigation of Michelham Priory on 17 September 2002, which was coincidentally the first episode to be produced. In the eighth series the team revisited this location to mark the 100th episode. During the break in series, the team aired three live investigations, the third of which led into the second series on 8 April 2003. From this point onwards episodes were accompanied by a supplemental Most Haunted Extra. At this point, Extra was available as a ten-minute feature after the main show, accessible to viewers via the red button. For Series two and three, Phil Whyman joined the show as a paranormal investigator, replacing the original investigator Jason Karl of Lancashire as well as guest investigators Portsmouth native David Scanlan and Vicki Purewal who decided not to continue with the team, who left at the end of the first series. The show remained unchanged at this point until Series 4.

Series 4–6 (Derek Acorah Departure and Revamp)

The fourth series commenced on 23 March 2004 with an investigation of Owlpen Manor. Most Haunted Extra became a thirty-minute programme, broadcast for half an hour after the main show on LivingTV. This series was the first series in which guest mediums joined the team during the investigations. This took some of the pressure off Derek Acorah who had been the only medium in the first three series. The main guest mediums involved during this series were Salisbury native Brian Shepherd, David Wells and Scunthorpe's Ian Lawman.

Series five commenced on 14 September 2004. It was preceded by a 3 night Most Haunted Live! investigation advertised as a countdown to the series. Phil Whyman was replaced with (although he recently returned on the Live shows as a studio expert), then semi-regular, Ciarán O'Keeffe. Originally O'Keeffe viewed the footage recorded during the investigations and analysed it, putting forward his own views and opinions, which usually included suggestions as to other possible causes for the phenomena encountered. He shared this role with his colleague Matthew Smith who frequently attended the early Most Haunted Live events. Following the departure of Phil Whyman after Series 4, O'Keeffe began to join the team on location. Yvette's brother Rick Fielding also left the show at the end of Series 4.

At the end of Series 5, Antix Productions began editing the series in-house at their own production offices. Prior to this, post-production had been completed at 422 Manchester. As a result, the series lost its original editor who had worked on Most Haunted since the first episode and all of the vintage film composite effects which resulted in a considerable change to the editing style and look of the programme.

Derek Acorah in series 1

For series six, beginning on 22 March 2005 with an investigation of Bodmin Gaol, David Wells became a main medium alongside Derek Acorah appearing in every episode. This was Derek Acorah's last Most Haunted series owing to controversy he was involved in during its production which cast a doubt on his ability to perform his role.^[8] As such he did not appear in the final episode at Sinai House. The number of episodes for Series 6 was originally intended to be eighteen, with the last eleven being part of Series 7. Due to Acorah's departure the series was extended. This was the first series in which the team conducted 24-hour investigations over in the USA. Acorah didn't return for the show's finale at Sinai House, when David Wells was the main medium.

Series 7–9 (Spin Offs and Cast Changes)

The seventh series began on 1 November 2005 yet only ran for six weeks, shortened from an intended nine. Two of the final three episodes (at Bamburgh Castle and Chambercombe Manor) were broadcast at the end of Series 8 and the last, at Spitbank Fort, was broadcast as special on Boxing Day 2006. Parapsychologist Louie Savva a regular on the Most Haunted Live! events joined the team for a few of the investigations in this series covering shows which O'Keeffe was unable to take part in.

Series eight began on 27 June 2006 with the 100th investigation and a revisit to Michelham Priory. It marked the last appearance of Richard Felix as resident historian. He was not replaced until the tenth series. This series featured guest mediums Gordon Smith, Ian Lawman, Ian Shillito of Braintree, Essex and Kevin Wade.

An investigation of South Stack Lighthouse began the ninth series on 2 January 2007. Four episodes into the series, new episodes became known as New Most Haunted in television listings and on-screen. This is the last series of Most Haunted where Most Haunted Extra accompanied each episode. After the first few episodes, Extra was moved to Living2. Most Haunted Extra last appeared accompanying Most Haunted: Midsummer Murders. This was the last series to feature David Wells as a regular medium on the show.

Series 10: Midsummer Murders

Midsummer Murders was an eight-part series where Most Haunted investigators attempted to solve murder mysteries in normal English villages. It was hosted by Most Haunted historian Lesley Smith. The series commenced on a weekly broadcast from 19 June 2007 to 31 July 2007 and the team visited (in order of broadcast) Stoney Middleton, Nantwich, Castleton, Pluckley, Ruthin, Tutbury, Tarvin, and Bakewell. An episode, shot in Lymm Village, saw the team investigate a suspect of Jack the Ripper. This episode was not aired on television.

Series 11 (The New Investigator Years)

The eleventh series of Most Haunted began on 19 February 2008 and came to a close at the end of April.^[9] This series featured three psychic mediums: Johnnie Fiori, Nottingham native Barrie John and Brian Shepherd. Lesley Smith replaced Richard Felix as resident historian on the recorded shows and travelled with the team to each location. The team were also joined by Scottish paranormal investigator Ryan O'Neill, a guest on episodes 1&2 of series 10 at Coalhouse Fort.^[10] In the Coalhouse Fort episodes of the show, an American psychic joined the team and claimed to have encountered the spirits of a bespectacled old man and his "gawky" son in the museum of the fort, who had been responsible for compiling the collection. The team allegedly picked up the voice and moaning from the old man later in the night.^[11] The psychic also claimed that there were spirits of animals in the fort, perhaps from horses who had been involved in its construction and claimed to have encountered the spirit of a pilot named Jeff and other air force men around the fort who had been there during World War I.^[11] She also claimed that in one area of the fort she picked up macabre images of debauchery and sodomy where sexual favours were performed in return for food and money, also from World War I.^[11] The team also apparently picked up countless examples of poltergeist activity in the fort with the unexplained throwing of stones, knocking and the occasional moaning, responses from taunts by the team for the ghosts to make their presence known.^[11]

Series 12, 13 (USA) & 14 (New Investigator Cont., USA Series)

When series 12 was aired, Living merged Season 13 to series 12 to make it a longer season. Series 14 was aired, and featured 10 episodes including Speke Hall.

Series 16 (Final Series on Living)

Series 14 started in late May 2010, with an investigation into Berkeley Castle starting on 12 May 2010 and continue to show every Wednesday on Living at 22:00 BST. The series ended on Wednesday 21 July 2010.

DVD - Exclusive DVD Episode, 2011 (Stand Alone Investigation)

A new episode of Most Haunted was released exclusively to DVD on 12 December 2011. This investigation was based at The Rifles Museum in Salisbury, England

No New Episodes, (2011 - 2014) (From 2010 - 2014, no new episodes were aired, Pick TV picked up the repeats and aired them on Pick until 2016)

After Most Haunted ended in 2010 and was axed in 2011 by LivingTV, Karl Beattie began a fan campaign to get the show back on air. Most Haunted returned with a Christmas DVD special from The Rifles Museum in Salisbury. Later, three episodes from The Royal Court Theatre, Bacup, England produced and aired initially online then sold to Really TV as a single episode..

Series 16 (Revival on Really, New Set Up, New Filming Announced)

It was announced on 4 June, that Most Haunted will return to TV in August 2014 with a new 10 part series to air on the Freeview channel, Really. Yvette Fielding returned to the show along with Karl Beattie. Former team members Stuart Torevell and Fred Batt also returned.^[12] Welsh heavy metal band Bullet For My Valentine appeared in an episode of the show.

Yvette Fielding was interviewed on the James Whale (radio) Show, discussing the current show and her reasons for not using mediums in the new series of Most Haunted. JWRS Ep. 80 April 2015

Series 16 Episode List

1. The Royal Court Theatre, Bacup
2. Newton House (Part 1)
3. Newton House (Part 2)
4. The Galleries of Justice
5. Delapre Abbey
6. The National Emergency Services Museum
7. Ye Olde Kings Head, Chester
8. Drakelow Tunnels
9. Saltmarshe Hall (Part 1)
10. Saltmarshe Hall (Part 2)

Series 17 (Second Series on Really)

Most Haunted aired its 16th series from June to July 2015

1. Tivoli Theatre - North Wales
2. Tatton Old Hall - Cheshire
3. Annisons Funeral Parlor - Hull
4. Fort Paull - Yorkshire (Part 1)
5. Fort Paull - Yorkshire (Part 2)
6. Wentworth Woodhouse (Part 1)
7. Wentworth Woodhouse (Part 2)
8. Oakwell House
9. Knottingley Town Hall
10. Capesthorne Hall - Cheshire

Series 18 (More Episodes Per Year and Live! Halloween Special)

Most Haunted aired its 17th series from October to December 2015.

1. 30 East Drive (Part 1)
2. 30 East Drive (Part 2)
3. Thackray Medical Museum
4. Armley Mills
5. Carr House
6. Hill House (Part 1)
7. Hill House (Part 2)
8. Village Church Farm House
9. Old Nick Theatre
10. The Black Country Museum

Series 19 (4th Series on Really, Huge 3 Part Investigation and Hiatus)

Most Haunted aired its 18th series from June to September 2016.

1. Lyceum Theatre
2. Whittington Castle
3. Halsham House
4. Mansion House Care Home
5. Walton Hall
6. Oak House
7. Middleton Hall
8. HMP Shrewsbury (Part 1)
9. HMP Shrewsbury (Part 2)
10. HMP Shrewsbury (Part 3)

Series 20 (Return to Really, "Actual Ghost" Caught On Camera)

Most Haunted aired its 19th Series from April to June 2017.

1. Abbey House Museum
2. Wentworth Woodhouse Stables
3. The Slaughter House
4. Todmoreden Church
5. Weir Mill
6. Ripon Workhouse
7. Ripon Prison
8. Standon Hall (Part 1)
9. Standon Hall (Part 2)
10. Standon Hall (Part 3)

Series 21 (Halloween Week)

Most Haunted aired its 20th Series from October to November 2017.

1. Rowley's House
2. The Fleece Inn
3. Haden Hill House (Part 1)
4. Haden Hill House (Part 2)
5. Croxteth Hall (Part 1) ('As' Live special)
6. Croxteth Hall (Part 2)
7. The Old House
8. The Keighley Bus Museum
9. The Judges' Lodgings (Part 1)
10. The Judges' Lodgings (Part 2)

Series 22 (Early 2018)

Most Haunted aired its 21st Series from January to March 2018. The series consists of 4 two-part investigations and 2 single part investigations and an "As Live" special (as part of one of the two-part investigations)

1. Birmingham Central Lock-Up
2. Llanfyllin Workhouse Pt 1
3. Llanfyllin Workhouse Pt 2
4. Beaumanor Hall Part 1
5. Beaumanor Hall Part 2
6. Dudley Castle
7. Codnor Castle Cottage pt 1 (90 minute "as live" special)
8. Codnor Castle Cottage p2 (45 minute "as live" special)
9. Moat House Part 1
10. Moat House Part 2

In September 2018, it was confirmed by Karl Beattie and Really TV that a new series of Most Haunted will launch on Friday 19 October 2018 at 10.00pm.

Most Haunted Live!

Most Haunted: Recurring Nightmares

In Most Haunted: Recurring Nightmares, the presenters recall their most frightening visits.

Most Haunted USA

Most Haunted USA was an eight-part mini-series that aired on the American Travel Channel from 12 December 2008 to 30 January 2009. The series has also aired in the UK and includes the team's investigation at the famous Waverly Hills Sanitorium in Kentucky. It aired as part of Series 11 in the UK.

Most Haunted: The Live Series

In January 2010, Most Haunted returned for a spin-off of the live shows. These episodes differed from the previous live shows in that they were more like a series investigation, but broadcast live. The series was broadcast live every Saturday night and ran for 8 weeks, with each episode lasting two hours.

Most Haunted: Top Ten Scariest Moments

Top Ten Scariest Moments is a part-mini series that consists of 10 45-minute episodes, that was broadcast on Really and is still available to watch through UKTV Play, Really's on demand service.^{[note 1]} The series features Yvette recalling her scariest moments from past series. A slightly shortened edit of the episode from which that moment is from is then shown. Included in the online series is 10 minute discussion featuring Yvette and Glenn Hunt, the resident sceptic, on "the elephant in the room" after the investigation at the Wentworth Woodhouse Stable Block as to whether the footage of the ‘Wentworth Ghost’ was faked.