For almost a quarter of a century Yvette Fielding has been exploring things that go bump in the night as part of her investigations into the paranormal on the Most Haunted TV series.
But although shes had poltergeists hurl objects at her and crew members on the show have been hurt – including her husband Karl Beattie, who produces and directs the shows – Yvette feels blessed to be able to share glimpses of the other side.
Before I started Most Haunted I was scared of death, I really was, says the former Blue Peter presenter, 56, whose new book Most Haunted Castles is out now. But now Im not scared of it one bit, because I know 100 per cent that there is life after death.
Ive actually been refused access to my friends homes though because they think I might bring something spooky into the house, she laughs. But Im very passionate about the paranormal and I hope to keep doing this for a long time.
With Halloween approaching, here Yvette tells us all about the ten spookiest places shes visited and the spectres shes seen there… and how you can visit and even stay in some of them and get spooked yourself!
Yvette Fielding, the former host of the Most Haunted TV series, has revealed the places that spooked her the most
THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE
Catherine Street, London
This sighting was the most bizarre, ludicrous and insane thing Ive ever seen in my life. The history of this particular spectre is that in 1939, the ghost of a man wearing 18th-century style grey clothing was seen at the theatre walking slowly between rows of seats before disappearing silently through a wall.
When we visited I saw the most incredible thing – a pair of legs with Dick Turpin-style, over-the-knee leather boots, and they were walking in slow motion up the stairs towards us.
There was no body attached, just the legs. Three of us saw it at the same time, and we all ran. We were scared!
Later, we all described what we saw independently and it was exactly the same, which adds to the validity of the sighting.
For information visit lwtheatres.co.uk/theatres/theatre-royal-drury-lane/
Yvette Fielding described seeing a pair of legs with Dick-Turpin-style, over-the-knee leather boots walking in slow motion up the stairs towards them at the Theatre Royal (pictured)
MORECAMBE WINTER GARDENS
Morecambe, Lancashire
Its said that this theatre has an invisible line through it that separates the good side from the evil side, and we investigated both. On the good side, an Edwardian woman who had died on the stairs, either by accident or by a push from her boyfriend, is often seen and we waited to see if she would appear to us.
After a short while we all heard what could only be described as moaning – a womans voice was reverberating distinctly around us all. It was incredible and we captured the whole thing on our sound equipment.
As for the dark side, we investigated the story of a gentleman who was jealous of anyone going near a cigarette girl he was in love with who worked there.
When we went into that part of the theatre we got poltergeist activity – things were being thrown at us by unseen entities, but not gently, it was done with violence, intended to hit us. The historian working with us had her leg grabbed and she screamed. I do get scared, but I also love it – its very exciting.
www.morecambewintergardens.co.uk/venue/
Yvette Fielding described things being thrown at her with violence at the Morecambe Winter Gardens (pictured)
THE PAVILION THEATRE
Cromer, Norfolk
The theatre on Cromer Pier is said to be haunted by many spirits. One employee told us that when some people were in the theatre bar talking about an employee who had died and were not being very complimentary about him, suddenly a shelf behind the bar slid out four inches and all the drinks crashed to the floor.
And while we were there we made contact with the ghost of a woman called Elizabeth, who stood on the stage and told us of a murder that had occurred there. When we went backstage we heard a woman making noises, and shed copy me as I hummed various tunes.
Then we did a Ouija board session at about two in the morning on the pier outside the theatre. It was Elizabeth who came through – shed lost her father on the pier – and the table started banging and lifting up all on its own and the glass was going crazy. It was incredible but it left us physcally shaken and drained.
www.cromerpier.co.uk
Yvette Fielding said she made contact with the ghost of a woman called Elizabeth at Cromers Pavilion Theatre (pictured)
MALMAISON OXFORD
Oxford, England
This hotel used to be Oxford Castle, built 1,000 years ago then turned into a prison for almost 400 years. Now its a Malmaison Hotel where you pay to stay in what were the cells. As we walked around the cold stone rooms, we heard and caught on camera the sounds of a man groaning. It was so loud and heartbreaking.
Then we decided to look for ghosts in the top room of the castle and all of a sudden the door slammed shut. We screamed and were petrified when we realised wed been locked in – a massive old-fashioned bolt on the outside of the door had been slid across. We had to call the rest of the team to rescue us.
Ever since then, in every investigation, Ill put a wedge or something heavy in front of the door because Im frightened of being locked in.
Prices for a standard double room from £135 a night. www.malmaison.com/locations/oxford
As Yvette Fielding walked around Malmaison Hotel (pictured), she heard the sounds of a man groaning
HEVER CASTLE
Edenbridge, Kent
This is an incredible location steeped in history. Its the family home of Anne Boleyn, who went on to marry – and be condemned to death by – King Henry VIII. Annes ghost is said to roam the gardens – a visitor is said to have seen the ghost of a young woman in her twenties beating her fists against the windowsill and scratching her fingers on the walls. Now its a luxury bed and breakfast, but Im not sure Id want to come across that.
We didnt get through to the ghost of Anne Boleyn, which was disappointing, or Henry VIII who would have stayed there, but I felt a strange sensation of unease in the Long Gallery, where people have had odd experiences like seeing a ghostly galloping horse and experienced poltergeist activity. I remember we heard lots and lots of knocking and tapping from spirits.
Prices for a standard double room from £165 a night, with castle tickets included. www.hevercastle.co.uk
Ms Fielding did not get through to the ghost of Anne Boleyn at Hever Castle, but did hear a lot of knocking and tapping from spirits
30 EAST DRIVE
Pontefract, West Yorkshire
This is just an ordinary family house but our visit there was one of the most frightening of my life. As soon as we opened the door we heard big heavy footsteps thundering across the ceiling, then things were being thrown, taps were going on and off, voices were uttering expletives and we discovered a huge carving knife between the cushions of the sofa. It was hellish.
At one point a voice said to me, Shut the door, and as soon as I shut the door, my husband Karl collapsed and lost consciousness. He came to, and then Karl and out cameraman Stuart sustained burn marks across their arms, which later became infected.
There was an evil entity in that house, said to be the ghost of a monk who had been hanged hundreds of years ago on the crossroads where they built that estate. Allegedly he had done terrible things to young children and women.
After filming I sat in the car and cried and kept saying the Lords Prayer over and over because of that evil spirit. You can stay there if you want – but at your own peril!
Prices for overnight visits for 1-4 people are £300 weekdays and £400 weekends (total price). Bring your own bedding. http://www.30eastdrive.com/
Ms Fielding described 30 East Drive (pictured) as hellish, revealing how there was an evil entity
BAMBURGH CASTLE
Bamburgh, Northumberland
You can stay in the Clock Tower of this beautiful ancient castle but be aware that its haunted. A Northumbrian princess was said to have killed herself after her father sent her suitor away, and every seven years she wanders through its corridors and down to the beach. And during World War II, when the castle was a convalescent home for soldiers, its said that a patient shot himself and that his ghost sits at the bottom of the stairs.
We also had poltergeist activity during our visit. The freakiest thing happened in the Bones Room, so-called because it contains human remains from excavations at the castle over the years. We went into it in the dark and a finger bone was thrown at us, which is gross, and then a human tooth was thrown and got stuck in our historians hair. I was terrified but laughing at the same time, because Ive never seen three grown men scramble so fast over each other to get out of a room.
Prices for a minimum four-night stay in the Clock Tower from £1,321.25. www.crabtreeandcrabtree.com
At Bamburgh Castle (pictured), Ms Fielding said they had a finger bone and a human tooth thrown at them
RUTHIN CASTLE
Ruthin, Denbighshire, north Wales
This medieval castle was built on the site of an Iron Age fort and has been a hotel since the 1960s. Room 222 is said to be the most haunted in the castle, and I remember that as I entered the room I felt so dizzy I thought I was going to faint.
I also heard groaning and a proper growling in my ear, but it wasnt an animal, it was clearly something wanting to terrify us. People whove stayed at Ruthin often hear a knocking at the door, but when they open it theres nobody there. People hear the sound of kids giggling and running up and down the corridors, but theres no one there either. Apparently at one point the castle was used as a hospital and many children died there from a smallpox outbreak. It was clear the spirits are really active.
A stay in Room 222 costs from £155 per night for bed and breakfast. www.ruthincastle.co.uk
At Ruthin Castle (pictured), the Most Haunted star said she heard growling in her ear
THE OSTRICH INN
Slough, Berkshire
It looks like a quintessential English pub, but its said that in the 14th century a landlord called Jarman and his wife would ply rich guests with alcohol, send them to bed and strip them of all their valuables.
Then theyd pull a lever that would tip up the bedstead and slide the sleeping guest through a trap door into a vat of boiling oil below to kill them. Apparently they killed 60 people.
I went around the pub with psychic Derek Acorah, who was making contact with many of the dead. At one point Derek was inhabited by a ghost called Thomas who was being garrotted, so Derek had his hands round his own throat as he experienced the murder while I watched.
The area where I was standing suddenly got very cold and I got very frightened. Pub staff have heard banging and strange noises and have seen items flying around. Its a spooky place, but you can stay the night in the notorious room with the trap door if you dare.
A stay in Room 11 costs from £120 per night. ostrichcolnbrook.co.uk
Ms Fielding visited The Ostrich Inn (pictured) in Slough, Berkshire, with her former co-host Derek Acorah
YE OLDE KINGS HEAD
Chester, Cheshire
This 17th-century hotel was amazing. In every room we went into the taps, the shower and the TV would turn on. As soon as you turned everything off and went into the next room, theyd all come on in that room. It was the most bizarre thing.
And then wed say to the spirits, Can you turn the TV on and the TV would come on. It was marvellous to get it all on camera – I was so excited because it wasnt aggressive, it was responding to us.
That was the first episode that we invited on our open-minded sceptic Glen Hunt on to the show, and he then became a member of the team.
You can spend the night in this hotel and its covered in cameras to catch the ghosts in action.
At Ye Old Kings Head (pictured) in Chester, Cheshire, Ms Fielding said that the shower and TVs would turn on when you entered a room
My Haunted Hotel experience from £150 per room, 2 sharing. www.myhauntedproject.org/myhauntedhotel. https://www.kingsheadchester.com/
Most Haunted Castles by Yvette Fielding, illustrated by Hannah Shaw, is out now (£7.99).
Most Haunted: The Stage Show visits Brighton and Sunderland this autumn, see atgtickets.com/shows/most-haunted-the-stage-show/.
Most Haunted is on Sky Replay and the free streaming channel Pluto TV.