WHEREVER Derek Acorah ventures, his fans will follow. A three night engagement at Blackpool,s Grand Theatre was a sell-out well in advance of this leading medium's appearance.

Ever the showman, the blonde-haired Liverpudlian and his spirit guide Sam, held the audience in thrall, whilst conveying messages from the invisible queue of souls on the stage.

A TV camera monitors the audience, and anyone getting a message is flashed up on screen behind Derek and handed a microphone.

This is a great idea, and very watchable, but can lead to some (inappropriately) amusing moments.

One lady was shown speaking while another was actually talking. The lip-synching scene from Singing in the Rain springs to mind.

Then there was the woman who couldn't check whether the names she was being given were those of dead relatives, 'because they're all dead'.

Not to mention the two young men with the giggles in front of an old lady who was told her big bunch of friends and relatives 'were not here to collect her' - which must have been a relief.

However, there were some very touching moments, particularly when those who had lost loved ones in bad circumstances, or who were worrying about health issues, received messages of comfort.

Derek made his name starring in Living TV's 'Most Haunted,' along with former Blue Peter presenter Yvette Fielding, hence his (several) plugs for the show.

But compared with the last time I saw him in Blackpool (when a water jug flew spectacularly off a table), Derek seemed to have become much more confident - less a performer and more concerned with getting messages across, which I liked.

The question of the night must be: is it all for real? Unless you get a message yourself, you can't really say.

But all in all, it's a great evening and thoroughly recommended for believers, sceptics, the curious, and lovers of good theatre.

Derek's fans also flocked to Blackpool's Waterstones bookshop on Saturday for an autograph session