Derek Acorah death: Most Haunted and Celebrity Big Brother star dies aged 69

The TV medium suffered a very brief illness, his wife announced

Most Haunted presenter Derek Acorah has died, aged 69.

The TV medium’s wife Gwen Acorah Johnson announced the news in a Facebook post, where she said he “passed away after a very brief illness”.

According to Gwen, Acorah – real name Derek Johnson – had been in intensive care after falling into a coma.

“Farewell my love,” she wrote. “I will miss you forever.”

Acorah launched paranormal reality series Most Haunted in 2001 and appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017, where he finished fourth.

His death comes after a Facebook post that said he’d been sick with flu over Christmas.

The presenter wrote: “Good morning everybody and I hope you’ve all had a spectacular celebration bringing in the new year and the new decade. I spent the time quietly at home with Gwen as we’ve both had the awful flu bug which has brought us down so low, hence the reason for my lack of live presence on Facebook.

“I hope to be back within the next couple of days when I will be giving messages from spirit for the new year. Have a wonderful day everybody and much love to you all.”

Acorah’s fans on Twitter have paid tribute to presenter, with one user calling it a “sad day for the paranormal world”.​

He launched his television career by hosting Predictions With Derek Acorah in 1999 and featuring on segments of The Psychic Zone.

The former would see him conduct spiritual readings with members of the public in their own homes.

Acorah presented Most Haunted for six years and, in 2009, he hosted Michael Jackson: The Live Seance, which saw the medium attempt to contact the singer’s spirit.