Most Haunted Series 14   Starring: Yvette Fielding Universal Playback RRP: £29.99 8284918 Certificate: 12 Available 03 October 2011

Most Haunted has had a strange longevity, given that the show is a one trick pony. The basic premise of the show is that Yvette Fielding and a team of supposed paranormal professionals visit various locations which are supposed to be haunted and behave as if something scary is happening. Given the repetition, it’s surprising just how popular this program is, especially as the phenomena is never captured on screen, but rather imparted by the experts...

The show has also been dogged by accusations of fakery, as if anyone would have been surprised. The show is best viewed as an entertainment, rather than any attempt to investigate the existence of paranormal activity.

Season fourteen visits another set of locations, spread across three DVDs, which includes ten uncut episodes. Disc one has the double episode for Weald and Downland, as well as visits to Gregynog Hall and Berkeley Castle. Disc two has the team visit Carlisle Castle, Kiplin Hall and The Verdley Woods and finally disc three Brinkburn Priory, Maesmawr Hall and Belsay Hall.

The show uses a number of parlour tricks to enhance the idea that something is happening, possibly the silliest, and therefore my favourite is the use of a night vision camera, which turns the cast into a poor man’s version of The Blair Witch Project, with Yvette roaming around bumping into walls and screaming her little lungs out.

The disc holds no extras and given the nature of the show, the quality of the picture can be variable.

Fans of the show will not give a flying fancy regarding my personal thoughts on the show, it’s a risible idea, poorly executed, but at fourteen series its success with the audience cannot be challenged.

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Charles Packer