Silent Voices Meets Phil Whyman

Phil Whyman is the paranormal expert/presenter from Living TV’s flagship series “Most Haunted”. His knowledge and views on all things
paranormal have been called on for radio, television and newspaper articles, and his rational  approach has resulted in him becoming a
respected figure in the genre.

Phil is the founder and company director of "Dead Haunted"
he has also written a book called “Phil Whyman’s Dead Haunted”, and is a regular columnist for “Chat It’s Fate”.

Even though Phil can appear quite austere and focussed on the television, if they would show the outtakes from “Most Haunted” you would see someone with a sharp wit and keen sense of humour.

When he’s not playing the joker Phil works hard on a number of other projects, the main one of which is music which has long been his passion. He is also a keen writer currently working on two fiction novels.

Phil, your interest in the paranormal arose at the early age of 11, yet you don’t site a paranormal experience as the starting point, which is unusual. Please tell us about this.

I have always been a big reader (most of my family has), and I basically started by reading things on myths and legends like Dracula, vampires and werewolves...things just naturally progressed onto hauntings and ghost from there really.

When you were 14 you believed you saw the spirit of your deceased pet cat, that must have felt strange at the time, how did it affect you?

It didn’t really hit me at first, and took a little while to sink in. I thought that at first it might have been a neighbourhood cat, but then when it dawned on me that it could not have got past me without me seeing it I felt a little odd!

You clearly have a highly scientific mind and you seek clear evidence, saying that on your first investigation nothing paranormal in origin was discovered, yet on other investigations you have had “interesting results”.  Please tell us about some of your better experiences.

I have had numerous interesting investigations where things ranging from movement of objects to voices being heard and physical contact have been experienced. One of the funniest was when a group of friends who I had left downstairs at a location suddenly came running up to me; something had shaken the front door to such an extent that they were petrified and heading for cover!

Where do you feel you are now on the scale of believer in the Spirit World?

Still unsure, to be honest.

You’ve clearly worked with a number of Mediums, what are your feelings about Mediumship?

Again the jury is still out on that one. I have worked with a few who have surprised me, and a few who I have thought were total fabricators. At the end of the day we have to remain open to the possibility until science tells us otherwise.

You’ve been one of the core team member on “Most Haunted” since 2002, what has been your role on the programme and how has it developed?

My role has always been the paranormal expert on the show. I work with Paul Ross and with the studio audience. – so I’m studio based but I still share my thoughts and reasons as to what is or might have been possible paranormal activity.

You call it the “Scream Team” – do tell us why!

Because basically we were all scared witless during the filming. We had never done anything like it before so we really did not know what to expect. Some of our experiences were real scary stuff, especially for me at Woodchester Mansion.

You’re a keen Jean Michael Jarre fan, is your own music influenced by Jarre’s music, and what sort of music do you write?

I am, and most of my own synth-instrumental music is strongly influenced by him. In fact I did an album which was reviewed at the same time of year that Jarre's album ‘Metamorphosis’ was released, and the reviewer actually said '...this is what 'Metamorphosis' should have been like!'

Many artists feel that their inspiration for their work comes from elsewhere, various authors have described it as a ‘complete plot download’. Do you feel that either your music or writing is in some way Spiritually inspired?

Not sure. I know that when I was knocked back by publishers with my book 'Dead Haunted: Paranormal investigations & Encounters'  (which you can actually download FREE at www.deadhaunted.com) I had an unexplained urge telling me to continue and persevere with it...and I did, and got it published.

When you go on a paranormal investigation what are you hoping to experience? 

An apparition!

Do you find that the investigations vary in as much as you may have a great deal of activity on one investigation and serene silence on another?

Very much so. In fact if it was as easy as turning up and chatting to a ghost then I am sure that I would be very rich by now...along with many other ghost hunters!

Have you ever encountered a ‘famous’ ghost?

No, sadly not! Have you?

(The interviewer can confirm that they have seen one Spirit Guide but no ghosts!)

What is your funniest memory of your work?

When I was holding a séance at Peterborough Museum during a ‘Dead Haunted’ event. We were in the middle of asking out when unbeknown to the majority of us one of the group - who had wandered off - came back into the room on her knees (so as not to disturb us). We all thought that this small, dark silhouette was a child ghost and panicked like crazy. It was extremely funny though...afterwards!

What do you hope to achieve with your work?

Some sort of contribution to the study of ghost and hauntings...and having a good time doing it!

Do you feel that a belief in the after-life is important in helping to live a happy life in the here and now?

Not really. I am sure there are millions of people out there enjoying their time on this planet without believing such things.

Please tell us everything you have coming up, where we can find out about you, and how people can book for your events.

We have numerous Halloween events coming up, and some great investigations throughout the remainder of 2011. We are also adding events for 2012 too.

Information about Dead Haunted and our events can be found at www.deadhaunted.com  Don't forget to download my book FREE at the website!

We would like to thank Phil Whyman for his extremely down-to-earth and enjoyable interview. We hope that one day he finds the apparition he’s looking for and gets to chat with a ghost, rather than being terrified by his clients. We also hope that he perseveres with his music as it sounds like there’s a real talent waiting to be unleashed on the world. Perhaps one day soon some of his music will be available to us.

Good luck with your career Phil, we wish you every success.