Ghostwatch
 BBC Presenter Michael Parkinson, who was possessed by the rogue spirit 'Pipes' |
The program was advertised as a live investigation into reports of supernatural activity at a council house in North London. The show was anchored by a group of well-known television reporters: Michael Parkinson, Sarah Greene, Mike Smith and Craig Charles.
Michael Parkinson and Mike Smith both reported from a TV studio, where calls were being taken from the public, and various experts on supernatural activity were being interviewed via a satellite hook-up. Sarah Greene and Craig Charles reported live on location from the house itself.
A single mother, Pam Early, and her two daughters, Suzanne and Kim, lived in the house. Around December, 1991 they had begun to witness strange phenomena: furniture moving of its own accord, apparitions floating through the air, and the sound of something banging against a metallic surface. The older daughter, Suzanne, also began to experience cuts and lacerations on her body. The family called the spirit that was menacing them 'Pipes' because of the metallic banging sound it made whenever it manifested itself.
The documentary began by introducing the family and the house. An expert in parapsychology was shown, Dr. Pascoe, who explained what she knew about the case. The camera then moved about the house, and mysterious noises were soon heard, but it turned out that they were being produced by Craig Charles who was playing a prank on the crew.
However, events quickly took a more sinister turn. A wet patch appeared in the middle of the carpet. The noise of cats was heard emanating from the walls, and scratches appeared all over body of the young girl, Suzanne.
Meanwhile, live interviews with neighbours were unearthing some disturbing facts about the history of the house. Apparently a former resident had once hanged himself beneath the stairs, claiming that he had been possessed by the spirit of a woman. The man had owned twelve cats, and when he died the cats were locked inside the house without a source of food. Consequently, they had attempted to feed on his dead body.
 The Early family, victims of spiritual possession |
 BBC Presenter Sarah Greene, who became trapped in a cellar with the sound of howling cats |
Outside the house, Dr. Pascoe appeared to have realized what had happened. "Jesus, Michael," she reported. "We have created a seance, a massive seance..." Apparently by having a live, national audience watch the investigation, the reporters had managed to channel enormous psychic energies into the house, amplifying the powers of the spirits who were now unleashed upon England.
Suddenly the picture from the house went dead, and the broadcast shifted back to the TV studio. Here events were also taking a turn for the worse. A wind had kicked up inside the studio and suddenly the lights went dead. The howling of cats was heard, and in the final, chilling image, a camera revealed that the anchorman Michael Parkinson had himself become possessed by the spirit of 'Pipes' and was reciting nursery rhymes in the voice of the spirit.
The program elicited a huge, national reaction. Many phoned the police and warned them that the forces of darkness had been unleashed upon the nation. Some women reportedly were so scared that they went into labour, and rumors circulated later that a few teenagers had committed suicide.
However, there was nothing real about the show. It had been entirely staged. In fact, it had been filmed months before by the BBC's Studio One. Terrified viewers might have realized this had they watched the credits more closely which clearly revealed that the entire show was scripted.
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