9/9/2005
getreading
The spook specialist: got a poltergeist? Then give him a call
Dean Maynard is on the brink of finding fame and fortune in the ghostbusting business.
This week, the 33-year-old from Flodden Drive, Calcot, took part in Channel Four’s Bed & Bardsleys in which he accompanied former Big Brother contestants Michelle and Stuart on a ghosthunting night-out to Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach.
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A sudden and noisy opening of a fire door in the pitch-black ghost train tunnel nearly freaked out everybody, including the ghostbusting team on last night’s show.
He has already appeared on Chris Moyles’ Radio One show, with Dermot O’Leary on Radio Two and, briefly, on Ant and Dec’s Saturday morning TV show on which he performed a joke spook feature with boy band, Westlife.
Former motor insurance salesman, Mr Maynard took up ghosthunting more or less full time four years ago.
He said: “I have always been interested in the paranormal. I used to read lots of books on the subject and became really fascinated.
“Then I decided I wanted to get more involved. I wrote to a few places asking if I could come along and ghost hunt to raise money for charity.
“Eventually, what started off as a hobby turned into a job.”
When not exploring the spirit world, Mr Maynard is an events organiser, but would eventually like the ghost business to become his primary source of income.
His name is already becoming known in ghosthunting circles and he regularly travels all over the country in answer to calls from people with haunted homes.
He has come to know various groups of like-minded individuals in various parts of Britain and, when the call comes, they join him on ghost hunting missions.
Armed with a mass of equipment, including night vision cameras, alarm sensors, electronic magnetic field meters and thermometer gauges, they prepare to sit the night out waiting for paranormal activity.
And they are often rewarded. Shadowy figures, odd lights and sudden drops in temperatures all indicate a ghostly presence, according to Mr Maynard.
He said: “Afterwards, you think that things were actually quite scary, but at the time the adrenalin carries you through.
“You know you are up for anything and there is a buzz.”
He is currently working on other Channel Four projects and is waiting to hear if he has successfully auditioned for BBC Two’s Hallowe’en edition of Ready Steady Cook.
He’s also waiting to see if singer Peter Andre agrees to appear in Mr Maynard’s forthcoming attempt to find ghosts at Alton Towers.
However, his wife Stina, does not share her husband’s passion.
“She thinks it’s a load of rubbish, but supports me anyway,” Mr Maynard said. [/b]
I don't blame her though they are quite scarey! 
if i remember mich could go for it... with guilt treatment and all..