haunted

“IS there anybody there?” I whisper into the darkness, silently praying I don’t hear a response.

It’s a Friday night and I’m sitting in the dark in Cornwall’s Bodmin Jail in a bid to make contact with the spirits that apparently roam this former prison.

My husband Paul and I are sampling a thrilling experience, My Haunted Jail — Paranormal Investigation, which runs twice a week.

Upon arrival, visitors are split into pairs and taken to separate parts of the prison before being left to their own devices to see if they can conjure up any ghouls from the past.

Folklore is etched into the facility’s walls.

Built by prisoners of war in 1779, it became Cornwall’s county prison for more than 150 years and 55 public executions took place here.

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No wonder people think it’s haunted . . . 

One of the most infamous inmates, I learn, was Matthew Weeks, hanged in 1844 for the murder of Charlotte Dymond.

Both spirits have supposedly been spotted on different occasions, with Matthew wandering around pleading his innocence.

Another notable figure is Selina Wadge, who was hanged for the murder of her disabled son in 1878 and whose spirit preys on youngsters visiting the jail.

The only prisoner ever to escape Bodmin was an inmate named Henry.

He allegedly vanished into thin air in 1897 and some believe his spirit still walks the corridors today, trying to find a way out.

We begin our paranormal experience in the naval wing, home to a museum that highlights the original cells and stories of those caged here.

There was a definite ghoulish atmosphere — no surprise when in a cold prison after dark.

While we didn’t experience any chills or things that go bump in the night, many people have reported feeling their clothes being tugged, or claimed to hear children screaming and keys rattling, as well as heavy footsteps.

Every part of the jail has been fitted out with cameras, so any paranormal activity can be caught on film and potentially used on the next My Haunted Project TV show.

Paul was the first to try the Bloody Mary challenge — a trend that’s been doing the rounds for a few years now.

It involves participants trying to summon the ghostly spirit of Bloody Mary by speaking her name three times into a mirror in a dark room.

There have been reports of a shadow appearing or people being pushed and hearing whispers, but much to my relief, nothing materialised. May­be the ghouls sensed my apprehension?

After trying and failing to summon Bloody Mary, each pair of visitors were given 40 minutes in each section of the jail before being moved on by walkie-talkie in the dark.

Silently, we made our way through the jail, creeping into the administration block and then the courtroom.

It was very hard not to be moved by the stories of the people who were once housed in the prison as we wandered the eerie corridors.

It wasn’t just evil murderers who were locked up there, though — many people were jailed for petty crimes such as theft, as well as for being mentally ill.

In times gone by, there was no segregation, with men and women being caged together — and sometimes kids even accompanied their imprisoned mothers.

Our evening finished at 2.30am and although we didn’t experience any ghostly jumps, I was relieved to escape the damp cells and head to the comfort of a warm hotel room.

Following a £50million makeover in 2021, Bodmin Jail opened 70 lavish bedrooms — all of which are significantly more glamorous than the damp and dingy rooms we’d just been exploring.

Created from three former cells, each room retains original features but has modern-day upgrades and homely touches — thank goodness.

The next day, I learned that our now lovely looking room once housed 17-year-old apprentice, James Grenfell Trewhella.

He was jailed in 1848 for ­setting fire to a workshop and a carriage owned by his wealthy boss, Penzance coachbuilder John James.

At least he wasn’t convicted of murder, I suppose . . . 

Paul Sinha, known as The Sinnerman on The Chase, has spoken about an awkward moment he suffered a few years ago, one which he said had forced him to learn the hard way about preparing for the show

The Chase star Paul Sinha has provided some insight into how he prepares for his role on the famous ITV programme. Paul, 56, joined the programme in 2011 and has gone on to become a fan favourite.

Before he was a television star and stand-up comedian, Paul was a GP and professional quizzer. Earlier this month, he sat down with fellow former medical professional, and current comedian, Harry Hill, 62, for an interview.

Appearing on The Harry Hill Show podcast, the pair discussed a variety of topics, but it was after a discussion about some of his scores at the World Quizzing Championships, that Harry asked Paul what sort of preparation he had to do for The Chase, where he is known as The Sinnerman.

In response, Paul said: “Practically, try not to look ignorant, like old and ignorant. Years ago I said, ‘I’ve never heard of John Legend’ on The Chase, and it’s haunted me ever since that I could appear on television as a quiz expert and not have heard of John Legend.”

He added: “So the most important thing is to just keep up with the things that would make you look old if you reveal you don’t know anything about it…I learn stuff every day, every afternoon, every evening.”

Harry followed up his first question by asking if Paul put “time aside” to learn, to which he said: “No….Life’s too short.”

This isn’t the first time Paul has spoken about what life is like behind-the-scenes of The Chase, with the former Taskmaster contestant admitting that although he is competitive whilst playing the game, some parts of it are harder than others.

In an interview with the Metro, in which he touched on his approach to contestants who take on the Chasers, he said: “I don’t mind if they win and it’s close, but if I’m going to stop some real human beings winning money that could change their lives.

“I want it to be as uncontroversial as it’s possible to be, because it’s horrible. But for me, it’s always hard watching the disappointment in their eyes as a large amount of money slips away. I’d much rather not a close thing.”

However, Paul added that, in some cases, he will speak to some of the contestants afterwards, particularly if all four players have won, but not if only one of them has lost.

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ALEXA Chung has confirmed her engagement to actor Tom Sturridge – who popped the question with a ‘haunted’ Tudor ring.

Model and TV personality Alexa, 42, began dating The Sandman star Tom, 40, in 2022.

The Sun first revealed the pair’s engagement in 2024, with Alexa said to be “over the moon.”

However, she has now opened up about her iconic ring following growing speculation of the couple preparing to wed.

Alexa told More Or Less magazine: “My engagement ring is a Tudor…

“Tom knows how much I adore vintage and antiques, and he got me a beautiful Tudor ring. It’s like a table-cut diamond.”

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Alexa added: “When I went to the National Portrait Gallery and looked at images of Anne Boleyn and all the other people who perished at the hands of Henry VIII, a lot of them had these rings on.”

Meanwhile, the star also revealed her hairstylist, Alexandri, was startled by the jewellery and said:”‘Oh my god, I think your ring is haunted.”

Alexa explained: “He took it off my finger and started making wishes around it and blowing on it.

“So I hope that my ring isn’t haunted. Or do I? Because that’s iconic.”

A source previously told The Sun of the engagement: “Alexa has confirmed to her friends that she is indeed engaged to Tom and she is over the moon.

“She is in a great place and seems completely head over heels for him. They’re a great match.

“They have been hard at work planning a wedding with all of their close pals there.

“It won’t be a massive over-the-top affair but a smaller, classier and cooler bash.”

Before Tom, Alexa previously dated Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner from 2007 to 2011, as well as fashion photographer from 2003 to 2006.

Tom was formerly in a relationship with Sienna Miller for four years, with the pair welcoming a daughter in 2012.

FANCY a stay inside a haunted hotel this Halloween? Consider a night at Ettington Park in Stratford Upon Avon.

The property is home to so many ghosts that the AA declared it to be the most haunted hotel in the country, with plenty of ghostly sightings by guests.

Ettington Park’s roots go all the way back to the time of William the Conqueror, and as many as 21 ghosts are said to wander its corridors.

Guests and staff have reported sightings of a woman standing by their bed, floating candles and even taps turning on on their own.

One of the most commonly sighted ghosts is Lady Emma in White, who is believed to be a former governess – she wears a long white gown and vanishes into solid walls.

An older Victorian woman has also been seen and heard walking near the conservatory, while others have seen the ghost of a man walking with his dog inside the library.

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One member of staff even claimed that on Christmas Eve, a candle lifted up off the mantelpiece and floated by itself.

The Long Gallery on the top floor has a vaulted ceiling and is said to be one of the eeriest parts of the building.

Lots of guests have taken to social media after their stay to reveal their experience, with one writing on Facebook: “I woke in the night feeling rather cold and was hit by a feeling of pure fear. It felt like someone was leaning over me and so close I couldn’t move .

“The room was completely black but I was totally convinced someone was there. I don’t know how long I lay terrified before I screamed.”

Another said that during their stay they woke up in the middle of the night to find the taps running and had to “sleep with the lights on all night.”

Talking to The Sun, another guest said that he woke and was laying in bed when he saw a light under the door.

When he opened it, he “saw this woman standing there, screaming, but there was no sound. I was really freaked out.”

The hotel is tied closely to The Shirleys, one of Warwickshire’s oldest families and has owned Ettington for many years.

There’s evidence that people have been living in the area for at least 2,000 years and that it’s possible a Roman villa once existed on the site of the Ettington Park Hotel.

Next door is a private chapel with a graveyard and tombs, ancient headstones and a pet cemetery.

The hotel even featured in the 1963 film ‘The Haunting’ which follows a small group who spend several nights in a sinister, isolated mansion to investigate whether it is truly haunted.

Aside from its hauntings, visitors describe the hotel as incredibly beautiful and it’s a popular wedding venue too.

If you fancy a stay and perhaps a glimpse of a ghost, the hotel has a variety of rooms from superior to feature and classic.

Meals are served in the grand Drawing Room which has tapestries and enormous windows with views of the grounds.

Afternoon tea is popular too and starts from £29 per adult.

The hotel even has its own spa with a huge swimming pool, hot tub and treatments too from manicures to massage.

Classic rooms start from £125 per night.