You will most likely have heard of Phil Whyman through his time on the popular paranormal investigation television series 'Most Haunted', and the paranormal reality show 'Scream Team'.
As well as being a recognised name and face in paranormal television programming, Phil has gained a reputation amongst fellow paranormal enthusiasts for his rational attitude to the subject matter and is a regular contributor to the media on all levels.
Phil also runs his own Paranormal Events, where you can spend the night in a haunted location and conduct your own Paranormal Investigation.
1. What first stirred your interest in the paranormal?
My interest in the paranormal sprang up at the age of about eleven, initially from reading books about myths and legends – Dracula, Werewolves etc...The transition onto ghosts and hauntings was more or less natural from here.
2.Where was your first investigation?
The first investigation that I held was at the relative of a friend. They were convinced that they had some kind of ghost/haunting situation and my friend told them about me. I was about sixteen or so and we both held a vigil in the house of his relative. Unfortunately not an awful lot took place!
3. Have you ever been fearful whilst investigating a site? and what would you consider the most scariest place you have investigated to date?
I don’t tend to get overly concerned about what may or may not be haunting a location, and in fact am more uncomfortable being in the dark – I have had a fear of this from a young age, but not nearly as bad as when young!
With regards to the scariest place I have investigated, it’s a difficult choice as I have done (and forgotten) so many locations and my choice alters the more I think about them. I would say that Clerkenwell House of Detention was a scary location, as well as Llanchaiach Fawr Manor in Wales. Chingle Hall is also a great location with a strange atmosphere.
4. What is your favourite piece of investigatory equipment?
I don’t like using masses of high-tech investigative gear as at the end of the day none of it is proven to detect anything to do with the spirit world – investigators merely use such devices because others are reported to have had interesting results using it.
I am a fairly old-fashioned investigator at heart so would count things as notepad and pen, audio recorder, torch and trigger experiments as being top gear...lol
5. Who do you admire in the paranormal field? and why?
I admire a few people. I suppose Harry Price would have to be the one person who fascinates me in the field of psychical / paranormal research – I am a Borley Rectory enthusiast, at which Harry Price did much research. I think he did a lot to bring the paranormal into the limelight.
As I have gotten older and my views on the paranormal change, I am beginning to admire one or two parapsychologists for their rational thinking.
6. Have you ever used a Ouija board? And what is your opinion or thoughts about them?
I have never used a Ouija board and wouldn’t. On a personal level and personal opinion, if you are trying to capture some kind of spiritual interaction then you must eliminate the human contact with such objects – You cannot entirely rule out the accidental movement by a participant during use of such devices. Apart from this there are a lot of stories concerning strange incidents befalling some of those who used such devices – Whether that is down to spirits or actual psychological or mental effects (from taking part) is debatable - After all, nearly everyone knows a story or two about nasty entities being associated with Ouija boards, thus this knowledge alone may cause the mind to apportion bad luck etc to a Ouija board session, or even conjure up scenarios that do not really exist in reality.
7. What was your most memorable psychic experience to date?
I do not experience an awful lot of paranormal activity on a personal level. Whether this is because I am grounded in my thinking or approach things rationally is anyone’s guess really. I would say that on a personal level I am about as psychic as a house brick, lol!
I have had the odd strange incident, but nothing outstanding that would make me seriously think about changing my views; I am on the sceptical and rational side of things, but believe that sceptics should be open to the possibilities and not just blanket-deny everything.
8. What is your best tip for someone starting out as a paranormal investigator?
Always try to remain rational and do not let your imagination run riot away with you during investigations. Just because you hear a bump or footsteps does not mean that it is paranormal in origin. You have to eliminate all the other possibilities first before you can even consider the paranormal.
Read up on the subject as best you can – I recommend a publication by a certain paranormal investigator, it’s called ‘PHIL WHYMAN’S DEAD HAUNTED’...lol
9. If you could investigate any location in the world where money was no obstacle where would you go?
The Tower of London. Great location and steeped in bloody history.
10. What are your thoughts on mediumship?
Whenever I am asked this question I give this answer: there is not one person from a medical or scientific background that can 100% categorically say that mediumship is not possible within the human frame. There are areas of the brain of which science does not know the functionality and until we do know what functions those areas are responsible for – if any – then we have to remain open to the possibility, no matter how slight that may appear to be.
11. On a final note with all your success what have you got next in the pipeline?
I am currently working on two fiction novels, but they are hush-hush at the moment!
Phil Whyman
A massive thankyou to Phil for allowing us to interview him
1. What first stirred your interest in the paranorormal?
I've had odd encounters since I was a kid which over the years has built into an interest in the paranormal generally, but focusing on ghostlore specifically.
2. What made you found your investigation team?
I took part in an investigation at Chillingham Castle back in early 2003 and enjoyed it, but noted that as well as the group focusing mainly in the south, there were a lot of techniques used which I didn't agree with. So basically I was bullied into it by a number of northern lads who wanted to do more local investigating! 
3. Have you ever been fearful whilst investigating a site? and what would you consider the most scariest place you have investigated to date?
I've been 'concerned' a couple of times, one being a hotel in county durham and one being a private estate in Gateshead...
4. What is your favourite piece of investigatory equipment?
This has changed quite a lot over the years. At the moment I can't think of a favourite, barring perhaps the breaktime flask of hot chocolate...
5. Who do you admire in the paranormal field? and why?
Anyone willing to try and put a stop to the petty bickering and in fighting within the paranormal community. I did have one organisation in mind for this, until they allowed one of the founders to openly slag off ex-team members who had left his team to start one of their own. Funnily enough, any organisation who preaches one thing then allows a founder to do precisely the opposite loses more than a little respect in my view.
6. Have you ever used a Ouija board? and what is your opinion or thoughts about them?
Nope, never used one. I've seen them used, but have never witnessed anything remotely paranormal. Any movement has been obviously movement caused by one of the users.
Personally I don't like them. The psychological effect they can have especially due to the bad press they've received over the years is extreme. Like any such tool, I've seen peoples' personalities change when using boards over a time: nothing paranormal, just reactions to 'messages' usually inspired by hopeful ideomotor responses.
7. What was your most memorable psychic/ experience to date?
Sorry, I'm about as psychic as a breezeblock...
8. What is your best tip for someone starting out as a paranormal investigator?
Be sure that you're interested enough in the subject to do in depth research, and that you're not just wanting to copy a TV show.
Also decide why you want to be an investigator. If you're interested in entertainment, join an entertainment group. Mediumship, join one that is mediumship based etc etc. There are a lot of investigators who join groups only to find that the goal of the group doesn't match with their own personal goal, and that's just a road to future hardship!
9. If you could investigate any location in the world where money was no obstacle where would you go?
Valley of the Kings in Egypt I think, or maybe the Paris catacombs.
10. What are your thoughts on mediumship?
In the context of investigations, my thoughts on mediumship do not make me popular among the mediumistic groups out there. I do not think mediumship is a good tool to use on investigations, as ultimately if a medium produces a name which can then be found in the historical record, then there's always a chance that the medium may have researched it beforehand, or even may remember the name subconsciously from reading it years before. On the other hand, if the name cannot be found in the historical record then there's no proof that the name belonged to a person, so again the name cannot be seen as proof. I've been told that ultimately its about trust, but in a field where so much 'investigation' is done without any real knowledge of the subject matter or any adequate controls, unfortunately trust cannot be taken into account. A double edged sword for investigative mediums methinks...
11. On a final note with all the success with you last book are there anymore in the pipeline?
Hopefully yes - there is a second book in the pipeline, but when its due out is anyone's guess!
A massive thankyou to Tony for allowing us to interview him