Most Haunted Theatres: Most Haunted, Book 1

by Yvette Fielding

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to see a Ghost? Or what happens if you visit somewhere that’s said to be haunted?

Yvette Fielding is a world-famous ghost hunter, who has been investigating spooky places for over 20 years. Now she’s ready to tell all about the most haunted theatres she and her team have visited – and what happened when they went inside!

Prepare yourself as she raises the curtain on headless actors, crazed clowns and angry poltergeists!

You have been warned!

Genres: Nonfiction, Ghosts, History, Paranormal

Audible Audio

Published July 1, 2024

About the author

Yvette Fielding is an English broadcaster, producer and actress. She is best known for being the presenter of the TV shows Blue Peter, Most Haunted, Most Haunted Live!, and Ghosthunting With...

Reviews

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

After presenting the children’s TV show Blue Peter, Yvette Fielding delved into the realm of ghost hunting, captivating audiences weekly on her programme, Most Haunted. Over the last couple of years, she has written a series of children’s books featuring a team of child ghost hunters and has now entered the world of children’s non-fiction with her ghostly stories of haunted places, starting with theatres.

The book opens with Fielding’s personal journey into the world of ghost hunting before it goes on to showcase a few theatres around the UK that are supposedly haunted (some believe, some don’t). There are nine theatres mentioned in the book starting with The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London which is supposedly haunted by four restless spirits.

Each theatre is given an illustration and basic information about it such as location, ghosts, paranormal activity, and history. Then we move on to the ghostly sighting and the team’s investigation.

Most Haunted Theatres is a fascinating read whether you believe or not. It is written with the right tone for middle-grade readers to understand and comprehend. However, I would say that sensitive children who are easily frightened might want to bypass this book.

Overall, this is a book that will be intriguing for the reader and may even make them want to take up ghost hunting themselves.

[Alyson Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, this was fun! again, I found this through my library app, and it made for an entertaining listen.

searching up the locations (as I am UK based) made for an interesting little side quest.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used to love Most Haunted so this book was a must. I’d previously read ‘Most Haunted Castles’ which was just fab and I really enjoyed it so decided to go back and read the first. I’m also a lover of theatres so the subject matter was spot on.

I listened to the audiobook format this time and it also had its own unique flair like the physical book. This one, read by Yvette Fielding had a more immersive factor but the physical copy too has some awesome illustrations so both formats are a solid choice.

I like the layout of these books, first introducing the location, the ghosts and previous sightings and then launching into her own experiences as a ghost hunting team and what they found there. It brought back all the memories of the show!

Can’t wait for ‘Most Haunted Houses’ as that one will be another great addition to an enjoyable series.

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

good fun! I love Fielding's children's books and although Most Haunted came out when I was too young to watch it, it paved the way for all of the ghost hunting programmes I love (and lovingly roll my eyes at) today.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

love the series and loved this book.

[🌶 peppersocks 🧦 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reflections and lessons learned/the content of this book made me feel…

Like a city ghost walk… amusing and intriguing, with a slight sense of could this be true…?

[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review will be live on my blog - donnasbookblog on 1st February 2024 - publication day!

I love all things paranormal and I am always intrigued when a new book is published.

This one was written by Yvette Fielding and having watched her for years on Most Haunted as well as reading all of her recent fiction stories I was really keen to get my hands on a copy – and it didn’t disappoint, it is pitched really well for the target audience as well and not too scary!

I loved that the book told the stories of what happens in some of the properties, in this case, Theatres, and the wide mix of hauntings that occur, along with the number of witnesses to some of the incidents and what has happened there was great.

I loved that the book covered a wide variety of geographic locations as well and I have been to a couple of the venues – but nothing observed by me, but we were there in the middle of the day for busy shows so that may have something to do with it – would love now to go back at night and see if anything could be experienced myself.

Really enjoyable read, definitely one to make you think and look forward to more of the same style book on other haunted locations – was a fab way to pass a few hours

It is 5 stars from me for this one – highly recommended

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ive followed Yvette Fielding since her days on Blue Peter so was interested in reading her non fiction book on Most Haunted Theatres. Having read some of her fiction books I knew it would be a super read.

The book is written as children's non fiction and I would say that it was perfect for that age. As well as us older folks too!!! The tales are not too scary. The book is based all over the country so there's a chance you live near on of the theatre's. Well written and I loved the wee drawings that accompanied it too.

The book was a great quick read. Thanks to Netgalley and Andersen Press for the ARC Copy. This review is my own opinion.

[loopyloulaura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most Haunted Theatres is a non fiction book for children about a number of haunted locations around the UK. It is written by former children's presenter turned ghost hunter Yvette Fielding.
Each place's history is described to show the background information about the people who may haunt it. Yvette reflects on investigations from the series. However I tried to find the episodes but found them to be less scary than the book as the ‘events’ are less pronounced on film and contain fewer of Yvette’s own feelings about what she saw/heard/felt.
Most Haunted Theatres was very spooky when read at night (but still suitable for kids) and I liked the illustrations.

[Tommy Maker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to love watching Most Haunted. I do believe in the spirit world. This book is interesting, but sadly I found it more like a self promotion book.

I listened to this on borrrowbooks, with the narrator being Yvette Fielding herself, and every other sentenced appeared to be about her. I said, my team, I sent!

This slightly made me feel disappointed in the book hence my rating. Yvette seems to have forgotten without the help of her husband Karl, and other members of the Most Haunted team, her career as a ghost hunter would likely have taken off.

I have got the others in this collection to listen too, and will do and hope its not all Yvette saying I this and I that again.

[Xanthi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this on audiobook format.
The author gives a bit of history of each theatre ( so many get burned down in fires), including their hauntings. Then she launches into a recap of her experiences at these places whilst filming Most Haunted.
I realise this book was aimed at older children but I felt the narration delivery was a bit too exaggerated and patronising. The content was fine - just the delivery needed to be toned down a bit.
All in all, this made me want to rewatch the series.

[Ozias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was a throwback! I remember watching the episode for each of the locations discussed, and as I read Yvette's quotes i could hear her voice clearly saying the words. She is clearly skilled at writing for younger readers (I'd say early to mid teens for this) and the illustrations were fun. Only 4 stars though as I was expecting a conclusion, or summary of some sort at the end but it just abruptly ended after the final location

[Anja · Rating 5 out of 5]

An honest and incredible account of paranormal happenings

I very much enjoyed reading this book as well as the investigations on TV . Yvette certainly has a connection with the spirit world and luckily has the resources to capture paranormal activity last but not least a great team . It has changed my perception of death , it’s nice to know that it might not be the end . I will be more sensitive to my surroundings next time I go to the Theatre.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read into haunted theatres! I really enjoyed this one, very spooky and easy to follow! I think this is great for kids 9-12+ wanting a nice paranormal read, very fascinating!

When I got to the end i was turning the page expecting more, but this might be because I had a proof copy, and the finished copy might have more of an epilogue.

[J.F. Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was theatres and ghosts so it had to be read... Interesting range of different venues -and indeed ghosts. Do wonder why theatre ghosts (ghosts in general?) are always so cross or threatening? and why malignant spirits tend to always congregate in basements? Intended for middle grade readers, there's not much concession to audience apart from the brilliant illustrations - to be honest, if I'd read this aged 11 I'd have slept with the light on for weeks. Perhaps modern kids are tougher...?

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 🌟

A very fun little read (audiobook style)!
Half of the theatres covered I kept saying "ooh I've been there!" followed by "ooh I didn't know that!" when the history of the place was relayed.

I was just waiting for the Most Haunted theme to play at the end of the audiobook...and for me to start bobbing my head in a spooky dance. But alas, it wasn't to be...

[Manic Booksy Dreamgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spooky fun for children. This is an entertaining read that mixes History with the paranormal. I'm sure there's lots of kids that will get a thrill out of this one. The illustrations in particular are wonderful.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this when I went to see most haunted live and loved it! It was set out in such a methodical way that made my brain so happy and had history and haunting both in a way not too boring or overwhelming.

[LudmilaM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent for all the ghosts & haunted houses enthusiasts. Nothing for the faint of hearts. Selling point is this being real life stories & experiences.

[Loz Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really nice ‘family friendly’ book on haunted theatres around the U.K.
each location broken down into history, ghost stories then an investigation, fascinating!

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to introduce kids to the most haunted world…as a 47 year old woman, I loved it. I remember watching the episodes included in the book. X

[Shawnee Patient · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely meant for a younger reader, but some great spooky tales if you’re looking for an easy read. Helped pass some quiet lunch breaks!

[KFK · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book for youngsters about the joys of hunting ghosts in theatres in the UK.
Interesting historic information and scary passages.

[Katie Winfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and accessible for younger readers with a love of all things spooky

[Sophie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, short chapters full of stories about the locations that have been covered on most haunted.

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful spooky book about various haunted theatres and what lurks in the dark there!


I am always in for spooky books and I especially have a big love for books of real places with real ghosts and ghost hunting! So despite not being an entire fan of this author’s fiction work I decided to take a plunge and try out this book, and I can tell you, I NEED MORE! This was just so fun!

In this one we visit 9 super spooky locations in England. From The Lyceum Theatre to Craig Y Nos to Tivoli Venue. I don’t know any of these places, but after reading this book and being spooked out of my wits, I need to visit them. Haha. Yes, I am spooked out but I need to visit and experience these spooky events myself!

Each part about the theatre starts with a location, various ghosts that one can see/meet there, and the paranormal activity that brews there. Which can vary from just orbs to stones and pennies being throw and poltergeists having a fun day. After that a spooky illustration featuring a ghost + the theatre and then a dash of history on how the place was build and things that happened there + the various hauntings that happen there. It was all very interesting to read and I love that we got some background on the place + more before heading to my favourite part, seeing the author and her ghost team (apparently she is a ghost hunter and I love that she is now writing books about ghosts) visit the location and their experiences! I just LOVE ghost hunting stuff so I was eager to dig into these parts and see what was going to happen. And sometimes things are pretty tame, but believe me, there were some parts that had me gasping. OMG, spooky! And yes, I read this one before bedtime, so you may guess how my dreams were that evening, haha. When I slept. I do want to see if Youtube has some of her videos, she does mention cameras and tv stuff.

The author has a really fun writing style in this one and really keeps you on your toes. Really takes you into the haunting, because seriously, at times it felt like I was there!

I loved the various illustrations through the book and I am happy that one of my fav illustrators did the art in this one.

I am excited that this won’t be the only book, oh no, apparently we are also getting castles and haunted houses and I am just DYING to read those. I need to know what ghosts haunt those places!

Oh, and I am not sure if it was my copy (got the book on Amazon/Kindle) but it ended quite sudden. It didn’t feel like the story was over + I thought maybe an outro would happen. Not sure if it is my copy or if it really does end that way.

All in all, if you are looking for an exciting and fun read filled with ghosts, be sure to check this one out!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yvette Fielding, once of Blue Peter, made a bit of a surprise turn when she started presenting ghost-hunting documentaries for TV channels with hardly any audience back in the day. Still, it was a second career, and her writing output has shown that influence, with her recent junior horrors. This is a potential entrant to a greater series, if care about being repetitive is taken, as she surveys the famous theatres she hunted in. We start with the most haunted of them all, allegedly, London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, seeing the history of the place briefly, the ghosts that are supposed to be there – and what she went through on the overnight vigil for her Season One.

And that is where this is a success – books like this don't often have the first person narrative, and certainly not the conviction, of these pages. It's alright saying 'this room has smelled of lavender, noises off have been heard here and this bit gets cold' – here she had breathy chills directed at her from empty seats, a previously unknown ghost-type character walked past the room they were set up in, and, however likely it might be, she really does seem to have seen half a ghost – the bottom half.

Death threats and the haunted gents' in a venue in Wales is next, and the mood is the same – this can really creep at the susceptible reader, even as much as they logically scorn the Ouija board experience, and point out that for all the threat and all the thrown glasses in the bar and the light bulbs popping, they just do that – threat – and never get as far as impacting on and hurting anyone.

That can't be said of all other chapters, however – several are the workers on the show that got hit by a coin or a flung stone (not something you'd get in every corner of a decent theatre, it goes without saying). So much is thrown, dropped close to or allegedly aimed at the people involved with these hunts you wonder how the universally welcoming theatre people have turned out so dodgy. Do you suddenly switch from delighting in company and customer service to being a bastich just because you die and become a ghost?

I can discuss a lot of this – how much the 'guest psychic' knew before turning up, how much expectation was met for the sake of cheap TV, how easy it is or not to turn white noise into a voice. The fact remains this is a book guiding us to a few places that are certainly on the lists of spookified venues, and the fact remains that for this target audience this is a nigh-on superlative book of its kind, based to some strong extent on reality, if not wholly. I mean, if it puts one person off going to a show I'll not thank it at all, but for putting the willies up the intelligent young sceptic this has to be thought of as a success.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book. I liked that it was about real theatres. It was scary but not too scary and I loved reading all the stories it was really interesting to see the history of some theatres that I had heard about before. I liked the pictures as well and think this is a really good book to read.

[Sean Harding · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fielding Slips #1
Most Haunted #1
Well I was expecting a story and well I got this, a load of old codswallop.
The suppositions and the leaps of logic defy belief.
This is one of the worst books I have had the misfortune of clapping my peepers on.
Save yourself the trouble and do something more worthwhile like I don't know clip your toe nails.

[Mikayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, easy & quick read about The Most Haunted experiences in theaters that Yvette Fielding & her team experienced during the show.

Fun tidbits of info included with each venue with some historical info thrown in too.