His production team have already been in touch with landlady Jill Ryan, and in the next few weeks mediums will visit to see if there is enough activity to warrant the cameras turning up.

Since taking over last year Jill's experienced her fair share of ghostly goings-on.

A woman has been spotted floating through the "snug" part of the bar, there are tales of a rocking chair rocking away in an upstairs room when nobody is there, and there is the scent of pipe smoke in the cellar.

The sound of a dog scratching become stronger and stronger inside the cellar door.
Jill runs the pub with her partner Maria.

She said: "Somebody called and said they had heard the pub was haunted and could they come down and make a few inquiries and it has gone on from there.

"We have been here a year now. I have felt something was there in the vault part of the bar but Maria has seen a ghostly woman in there and so have the cleaners.

"We had a friend who is a psychic look round and he said there used to be a cellarman who would smoke down there and then tap his tobacco out on to the bottom step.

"But what is most bizarre is the dog scratches on the inside of the cellar doors and they are getting stronger and stronger. I've had Rentokil out and we have no vermin problems. It's so strange."

It is understood that if Derek comes it will be for a new programme on the Paranormal Channel.
The medium shot to fame appearing in the first six series of popular show Most Haunted.

Jill said: "Hopefully he will be able to shed some light on all of this.
"We are not scared here. There are lots of things that can be explained away logically, but I don't believe you should close your mind to any possibility."

If the mediums rate the Springfield Hotel as spooky enough, filming will take place in June.