ABSTRACT
Paranormal reality television borrows from earlier historical examples in alternative and mainstream culture, such as Victorian magic lantern shows, or public demonstrations of mediums. The representation of mediums in paranormal reality television offers a useful site of analysis for the performance of spirit communication and audience engagement with unorthodox religious beliefs. The audience research is drawn from a wider study, using focus groups, interviews and participant observations with over 250 participants, ranging from sceptics to believers. The real world space of reality television is a resource for critical engagement with the reputation of a TV medium. In the inter-generic space of reality television the ambiguous nature of fact and entertainment opens up a reflexive space for audiences to question the value of their spiritual experiences in late modern society. Paranormal reality programmes encompass key debates on the politics of representations of gender, ethnicity, or religion, commercial imperatives, and cultural and social values surrounding the entertainment genre.
