GUESS WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE?

Jan 19 2007 Paisley Daily Express

PDE NEWS, THU, JAN 18

BABY psychic Derek Ogilvie is gunning for a $1million prize – and the chance to finally shoot down his critics.

Former Paisley Daily Express columnist Derek is to take part in a test by American paranormal sceptic James Randi and if he can prove his powers to the critic, he will walk away a MILLIONAIRE.

The 41-year-old Foxbar man has come a long way since he first walked through the doors of our office in New Street at the invitation of former editor Norman Macdonald.

Derek won a whole new army of fans with his own TV series on Five, The Baby Mind Reader.

He has also travelled to the US and further afield taking part in TV shows across the globe.

But he says he is still hurt by claims he is a fake and is out to prove his sceptics wrong in the tests.

“People keep asking me when I’m going to prove to this guy that I’m the real deal and hopefully I’ll do that in the next few months,” declared a defiant Derek.

“I know I’m not a liar or full of rubbish. If people in Paisley thought I was lying to them they would find me out in two minutes.

“There’s nothing worse than being called a liar. Not everyone says that sort of thing but when some critics throw those kind of comments about it does upset me.

“However, it only makes me more determined.”

If Derek does prove Randi wrong, it will be a massive victory for the former nightclub owner.

The 78-year-old sceptic has made a career out of throwing cold water on the claims of supposed psychics, and even managed to dent the reputation of spoon-bender Uri Geller.

And Randi has even put up the big-money prize to anyone who can show genuine paranormal powers.

But before Derek can get his hands on the cash, he will have to prove to world that he really can talk to the spirit world by telepathically communicating with a child sitting in another room.

The youngster will have 10 objects in front of them and Derek will have to correctly identify six of them to win.

But despite his determination to succeed, Derek knows sometimes even the best laid plans don’t always go smoothly.

“It depends on the child. I’m totally unscripted and totally rely in the spirits coming through to me,” he said.

“It just like someone’s computer system going down. If it doesn’t work then you are left sitting there like a dunderheid!

“I’m not going to build myself up. Anytime I go on TV there is pressure on me and this is no different.

“Even if I do get the connection, there’s no guarantee that I will get the information I need to prove to this guy I’m not lying.

“But if I didn’t have confidence in my ability I wouldn’t do it. I’m confident but not cocky.”

Such is Derek’s reluctance to predict success, he hasn’t even decided on how he’d spend his seven-figure sum, but he did joke: “I will probably give the child who helps me prove my abilities some cash because without them I can’t do anything. How much? Probably a tenner!

“But really, I will stay humble. I really don’t have any plans for how to spend the money.

“I used to think like that when I had my businesses and would probably have bought a flash new car but to be honest, the money is not important. All I’m thinking about is getting these sceptics off my back.”

BEFORE Derek takes part in the tests to prove his psychic powers, he will warm up with a show on home ground.

The telly star has lined up a performance at Johnstone Town Hall on Friday, February 2.

Tickets for the show cost £10 and can be purchased at TopCards on the town’s High Street. For more information, call 01505 328381.