Fans demand answers

Fans of spiritualist comedy character Shirley Ghostman are up in arms after shows he cancelled seven months ago have still not been rescheduled.

Many die-hard fans of Marc Wooton’s alter-ego kept hold of their tickets when last October’s Spooktacular On Ice shows were pulled with just a few days notice – hoping to see him at rescheduled dates.

At the time, promoters SJM Concerts told ticket-holders: 'Hang onto [your] tickets and the rescheduled dates will be announced in due course.’

By March this year, fans had become anxious about the gigs. 

One of them, Ian Jones, said at the time: ‘It's been over six months with thousands of pounds floating around in limbo with no resolution in sight. It's disgraceful to treat fans like this. There are a lot of unhappy people out there.’

Chortle contacted SJM Concerts, and on March 8 they told us: ‘We are pleased to announce that Shirley Ghostman’s Spooktacular will be rescheduled soon. We hope to have the new dates up and announced next week. ‘

More than two months later, and the new dates remain as spectral as the spirits Ghostman pretends to commune with.

Last week, Helen Greenwood posted on Ghostman’s Facebook fan page: ‘What the hell is going on with the Shirley Ghostman tour dates? The last thing we heard over a month ago was that we would hear within the week? Disgraceful way to treat fans.’

Grace Coomber said: ‘It's all gone a bit sour now. Why would you treat your (paying) fans this way? Not happy.’

There is no suggestion that those fans who have requested refunds have not received them, but fans are angry at being left in limbo.

We contacted SJM for an update yesterday afternoon, but have not yet received a response.

However, Liam Woodman, who co-writes the Shirley Ghostman character, sprang to the defence of the promoters on Facebook, posting: ‘It's not really for me to say but I can assure you SJM are pulling out all the stops to secure venues for new dates. 

‘There have been a number of issues trying to book atmospheric "religious" venues due to the nature of Shirley as a spiritualist (I know!). This is one the reasons the original shows could not go ahead.

‘I'm as eager as anyone to get confirmed dates and venues and hope the show we are putting together still hits the spot despite the delay. Sorry you've had to wait so long without any news.’

He had originally been scheduled to play Edinburgh’s Queen’s Hall, Bristol’s St George concert hall,which was formerly a church; Manchester Monastery and two nights at St James’s church  in  Piccadilly, London.

Published: 19 May 2016