Fred Batt Reveals Dark Secrets Behind His New Book 'The Devil's Bible'

Fred Batt, the resident demonologist known for his appearances on 'Most Haunted', recently appeared on Roy Basnett's morning show on Liverpool Live Radio to discuss his new book, 'The Devil's Bible'. The phone interview provided listeners with an in-depth look into Fred's career, his early experiences with the paranormal, and the dark and dangerous world of demonology explored in his latest work.

Fred and Roy's conversation kicked off with a nostalgic look back at Fred's varied career, including his unexpected role in introducing Go-Go dancing to the UK. Fred said, "I had the first sort of purpose-built disco in the country, which was in London, Soho, and it was called the Whisky a Go Go. And so that's where the name Go-Go dancers came from."

However, the focus quickly shifted to Fred's work in the paranormal, a subject he's been passionate about since his teens. Fred revealed that his fascination with the supernatural began after a terrifying experience at the age of five. Fred vividly recounted, "I got up in the middle of the night, it must have been about four o'clock in the morning, and went out to what we used to call the scullery then. They used to have an old mangle in it, and behind the mangle, I thought I saw these arms sticking up in the air, and it was moving from side to side like that." The ghostly encounter in his family's South London home left a lasting impression on him. Fred told Roy, "I just ran back to bed. I didn't know what to do. I was frightened to death."

Fred's early fascination with the supernatural only deepened as he grew older. By the age of fourteen, he found himself drawn to the Spiritualist Association of Great Britain, where he began to explore the world of spirits and the paranormal. "That's what made me start looking into it, really," Fred said, recalling his first visit to the association. "I came out of there and started to sort of get involved with the paranormal and study it. And since then, gone into the dark side, which is demonology, because not many study that. It's a lifetime of study."

The conversation then delved into Fred's involvement with 'Most Haunted', the long-running British paranormal reality television series. Fred explained how his haunted 14th-century Surrey home attracted the show's attention. "It's haunted, but in a nice way, because I've got all the owners going back to 1200 and something," Fred noted, adding that the house would sometimes emit the scents of lavender and roses at different times of the year, adding to its mysterious charm.

After investigating Fred's home, the 'Most Haunted' team visited the nightclub he owned at the time, which was also said to be haunted. Roy asked Fred about the legendary haunting of Caesars nightclub in London, where it was believed the spirit of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in the UK, might still linger. Fred shared a chilling account of his own experiences at the club, including hearing unexplained screams and seeing a ghostly figure. "There was a screaming coming from downstairs on the dance floor," Fred recounted. "As soon as we reached that floor, it stopped, and there was nothing there."

Fred told listeners how this television appearance led to his regular involvement as the resident demonologist on 'Most Haunted'. He told Roy how his role on the show brought a darker edge to their investigations, moving beyond traditional ghost hunting to explore the sinister realm of demonic activity. "I was doing the darkest stuff, demonology, and I brought that sort of darker side to it rather than just ghost hunting," Fred shared.

A significant part of the interview focused on Fred's new book, 'The Devil's Bible', which draws on his extensive knowledge and experience in demonology. The book is named after the Codex Gigas, also known as 'The Devil's Bible', a massive medieval manuscript said to have been written in a single night by a monk who made a pact with the devil. Fred recounted. He described the book as being so large that it took "about 100 skins of donkeys to make it" and explained that his own book is named in honour of this infamous tome.

Fred's research for 'The Devil's Bible' took him to some of the darkest and most sinister locations in Europe, including Castle Houska in the Czech Republic. "You walk up this mountainside, and you're going up, it's like a Hammer film," Fred described. "You go through the mist, through the trees, and there it is, on top of this sort of mountain-type thing. And it's just like going into a Dracula movie. And as you walked in, you could feel the evil. You could just taste it, even, you know, it was that bad." Fred then shared a particularly eerie experience from the castle, where he attempted to summon Satan while standing over a supposed gateway to hell. "All of a sudden, my briefcase went over on its side, about six feet away from me, and all the papers in it were being pulled out individually," Fred recounted. Despite the danger, Fred was undeterred, telling the crew who had pulled him out of the chapel, "I want to meet Satan, you know, and you pull me out of there, and I may have done it."

Fred's book delves deep into the world of demonology, exploring the history, rituals, and risks involved in dealing with malevolent forces. It is a comprehensive exploration of demonology, detailing the dangers of summoning demons, the history and classification of these entities, and the ethical considerations involved in such practices. Fred warned listeners that demonology is not to be taken lightly, noting that it requires a lifetime of study and carries significant risks. "You've got legions and legions of demons and stuff like this, and you've got to be careful what you're doing. It's really dangerous as well," he cautioned.

Roy then steered the conversation back to Fred's more recent activities, asking if he still participates in paranormal investigations. Fred told listeners that he's about to embark on a tour that will give fans the chance to hunt for dark entities with him. He also hinted at a potential new television series in Hollywood, though Fred explains production has been delayed due to ongoing industry issues. "I've signed the deal there, so it will come off eventually," Fred said optimistically.