Sally Morgan, Grand Opera House, York, May 23 (From York Press)

Sally Morgan, Grand Opera House, York, May 23

12:40pm Tuesday 24th April 2012 in Theatre By Charles Hutchinson

MEDIUM Sally Morgan had her first psychic experience at the age of only four.

“I was at nursery and I asked my teacher why my granddad couldn’t be with me,” she recalls.

“My teacher told me that no-one was allowed their granddad in the class with them and then I pointed at a girl in my class and asked why she was allowed. I could see as clear as day an old man dressed in a full-length coat stood next to this girl.

“The teacher asked me where this man was and so I went right up to him and pointed. The man smiled at me and then just disappeared. No-one else in the room saw him.”

Sally, the star of Sky Living’s Psychic Sally On The Road, will be using her psychic gifts at the Grand Opera House, York, on May 23.

She has been driven to use those gifts ever since her teenage days. “I began giving readings to a few friends here and there and eventually through word of mouth my client base grew,” she says.

“I cannot pinpoint a specific time but my one-to-one readings become more frequent at the age of about 22. I originally worked as a dental nurse but eventually started to work full-time giving readings in my front room. My daughter started to take my bookings and before long I had a diary jam-packed full of appointments.”

Sally decided to convert her garage into an office. “I gave readings from there and this became my life for many years,” she says.

“I loved the feeling of being able to help others. Although my work can obviously at times be extremely heartbreaking, the fact that I could talk to people who were in the spirit world amazed me. I knew that I had been given this gift for a reason and felt that I needed to use it in a positive way.”

The Fulham medium has never struggled with her gift. “From an outsider’s point of view, my ‘gift’ can seem scary or hard to deal with but, if it’s something you’ve always known it’s none of these things…it’s just a way of life,” she says.

“I would never use the word ‘struggle’. Yes, my work can be distressing and I can still jump in fright when I see a ghost as much as the next person but it’s incredible. I feel honoured that I have the privilege to comfort people, help them when they’re grieving and deliver messages to them from their loved ones on the other side whom may never have got the chance.”

Sally not only believes in the other side, she also has an explanation for what spirits are doing there. “Of course there is an afterlife; that’s what being a medium is about,” she says.

“It’s trusting the information I get from the spirit world. Spirits are resting. It’s another dimension, it’s an energy form”

Can they escape that world, Sally? “Why would they want to escape it? They are in heaven surrounded by love,” she says.

After touring Britain for more than four years, and energised by her gastric bypass, she is only too happy to continue her travels. “Meeting the amount of people that I do on a daily basis that are so interested in my work inspires me to continue,” she says.

“Everyday people tell me that I’ve changed their lives and that means the world to me. Being able to speak to the spirit world and pass on messages to people from their loved ones is an amazing gift.”

Sally “absolutely loves” life on the road. “It has really enabled me to explore my ability in a new way. My live shows are completely unpredictable and with so many spirits waiting in the wings so to speak, you just never know what is going to happen,” she says.

“I get a real buzz from being on stage; the atmosphere can be electric and the way the messages move around the audience is fascinating. Obviously at times it can be difficult as, with so many messages, it’s like having ten radios playing and trying to tune into one of them.”

Sometimes a spirit comes through but no-one in the audience claims the message. “I get countless people contact me, either at my signings or through my website, saying that a message was for them but they were too scared to stand up and take it,” says Sally.

“This is such a shame as this opportunity is lost. It would be impossible for me to give an individual message to everyone who comes to see me at my signings. Could you imagine; the theatre would lock up and leave us all there!

“Overall, the tour is about sharing the thought of an afterlife and showcasing how these moments of connection can be utterly astounding.”

Performing five shows a week leaves Sally with little time off, but that time is spent with her family, in particular her daughters and grandchildren.

“Since I had my gastric by-pass, I’ve been given a new lease of life and have the energy to go for walks,” she says. “Admittedly some of the walks are down the High Street to the stores – my one vice is shopping!”

Sally Morgan, Grand Opera House, York, May 23, 7.30pm. Box office: 0844 871 3024 or atgtickets.com/york

Did you know?

Psychic Sally Morgan has done readings for many celebrities including George Michael, Uma Thurman and Alesha Dixon.