Edinburgh Festival Fringe: Psychic sees better times ahead as he vows to ignore boos

PSYCHIC Joe Power yesterday vowed to press ahead with his Fringe show and "enjoy the Festival" like every other performer, as the war of words continued over his opening appearance.

Heckled and booed at a Fringe launch show earlier this week, the embattled Mr Power said the oxygen of publicity had only fuelled ticket sales for his show.

"It has generated more people coming in, and people are loving it because it's probably the most controversial show in Edinburgh at the moment," Mr Power said. "Everyone has had their little laugh, and I'm here to do my show."

The giant Assembly venue has admitted it was a mistake to include a short appearance by Mr Power in its long launch line-up this week.

Even his critics defended his right to perform at the Fringe yesterday - even as they laid into his claims. The Stand comedy boss, Tommy Sheppard, said: "It's an open access festival, so anybody can come, but if people are going to try to make money out of exploiting other people's grief, it is quite legitimate for others to cry foul."

The publicist Mark Borkowski, who refused to co-operate with Mr Power at the gala event, said psychics should be allowed on the Fringe like anyone else, but thought it was a "mistake" for Mr Powers to appear.

It appears the embattled Mr Power is the only psychic at the festival. The event is awash with debunkers at a time when such as Derren Brown have put their dubious claims in the news.

Character comedian Tom Binns has created an alter-ego in Ian D Montfort, the "Sunderland Psychic", who only "channels" famous dead people. The Scottish comedy magicians duo Barry and Stewart are playing with the paranormal in 98% Seance at the Underbelly.

Comedian, magician and hypnotist Carey Marx, appearing at the Stand, is dwelling on early days as an amateur medium - partly at a Pontin's holiday camp.

"It is dangerous territory for a comedian, because it's stuff that people take extremely seriously," he said. "It teaches the audience how to run a sance and exposes it. How to do a switch, get hold of names, how to bluff. The secret is how to bluff."

"Everyone should be allowed to come here and perform. What's shocking as a magician to see just how simple it is and how easy it is to be a cult."

Joe Power - The Man Who Sees Dead People, is listed in the theatre section of the Fringe programme with a "pg" rating. He's called "the exciting new medium taking the psychic world by storm. His demonstrations give proof of life after death".

Psychics have turned up at the Fringe at various times in its history. Borkowski said Doris Stokes appeared at the Assembly early in the venue's 30-year history. But Blind Belfast psychic Sharon Neill earned at least one two-star review in 2003. In September, psychic Lisa Williams appears in the Usher Hall.