Nearly half of Brits (43%) claim to believe in spiritual or supernatural phenomena – including ghosts, aliens, UFOs, and witches.
A poll of 2,000 adults revealed that Londoners believe themselves to be the most spiritual, with the strongest belief in witches.
Residents in the East of England are the most likely to believe in UFOs, while those on the Humber are most open-minded when it comes to psychic powers and mindreading – and the Northern Irish are most likely to hope for a Bigfoot sighting.
One in seven (14%) have even been so bold as to try a Ouija board in order to contact souls from beyond the grave.
And when it comes to the existence of an afterlife, there is an even split between those who believe in one, and those who don't.
But a third of Brits are more sceptical, with those in the West Midlands the most dubious about supernatural phenomena.
Jamie Morris, director of programmes at Sky, which commissioned the research to launch its new mystical drama series, Souls, said: “I find it intriguing to see how spiritual, or indeed how sceptical, British people really are.”
The study also found Londoners marked themselves as the most susceptible to the supernatural, being the most likely to believe in many legendary beings and conspiracies – including demons, zombies, and that Elvis still lives.
It also emerged almost half (49%) followed an organised religion, while 24% opted for an atheistic viewpoint, and 13% chose agnostic.
However, 70% feel there are some things in life that science and rational thought cannot explain.
Of those who believe in the supernatural or paranormal, more than half (52%) were spurred on by evidence they discovered themselves, or a first-hand experience which proved to them their belief was real.
And 35% just have a “gut feeling” that, whether their belief is ghosts, little green men, or werewolves, the truth is out there.
However, a quarter of those surveyed (24%) are embarrassed about one or more of their feelings.
And 26% have received mocking comments at some point for sharing their unconventional views.
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The study, carried out via OnePoll, also found 23% have seen or spoken to a deceased relative in a dream, and 22% have felt a “presence” in their home.
An open-minded 21% have visited a psychic to have their palm read or future told to them, and 16% have scoured the night sky in search of alien life.
Souls, which is on Sky Atlantic and NOW, centres on three women whose lives are turned upside down when, after a car accident, 14-year-old Jacob believes he remembers his former life as the pilot of a lost passenger plane.
Jamie Morris added: “Souls dives into what can only be described as the unknown, exploring the afterlife, premonitions, and the spiritual world.
“The show will certainly give viewers food for thought – whether they’re disbelievers, doubters, or more spiritually minded.”
TOP 10 UNCONVENTIONAL BELIEFS HELD BY BRITS:
- Ghosts
- Aliens/UFOs
- Reincarnation
- That the JFK assassination was an inside job
- Witches
- Mindreading/psychics
- Demons
- The Illuminati
- Bigfoot
- Werewolves
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