Adrian Chiles is studying witchcraft.

Adrian Chiles is studying witchcraft

Adrian Chiles is studying witchcraft

The former ‘One Show’, ‘Daybreak’ and ‘Match of the Day 2’ host, 57, says he is reading a book on the “dark arts” and wants to buy crystals after seeing a store in the West Midlands that specialised in “witchy supplies” – and is also convinced witches are a force for good despite being terrified of them after seeing ‘The Wizard of Oz’.

He wrote in his regular column for The Guardian: “I saw a strange thing on the way to Cradley Heath. Or thought I did.

“I was driving my mum's car to a garage for a service. I passed a shop for witches. ‘Witchy Supplies’, it said on the sign.

“I did a double take, giving thanks there was no one in front of me or I’d have driven into them.

“Later, I mentioned this place to a couple of friends who live and work in that area and they looked at me funny. What? A witches’ supply shop? In Colley Gate? Are you sure?

“I wondered if I’d dreamed it. So when I collected the car, I risked another drive past and, yes, there it was. The Wicklow Witch. Candles, Crystals, Witchy Supplies.”

Adrian bought a book called ‘Basic Witches’ when he went back to the shop – which goes for around £12 and promises to teach readers how to “tap into their inner sorceress and channel the dark arts”.

Father-of-two Adrian added about returning to the shop after his curiosity got the better of him: “There, behind the counter, was the witch herself. I asked her if there were many witches, here in the Halesowen area.

“‘You’d be surprised,’ she said. Actually, I wouldn’t. I don’t think anything is ever going to surprise me again.

“I’ve been decidedly anti-witch ever since I was scared half to death 50 years ago by that nasty piece of work in ‘The Wizard of Oz’.

“I’m thankful to this witch, the delightful Juliet O’Brien, for putting me right on a few things, not least that proper witches don’t do bad things because they know such behaviour will only come back and haunt them.

“Witches are a force only for good. I’ve been reading up on them in a book I bought from Juliet called ‘Basic Witches’ and I’m liking what I’m finding.

“I’m going back soon to pick up some crystals, seriously.”

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