Actually, my visit to England quite a while ago (long before MH or
ANY such shows were on TV) confirmed to me that a large percentage of
the English (don't know about Scots, since my trip to Edinburgh was
canceled due to train strike) have no qualms about admitting to a belief
in ghosts.  Now this does not mean that every one of them has seen
one.  But they seem to accept that specters exist.

We own a book, "Haunted Britain", by Antony Hippisley Cox.  It is a wonderful compendium
for the traveler of supposedly haunted castles, other dwellings and
even whole areas that have garnered a reputation for having strange
phenomena in general. The format is an encylopedic atlas rather than
stories and highly recommended for anyone traveling through Britain.  We
even wrote the author to tell him about a ghost in Warwick Castle,
related to us by a tour guide and that did not appear in his book.  He
wrote back thanking us and said he would include it in later editions.

Anyway, way back when, my discussions on the TAPS board
regarding GHI were met with derision (something I expected) when I
postulated that areas in Europe have, in effect, more layers of history
and thus a greater chance of paranormal activity.  This is still my
belief–regardless of what is actually causing the perception (or
reality) of ghosts.  My statement that the US cannot hold a candle to a
country like England when it comes to these "layers" of history.  Thus
one would expect more sightings and thus a stronger belief in general in
apparitions.  I was lambasted quite strongly.  Most of this reaction I
put down to my insinuation that GHI was better than GH, which was not
what I meant.  My post concerned the difference between the two
countries' pasts.

TV shows may have increased attention to the phenomenon but in my experience most Brits have had a general belief and acceptance of the paranormal way before this TV fad took off.  As stated, I think their long and very dramatic past has a lot to do with it.

I do remember the argument I had with someone on the TAPS board (a loooong time ago) about this.  They didn't buy into my "layers of history" theory because he/she felt I was somehow attacking their beloved GH crew.

Also I forgot to mention that the British Isles are surrounded by water, and very turbulent ones at that.  There is a theory about how this somehow increases the chances for hauntings and other phenomena.  Forgot how it works, but if there is anything to that theory, it would explain a lot.  IMO England is one of the most haunted countries in the world (sounds like a good title for a TV show-LOL).

Thanks, I couldn't remember just how the theory went.

There are many good reasons why the Klinge brothers show was canceled, and their bad science was certainly one of them.

Re: Britain–I'm thinking in particular of the often turbulent Channel and the North Sea in particular.  Good question as to how far this influence, if it existed, would extend.  But if this were true, the small isles off the Scottish/Irish coasts should be swarming with activity.  I just threw it out there because my very poor memory recalled that there had been mention of the conductivity of rough waters influencing paranormal activity.