Former Match of the Day presenter and ITV host reveals he believes in WITCHES and says they’re a ‘force only for good’

EX-MATCH of the Day presenter Adrian Chiles has gone from fearing fictional witches to believing in real ones.

The Beeb star claims wand-wielding women are “only a force for good”.

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Adrian Chiles likes Wimbledon tennis, West Brom and witches[/caption]

The Brummie covered sport for the BBC and ITVPA:Press Association

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‘The Wicked Witch of the West’ in The Wizard of Oz, as played by Margaret Hamilton, terrified many kids, including the young Chiles[/caption]

Chiles, 57, was traumatised as a kid by 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz – featuring the sharp-fingered, hook-nosed Wicked Witch of the West.

But the West Brom fan was transformed after popping into a shop selling witch goods.

Now he wants to buy some crystals and explore the magical world further – perhaps hoping to help the Baggies conjure some pointy hat-tricks.

The Brummie broadcaster was on MOT2 from 2004-2010 then worked for ITV Sport for six years.

He also presented The One Show with Christine Lampard and currently works on BBC Radio 5 live.

The father of two revealed in a column for The Guardian how he has become enchanted by witches.

Chiles did a “double take” when he spotted “The Wicklow Witch. Candles, Crystals, Witchy Supplies” in the Black Country village of Cradley.

Friends were incredulous when he asked if they knew it – so he even “wondered if I’d dreamed it” and went back to check.

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Once there, he explained he met someone who changed his beliefs.

Chiles wrote: “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.”

Chiles stressed: “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.”

All in all, it seems he wouldn’t be scared if he suddenly discovered there was a Wicked Witch of the West Brom.

But it might be a bit much to expect him to transfer his allegiance to Crystals Palace!

Chiles presented The One Show with Christine Lampard, nee Bleakley