Watchdog (TV series)
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Watchdog is a BBC television series that investigates viewers' reports of problematic experiences with traders, retailers, and other companies around the UK. It has had great success in changing the awareness consumers have of their purchasing rights and in changing policies of companies, closing businesses down and pushing for law changes.
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[edit] History
Watchdog was first shown in 1980 as a weekly slot on BBC1's news magazine programme Nationwide. Hugh Scully, best known for presenting the Antiques Roadshow, was the original host. Nationwide ended in 1983, but Watchdog continued with its successor, Sixty Minutes. Sixty Minutes only lasted 9 months, and Scully left the programme at the end of the 1984 series.
Watchdog returned in 1985 as a stand-alone weekly evening programme, presented by Nick Ross with Lynn Faulds Wood, then the consumer expert with the BBC breakfast programme, Breakfast Time. Ross was replaced in 1986 by Faulds Wood's husband, John Stapleton, as Watchdog became a daily morning programme in 1987. The new husband and wife team was first married team of presenters on UK television, beating Richard and Judy by two years. They made the show even more forceful, investigating big businesses and conducting more investigative journalism, and it quickly returned to a weekly evening slot.
When the 1993 series was taken over by Anne Robinson, Watchdog shifted focus slightly. Where previously it had been primarily investigating safety issues and those related to children, it now began looking into issues that would affect a wider audience. Robinson was teamed with Alice Beer, an assistant producer that was brought on as a link person between the consumers (on the phone in earlier years and e-mail in later years) and the main presenter. Beer left in 1999; Robinson followed in 2001 when she went on to front the U.S. and U.K. versions of The Weakest Link, to be replaced by Nicky Campbell and Kate Sanderson. As of 2005, the presenters are Campbell and Julia Bradbury, with assistance from Paul Heiney and Saima Mohsin.
[edit] Methods
Along with attempts to interview business people in the streets, which was often met with a great deal of animosity, the presenters often invite company representatives into the studio to discuss viewers' consumer problems. While this was frequently turned down, many companies used the opportunity to turn the situation around to their advantage, offering full apologies and refunds.
In the 2000s, it became common for company interviewees to be advised by media advisers. Watchdog has also made use of hidden cameras and recording equipment, in the manner of investigative journalist Roger Cook.
[edit] Investigations
[edit] Fitted plugs
In the late 1980s, Watchdog investigations showed that numerous accidents were caused when the electrical plugs on new electrical appliances were incorrectly wired. At that time, all new electrical goods were sold with bare wires and customers were expected to fit plugs themselves. These investigations led to a change in British law, forcing all manufacturers selling electrical products in the UK to supply them with fitted plugs – moulded plastic plugs that cannot be detached from the cable.
[edit] Hoover free flights
In 1992 and 1993, The Hoover Company introduced a "free flights" offer whereby any customer spending over £100 would receive two free flights to New York. Due to an overwhelming response, many people did not receive their tickets and were denied the opportunity to take their free flights. After hundreds of complaints to Watchdog, an investigation revealed that the company in charge of processing applications was trying to deny customers their free flights in an effort to stem the rising costs. This quickly became headline news and Hoover were forced to give all customers the flights, costing them an estimated £40 million and the jobs of all the board members.
[edit] Auctionworld TV
Television sales channel Auctionworld TV failed to deliver goods or offer refunds to over 27,000 customers in the early 2000s. Investigations by Watchdog forced refunds and the closure of the channel.
[edit] The Accident Group
This company was exposed by Watchdog after secret filming revealed it was encouraging members of the public to make bogus claims for personal injury compensation. As a result "The Accident Group" went out of business, sacking its staff by sending them text messages [1].
[edit] Kitchens, Kitchens Direct and Maple Industries
Kitchens, Kitchens Direct and Maple Industries are all companies that are or have been based at Maple Mill, in Oldham, Greater Manchester and headed by controvertial entrepreneur Vance Miller. The companies have been investigated by Watchdog on several occations. Miller, who has a string of convictions in several countries.[2] has been branded by the media as the "Kitchen Gangster", became the first person in Britain to be handed a ‘Stop Now’ order by the Office of Fair Trading after consistently supplying kitchens which were not sold as advertised. Although Miller is currently banned from being the director of any company in the UK, in October 2006, he admitted on Watchdog that he is heading his latest company Maple Industries and trying his best correct previous mistakes, Watchdog confirmed that complaints were being addressed.
[edit] Spin-offs
- Watchdog Healthcheck – about health and health matters, presented by Judith Hann and later by Alice Beer.
- Weekend Watchdog
- Watchdog: Are you being served?
- Value for Money - mainly about shopping, presented by Vanessa Feltz and Charlotte Hudson.
- Face Value – about the fashion industry, presented by Alice Beer
- The Big Dinner - about the food industry, presented by Jonathan Maitland
- On the House
- Short Change – about consumer affairs aimed at children between 7-16 year-olds, originally presented by Zoë Ball, then Andi Peters, then Tim Vincent, and up until recently, Angellica Bell. It is now presented by Thalia Pellegrini, Rhodri Owen & Ortis. Many complaints include problems with service, bad deals, and being generally ripped-off.
- Rogue Traders - Undercover series examing con artists and cowboy workers.
[edit] Versions in other countries
- An Australian version of the show aired on the Nine Network in 2002. It lasted three weeks before being cancelled. It should also be noted that many of the stories on shows such as Today Tonight & A Current Affair cover topics similar to the ones mentioned above.
- Marketplace (TV series) is a Canadian version of the show that has been airing since 1972. It too had its own youth-oriented spin-off called Street Cents, but this was cancelled in October 2006.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Watchdog – Official BBC site.
