| Watchdog | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Investigative Journalism |
| Presented by | Anne Robinson Matt Allwright Chris Hollins |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 29 |
| Production | |
| Location(s) | BBC Television Centre |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC One |
| Original run | 1980 – present |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Rogue Traders (2001–9) |
| External links | |
| Website | |
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 down businesses, and pushing for law changes.
It is shown on BBC One and is available for online viewing or download via BBC iPlayer.
Contents |
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 lasted only nine 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 the 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. Previously, it had been primarily investigating safety issues and those related to children, but it now began looking into issues that would affect a wider audience. Robinson was teamed with Simon Walton and Alice Beer, an assistant producer who 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 and was replaced by Charlotte Hudson. Robinson followed in 2001 when she went on to front the British and American versions of The Weakest Link, to be replaced by Nicky Campbell and Kate Sanderson. In 2005, the presenters were Campbell and Julia Bradbury, with assistance from Paul Heiney and Saima Mohsin.
Julia Bradbury briefly departed the programme on 16 February 2009, returning on 20 April 2009.[1] During her absence, she was replaced by Anita Rani.[2]
On 10 May 2009, a plan to relaunch Watchdog was announced.[3] The new series began on 10 September 2009, with presenters Nicky Campbell and Julia Bradbury replaced by returning host Anne Robinson, Anita Rani, and Matt Allwright, whose show Rogue Traders is incorporated into the new programme.
Along with attempts to interview business people in the streets, which were often met with a great deal of animosity, the presenters often invite company representatives into the studio to discuss viewers' consumer problems. While those were 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.
In the late 1980s, Watchdog investigations showed that numerous accidents were caused when the electrical plugs on new electrical appliances were incorrectly wired. At the time, all new electrical goods were sold with bare wires and customers were expected to fit plugs themselves. These investigations led to a British law forcing all manufacturers selling electrical products in the UK to supply them with fitted plugs.
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 by reporter Simon Walton 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.[4]
A special episode of Watchdog was dedicated to the issue of the temperature of Kellogg's Pop-Tarts, featuring a studio full of people who had burnt their tongues whilst eating them immediately after being toasted.[5] The conclusion was that those eating Pop-Tarts should make sure to leave the snacks to cool down before eating.[6]
Television sales channel Auction World.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.
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.[7]
Direct Kitchens, Kitchens and Maple Industries are all companies that are or have been based at Maple Mill, in Oldham, Greater Manchester and headed by controversial entrepreneur Vance Miller. The companies have been investigated by Watchdog on several occasions. Miller, who has a string of convictions in several countries.[8] 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. Miller is currently banned from being the director of any company in the UK, but, in October 2006, he admitted on Watchdog that he is heading his latest company Maple Industries and trying his best to correct previous mistakes Watchdog confirming that complaints were being addressed.
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Series 2 was the Watchdog Daily format.