Premiering on 29 September 1962, this popular ATV consumer affairs “watchdog” programme was presented by Canadian Bernard Braden, who championed the cause of the British consumer for five years.
Jock Watson and Francis Coleman produced this 25-minute Saturday late-night programme which also examined current political issues affecting (afflicting?) the British public, usually in a satirical way.
The unique mixture of entertainment and investigations into consumer complaints won Braden a Guild of Television Producers and Directors’ (now BAFTA) award for performances in factual programmes in 1963.
Braden also became the Variety Club’s Personality of the Year in 1965.
Peter Cook appeared on the show as a character called E.L. Wisty, who specialised in rather surreal monologues delivered in a deadpan monotone.
In 1968 Bernard moved to the BBC with Braden’s Week, which had a similar format to On The Braden Beat series but with more concentration on consumer championing.
