Watchdog

1 9 8 5 – 2 0 1 9 (UK)

Initially a segment on Nationwide, BBC consumer affairs programme Watchdog was launched as a show in its own right in 1985, hosted by Nick Ross with Lynn Faulds Wood (who was later joined by her husband, John Stapleton). Anne Robinson took over in 1993, assisted by Alice Beer.

Reporters included Chris Choi, Simon Walton, Jonathan Maitland, Denise Mahoney, Andy Webb, Liz Kershaw, John Nicolson, Beaky Evetts, Matt Allwright, Adrian Goldberg and David Bull.

The aim of the long-running series was to investigate complaints made by viewers about problematic experiences with traders, retailers and other companies, expose con men, and lift the lid on shoddy workmanship while giving real facts about consumer goods.

The show achieved great success in changing consumer awareness of their purchasing rights and forcing changes in company policies and consumer laws (and, in some cases, helping to close down businesses that had deliberately ripped people off).

Watchdog generated many spin-off programmes, including Junior Watchdog (1987), Watchdog: Value for Money (1996 – 2000), Watchdog Healthcheck (1995 – 2002), Watchdog: Face Value (1997 and 1999) and Watchdog: On the House (1998).

After 35 years, and with more than a thousand episodes aired, the BBC announced in February 2020 that Watchdog would be discontinued as a standalone series, becoming a segment on The One Show.

Presenters
Nick Ross
Lynn Faulds Wood
John Stapleton
Anne Robinson
Alice Beer
Charlotte Hudson
Nicky Campbell
Kate Gerbeau
Paul Heiney
Ashley Blake
Saima Mohsin
Julia Bradbury
Nick Lawrence
Anita Rani
Dan Penteado
Matt Allwright
Chris Hollins
Sophie Raworth
Michelle Ackerley
Steph McGovern
Nikki Fox