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. Corporate logo of the British Broadcasting Corporation The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the national publicly funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... In economics, consumers are individuals or households that consume goods and services generated within the economy. ...

History

Watchdog was first shown in 1980 as a weekly slot on BBC One'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. 1980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... BBC One (or BBC1 as it was formerly styled) is the oldest television station in the world. ... Nationwide was a BBC current affairs television series broadcast on BBC One each weekday following the main evening news. ... Hugh Scully (b. ... Antiques Roadshow is a human interest television show in which antique appraisers travel across the country. ... 60 Minutes is the name of an American magazine-format television news program produced by CBS News. ... 1984 is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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. Nick Ross lived in Wallington at some stage and I think he was in Sainsburys. ... Richard Madely and Judy Finnigan Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan are married co-stars of British daytime light entertainment television programmes. ... Investigative journalism is a branch of journalism that usually concentrates on a very specific topic, and typically requires a lot of work to yield results. ...

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. version 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. 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Anne Josephine Robinson (I) (born September 26, 1944 in Merseyside, England) is a British television presenter and TV host who is most famous for hosting the BBC game show The Weakest Link. ... 1999 is a common year starting on Friday Anno Domini (or the Current Era), and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... ... The Game Show, Weakest Link The Weakest Link (or, in the U.S., simply Weakest Link) is a television game show which first appeared in the United Kingdom on BBC Two in 2000. ... Nicholas Andrew Argyll Campbell (born Edinburgh, Scotland on April 10, 1961) is a BBC radio and television presenter. ... Kate Sanderson (born 9 August 1968 in Sutton Coldfield, England) is a british television presenter and newsreader. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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 Roger Cook. Saddam Hussein shortly after his capture Major controversy over U.S. presidential election, 2000 September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on New Yorks World Trade Center and Virginias Pentagon killing almost 3000 people. ...

Investigations

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. // Events and trends The 1980s marked an abrupt shift towards more conservative lifestyles after the momentous cultural revolutions which took place in the 60s and 70s and the definition of the AIDS virus in 1981. ... CEE 7/7 plug and socket Domestic AC power plugs and sockets allow a connection between the mains (domestic, usually single-phase, AC electrical power) and the appliances commonly used in homes. ... Blender Small appliance refers to a class of appliances that are semi-portable or which are used on tabletops, countertops, or other platforms. ...

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. 1992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... The Hoover Company is an American vacuum and floor cleaner manufacturer based in North Canton, Ohio. ... State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki (R) Official languages None (English is de facto) Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ...

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.

Spin-offs

• Watchdog: Healthcheck – about health and health matters, presented by Judith Hann and later by Alice Beer.
• Watchdog: Are you being served?
• Weekend Watchdog
• Watchdog: Face Off – about the fashion industry, presented by Alice Beer
• Watchdog: The Big Dinner - about the food industry, presented by Jonathan Matiland
• 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.

Judith Hann (September 8, 1942) was the television presenter for Tomorrows World between 1974 and 1994. ... link title [ipmjouoiuoibyiopyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyybv ... Zoë Louise Ball (born November 23, 1970) is a British television and radio personality. ... Andi Peters is a black British childrens TV presenter. ... Tim Vincent (Born 4 November 1972, Wrexham, Wales) is a British television presenter. ... Angellica Bell (born 24 March 1976) is a British television presenter. ...

See also

• That's Life!

Thats Life! was an enormously successful BBC television series, which began in 1973 and ran until 1994. ...

External links

• Watchdog – Official BBC site.