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Watchdog

  • TV Series
  • 1985–
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
122
YOUR RATING
Nicky Campbell, Paul Heiney, and Julia Bradbury in Watchdog (1985)
Documentary

Consumer series investigating problems, dangers and ripoffs experienced by customers.Consumer series investigating problems, dangers and ripoffs experienced by customers.Consumer series investigating problems, dangers and ripoffs experienced by customers.

  • Stars
    • Lynn Faulds Wood
    • John Stapleton
    • Anne Robinson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    122
    YOUR RATING
    • Stars
      • Lynn Faulds Wood
      • John Stapleton
      • Anne Robinson
    • 2User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Episodes474

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    Top cast99

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    Lynn Faulds Wood
    • Self - Presenter…
    • 1985–2015
    John Stapleton
    • Self - Presenter…
    • 1986–2015
    Anne Robinson
    Anne Robinson
    • Self - Presenter…
    • 1993–2015
    Alice Beer
    Alice Beer
    • Self - Co-Presenter…
    • 1993–2015
    Simon Walton
    • Self - Co-Presenter…
    • 1991–1994
    Matt Allwright
    • Self - Presenter, Rogue Traders features…
    • 1999–2019
    Nicky Campbell
    • Self - Presenter…
    • 2001–2015
    Mike Embley
    • Self - Reporter
    • 1987–1989
    Chris Hollins
    • Self - Co-Presenter…
    • 2010–2015
    Julia Bradbury
    • Self - Co-Presenter…
    • 2005–2015
    Will Hanrahan
    • Self - Reporter
    • 1989–1992
    Paul Heiney
    • Self - Reporter…
    • 2002–2015
    Sue Bishop
    • Self - Reporter
    • 1989–1992
    Nick Ross
    Nick Ross
    • Self - Presenter…
    • 1985–2015
    Sarah Spiller
    • Self - Reporter
    • 1987–1988
    Fran Morrison
    • Self - Reporter
    • 1985
    Nicholas Woolley
    • Self - Reporter
    • 1985
    Malcolm Wilson
    • Self - Reporter
    • 1985
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews2

    6.2122
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    Featured reviews

    10chrisbishop5000

    'Ban' Robinson

    It was a surprise to hear that Anne Robinson would return to the show but it begged the question; what'll happen to the current presenters? Sexy Nicky Campbell (who I like to call Sexy Campbell) and pretty Julia Bradbury would leave and I was frankly quite upset when I heard this. They made the show shine and it was so watchable finding out about cheap products and tacky, money-grabbing companies but now everything's changed! Not only are there new presenters but the show itself is also new. It's had a major new-look.

    Indeed, Anne's personality is right for "Watchdog" I'm not saying otherwise and, all those years ago up until 2000 when she left, I'd have enjoyed her company when watching the show but when along comes this gorgeous Scottish hunk and a very classy lady who have certainly benefited "Watchdog" immensely I'd say maybe Miss Robinson is now redundant from the show. Bring back Nicky Campbell and Julia Bradbury - they should be presenting it because the show belongs to them!
    thekennelman

    Bring back the Stapletons!!

    Watchdog began as a slot focussing on consumer affairs in the famed magazine/current affairs programme 'Nationwide' and was originally presented by Hugh Scully. It was fading in the late 1970's but was eventually revived by Lynn Faulds Wood at TV-am and became one of the most watched segments of the otherwise hapless Breakfast station's output. Lynn, like husband John Stapleton (also a TV-am reporter in the early 1980's) was utterly fearless and would badger, browbeat, and generally harass the bad guys until they gave up or on occasion resorted to violence. Whatever the outcome it was great television and undoubtedly helped dig TV-am out of its various ratings slumps.

    Unfortunately Lynn, like many other talented presenters didn't survive Bruce Gyngell's ill judged and ultimately fatal new look for TV-am and left in 1985 to be followed by husband John less than a year later. Bad news for TV-am but good news for the BBC as the pair resurrected 'Watchdog' and got it in to a prime time slot. With the greater resources and professionalism of the BBC, Lynn with John took 'Watchdog' to new heights.

    Sadly, both would leave the show in 1993 to pursue other interests, including starting a family, and Lynn's well publicised illnesses which she would overcome showing great courage. Both now can be found on GMTV, John as a main presenter with Lynn still plugging away at consumer affairs, and doing a better job than her replacements at Watchdog.

    Anne Robinson took the helm and the whole show drifted into a kind of poor man's 'That's life.' In place of the solid investigative journalism the whole thing took on a campy air with Robinson and cronies seemingly being the main attraction and the consumer gripes a vehicle for them to display their dubious talents. By the new millennium Robinson was making far too much money on 'Weakest Link' to be bothered and so left to be replaced by radio jock Nicky Campbell and debutant newsreader Kate Sanderson.

    Both bring a histrionic air to the show with Campbell attempting a poor imitation of the Jeremy Paxman interrogational approach, and Sanderson alternating between a giggly schoolgirl and a lip trembling drama queen depending on the tone of the particular item. There are other, better shows for consumer affairs these days, Rogue Traders being just one example. There are also better entertainment shows, but for the BBC, this fills a handy half hour after the news and current affairs, and can't hit the budget too much for them drop it. Until they do, I'll keep the remote handy...

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    Documentary

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Spin-off from the Watchdog section on the series Nationwide (1969) which began in 1980.
    • Connections
      Edited from Rogue Traders (2002)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • July 14, 1985 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • BBC (United Kingdom)
    • Language
      • English
    • Production company
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 30m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
      • Stereo

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