BEEB BARKING MAD TO AXE WATCHDOG
Ex-hosts fear more will be conned if the long-running show is axed
SCAMMERS will have free reign to pounce on the elderly if the BBC axe Watchdog, say former hosts Lynn Faulds Wood and John Stapleton.
The Beeb last week announced that after 40 years the show will be reduced to being a segment on The One Show.
But Lynn, who presented Watchdog from 1985 to 1993, alongside husband John for seven of those years, insisted it should have its own show and series.
She said: “We’ve never had more people trying to scam the old and the vulnerable out of their money. I read it was £20billion last year. I don’t know of another consumer champion out there.
“We were on five days a week and they were really frightened of us. When we moved to weekly we had runs of 30-odd programmes, and I got laws and
Presenters Lynn & John
standards changed. It’s a shame Watchdog has only been on runs of six lately. But it was still there.”
Lynn said she had previously begged the BBC not to axe it – and bosses listened: “In 1986, I persuaded BBC1 controller Michael Grade to keep it.
Perhaps somebody persuade the BBC now.”
John added: “It’s given valiant service to consumers. Lynn particularly campaigned and got lots of changes and LISTENED Michael Grade will products made much safer. I don’t know why it’s been axed. I presume it’s money. It’s not cheap to make, I can see that.”
But he added: “It’s a public service broadcaster and there’s certain things it should be doing. It’s very sad indeed.”
Last week the Beeb promised the Watchdog brand would have “a yearround presence” on The One Show.
A statement added: “Viewers will now be able to contact Watchdog throughout the year, enabling the brand to be even more responsive to complaints.” Alison Kirkham, Controller, BBC Factual, said presenters Nikki Fox and Matt Allwright “will continue to be the viewers’ trusted guide.”
Steph McGovern will no longer be part of the Watchdog team.