News Broadcasting
BBC celebrates 25 years of playing ‘Watchdog’ in the UK
MUMBAI: It has been 25 years since the BBC kicked off a programming initiative that allowed the British consumer to voice their grievances about products and services from big names like British Telecom. Now its consumer oriented show Watchdog which airs on BBC Four in the UK will celebrate its 25th birthday tomorrow 11 January. Over the years Watchdog has been behind many changes in safety measures and standards in consumer goods and services, extensive recalls of unsafe goods and has also been responsible for the redesign of many household products in the UK.
Watchdog kicked off in 1980 as a weekly slot on BBC One’s teatime news magazine Nationwide. However it was only in 1985 that Watchdog became a programme in its own right, presented by Nick Ross. It provides UK consumers with a platform. One example of a product being improved as a result of the show is holes being put in pen tops. This way if children swallow them they are less likely to choke.
Bunk beds, irons, kettles, microwaves, toasters and oven doors were also made safer as a result of reports on the show. It was also a Watchdog campaign that led to electrical appliances being sold with fitted plugs.
Today, the show – presented by Nicky Campbell and Julia Bradbury – is contacted by up to 5,000 viewers a week. The full Watchdog story is uncovered in tomorrow’s anniversary programme. Recently the TV channel Auctionworld went off air following a series of Watchdog investigations.
British Telecom has had the misfortune to feature as many as 45 times in the show’s history. British Gas has featured 27 times. A memorable early story featured furniture store MFI who were advertising a kitchen for the price of ?600. However, that price only included the units and not any of the appliances shown in the ad. When Hugh Scully turned up with ?600 asking to buy the kitchen, he and the camera crew were forcibly ejected from the store.
One of Watchdog’s biggest stories was in 1993. Customers spending more than ?100 on Hoover products were promised two free return flights. Most viewers didn’t get them, so a researcher went undercover with the company processing applications. She was told it was deliberate policy to stop people taking their flights. The free flights fiasco is reckoned to have cost Hoover around ?40 million.
Anne Robinson who also hosted the game show The Weakest Link presented Watchdog for eight years between 1993 and 2001. Anne loved to take on big high street names, believing passionately that when people had worked hard for their money they deserved a fair deal. For instance when viewers sent in sackloads of clothes damaged in a particular type of washing machine, Anne hung up a Washing Line of Shame every week in the studio until the problem was sorted out.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
