Consumer programme Watchdog is axed by the BBC after 40 years and reduced to being a slot on the One Show
- The series first began as a strand of current affairs show Nationwide in the 1980s
- It has since enjoyed more than 1,000 episodes, 41 series and 23 presenters
- BBC hopes slimmed-down version will give the segment ‘greater prominence’
Consumer programme Watchdog has been axed by the BBC after 40 years and will now only have a segment during the One Show.
The series, which was renown for holding businesses to account, first began as a strand of current affairs show Nationwide in the 1980s.
It has since gone on to complete more than 1,000 episodes across 41 series, which were hosted by 23 different presenters.
Consumer programme Watchdog has been axed by the BBC after 40 years and will now only have a segment during the One Show. Pictured (left to right): Presenters Matt Allwright, Nikki Fox and Steph McGovern in 2019
The show was watched by more than three million viewers when it was last on screens in autumn.
It is thought that the BBC hopes that the slimmed-down version, which will now air as a segment on the One Show, will give it ‘greater prominence’.
But a TV source said: ‘The BBC is being forced to make cuts and unfortunately the bosses have decided they cannot justify keeping Watchdog as a full series, twice a year.
‘This doesn’t seem to make much sense given that Watchdog still pulls in good figures and is performing a public service.
It comes just weeks after Victoria Derbyshire’s show was axed, sparking a 70,000-strong petition to get it reinstated
‘Taking it from full one-hour episodes in a proper series to just a segment on a magazine show will infuriate a lot of people,’ according to The Sun.
The change will mean that viewers will be able to contact Watchdog investigators with their concerns throughout the year.
It comes just weeks after Victoria Derbyshire’s show was axed, sparking a 70,000-strong petition to get it reinstated.
The BBC has been contacted for comment.