Where BBC Watchdog hosts are now – feud rumours, co-star romance and tragic death

BBC programme Watchdog was first broadcast on this day in 1980 (July 14).

The iconic programme has raised the rights of consumers for over 42 years, with many people from across the country calling out companies who they have faced difficulties with.

In its four decades on air, Watchdog has also been hosted by some of the country’s most familiar TV faces – with many going on to front other iconic shows in the years since, while others are sadly no longer with us.

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As Watchdog celebrates its 42nd anniversary, Daily Star takes a look at where some of the former presenters are now.

Hugh Scully

Hugh Scully was the original Watchdog presenter, hosting the programme between 1980-1984.

After working for a piano company, he later began working as a freelance journalist for the BBC in 1963 and hosted a number of radio broadcasts.

While working at the BBC, a producer discovered his love for antiques, with the star later going on to become the first host of Antiques Roadshow in 1981, as well as programmes including Nationwide.

Away from the limelight, he was married to his wife Barbara Dean for over 43 years from 1966, with who he had two children, before her death in 2009.

Fourteen years later, Huge Scully also died at his home in Cornwall on October 8, 2015 at the age of 72 years old.

Paying tribute to him following his death, his Nationwide co-presenter Sue Lawley told the BBC that he was “a great talent,” who was “fun loving.”

Henry Sandon, who worked with Scully on Antiques Roadshow, said he had had an “immense ability to drink wine” and was “always happy, jolly and wonderful”.

He added: “I shall never forget the chap, he was ever so marvellous.”

Lynn Faulds Wood

Lynn Faulds Wood took over as host in 1985, co-presenting alongside Nick Ross and later John Stapleton, until 1993.

The Watchdog host began her career in journalism at Woman’s Magazine in 1977, before working at The Daily Mail and making her move into broadcasting.

As well as hosting Watchdog, she also made a cameo as herself in the comedy series French and Saunders in 1990, as well as becoming a Consumer Champion on GMTV between 2003-2009.

It is not only fame she found during her career, but romance too, with Lynn co-presenting Watchdog alongside her husband John Stapleton.

The couple married in 1977 and welcomed one child together called Nicholas.

Away from the limelight, Lynn also revealed in 1991 that she had been diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer, with the presenter later going into remission and being given the all clear in 1996 and spending her life raising awareness of the disease.

However, Lynn Faulds Wood sadly died on April 24, 2020 at the age of 72 years old, following a stroke.

Following her death, close friend Lorraine Kelly also revealed that the presenter had suffered with a rate auto-immune disease in the years before she died.

Writing in her column in The Sun, Lorraine said: “Lynn was fierce and didn’t suffer fools gladly, but she was one of the kindest and most generous of women.

“Lynn had been living for four years with the auto-immune disease ASP (antiphospholipid syndrome), which can increase the risk of blood clots and strokes.

“She never let ASP get her down, and she was a true force of nature.”

Nicky Campbell

Nicky Campbell is one of Watchdog’s longest serving presenters, co-hosting with Anne Robinson, Kate Gerbeau, Julia Bradbury and Anita Rani between 1993-2009.

After making his broadcasting debut on Capital FM in 1986, he later broke into TV as the host of popular gameshow Wheel Of Fortune between 1988-1996.

He also currently hosts Long Lost Family with Davina McCall, as well as previously presenting programmes including Central Weekend, For The Rest Of Your Life and a breakfast show on BBC Radio 5 Live until 2021.

In his personal life, Nicky Campbell has been married to wife Christina Ritchie since 1997 and the couple have one child together.

The star, who was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, has also spoken openly about his mental health – and how he credits his pet Labrador with helping him get through some of his most difficult times.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he said: “I had a breakdown and was diagnosed with bipolar and Maxwell was incredible.

“He absolutely got me through it.

“When I had a breakdown and started crumpling and crying outside Euston station, my wife said come home to the girls and come home to us.”

“And I didn’t want – with depression, you really don’t want to articulate anything or speak to anyone, and I lay on the bed. I heard the tinkle of his collar and he came up and laid his head on me and honestly, he knew I was not right.”

He also praised his wife for her support, adding: “She’s my ­saviour, she’d seen it ­coming and had realised it had come to a head.”

Julia Bradbury

Julia Bradbury co-hosted Watchdog with Nicky Campbell and Anita Rani between 2005-2009.

The presenter made her TV breakthrough as a Los Angeles correspondent for GMTV in 1996, before going on to co-host BBC show Top Gear in the 90s.

She is also famously known for co-hosting Countryfile with Matt Baker between 2004-2014, and most recently travel programmes including The Greek Islands with Julia Bradbury.

Away from the limelight, Julia has been married to Gerard Cunningham since 2000, with who she has three children.

Julia Bradbury also spoke openly about her diagnosis with breast cancer in the 2022 documentary, Julia Bradbury: Breast Cancer and Me.

The documentary followed the presenter as she prepared to undergo a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, and the effects the illness has had on her and her children.

She said: “You know, everybody’s been a bit sad, there’s been lots of tears and lots of emotions. There is this rollercoaster that you go along and it would be impossible for them to not pick up on that.

“We’re all going through this together and it’s hard and it’s hard to know as a parent if you’re doing it right and if you’re talking to them about cancer in the right way.”

She added: “I hope we’ve handled it pretty well and I hope I’m still alive in 10 years to ask them the question, but you just do the best that you can.”

Anne Robinson

Anne Robinson hosted Watchdog with Nicky Campbell between 1993-2001, before making a return to the programme between 2009-2015.

After making her journalism breakthrough as a writer for The Daily Mail in 1967, before her employment at the paper ended after she fell in love with deputy editor Charles Wilson – who she was married to between 1968-1973, and with who she welcomed a daughter called Emma.

She was also married to journalist John Penrose between 1980-2007, with the couple reported to have split due to irreconcilable differences.

Anne later worked for publications including The Liverpool Echo and The Sunday Times, before making her TV debut as a panellist on BBC Question Time in 1982.

Along with appearing on Points Of View, Anne Robinson is most famous for her blunt responses as the host of gameshow The Weakest Link between 2000-2017.

In 2012, Anne Robinson also joined Channel 4 programme Countdown – but reports of a feud between her and mathematician were soon reported.

“Lots of crew are discussing what is going on. Rachel and Susie don’t care much for Anne and her rather grand ways and things have become pretty uncomfortable,” said a source to The Mail on Sunday.

They added that Anne “likes to do things her way”, which Rachel does not go along with, and that this tension has caused the two not to interact much behind the scenes.

However, after less than a year in the job, Anne has confirmed that she was leaving the role, saying in a statement: “I’ve had a blast hosting this wonderful show. And I stayed longer than I signed up for. Now it is time for an older woman to take the reins.”

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk