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Crimewatch is a long-running and high-profile British television programme produced by the BBC, that reconstructs major unsolved crimes with a view to gaining information from the members of the public. The programme is usually broadcast once a month on BBC One. It was announced on 15 October 2008 that the BBC is to move the filming shows such as Crimewatch to studios in Cardiff.[1]
The show was first broadcast on June 7, 1984, and is based on the German TV show Aktenzeichen XY... ungelöst (which translates as File XY... Unsolved). It was first presented by Nick Ross and Sue Cook. When Cook decided to leave in 1995, she was replaced by the late Jill Dando. After Dando's murder in April 1999, Fiona Bruce took over.
As of 2008, Kirsty Young and Matthew Amroliwala front the show, following the departures of Ross and Bruce in 2007.
About the show
It started as Crimewatch UK (the name was formally shortened to Crimewatch in 2002) and was regarded as an experiment when it was first shown, partly because of doubts about whether police would take part, whether witnesses and victims would welcome the idea, whether it would actually lead to arrests, and whether it could be considered to prejudice a jury.
It is one of the largest live factual studio productions. The format of the programme usually involving three or four reconstructions, often followed by interviews with senior detectives and/or relatives or friends. Other briefer appeals use the E-FIT computer system, CCTV and photos, usually with two lists, each showing four or five mugshots of Britain's Most Wanted about 15 minutes into the programme and again towards the end of the programme. These photos are, then, shown again during the credits, and this is one of the few programmes in which the BBC do not 'credit squeeze'.
Crimewatch airs once a month at peak time with a 15-minute follow-up later in the evening, Crimewatch Update, which reports updates on calls and breakthroughs. From time to time the team airs an extra programme Crimewatch: Solved showcasing cases that resulted in convictions; and sometimes produce a Crimewatch special which reviews an entire high-profile case from beginning to end such as the murder of Sarah Payne.
Involvement
Several police officers have also featured in the studio, including David Hatcher, Helen Phelps, Jeremy Payne, Jackie Haymes, Jonathan Morrison, Jane Corrigan and most recently Rav Wilding. For many years the show also recruited antiques experts John Bly, Eric Knowles and Paul Hayes to help with 'treasure trove' appeals to trace owners of goods that had been recovered and which were assumed to be stolen.
Despite initial concerns about police involvement (only three forces agreed to participate at first) Crimewatch developed a special status with police and was credited with an expertise of its own, notably through Nick Ross' long experience with public appeals. Unlike the American equivalent spawned by Crimewatch, America's Most Wanted, Crimewatch itself usually appeals for unsolved cases, inviting viewers to be armchair detectives. According to the producers about a third of its cases are solved, half of those as a direct result of viewers' calls. Its successes have included some of the Britain's most notorious crimes, including the kidnap of Stephanie Slater and murder of Julie Dart, the M25 rapist, the road-rage killing by Kenneth Noye, and the capture of two boys for the abduction and murder of James Bulger.
About the Presenters
| Presenter |
Year |
Additional Information |
| Nick Ross |
1984 - 2007 |
Known for ending each episode by reminding viewers that violent crime is actually very rare and encouraging them not to have nightmares (due to the show's late air time). His phrase, "don't have nightmares, do sleep well" has been referenced and spoofed in numerous TV shows and stand-up comedy routines. |
| Sue Cook |
1984 - 1995 |
|
| Jill Dando |
1995 - 1999 |
Her death was reconstructed and shown on Crimewatch, though the appeal did not result in the arrest of Barry George, who was later convicted of the killing but was acquitted on 1 August 2008. |
| Fiona Bruce |
1999 - 2007 |
Left the show to host Antiques Roadshow. |
| Rav Wilding |
2004 - |
A professional policeman, who specializes on the criminals 'Caught on Camera'. |
| Kirsty Young |
2008 - |
After Dando's murder, she was considered to host the show in 1999, before Fiona Bruce was chosen. |
| Matthew Amroliwala |
2008 - |
See also
References
External links
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