Matt Allwright
Matt Allwright is a prime-time television presenter and journalist with integrity and his own distinctive style. Full of originality and ideas, he brings something fresh to every project he works on.
His trademark programme is BBC1 hit Rogue Traders, but his abilities stretch beyond the consumer journalism where he’s made his name. The latest addition to his extensive TV resume is ‘The Exit List’, a new and exciting prime-time quiz show on ITV1. He’s also been a mainstay presenter and reporter on the One Show over the last few years, and was a key part of the BBC’s live Royal Wedding coverage in 2011.
Matt’s been a fixture of the TV schedules for well over a decade. After teaching in Japan for 3 years, he qualified as a broadcast journalist, starting out as a presenter and producer in BBC newsrooms. In 1997 the call came from BBC1’s flagship consumer programme Watchdog, where he reported and presented live from around the country for three years, eventually anchoring Weekend Watchdog in 2000.
In 2001 came the perfect match of programme to presenter – BBC1’s Rogue Traders. Matt made the format his own, writing the scripts and facing up to the rogues in the final confrontations. The show was an instant and enduring hit with regular audiences of up to 8 million. It also achieves real results. Evidence provided by the team regularly helps to bring rogues to justice through the courts.
Matt’s kept himself busy – making a name as an investigator with humour and heart. In 2003 he crossed the globe to make Scambusters, turning the tables on overseas con artists. Brassed Off Britain (2004) campaigned for better service for the UK, culminating in a live studio debate. In the same year Fat Nation took over an entire road in Birmingham for 9 weeks to tackle the obesity problem at street level. Rogue Restaurants (2008) took the cameras into the kitchen to find out just what we’re eating. The Secret Tourist (2009) investigated the travel industry with shocking results, and great viewing figures.
Other BBC1 projects have included the Attenborough-fronted Climate Change: Britain in Peril(2007), Britain Underwater (2008) Just the Two of Us (2007), Food Poker (2007), Homes Live (2007) and for Christmas on the Frontline (2008) Matt lived alongside the forces in Helmand Province in Afghanistan.
Matt is currently presenting Watchdog with his old sparring partner Anne Robinson. The show, which was given a major relaunch in September 2009 features Matt and sidekick biker Dan Penteado in Rogue Traders stories throughout the BBC1 hour. Other recent projects include BBC1 daytime series You’ve Been Scammed which unearths the growing number of scams targeting the British public today.
His passions include music, which he performs in a variety of bands, tennis, which he plays badly, and Liverpool Football Club, for whom he lives in hope. He is a keen film fan and student, winning Celebrity Mastermind in 2004 by answering questions on the Coen Brothers. He lives with his wife and two children.
Among the charities Matt supports is SANDS – the Stillborn and Neonatal Death Society, of which he is proud to be a patron.
