I'm told by my other half who works in the media village it's in exactly the same space as before, but the working office part of the Watchdog studio has gone elsewhere. So now they're just filming a show in office space, which is a shame given there are a few decent studios down the road (no doubt more expensive though). Apparently it was recorded on Tuesday. Seems a very odd move as the show always used to close with a few email comments bringing things up to date, although no doubt it's to accommodate Anne's schedule which will presumably be very hectic indeed once Weakest Link moves to Scotland.
The first new look Nicky Campbell show in Sep 2001 was awful, music stings all over the place and wonky camera angles, they toned it down considerably after a few shows so I imagine they'll do the same here. Alistair McGowan did a superb parody of those early Campbell shows on his 2002 series ISTR...
I think this whole prgramme has been ruined. The Top Gear style set does not work, why the audience? They didn't get to have their say they stood there and did nothing. Filmatic effect - big no no! In my book all of the reports featured were all non stories. The puschair review was strange it was like watching a live Which? magazine, Had anything actually gone wrong with any of the pushchairs in the report? Putting them on a buckin' Bronco was just naff and doesn't replicate real use anyway. Loading them with shopping on the back was pointless as they clearly stated makers tell you not to. The school uniform report was rubbish aswell, had there been any complaints then into the quality? Not from what they said. The Virgin Media report was the lowest point with a really tasteless song referring to dead people. Talk about dumbed down. I'm surprised Ann Robinson had anything to do with it. Great shame.
