Latest news with #MattAllwright
Scotsman
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Doorbell Detectives and Scam Interceptors review: These Big Brother-style shows turn daytime TV into long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of terror
You can tell its summer as, despite the downturn in the weather leaving us less likely to head outside, the main terrestrial broadcasters don't seem to have anything new for our viewing pleasure. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Which is how I ended up watching Doorbell Detectives (BBC1, Mon, 8.30pm), which inexplicably was given a prime-time slot this week before retreating to a more usual daytime airing in a terrifyingly Big Brother-style anti-crime double bill with Scam Interceptors (BBC1, weekdays, 2.30pm). Watchdog's Matt Allwright – who has carved himself a niche in these low-budget infotainment shows – hosts Doorbell Detectives, standing uneasily in the middle of a set which is part hay-barn and part GP's waiting room. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What little budget the show has is taken up by a floating screen in the middle of the barn, on which Matt can show us grainy footage from doorbell cameras up and down the country. Matt Allwright in the Doorbell Detectives studio, a 'cross between a hay barn and a GP's waiting room' (Picture: BBC/Objective Media Group t/a Purple Productions) Apparently, one-in-five homes comes equipped with these mini CCTV rigs, constantly texting alerts to phones across suburbia, alerting home owners to the delivery man chucking a parcel on the doorstep, next door's cat relieving itself on the azaleas, or little Tommy from No.35 belting down the pavement on his e-scooter. Matt and his doorbell detectives seem to the think this is a good thing, and brings in Anton, a former police officer with 30 years' experience, to help one Manchester resident previously left severely under-surveilled to fit a camera to her own home. Anton, who seems to think he is testifying in the witness box rather than offering advice on a semi-serious daytime TV show, offers essential advice such as 'make sure the battery is charged', while brushing off concerns about the invasion of everyone's privacy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Some people can get a bit funny about catching what's going in neighbouring properties,' he says, as if the wish to maintain some sort of privacy is the main indicator of a serial killer. Doorbell Detectives features footage taken from doorbell cameras of would-be criminals attempting thefts and burglaries (Picture: BBC/Objective Media Group t/a Purple Productions) Meanwhile, back in the studio, Matt chats to people who caught would-be burglars in the all-seeing eye of their doorbell camera, and finds out what they did next. Mainly, it seems, telling everyone else in the neighbourhood WhatsApp group, so they could check their doorbell cameras as well. That's because 'confronting thieves is dangerous', Matt tells us, before then proving it by talking to homeowner Alison, whose husband was badly beaten up by a fleeing criminal. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Understandably, Alison doesn't want to be identified, so Matt ends up talking to a floating phone lock-screen in the middle Doorbell Detectives' luxo-barn. It all gets very tense in the Scam Interceptors HQ. The team are Harleen Nottay, Mark Lewis, Aaron Ng, and Nick Stapleton (Picture: BBC Studios) It's all very low-rent, and frankly very dull, unlike its partner Scam Interceptors, which is Mission: Impossible compared to Doorbell Detectives' Hettie Wainthropp Investigates. Rav Wilding sits in 'Interceptor HQ' in Glasgow, accompanied by a team of black-clad investigators, staring at a bank of screens – all with headsets and flashing lights. Apparently, they have employed the services of an 'ethical hacker' to get into the computer systems of those scam callers who regularly call to warn you that someone has spend thousands of your hard-earned pounds online. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad They can listen into the scammers calling an unsuspecting pensioner and – hopefully – warn them they are being scammed. Unfortunately, you wonder how they don't get caught in that Spider-Man meme, the one where several Spider-Men are all pointing at each other, each caller claiming the other is the scammer. Rav is incredibly enthusiastic, the music is pounding and urgent, and the sense of tension is palpable. Both these shows leave you with the uncomfortable feeling of being observed anonymously, distantly by unknown powers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But beyond that, the effect they have must be the opposite of the one required. Far from imparting information that might help keep you safe, far from being an effective crime-busting tool, and very far from giving you a reassuring notion that these criminals are being deterred, these shows can only serve to frighten the viewers at home. Given these are daytime shows, many of those viewers will be the very frail, vulnerable or elderly people they profess to want to protect. And leaving them in a state of fear, unwilling to go out, to engage with the world, to enjoy a full life. Only stuck inside watching TV. Which, as we know, is a problem. Because its summer, and there's nothing on.
Glasgow Times
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Hit BBC game show returns to Glasgow screens – here's when
Returning for its third season on Saturday, May 3, the show challenges celebrity teams to cross the notorious bridge by stepping only on the truths and avoiding the lies. With each correct step, they edge closer to winning cash for good causes. READ MORE: EasyJet launches 2026 holidays from Glasgow Airport to 160 destinations Following its success in spring 2024, with viewing figures peaking at 2.3 million, the new series has been extended to 10 episodes. READ MORE: Scottish TikTok in uproar after baby named this common Scots insult READ MORE: Huge techno festival set to release final tickets this week Kicking things off, the premiere will feature a star-studded team of beloved UK presenters: Matt Allwright, Kaye Adams, Ade Adepitan, and Charlotte Hawkins of Good Morning Britain. Together, they'll face a series of high-pressure challenges as they attempt to navigate the truth-twisting bridge. Catch Celebrity Bridge of Lies on BBC One, Saturday nights—don't miss the drama, the laughs, and the lies!
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Yahoo
The 'high price' households face for using 'dodgy box' streaming services
UK households making use of unlawful streaming devices are being cautioned about the potential 'high cost' linked to these gadgets. The habit of watching television shows, sports events, and films without proper subscriptions from providers like Sky, Virgin, or BT has spiked in popularity lately. Given that legitimate TV packages can set you back a fair few hundred quid annually, it's understandable why some viewers might resort to pirated streams for little to no cost. However, there's a catch with these illicit streamers. READ MORE: DVLA urges drivers to get 'set up' after major driving licence change Fresh findings from BeStreamWise, a campaign against illegal streaming, showcase that one out of four individuals conned online pin their issues on digital piracy activities. Their research underscores that those indulging in illegal streams suffer four-fold more financial losses to scams than non-pirates. For exclusive news straight to your inbox, remember to subscribe to BirminghamLive's newsletter by clicking here. Non-users of unlawful devices average scam losses of £1,328, whereas illegal stream users face heftier setbacks, averaging scam losses of £5,486. One individual recounted his ordeal with illegal streaming services to Express. After a mate rigged up such a device at his place, Mark's bank details got nicked, leading to an attempt to shift thousands onto a prepaid card. Mark confessed: "I used to think illegal streaming was harmless, but after my bank details were stolen and someone attempted to load thousands onto a prepaid card, it made me realise how dangerous it could be, and I stopped immediately." Illegal streaming sites and apps might seem like an easy way to access content for free, but research shows they pose significant risks. An alarming 76 per cent of the UK's most frequented pirate platforms are rife with scams, financial fraud, and explicit material, putting users in harm's way. TV presenter Matt Allwright warned: "People might think that illegal streaming is a quick and harmless way to dodge a subscription fee, but the reality is now looking far riskier." He highlighted the dangers: "Clicking on the wrong link or using a dodgy box or stick could open the door to criminals, who are more than happy to help themselves to your personal details, finances and even your identity." Allwright continued to underscore the potential costs: "What seems like a 'free' way to enjoy your favourite content could quickly end up with you paying a much higher price than you expected." Adding to these concerns, Liz Bales, CEO of the British Association for Screen Entertainment and the DEGI, remarked: "This new research shows that those seeking 'free' content may, in fact, be paying a far higher price." Bales also touched on the broader impact of illegal streaming: "Illegal streaming is not a victimless crime – it harms the creative industries, but simultaneously it exposes users to scams, theft, and malware with dangerous and far-reaching personal consequences."
