Matt Allwright

Allwright was educated at two independent schools in Berkshire: Dolphin School in Hurst (near Reading), and Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning; followed by the University of Manchester, where he gained a degree in English.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dolphinschool.com/Old_Ds_headlines/Matt_Allwright.php|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511231708/http://www.dolphinschool.com/Old_Ds_headlines/Matt_Allwright.php|url-status=dead|title=Dolphin School - Old Ds Making Headlines|archivedate=11 May 2008|website=www.dolphinschool.com}}

In 1997, while working as a producer on BBC Radio Solent, Allwright was commissioned to report on his mother’s issue with Bounce tumble dryer sheets. He negotiated with Watchdog, and fronted the piece himself after contacting the programme.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02qshhv|title=BBC One - Watchdog, Series 35, Watchdog at 30, How Matt Allwright joined the show|website=BBC}} The BBC saw potential and requested Allwright present the report himself. This led to a regular reporting slot on the show. Many of his early Watchdog stints also guest-starred his mother, as a consumer commentator.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

In 2001, Allwright also began presenting another programme, Rogue Traders with Dan Penteado. The show was a 30-minute undercover consumer programme in which Allwright and Penteado investigated and confronted rogue tradesmen.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} In 2004, Allwright hosted Brassed Off Britain, Scambusters and Fat Nation for the BBC. In 2007, he also presented Food Poker for BBC Two.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} In 2008, Allwright and former Watchdog presenter Anita Rani hosted a short-lived spin-off from Rogue Traders, called Rogue Restaurants.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00cwgzh | title=BBC One - Rogue Restaurants, Episode 2 }} In 2009, Rogue Traders was merged with Watchdog, with Rogue Traders split into feature segments and shown throughout. Allwright also became co-host on Watchdog.{{cite web | url=https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/23354805.bbcs-matt-allwright-hosts-woodleys-community-heroes-awards/ | title=IN PICTURES: BBC's Matt Allwright hosts Woodley's community heroes | date=March 2023 }}

Since 2010, Allwright has guest hosted BBC One's The One Show, where he filled in for Matt Baker on numerous occasions, as well as being a regular feature reporter. Since 2011, Allwright has also hosted the BBC show You've Been Scammed.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} In 2012, Allwright presented ITV's primetime game show The Exit List for one series. Allwright also co-hosted the BBC One programme Food Inspectors with Chris Hollins.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} In 2012, Rogue Traders co-presenter Dan Penteado was dropped by the BBC following his arrest for fraud.{{cite web |last1=Morris |first1=Steven |title=Rogue Traders presenter jailed for benefit fraud |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/jul/17/rogue-traders-dan-penteado-jailed |website=The Guardian |access-date=17 April 2024 |date=17 July 2012}} Allwright continued to present the show, in a solo capacity.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

From 2013, Allwright replaced Dominic Littlewood in presenting BBC consumer rights programmes Fake Britain and Saints and Scroungers, in 2017 Dominic Littlewood returned to presenting duties on Fake Britain and Allwright left the series.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} In December 2013, Allwright began co-presenting the BBC One programme Keeping Britain Safe 24/7 with Julia Bradbury.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

From 1 September 2014,{{cite web|url=http://www.twofour.co.uk/work/the-housing-enforcers-2/|title=The Housing Enforcers|last=Twofour}} Allwright presented The Housing Enforcers, a daytime programme for BBC One. There were ten 45-minute episodes showing each week day for a run of two weeks. A second series was shown on the BBC in 2015 of which there were twenty 45-minute episodes.{{cite web|url=http://www.twofour.co.uk/news/bbc-one-commissions-a-20-part-series-of-the-housing-enforcers-from-twofour/|title=BBC One commissions a 20-part series of The Housing Enforcers from Twofour|last=Twofour}} In April 2016, Allwright began presenting the BBC One daytime game show The Code which returned for a second series in March 2017.{{cite web|url=https://digiguide.tv/programme-details/BBC%201%20South%20West/18%20April%202016/13:15/The%20Code/Quiz%20Show/|title=The Code on BBC 1 South West at 2:15 pm April 18th, 2016|agency=GipsyMedia Limited}}

On 4 June 2016, Allwright guest presented an episode of The Saturday Show on Channel 5 alongside Gaby Roslin. The following month he became a permanent co-presenter after Matt Barbet left the show, but the series was cancelled in October 2016.

Allwright is a patron of the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS).[http://www.uk-sands.org/About-Sands/Patrons.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091119232627/http://www.uk-sands.org/About-Sands/Patrons.html|date=19 November 2009}} He is also a patron of Launchpad Reading, a local charity working to prevent homelessness in Reading, and the Dorset-based Grace Secondary School Appeal.{{cite web|url=http://www.gracesecondaryschool.com/our-sponsors.shtml|title=Grace Secondary School}} In December 2023, Allwright won £75,000 for Launchpad on the ITV TV show, Beat The Chasers. Allwright is a follower of cricket and a supporter of Bracknell Bees ice hockey club and Liverpool Football Club.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

Allwright is an aficionado of country music and plays guitar, lap and pedal steel guitars, keyboards, and sings. He writes a regular blog about his experiences learning to play the pedal steel guitar.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

Matt is married, has two children and has a miniature schnauzer called Enzo.

;Television

;Guest appearances

• The Wright Stuff (2006)
• Pointless Celebrities (26 May 2012, 28 May 2016)
• Hacker Time (30 July 2013)
• Holiday of My Lifetime (3 November 2014){{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04nv8qy|title=BBC One - Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman, Series 1, Episode 11|website=BBC}}
• The Saturday Show (23 April 2016)
• The Chase: Celebrity Special (30 October 2016)
• Debatable (4 & 5 May 2017)
• Richard Osman's House of Games (3-8 December 2018)

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.mattallwright.com/ Official website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110925102207/http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/rogue_traders/ Rogue Traders website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20191215024721/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bc0d7d18f Matt Allwright] at the British Film Institute
• {{IMDb name|1543984}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Allwright, Matt}}

Category:1970 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of the Victoria University of Manchester

Category:BBC television presenters

Category:English male journalists

Category:English television presenters

Category:People educated at Reading Blue Coat School

Category:People from Wokingham

Category:Television personalities from Berkshire