Campbell is new TV Watchdog

Nicky Campbell to step into Anne Robinson's shoes

Radio presenter Nicky Campbell is to move back into television, replacing Anne Robinson as presenter of BBC One's Watchdog.

His first programme is Friday's Foot and Mouth Special at 2010 GMT on BBC One.

Anne Robinson is leaving the programme to take her latest vehicle, BBC1's the Weakest Link, to the United States.

Edinburgh-born Nicky, 37, is best-known for his morning show on Radio 5 Live which he has presented since 1997.

Nicky joined Radio 1 in 1987 after working as a jingle writer for independent radio in Scotland.

His music and chat programme was soon running Monday to Thursday, with guests that ranged from John Major to Barry Manilow and Iggy Pop to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The consumer affairs programme Watchdog has its origins in BBC's Nationwide programme of more than two decades ago.

Hugh Scully presented a slot called Watchdog which became a programme in its own right in 1985.

Watchdog moved to BBC morning television in 1986 and has gone on to become the longest running consumer affairs programme on British television.

It attracts an average of seven million viewers.

The Weakest Link has become the latest quiz show to take the nation by storm - mainly thanks to Robinson's unforgiving attitude towards her contestants.

The show has recently been snapped up by US network NBC - with Robinson in place to host the American version.

She will become the first British woman to host a prime-time entertainment show in America, with BBC bosses hoping its worldwide success will match that of rival game show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?