Why I really walked out on Crimewatch, by Nick Ross

CRIMEWATCH host Nick Ross was forced out of his job by BBC bosses following backstage clashes over the show’s increasingly violent reconstructions of real-life crimes.

Nick Ross Nick Ross

He had repeatedly complained the show he has hosted for 23 years was lurching towards “sensationalism” in a desperate bid to win new, younger, viewers.

When news of his departure was first announced it was thought Nick, 59, had become the latest ­victim of ageism at the BBC –  just months after newsreader Moira Stuart, 55, was axed.

But the truth is that the decision to remove him followed a string of rows, with Nick being branded “too conservative” for speaking out about the show’s graphic depictions of true-life crimes.

Last week the tensions became too much and he quit the programme he has fronted since 1984. His last show will be screened on July 2.

Stunned BBC bosses had asked respected journalist Nick, who has finished every Crimewatch episode with the words: “Don’t have nightmares, do sleep well”, to carry on until Christmas until a replacement was found, but he refused.

Real-life crimes should not be sensationalised

Nick Ross

“Nick believes that real-life crimes shouldn’t be sensationalised,” said a BBC source.

“If you want to watch drama then that’s the place for more graphic depictions of murder, not a serious programme aimed at tracking down the criminals who carry out such horrific acts.

“Nick suspected for some time that he was seen as too conservative for the way producers wanted to take things. He’s been unhappy for some time about the increasingly shock tactics used for reconstructions.

“And he didn’t like the use of ­dramatic drumbeat music or the way that car chases were revved up. It wasn’t his style.

“He doesn’t blame the BBC, but there are people within the corporation that he felt he could no longer work with. He just didn’t want to be part of it any more.”

Last night Nick refused to comment on any clashes with Crime-watch producer Peter Fincham, but told the Sunday Express his age was not the reason for him leaving the show.

He said he knew the BBC wanted to attract a younger audience for Crimewatch and felt editorial decisions were being made without him being consulted.

“There was obviously a radical re-think going on and I made a decision that the time was right to leave,” said Nick.

“To be honest I really don’t think it was about age. It may have been a factor, but there is more to it than that,” he said. “In fact one producer was astonished when he read that I was 59, I really don’t think it was down to ageism.

“But when they approached me about the new series and said they were only offering me a contract up until Christmas it made my mind up to leave.

“They are obviously looking towards a change in the way the programme is presented and wanted to keep their options open.

“It would have been a very unhappy situation if I had stayed, knowing that the producers weren’t behind me 100 per cent.

“Crimewatch has been such a big part of my life for almost a quarter of a century. After all these years I don’t think I could have coped with any loosening of the commitment.

“But I do think they were slightly astonished when I said I would go straight away. I don’t want to get involved in any rows, what’s happened has happened. I’ll go on and so will the show and I wish everyone involved with it the best.”

After the 1999 murder of his co-host Jill Dando, Nick set up a crime science institute in her memory.

The programme has helped solve a fifth of the 2,900 crimes it has featured, with hundreds of criminals jailed as a direct result of its appeals.

High profile successes include the capture of Michael Sams, the one-legged killer of teenage Leeds prostitute Julie Dart and kidnapper of Stephanie Slater.

Nick’s co-host Fiona Bruce, 43, will continue to present Crimewatch. Watchdog host Nicky Campbell, 46, and BBC news anchor Huw Edwards, 44, are both in the running to get Nick’s job.

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