Martin Lewis has made his feelings clear on the lack of representation for consumer journalism - taking particular aim at the BBC.
The presenter and Martin Lewis Money Show host regularly appears on ITV to provide viewers with the best and latest money-saving tips.
However, over on the BBC, Lewis feels consumer journalism has taken too much of a backseat in recent years - especially after the watering down of Watchdog.
The consumer show ran for over three decades between 1985 and 2019 before being axed and has since found a new home as a mere weekly segment on the magazine programme The One Show.
On Wednesday evening at the Royal Television Society awards in London, attended by several GB News stars, Lewis slammed the corporation after taking to the stage to accept an award of his own.
Accepting the RTS Special Award, Lewis took aim at the BBC, criticising the organisation for "relegating Watchdog to a five-minute segment on The One Show".
Martin Lewis is not happy with the BBC
PA
Taking another swipe at the Beeb, he demanded more attention be given to consumer journalism.
He said that too many journalists ignored the genre because it's not "sexy".
In a direct challenge to BBC bosses, he called on more investment to be granted to consumer journalism - despite the corporation continuing to cut costs across the board.
Lewis said of the lack of rivals: "I don’t need any more work. I would love some b****y competition."
The regular Good Morning Britain contributor continued his tirade against the lack of representation for money shows on TV backstage after he'd bagged the award.
Thank you so much to the #RoyalTelevisionSociety for the "special award for outstanding contribution to television journalism".
— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) February 29, 2024
It's a real honour, though I felt almost awkward get it amidst so many incredible broadcast journalists who risk life and limb to inform and expose in… pic.twitter.com/Vu5jUZvA5O
He told the RTS: "We are a bizarre nation where you can talk about politics, sex and the clitoris but you can't talk about how much money you spent on a workman or a plumber on your house.
"We need to change that because actually, that is disempowering for the individual.
"I think you don't see this necessarily in other English-speaking countries, I think it's a peculiarity of the British system.
"I think it's partially a hangover from our class system and the sooner we boot that out the better."
Lewis also took to social media shortly after the star-studded awards do to once again lament the importance of consumer journalism.
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Martin Lewis has slammed the BBC's decision to shorten Watchdog
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Alongside a series of snaps from the evening, Lewis penned: "Thank you so much to the #RoyalTelevisionSociety for the 'special award for outstanding contribution to television journalism'.
"It's a real honour, though I felt almost awkward get it amidst so many incredible broadcast journalists who risk life and limb to inform and expose in dangerous situations at home and abroad.
"Yet it is very welcome that the importance of consumer finance journalism is recognised, as it can have a direct and manifest impact on people's day to day life.
"Congrats to all the other winners too including my GMB colleague @susannareid100 for her very well deserved Best Network Presenter award." (sic)
