The Cook Report

The Cook Report was a British ITV current affairs television programme presented by Roger Cook which was broadcast from 22 July 1987 to 24 August 1999. The series featured the journalist investigating corruption, criminals, government social policy failures, and unmasking coverups due to incompetence, negligence and dishonesty. All sixteen series were produced for ITV by Central Television. The series was well known for Cook's reporting style where he would present those being investigated with the evidence that the show had collected; often this would result in the journalist being attacked and occasionally hurt by those he confronted. History Over 12 years, and sixteen series, the programme featured Roger Cook travelling the world to investigate serious criminal activity, injustice and official incompetence. During its ground-breaking undercover 'stings', Cook confronted targets, and he and the film crew sometimes suffered verbal and physical abuse. The Cook Report was by some margin the highest rated current affairs programme on British television, with audiences peaking at more than 12 million. It was credited with helping to achieve numerous criminal convictions and a number of changes in the law. Amongst the many subjects tackled, the programme exposed Northern Ireland protection rackets, baby trading in Brazil and Guatemala, canned hunting in South Africa, loan sharks, the ivory trade, people smuggling, drug dealing, mock auctions, counterfeit consumer goods, manipulation of the UK Singles Chart, war criminals in Bosnia, Clenbuterol in British Beef, friendly fire in the Gulf War, the illegal trading of exotic birds, the rise of triads in Britain, Neo-Nazis in Germany, The Hillsborough disaster, steroid dealing, the Russian black market in weapons-grade plutonium and Satanic Ritual Abuse. In July 1990 the show investigated the Tainted Blood Scandal focusing on how Haemophiliacs had become infected with HIV by using Contaminated Blood Products. In total some 1,243 people in the UK were infected with HIV through using these products. At the time of the show some 100 had died of AIDS, as of 2017 the total number of those who have died who were infected with HIV is closer to 1,000. Since the show aired the scandal has roared on and continues to be debated in British Parliament as victims and their families still fight for justice.