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*Spotlight*
Spotlight
Genre	Current Affairs
Country of origin	Northern Ireland
Original language	English
Production
Running time	30–40 minutes
Original release
Network	BBC One Northern Ireland

Spotlight is a BBC Northern Ireland weekly current affairs programme. It debuted in 1973.

The programme is aired on BBC1 Northern Ireland at 10:35pm (and sometimes early) on Tuesday evenings,^[1] with a repeat on BBC2.^[2] It is available to UK viewers outside of Northern Ireland on BBC iPlayer for a week after the programme. The format usually consists of a half-hour report presented on a rotating basis by a small number of presenters and reporters. At present, these are Mandy McAuley,^[3] Lyndsey Telford,^[4] Conor Spackman, ^[5] Julian O'Neill,^[6] Stephen Dempster,^[7] Jennifer O'Leary,^[8] Alan Haslam.^[9] Occasionally, the programme consists of a studio format with various reports and panel discussions.

Spotlight is well known for its hard-hitting investigations^[10] and in 2008 won a Royal Television Society award for Mandy McAuley's dog-fighting investigation. ^[11]^[12]

It has launched the careers of a number of high-profile broadcasters, including Jeremy Paxman, Alex Thomson and Gavin Esler. ^[13]

Spotlight at 40

On 22 October 2013, Spotlight celebrated its 40th anniversary with an hour-long special show dubbed Spotlight at 40.^[14]^[15] The show featured interviews with Gavin Esler, Roisin McAuley, Alex Thomson and Jeremy Paxman and took a look back at the show's 40-year run including its most controversial shows. ^[16]

References

^ "BBC Spotlight NI (@BBCSpotlightNI) / X". Retrieved 15 February 2024 – via Twitter. BBC NI's flagship TV investigative current affairs programme. Tuesdays 10.35pm @BBCOneNI @BBCiPlayer #SpotlightNI
^ "BBC One - Spotlight, Spotlight at 40". BBC. Retrieved 15 February 2024. Broadcasts - Tue 22 Oct 2013 22:35 BBC ONE NORTHERN IRELAND HD & NORTHERN IRELAND ONLY - Wed 23 Oct 2013 23:20 BBC TWO NORTHERN IRELAND
^ "BBC One - Spotlight, Drugs: In Debt and Danger". BBC. 27 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024. The hidden trap of drugs debt. Mandy McAuley investigates what happens when drug users can't pay for what they take. She learns that dealers are forcing some, including teenagers, into sex or running drugs to pay off what they owe.
^ "BBC iPlayer - Spotlight - The Rise of Race Hate". BBC iPlayer. Retrieved 15 February 2024. As race attacks are on the rise, Lyndsey Telford is on the ground to investigate behind the hate. Victims spell out how attacks wrecked livelihoods and risked lives – and ask who speaks for the communities where hate crimes are increasing?
^ "BBC iPlayer - Spotlight - Rogue Doctor: Patients Who Died". BBC iPlayer. Retrieved 15 February 2024. In the wake of the discredited neurologist Michael Watt being struck off the medical register, Conor Spackman investigates the death of a patient under his care, claims of a cover-up within Belfast Trust and finds thousands of cases are still awaiting review.
^ "BBC iPlayer - Spotlight - Inside the Policing Crisis". BBC iPlayer. Retrieved 15 February 2024. The crisis that took down a chief constable: starting with a massive data leak, followed quickly by a court ruling that sparked a row over political interference in policing. As a result, the Police Service of Northern Ireland wound up without a leader. BBC NI's crime and justice correspondent Julian O'Neill investigates inside the crisis that rolled over the PSNI in a matter of weeks.
^ "BBC iPlayer - Spotlight - The Price of Justice". BBC iPlayer. Retrieved 15 February 2024. The criminal justice system in Northern Ireland is burdened by long delays in cases getting to court. Murder and rape cases can take five years or longer to conclude. Reporter Stephen Dempster investigates why cases are taking so long, talks to victims who have found themselves in what they call a 'traumatic, nightmare situation', and hears from experts who fear the system is at breaking point, with potential consequences for the rule of law.
^ "BBC iPlayer - Spotlight - The Spy Who Got Away With Murder". BBC iPlayer. Retrieved 15 February 2024. Freddie Scappaticci led a double life – spyhunter for the IRA and, at the same time, one of Britain's most important spies inside the group. His ability to interrogate IRA gunmen and bombers gave him unique access to their secrets – information that could be fed straight back to their enemies. But his IRA role also meant he was a killer. Jennifer O'Leary investigates.
^ "BBC iPlayer - Spotlight - Death on the Ward". BBC iPlayer. Retrieved 15 February 2024. Sean had a history of drug use and mental health problems when doctors decided to detain him in a psychiatric unit for his own good. Hours later, he managed to evade supervision and ultimately take his own life inside the hospital. Alan Haslam speaks to his grieving mother and investigates what lessons have been learned.
^ "BBC One - Spotlight". BBC. Retrieved 15 February 2024. Hard-hitting investigations on the stories that matter in Northern Ireland.
^ "BBC Spotlight's dog fight award". 21 February 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2024. BBC NI's Spotlight has won a Royal Television Society award for its scoop last year on pit bull fighting.
^ "Spotlight's Mandy McAuley wins journalist awards". BBC News. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2024. The investigative reporter is a former Royal Television Society winner, for her Spotlight expose into the world of illegal dog-fighting.
^ "BBC NI's Spotlight to receive Docs Ireland award". Docs Ireland. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2024. Broadcasters Jeremy Paxman, Gavin Esler and Alex Thomson spent the early part of their careers in Spotlight.
^ "BBC One - Spotlight, Spotlight at 40". BBC. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
^ "In the Spotlight: BBC NI's current affairs programme turns 40". BBC News. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
^ "BBC One - Spotlight, Spotlight at 40". BBC. Retrieved 15 February 2024. Credits - Presenter Declan Lawn, Participant Jeremy Paxman, Participant Gavin Esler, Producer Richard Newman, Participant Roisin McAuley, Participant Andy Davies, Participant Alex Thomson