Matt Allwright, the familiar face of BBC's Rogue Traders and Watchdog, has spent years exposing scams and championing consumer rights. But away from the cameras, he leads a deliberately private life, shielding his wife and two children from the spotlight. In a rare interview, he shared details of his understated wedding, his protective parenting, and his surprising passion for music.
Wedding in Gretna Green
In 2016, Allwright told the Sunday Post about his wedding: "My wife and I got married in Gretna and honeymooned in Glasgow. Looking back, we could have gone to islands like Skye or Arran. But I was so pleased we did it at Gretna because the people were so lovely. The photographer and the receptionist were our witnesses." He added, "As for our honeymoon destination, I wouldn't have changed Glasgow for the world. We stayed in a place near the Botanic Gardens and everything about our stay was magical. We went to some lovely restaurants and had some great nights out."
Protecting His Children
Allwright and his wife have two children, though he keeps them out of the public eye. Speaking about his parenting approach, he said: "I've always found that when they're old enough to ask, they're old enough to know. Also, that vegetable double bluff thing where you say, 'Whatever you do, don't eat those carrots!' stops working after the age of six." He also told the Belfast Telegraph why he keeps his kids off social media: "I do whatever I can to protect my family. That's the most important thing. Also, I think once you put them out there, you can't ask for them back, especially now because everything's online. The kids didn't ask to be born into a family with a dad that goes and confronts people, so I'm never going to assume that they are happy to be part of that."
Hidden Talents: Musician and Outdoorsman
Beyond TV, Allwright is a passionate musician. On his website, he wrote: "I have been making music of one sort or another since I was tiny. I've been recording and performing live on my pedal steel guitar since 2017. Pedal Steel is the world's most difficult instrument, and I play it with Band of Hope and others. I'll do it for you if you like." He also plays with The Walnuts, a band formed to raise funds for Alzheimer's Research. "We've performed across the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. We get about." In addition, he stays active by kayaking, cycling, and playing tennis. Matt Allwright appears daily on Channel 5 at 12.50pm.
