Michael Watts (journalist)

Michael Watts (born 18 October 1938) is a British journalist and broadcaster best known for his Sunday Express column, which ran for over 20 years.

   Born in Nottinghamshire and educated at Nottingham High School, Watts started in journalism at 16 as a reporter on the Nottingham Evening News. After four years there, he became London editor of The Viewer television magazine for a year, before joining the Sunday Express. There, he was variously gossip column editor, deputy news editor, and deputy editor (in Manchester), and started the paper’s Town Talk diary. In 1969 he began a consumer column, laced with social comment and humour – including the Great Corny Joke Contest, with a cash prize of a “Crisp Oncer” (£1). The column, twice winning the Consumer Writers’ Award, continued (with a two year break when Watts freelanced for other national publications) for 22 years – and subsequently moved, for 14 years, to Saga magazine, and then to Active Life.
   Watts now freelances.  His radio work has included presenting The Weekly World and News Stand for BBC Radio 4, and much for LBC.
   Author of “I Say! I Say! Great Britain’s Best Corny Jokes and the Debatable Wit and Wisdom of Michael Watts”, published by Sidgwick & Jackson.