Oct 24, 2026 · 26 min · 9 segments
Colin Brazier draws on his decades in broadcast journalism and firsthand experience inside Reform UK's headquarters to scrutinise ITV’s "explosive" undercover investigation. From hidden cameras and…
Colin BrazierHost
I thought of that moment when a few days ago, ITV broadcast an undercover expose of reform.
IGV managed to get hidden cameras into the party's headquarters, into late-night parties, into private meetings.
There were recordings of reform activists saying a range of foul things about migrants and Muslims and ethnic minorities while out campaigning.
As a consequence of IGV's investigative work, councillors resigned, the party apologised and promised to work harder on vetting candidates.
But as someone who worked in TV for 30 years, I have some questions about this ITV documentary.
Last year, I became a member of Reform UK, and I've coached some Reform candidates in how they can better explain themselves.
Before the TV cameras, I was certainly in Reform HQ doing media training on one of the days when secret footage was obtained, which made it into the documentary.
Had I been filmed? Had I made an off-colour joke that, taken out of context, could be made to make me seem bigoted or racist? When I was working with candidates, I encouraged them to be candid, to share their opinions, and I shared some of mine and some personal stories.
What if someone had been secretly filming one of my sessions? And what if they sought to provoke, to incite, to go fishing semantically for an incriminatory soundbite, the equivalent of yelling, come on then? Not at a rowdy bar in Portugal, but in a studio in Westminster used by reform to prepare political novices for the glare of media attention.
Watching the documentary, it seemed pretty clear to me that the ITV moles who had infiltrated reform were not just there to listen and observe.
They were playing a part, asking leading questions, questions designed to provoke an answer.
But we should remember these documentaries are not criminal investigations governed by rules about evidence gathering.
We need to remember that the mainstream media do not approach news gathering with an entirely open mind.
ITV want a show that will secure ratings, ergo to attract eyeballs for advertisers.
The show's producers want a show that will encourage future commissions so they can pay their mortgages.
The show's secret squirrels want to advance their careers by filming jaw-dropping indiscretions.
I thought of that moment when a few days ago, ITV broadcast an undercover expose of reform.
IGV managed to get hidden cameras into the party's headquarters, into late-night parties, into private meetings.
There were recordings of reform activists saying a range of foul things about migrants and Muslims and ethnic minorities while out campaigning.
As a consequence of IGV's investigative work, councillors resigned, the party apologised and promised to work harder on vetting candidates.
But as someone who worked in TV for 30 years, I have some questions about this ITV documentary.
Last year, I became a member of Reform UK, and I've coached some Reform candidates in how they can better explain themselves.
Before the TV cameras, I was certainly in Reform HQ doing media training on one of the days when secret footage was obtained, which made it into the documentary.
Had I been filmed? Had I made an off-colour joke that, taken out of context, could be made to make me seem bigoted or racist? When I was working with candidates, I encouraged them to be candid, to share their opinions, and I shared some of mine and some personal stories.
What if someone had been secretly filming one of my sessions? And what if they sought to provoke, to incite, to go fishing semantically for an incriminatory soundbite, the equivalent of yelling, come on then? Not at a rowdy bar in Portugal, but in a studio in Westminster used by reform to prepare political novices for the glare of media attention.
Watching the documentary, it seemed pretty clear to me that the ITV moles who had infiltrated reform were not just there to listen and observe.
They were playing a part, asking leading questions, questions designed to provoke an answer.
But we should remember these documentaries are not criminal investigations governed by rules about evidence gathering.
We need to remember that the mainstream media do not approach news gathering with an entirely open mind.
ITV want a show that will secure ratings, ergo to attract eyeballs for advertisers.
The show's producers want a show that will encourage future commissions so they can pay their mortgages.
The show's secret squirrels want to advance their careers by filming jaw-dropping indiscretions.
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