Preliminary discussions for a Thursday programme will take place some 10 days before, on the Monday. Many ideas come from the thousands of letters and e-mails which the programme receives each week.
Researchers and reporters will then start work on their stories.
By the Monday before transmission, around 90% of the ideas for the programme have been completed, although changes can be made up until the last minute.
Anne Robinson is involved in Watchdog up to four days a week. Tuesday and Wednesday are spent reviewing the films for Watchdog and Weekend Watchdog while Thursday and Friday are spent finalising scripts and rehearsing.
Robinson works closely with Helen O’Rahilly, who has the final say on all stories.