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‘IT WAS OF ITS TIME’: New Crimewatch host Jeremy Vine to drop iconic ‘don’t have nightmares’ catchphrase when show returns next week

The presenter said he won’t be adding it to the end of the programme

New Crimewatch presenter Jeremy Vine is dropping the 'don't have nightmares' catchphrase

NEW Crimewatch presenter Jeremy Vine will not be using the iconic catchphrase ‘Don’t have nightmares’ when the show returns next week.

The new host of the long-running BBC show believes it’s had its time and it belonged to original host Nick Ross.

 New Crimewatch presenter Jeremy Vine is dropping the 'don't have nightmares' catchphrase
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New Crimewatch presenter Jeremy Vine is dropping the 'don't have nightmares' catchphraseCredit: BBC

Speaking to Digital Spy, he said: “We had a conversation about it. It's a funny thing where you have a catchphrase where you want to say something like it but you don't want to actually say that.

“I think that catchphrase was of its time and I think Nick Ross did an amazing 23 years and he's the defining presenter of Crimewatch, no question."

 Jeremy's co-host will be BBB journalist Tina Daheley
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Jeremy's co-host will be BBB journalist Tina DaheleyCredit: Getty Images

He added that as a journalist, he is used to reporting bad news and terrible crimes and hopes the viewers won’t be disturbed by anything but help stop these crimes happening.

He added: ""Obviously some of the crimes that Crimewatch covers are very disturbing, not least because there are new forms of terrorism and stuff that people are dealing with.

 Crimewatch started in 1984 and was presented by Nick Ross and Sue Cook
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Crimewatch started in 1984 and was presented by Nick Ross and Sue CookCredit: BBC

“And I think that the thing about the programme is that it's able to talk about them without scaring people - that's what it's always done.

“It's always been able to be part of the solution, not part of the problem, and it's covering the crimes to stop them happening."

Crimewatch returns next Monday night on BBC One at 9pm and he will be co-hosting the show with journalist Tina Daheley filling the shoes of previous presenters Kirsty Young, Matthew Amroliwala and Sophie Raworth.

The show was first broadcast in June 1984 and was hosted by Nick Ross and Sue Cook, until Jill Dando stepped in for Sue after she resigned. After Dando was murdered in 1999, Fiona Bruce joined the show.

 Jill Dando, who was killed in 1999, also co-hosted with Ross
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Jill Dando, who was killed in 1999, also co-hosted with RossCredit: PA:Press Association

It will be broadcast live from a mobile incident room near the crimes scenes beng reported and Jeremy said he was “really chuffed” to be taking over the show.

He added: “"I think the reason to do Crimewatch is that you absolutely believe in the show and I completely believe in its power to assist in solving a crime. I think it's an amazingly powerful tool.

 Kirsty Young presented the show from 2007 to 2015
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Kirsty Young presented the show from 2007 to 2015Credit: BBC

"I mean, I keep watching TV dramas or reading books where I think, 'If Crimewatch was a feature in what I'm reading or watching, then this crime would be solved in a minute'. So I really hope and I really believe it will change things."

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