About this season
Saints and Scroungers is a British television programme about welfare benefits. It is broadcast on BBC One and is currently presented by Matt Allwright since 2013, although the show was originally presented by Dominic Littlewood from 2009-2012. It focuses on two groups of people: the vulnerable who need help and those who help them 'saints' and fraudulent claimants 'scroungers'. The series is repeated in the UK on Crime & Investigation Network.
Episodes (20)
1. Sesay/UBU/Barnes
Aired 11 February 2013
Matt Allwright looks into the work of fraud investigators determined to catch those who steal from the public purse. And he meets the genuine claimants who deserve government help. Matt meets the fraud investigators who are on the trail of one woman who they believe is using various identities to work illegally in the UK as a nurse and claim benefits to the tune of £180,000.
2. Raymont/Red Cross/Dhindsa
Aired 12 February 2012
After 30 years living abroad, Sandra Forshaw returns to the UK and claims benefits, but suspicions are soon raised. And when Oxford City Council launch an investigation, they uncover the real identity of the woman, amid decades of lies. And Matt meets the people who stepped in to help 84-year-old Dorothy during her hospital stay.
3. Ogunsanya/Family Mosaic/Power
Aired 13 February 2013
Fraud investigators look into the case of a new father who was left holding the baby.
4. Nicholson/Camelia Botnar/Breach
Aired 14 February 2013
An investigation into a council department head unearths a number of ghost employees.
5. Lounnas/Family Fund/Jones
Aired 15 February 2013
Ealing Council discover a cache of false identities, forged documents and benefit claims.
6. Arwo/Macmillan/Connor
Aired 18 February 2013
A five-year investigation by West Midlands Police reveals a sophisticated fraud.
7. Crane/Action for Blind/Goatley
Aired 19 February 2013
Matt meets the Croydon fraud investigators hot on the trail of a £47,000 benefit cheat.
8. Burrell and Hoyle/Ascend/Couchman
Aired 20 February 2013
Investigators discover the truth behind a jet-setting couple's lavish lifestyle.
9. Kemp/Reach Out/Brown
Aired 22 February 2013
Havering Council discover a £168,000 fraud behind a seemingly single mum.
10. Ikem/Hardwick/Esfandmozd
Aired 23 February 2013
Croydon Council learn they have been paying out claims for empty or derelict homes.
11. Dantas/Canine Partners/Lindsell
Aired 25 February 2013
Fraud investigators at Brent uncovering a carousel of benefit fraud amounting to £190,000.
12. Glanister/Homestart/Barber
Aired 26 February 2013
The story of a finance manager who used taxpayer money to fund her lifestyle.
13. Harrison/Access to Work/Aboutarik
Aired 27 February 2013
Croydon Council follows up on a tip-off about a benefit claimant using a stolen identity.
14. Sewell/Disability Dynamics/Iqbal
Aired 28 February 2013
Investigators for the NHS discover a financial analyst siphoning off taxpayers' money.
15. 20 Maxwell/Turn 2 Us/Alexander
Aired 1 March 2013
Fraud investigators catch a tax dodger who avoided paying hundreds of thousands of pounds.
16. Mooney/Abilitynet/Page
Aired 4 March 2013
Matt meets fraud investigators who were on the trail of a Jaguar-driving benefit cheat.
17. Wright/Bibic/Smith
Aired 5 March 2013
A benefit cheat tries to avoid paying back what he owes a council.
18. Adogbeji/Enthusiasm/Hussein
Aired 6 March 2013
Officers at Southwark Council unwittingly uncover evidence of benefit fraud.
19. Mohamedy/Contact a Family/Careswell
Aired 7 March 2013
The fraud team at Ealing call on a handwriting expert to help convict two benefit cheats.
20. Coffey/Papworth Trust/Peake
Aired 8 March 2013
Investigators reveal how a family who seemed to have hit hard times were hiding fraud.