In 1985, Cook moved from the BBC to Central and, in 1987, started and presented his own TV series, "The Cook Report". It was a much better resourced version of his radio programme, with a large and dedicated research team, which enabled it to operate on an international scale. The show is perhaps best remembered for its ground-breaking filmed 'stings' and for Cook's trademark confrontations with his targets, during which he (and sometimes the film crew) could suffer verbal and physical abuse. Cook was variously described in the press as "Nemesis in a leisure shirt", "A cross between Meatloaf and the Equaliser", "The bravest/most beaten-up journalist in Britain" and "The Taped Crusader".