In 1969 he began The World of Michael Watts, a consumer column laced with social comment and humour.

However, he started the column again in the relaunched London Evening News[6] and, the following year, in Saga magazine.

His column and broadcasts were often commented upon by other publications,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] and in addition to continuing in Saga, the column also ran for five years in the Westminster Review,[18] and from 2002 to 2005 in Active Life magazine[19] (still handing out Crisp Oncers).

The Michael Watts column twice won the Consumer Writers' Award, in 1978 [22] and 1986.

Great Britain’s Best Corny Jokes and the Debatable Wit and Wisdom of Michael Watts, published by Sidgwick & Jackson, 1971 (ISBN 0 283 978066).