The Mark Thomas Comedy Product (from series 2 onwards - known as The Mark Thomas Product) is a television show fronted by the English comedian, presenter, political activist and reporter, Mark Thomas and directed by Michael Cumming. It was broadcast in the UK on Channel 4 from 23 February 1996 to 22 October 2003.The show, described as "a brilliantly ludicrous alternative to Watchdog", was a hybrid of comedy and serious politics, with Thomas often using silly or surreal methods to gain interviews with politicians and corporations and to highlight issues.