Ideal Direct Shopping Plc, with Debbie Flint and Paul Lavers, whom he had previously worked with at QVC. The channel launched on 17 April 2000, and has since been a major rival of QVC. Whatley also presented "Disney Memorabilia" programmes and was a fan and collector of Mickey Mouse memorabilia himself. Whatley owned three Weimaraner dogs and they were often seen on his shows 'consumer testing' various pet products. The youngest of the three dogs was named Delia after he had asked the Ideal World audience to send name suggestions into the channel. The name "Delia" is an anagram of the word "ideal". His eldest dog Harry mainly 'co-presented' on "Magnet Therapy" shows and his third dog Oscar was seen numerous times. On 6 March 2001, the Ideal World premises, including the studios and warehouse, were devastated by an unexplained fire. Despite this, Whatley continued to work at Ideal World and helped to re-build the channel. Ideal World began broadcasting again in the autumn of 2001, after several months off the air. Until the new studios and warehouse were completed, Whatley and the team of presenters and production staff worked in temporary studios constructed out of prefabricated units that were erected on the Newark Road, Fengate site. Steve Whatley constantly had arguments with the technical and production crew at Ideal World. His way of presenting was very different to how others presented. He always thought he was right. On Christmas Eve 2004, after 4 years at Ideal World, Whatley left the channel to pursue other projects. These included helping to launch Harrods TV and plans to return to his theatre work. Indecent assault charges On 18 December 2002, whilst still working at Ideal World, Steve Whatley appeared at Peterborough Magistrates' Court, charged with indecently assaulting a fellow employee four times over a 17-month period during 2000 and 2001. He was accused of groping a female employee three times and once licking her face. He pleaded "not guilty" to all four counts of indecent assault. The case was adjourned to Peterborough Crown Court until 3 February 2003, and Whatley was granted bail. On 11 July 2003, after a four-day trial, the jurors unanimously cleared Whatley of three charges of indecent assault, but were unable to reach a decision on the fourth 'face licking' charge. The Crown Prosecution Service had a week to decide if it would seek a retrial on the