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EastEnders, Doctor Who, The Traitors and more feature in new BBC campaign: 'What has the BBC ever done for me?"

The new campaign highlights the reach and value of the BBC.

Jane Slaughter as Tracey with Romesh Ranganathan in the Queen Vic pub with Sue Perkins and Adam Woodyatt as Ian Beale in the background.

BBC

Published: Sunday, 19 July 2026 at 10:31 am

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"What has the BBC ever done for me?"

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That is the question at the heart of a new BBC campaign to highlight the national broadcaster's reach and cultural footprint, inspired by the 1983 campaign of the same name starring John Cleese.

A new three-minute film from BBC Creative brings together 90 recognisable faces from BBC pop culture and is led by presenter Romesh Ranganathan.

The film also includes iconic locations such as the Queen Vic pub from EastEnders, presenters like Graham Norton and Claudia Winkleman, beloved TV characters such as David Jason as Del Trotter, Gillian Taylforth as Kathy Beale, and the Daleks from Doctor Who, to Hollywood royalty like Cate Blanchett.

Catch the video below.

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The campaign comes at a crucial time for the broadcaster amid charter renewal discussions and debates around funding and its impact on the nation.

Those starring in the campaign include...

The large cast of the BBC's new 'What has the BBC ever done for me?' campaign surrounding Romesh Ranganathan.

The large cast of the BBC's new 'What has the BBC ever done for me?' campaign surrounding Romesh Ranganathan. BBC

Kerris Bright, Chief Customer Officer, BBC, has written a blog about the film and noted: "And whilst we want to highlight the valuable range and breadth of our output, we also want to remind people of the profound impact we have on individuals (who we seek to inform, educate and entertain every day) as well as society as a whole.

"For example, in 2024/25, the BBC contributed £6.7 billion to the UK economy and supported more than 79,000 jobs. For every £1 the BBC spends, £3.49 is generated across the wider economy.

"As the UK's largest single investor in original content, we help support creative businesses, freelancers and production talent across every nation and region of the UK.

"These contributions aren’t often talked about with audiences, yet we know that when they are heard, they have a significant impact on positive perceptions of the BBC.

"With this campaign, then, we want to ensure the BBC gets credit for the fundamental impact it has on society, as well as the things it makes."

The film will be shown on BBC One and iPlayer on Sunday 19 July 2026 during the World Cup Final.

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Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Lewis Knight, smiling against a lime green background.

Lewis KnightNews and Trends Editor

Lewis is the news and trends editor at Radio Times and leads our approach to news, reactive content, and serving audience demands and interests. An obsessive fan of television and film, Lewis is a Nicole Kidman fanatic with a side of passion for science-fiction, art-house cinema and the latest HBO drama. Lewis has a degree in Psychology and a Masters in Film Studies. After working in advertising, Lewis worked at The Mirror for three years in community management and SEO, showbiz, film and television reporting.

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