Romesh Ranganathan was reportedly paid to front a new BBC campaign that answers the question "what has the BBC ever done for me?" while other celebrity cameos were unpaid. The comedian and presenter led nearly 100 stars in a three-minute film promoting the national broadcaster, traveling through iconic BBC programmes, sets, and studios.
Campaign Details and Star-Studded Cast
The campaign video opens with Ranganathan in EastEnders' Queen Vic pub, reading a front page asking: "Is the BBC really worth it?" He tells barmaid Tracey, played by Jane Slaughter, "it's a good question," then adds: "You have got to ask – what has the BBC ever done for me?" The film features household names including Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, broadcaster Louis Theroux, and Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke. Other stars include Alan Carr, Peter Capaldi, Sara Cox, Graham Norton, Vernon Kay, Greg James, Ruth Jones, Cate Blanchett, Daisy Ridley, Chris McCausland, Clive Myrie, Stacey Solomon, Pudsey Bear, and several Daleks.
Payment and Production Insights
The BBC declined to disclose how much Ranganathan was paid for the ad. A spokesperson said: "We don’t provide third-party costs for commercial reasons. Like other broadcasters, we promote our services creatively to ensure audiences across the UK can get best value from the BBC." According to the Press Association, Ranganathan was paid due to the significant time commitment required during filming. All other individuals who had cameos did so for free. Creative development on the film was done in-house at the BBC, and the majority of people gave their time for free.
Inspiration and Legacy
Inspired by the 1986 BBC campaign featuring John Cleese, the new film reimagines the question for a generation 40 years later. As Ranganathan puts it in the ad: "If you’re a fan of Ian Beale, or if The Traitors has any appeal, who cares if they’ve raised two and a half billion for charity, what has the BBC ever done for me?" The campaign aims to highlight the value of the BBC to UK audiences.
