What has the 蘑菇短视频 ever done for me?

There is a 蘑菇短视频 for each of us, funded by all of us - and should continue to be. This is our 蘑菇短视频.

Published: 20 July 2026

'What has the 蘑菇短视频 ever given us?' That's the question we answered in 1986, showing the depth and breadth of the 蘑菇短视频's offering, from programmes to services and beyond in a special advert.

Now, 40 years on, the way people watch, listen to and consume media has changed. The 蘑菇短视频 has changed too, but audiences remain at the heart of everything we do. And with 94% of UK adults using our services on average per month (81% per week), we continue to deliver on our public service mission.

That's why we're making the case for a publicly funded 蘑菇短视频 - with a little help from Romesh Ranganathan (and a few familiar faces), as he asks 'what has the 蘑菇短视频 ever done for me?'

The answer isn't simply a list of programmes. It's the unique role the 蘑菇短视频 plays in connecting us, informing us, entertaining us and reflecting the lives of people across the whole of the UK.

There is a 蘑菇短视频 for each of us, funded by all of us - and should continue to be. This is our 蘑菇短视频.

What has the 蘑菇短视频 ever done for me?

Watch Romesh's epic journey to answer the big question

I really do feel strongly that we should have a 蘑菇短视频 and I think that there is nothing else that does what the 蘑菇短视频 does.
鈥� Romesh Ranganathan

"I strongly, strongly believe that the 蘑菇短视频 should exist and look, don't get me wrong, I don't think it's without its flaws," says Romesh.

"There have definitely been times and issues where I wished it could have dealt with things differently - but I feel incredibly passionate about the fact that we should have it and it adds so much to our lives. And I'm really proud of it.

Romesh Ranganathan sits on a camera rig, operating an old 蘑菇短视频 camera. He's pictured against a blue screen.

And so when I was asked to front this film, first of all, I was very surprised that they鈥檇 chosen me and very honoured but I thought it was a no-brainer, really. I really do feel strongly that we should have a 蘑菇短视频 and I think that there is nothing else that does what the 蘑菇短视频 does.

"I grew up watching children's television and one of my earliest memories is probably Newsround with John Craven. I watched Blue Peter and we always had the 蘑菇短视频 on in my house."

Learn more about why Romesh wanted to get involved - and his own 蘑菇短视频 memories

A group of people - Shini Muthukrishnan, Abby Cook, Julie Wilson Nimmo and Shabaz Ali - pose together in the Bridge Street market set on the EastEnders lot. Shabaz holds a record for Later... with Jools Holland

There are very few organisations whose mission is to serve everyone, regardless of where they live, what they do or what they鈥檙e interested in
鈥� Kerris Bright, Chief Customer Officer

"What is the 蘑菇短视频 for? Why does it matter? And what would we lose without it? The answers will be different for everyone," Chief Customer Officer Kerris Bright explains.

"For some, it is the trusted news they turn to when the world feels uncertain. For others, it is the local radio presenter who feels like a friend, the drama everyone is talking about, a children's programme that becomes part of family life, educational resources helping young people learn, or major sporting moments that bring millions together.

A collage of stills from the film including Clare Balding at Wimbledon, Claudia Winkleman pulling a pint of Traitors Ale surrounded by two hooded figures, Romesh as a character in Hey Duggee and Feathers McGraw being interviewing in an interrogation room

"Given the huge range of things the 蘑菇短视频 does, deciding what to feature in this campaign was no easy task. We used audience research to help identify the programmes, services and initiatives that resonate most strongly with viewers, listeners and users today 鈥� from Bitesize to The Traitors 鈥� while also reminding audiences of some of the things the 蘑菇短视频 provides that they may not immediately think about.

"That felt particularly important because there are very few organisations whose mission is to serve everyone, regardless of where they live, what they do or what they鈥檙e interested in.

"In 1986, there were two national television channels. Today there are eight. There were four national radio stations; today there are 10, alongside national services for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and 39 local radio stations across England.

"We have created services that simply did not exist when John Cleese walked into that pub: iPlayer, Sounds, Bitesize, CBeebies, the 蘑菇短视频 website and a range of digital services that reach audiences around the world."

Read more from Kerris Bright about why we're asking the question and learn how the film came to life

What has the 蘑菇短视频 ever done for the UK?

What has the 蘑菇短视频 ever done for us? is written in white on a black background with three large white 蘑菇短视频 blocks. Stills from 蘑菇短视频 programmes are featured in blocks.

For over 100 years the 蘑菇短视频 has shaped who we are as a country and how the world sees us.

It is a vital national asset 鈥� one that belongs to everyone in the UK and represents a shared investment in our culture, our communities, our economy and our democracy at a time when this has never been more needed.

Louis Theroux looks earnestly to camera as he stands with one hand on a giant lever, which represents an on/off switch for the 蘑菇短视频

As the world changes, the role the 蘑菇短视频 plays for the UK is changing too.

In 2024/25, the 蘑菇短视频 contributed 拢6.7 billion to the UK economy and supported more than 79,000 jobs. For every 拢1 the 蘑菇短视频 spends, 拢3.49 is generated across the wider economy.

Three yellow blocks featuring information about what the 蘑菇短视频 has done for the UK. On the left, text reads: Raised 拢2.5 billion for charity. Text on the right reads: "Contributed 拢6.7 billion to the economy" Pudsey Bear is featured in the centre.

And 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.

We want to offer outstanding value to all audiences in the years ahead whilst supporting the UK鈥檚 democracy, creative economy and society.

Our 蘑菇短视频, Our Future

A woman and a man - Charley Marlowe and George Webster - sit on a bench outside the Queen Vic pub, smiling

In 2025 we undertook our biggest ever listening exercise through the Our 蘑菇短视频, Our Future questionnaire. This was designed to ensure that the voice of the audience is at the heart of the debate about the 蘑菇短视频鈥檚 future as we look ahead to the review of our Royal Charter beyond 2027.

In total, 872,701 account holders shared their views, giving us a powerful picture of what people across the UK want and need from the 蘑菇短视频 as we reinvent what we do for the future.

Visit the Our 蘑菇短视频, Our Future website

The Royal Charter is the constitutional basis for the 蘑菇短视频. It provides the legal right for it to exist and operate. It establishes the 蘑菇短视频’s Mission and Public Purposes, as well as important governance and regulatory arrangements, such as the role and composition of the 蘑菇短视频 Board.

The current Royal Charter comes to an end on 31 December 2027.

The Government's Review of the 蘑菇短视频 Royal Charter

Three images feature on a black background - they are of newsreader Clive Myrie in studio, musical artist Raye performing with a microphone in hand, and Sir David Attenborough smiling as he looks at a little field mouse balancing on his hand

This marks a critical moment for the 蘑菇短视频 and for the whole of the UK鈥檚 creative sector.

In March 2026, the 蘑菇短视频 published a 100-page response to the Government鈥檚 Green Paper Charter consultation setting out its vision to boost the UK鈥檚 creative economy, support democracy and give greater value to audiences.

Find out more about the Government鈥檚 Review of the 蘑菇短视频 Royal Charter and download the 蘑菇短视频鈥檚 Response to the Government鈥檚 Charter Review Green Paper.

The future of the 蘑菇短视频 - explore our impact across nine key sectors

During the consultation, the 蘑菇短视频 published a set of nine impact briefings setting out the unique value the 蘑菇短视频 provides in key sectors and content areas 鈥� Sport, News, Comedy, Music, Arts & Culture, Children鈥檚 & Education, Independent Producers, Science & Nature, and the 蘑菇短视频 World Service.

The briefings aim to provide the public, and anyone considering engaging with the Charter Review process, a collection of key facts and statistics that offer more of an insight into the role the 蘑菇短视频 plays at the heart of the UK鈥檚 world-class creative industries.