The BBC’s four-minute campaign film, titled *What Has The BBC Ever Done For Me?*, aired for the first time last night featuring almost 100 famous faces – and was immediately condemned as ‘nauseating’ and ‘shameless self-promotion’. The star-studded advert arrives ahead of crucial talks over the Royal Charter, the broadcaster’s governing document.
Comedian and actor Romesh Ranganathan, 48, led nearly 100 stars in the three-minute film promoting the national broadcaster. Defending the campaign, he admitted the corporation is ‘not without flaws’, but warned its loss would be ‘catastrophic’. The admission came amid a fierce backlash from critics who described the advert as self-indulgent.
“BBC's star-studded licence fee advert sparks backlash; Romesh Ranganathan admits flaws but warns loss 'catastrophic'.”
The film is intended to rally public support for the licence fee model as the BBC enters negotiations over its future funding and remit. With the Royal Charter renewal on the horizon, the corporation is under pressure to demonstrate its value to the public – and has turned to its biggest names to make the case.
Ranganathan, who appears alongside a host of other celebrities, acknowledged the BBC’s imperfections while arguing that the alternative would be far worse. His remarks echo a central theme of the campaign: that despite its flaws, the BBC remains a vital cultural institution worth preserving.
The backlash, however, suggests the advert may have backfired, with critics accusing the BBC of using taxpayer money to fund a celebrity love-in. The row is likely to intensify as the charter debate continues.
