The Know Daily - Monday 20 July 2026

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Good news for London's butterflies! After Transport for London doubled the amount of wildflowers growing along its roadsides in just two years – covering an area roughly the size of 100 Trafalgar Squares – butterfly sightings have jumped by more than 50%. Safe to say the butterflies are loving their new commute. 🦋

📺 What has the BBC ever done for me?

The BBC has rebooted its famous 1985 licence fee advert, weighing in on the debate that's almost as old as British television itself: why do we still pay for a TV licence?

A quick history lesson.
The TV licence dates back to 1946, when households paid to own a television set and fund the return of the BBC's public service broadcasting following World War II… and it was just £2! Today it costs £180 a year and remains the BBC's main source of income. According to the BBC, the licence fee helps fund everything from TV and radio to local news, children's programmes, education, the BBC World Service and online services like iPlayer.

Go on…
Unlike Netflix or Disney+, the licence fee isn't optional if you watch or record live TV or use BBC iPlayer. Supporters say it allows the BBC to produce programmes without relying on advertising or subscriptions, while also funding services that commercial broadcasters may not provide, such as local radio and educational content. Critics argue the model feels outdated in an era where more people choose streaming services and only pay for what they watch.

So why have they made the plea now?
According to The Guardian, the BBC is under growing pressure as more households stop paying the licence fee and younger audiences increasingly get their entertainment and news from platforms like YouTube, TikTok and streaming services. That's partly why the corporation has revived its famous 1985 advert – which premiered during half-time of the World Cup final – with Romesh Ranganathan and dozens of well-known faces (including the iconic Alan Carr), making the case for what the licence fee pays for. At the same time, the government is expected to review how the BBC is funded as part of negotiations over the corporation's next Royal Charter, which begins in 2028.

The politics around it.
The future of the licence fee has become a regular political debate. Some politicians argue the current system should be replaced with a subscription or alternative funding model, while others believe a publicly funded BBC remains important for independent news, UK-made programming and universal access. For now though, nothing is changing. The BBC's current Royal Charter says the licence fee is guaranteed until the end of 2027, with any longer-term changes expected to form part of the next Charter negotiations.

💰 Money Monday: New research has revealed the best UK cities for first-time buyers looking to rent, save and eventually get on the property ladder.

• The bigger story: The rankings looked at factors including property prices, rents, local earnings and job opportunities. Stoke-on-Trent came out on top, followed by Hull and Derby, while Milton Keynes and Norwich also made the top 10. The research, conducted by the estate agents Savills, suggests more young buyers are looking beyond London in search of better affordability without giving up strong career prospects.

💼 Andy Burnham is set to take over as the UK’s prime minister today after Sir Keir Starmer has tendered his expected resignation. 

🏆 Spain are world champions after beating Argentina 1-0 to lift the World Cup for the second time.

👙 It’s your last chance win a £250 shopping spree with Stripe & Stare. Simply tap "Yes please!" in the poll below to enter. We'll be dropping into one lucky winner's inbox next week. Good luck!

🏹 Elite ancient Egyptian women were skilled archers, according to a new study of long-lost mummies that “challenges the traditional view” they were idle. 

🧖‍♀️ The world’s first “community powered” sauna – heated by food waste from the neighbouring housing estate – is set to open in east London. 

🔗 Last week’s most clicked: The UK’s longest running single, poets have crowned the most beautiful word and the most welcoming country for expats.

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