The Know Daily - Tuesday 26 August 2025

_{Read in 4m 24s ∙ Listening to Carole King ∙}

Pamela Anderson is now selling her very own limited-edition line of spicy pickles, “Pamela’s Pickles”, in collaboration with a Los Angeles lifestyle brand. All proceeds from the pickles will be donated to the California Wildlife Center, which cares for over 4k wild animals annually 🥒

📺 Do I need a TV licence?

It’s one of those adulting questions that can feel confusing (and a bit boring) until a letter drops through your door. So, do you need a TV licence in the UK? Let’s break it down.

What exactly is a TV licence?
Think of it as your ticket to legally watch or record live TV in the UK. It costs £174.50 a year (as of 2025) and the money mainly funds the BBC – meaning shows like Strictly and the latest David Attenborough docs exist without ads. A licence covers your whole household, no matter what device you’re watching on – TV, laptop, phone, tablet or games console.

Where does the money go?
That yearly fee does more than keep EastEnders on your screen. The majority goes straight to the BBC to fund:

• TV and radio channels – everything from BBC One to Radio 1 and 6 Music.

• BBC iPlayer and online services – catch-ups, news, podcasts and live streaming.

• Local and national news – including regional reporting you won’t get elsewhere.

• Children’s programming – CBBC and CBeebies are licence-fee funded.

• The World Service – bringing UK news and culture to audiences abroad.

When do I need one?
Here’s the simple rule: Watching or recording live TV? You need one. (Doesn’t matter if it’s BBC, ITV, Sky, or a random channel on Freeview – live is live.) You also need one if you find yourself on iPlayer. So if you’re watching The Traitors as it’s broadcast or streaming Doctor Who on iPlayer, that’s licence territory.

When don’t I need one?
You don’t need to pay for a licence if you’re only:

• Watching on-demand shows via Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime or similar.

• Streaming non-BBC catch-up like ITVX, Channel 4, or My5.

• Using YouTube, TikTok, Twitch etc (unless it’s a live TV channel stream).

What happens if I don’t pay?
Enforcement officers (yep, they exist) can investigate if they think you’re watching without a licence. Fines can be up to £1k if you’re caught avoiding the payments.

Are there discounts or exemptions? 
Yes! Not everyone has to pay full price. For example:

• Free: People over 75 on Pension Credit.

• Half price: If you’re blind or severely sight impaired.

• Student deals: Students can often get refunds for the months they’re not in uni accommodation.

So, do you need one?
👉 Do you watch or record live TV on any channel?
👉 Do you use BBC iPlayer?

If the answer is yes to either, you need a licence. If not, you can save your pennies and stick with your streaming subs.

⭐ T&Cs can be found on our giveaway page.

👩‍💻 Seeking social spots: New research has found that 40% of Gen Z employees want to work in the office because they feel lonely at home.

• The bigger story: The report was based on a survey of 8k adults and found that loneliness is particularly high amongst young adults who pursued careers as social media influencers, with 58% saying they want to find a workplace that offers more social interaction.

✍️ Robot writing: At least six publications have taken down articles written by an AI-generated freelance writer called Margaux Blanchard – you won’t see her name cropping up here!

🏃‍♀️ Cool runnings: The heat of peak summer months in the United Arab Emirates has encouraged residents to get creative when it comes to exercise, sparking a new tradition of indoor mall runs.

💸 Gender pay gap: A report has found that the Office for National Statistics has underestimated the UK gender pay gap for two decades, renewing awareness for the issue. 

🫁 Trailblazing transplant: Scientists say they have successfully transplanted a pig lung into a living person for the first time, offering a potential solution to the shortage of human organ donations.

💃🏼 Carnival in the capital: August bank holiday can only mean one thing – the famous Notting Hill Carnival. Check out snaps of the colourful celebrations.

😎 The good life: Have you ever wondered what it actually means to live a “good life”? Here’s what the scientists are saying.

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Trivia answer: A) Infrared pilates has already gained a cult following in Marbella as practices open in London.

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