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BBC “Bringing Us Closer” 2020

BBC “Bringing Us Closer” (2020) is a BBC commercial directed by Dan Emmerson for BBC Creative, produced by Somesuch. It won one award: British Arrows 2020 Gold — Made In Lockdown Campaign.

A montage of real-life events and BBC programming during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the challenges and resilience of the UK, underscored by a powerful poem.

Video: BBC on YouTube

Shot by shot

  1. A male news anchor in a suit stands in a brightly lit news studio with large screens displaying a world map and red graphics.© BBC0:00
  2. An ambulance with flashing blue lights is parked outside a hospital entrance, while a woman stands nearby and a white car drives past.© BBC0:05
  3. An aerial view shows numerous British Airways planes parked at an airport terminal on a sunny day, with a distant city visible.© BBC0:11
  4. A wide shot of a boarded-up laundrette with an orange sign, a bicycle, and a trash can on the sidewalk in an urban setting.© BBC0:19
  5. A woman with dark hair and a black shirt cries while speaking to the camera from inside a car.© BBC0:28
  6. A brown boxer dog with white paws plays with a toilet paper roll and a slipper on a carpeted floor in a living room.© BBC0:34
  7. A bald child in a blue sweatshirt laughs while shaving the side of an adult's head in a kitchen.© BBC0:40
  8. A man and a child in kilts play bagpipes across a street from each other, while neighbors watch from their homes.© BBC0:51
  9. Neighbors stand outside their homes at night, clapping and cheering in a suburban street, illuminated by streetlights and house windows.© BBC1:00
  10. A family surprises an older woman with balloons as she enters a home, creating a joyful and heartwarming moment.© BBC1:06
  11. A split screen shows a woman holding a baby in a kitchen, and a man dancing in a room, both smiling and moving energetically.© BBC1:12
  12. A child with blonde hair looks out a window with blinds, their face partially obscured, appearing to be inside a home during the day.© BBC1:19

Stills © BBC. Made by BBC Creative, Somesuch and Dan Emmerson.

Every shot, full-quality frames and clips, and search across every commercial. Free account.

The idea

A poem narrated over a montage of pandemic life and BBC content.

Tagline: “Bringing Us Closer”

pandemic lifecommunity resiliencenews coveragefound footagepoetic narrationeveryday heroes

The cut

Length
90 s
Shots
65
Average shot
1.4 s
Format
mixed

What creatives use BBC “Bringing Us Closer” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of BBC “Bringing Us Closer”? A screenshot from a video player won't hold up in a deck.

    Download any frame of this spot at full quality, with its credits, or search every spot for the same look.

    A male news anchor in a suit stands in a brightly lit news studio with large screens displaying a world map and red graphics.© BBCAn ambulance with flashing blue lights is parked outside a hospital entrance, while a woman stands nearby and a white car drives past.© BBCAn aerial view shows numerous British Airways planes parked at an airport terminal on a sunny day, with a distant city visible.© BBCA wide shot of a boarded-up laundrette with an orange sign, a bicycle, and a trash can on the sidewalk in an urban setting.© BBC
    Frames from BBC “Bringing Us Closer”

  2. 02Shot list example: how it was cut

    You need the structure of a great spot, shot by shot, for your storyboard.

    Every shot of BBC “Bringing Us Closer” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    A male news anchor in a suit stands in a brightly lit news studio with large screens displaying a world map and red graphics.© BBCAn ambulance with flashing blue lights is parked outside a hospital entrance, while a woman stands nearby and a white car drives past.© BBCAn aerial view shows numerous British Airways planes parked at an airport terminal on a sunny day, with a distant city visible.© BBCA wide shot of a boarded-up laundrette with an orange sign, a bicycle, and a trash can on the sidewalk in an urban setting.© BBCA woman with dark hair and a black shirt cries while speaking to the camera from inside a car.© BBCA brown boxer dog with white paws plays with a toilet paper roll and a slipper on a carpeted floor in a living room.© BBC
    Length: 90 s · Shots: 65 · Average shot: 1.4 s · Format: mixed

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a community resilience

    Before you present an idea, you need to know who has done it, and how.

    BBC “Bringing Us Closer” is built on a community resilience. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Beats by Dre “You Love Me”© Beats by DreNrma “Nrma First Saturdays”© NrmaTrocaire “The Search”© TrocaireAMI “Insurance On Your Side”© AMI
    Beats by Dre · Nrma · Trocaire · AMI

More commercials by Dan Emmerson

  • BBC "Made Of Here" (2026) commercial still© BBCBBC “Made Of Here” 2026Dir. Dan Emmerson · BBC CreativeBritish Arrows Silver 2026
  • Prostate Cancer UK "Ode to Dads" (2023) commercial still© Prostate Cancer UKProstate Cancer UK “Ode to Dads” 2023Dir. Dan Emmerson · BBHBritish Arrows Silver 2023
  • Art Fund "National Art Pass" (2024) commercial still© Art FundArt Fund “National Art Pass” 2024Dir. Dan Emmerson · PabloBritish Arrows Bronze 2024
  • Specsavers "The Wonder of Children Seeing" (2025) commercial still© SpecsaversSpecsavers “The Wonder of Children Seeing” 2025Dir. Dan Emmerson · Specsavers
  • Samsung "Circle to Search" (2025) commercial still© SamsungSamsung “Circle to Search” 2025Dir. Dan Emmerson · Clemenger BBDO
  • EA "FC26 - Reveal" (2025) commercial still© EAEA “FC26 - Reveal” 2025Dir. Dan Emmerson

More from BBC Creative

Award-winning media & entertainment commercials

Questions

Who directed the BBC “Bringing Us Closer” commercial?

Dan Emmerson directed it, produced by Somesuch, for the agency BBC Creative.

Which agency made BBC “Bringing Us Closer”?

BBC Creative created it for BBC (2020).

What awards did BBC “Bringing Us Closer” win?

1 awards, including British Arrows 2020 Gold — Made In Lockdown Campaign.

What is the tagline of BBC “Bringing Us Closer”?

“Bringing Us Closer”

Sources for the credits and awards

britisharrows.com