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Intangible assets - Movement of Goodwill (Detail) - GBP (£) £ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in goodwill [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  | £ 13,202.8 | £ 12,952.9 |  |  |
Impairment on classification as held for sale | [1] | 94.5 |  |  |  |
Impairment losses for the year |  | 47.7 | 183.9 | [2] | £ 27.1 | [2]
Ending balance |  | 10,170.7 | 13,202.8 |  | 12,952.9 |
Cost [member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in goodwill [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  | 14,129.5 | 13,675.3 |  |  |
Additions |  | 8.5 | 154.4 |  |  |
Revision of earnout estimates |  | (14.3) | (68.3) |  |  |
Disposals |  | (18.6) |  |  |  |
Transfer to disposal group classified as held for sale |  | (2,729.1) |  |  |  |
Exchange adjustments |  | (419.9) | 368.1 |  |  |
Ending balance |  | 10,956.1 | 14,129.5 |  | 13,675.3 |
Accumulated impairment losses and write-downs [member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in goodwill [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Beginning balance |  | 926.7 | 722.4 |  |  |
Impairment on classification as held for sale |  | 70.9 |  |  |  |
Impairment losses for the year |  | 47.7 | 183.9 |  |  |
Transfer to disposal group classified as held for sale |  | (230.6) |  |  |  |
Exchange adjustments |  | (29.3) | 20.4 |  |  |
Ending balance |  | £ 785.4 | £ 926.7 |  | £ 722.4 |
[1] | Goodwill impairment of £94.5 million arose from the assessment of fair value less costs to sell under IFRS 5.
[2] | Prior year figures have been re-presented in accordance with IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations, as described in the accounting policies.

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- Definition The amount of additional goodwill recognised, except goodwill included in a disposal group that, on acquisition, meets the criteria to be classified as held for sale in accordance with IFRS 5. [Refer: Goodwill; Disposal groups classified as held for sale [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 3 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph B67 -Subparagraph d -Clause ii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=3&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_B67_d_ii&doctype=Appendix&subtype=B -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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- Definition The amount of assets representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognised. [Refer: Business combinations [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 3 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph B67 -Subparagraph d -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=3&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_B67_d&doctype=Appendix&subtype=B -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 36 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 134 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=36&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_134_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 36 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 135 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=36&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_135_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 54 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_54_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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- Definition The amount of impairment loss recognised in profit or loss for goodwill. [Refer: Impairment loss recognised in profit or loss; Goodwill] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 3 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph B67 -Subparagraph d -Clause v -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=3&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_B67_d_v&doctype=Appendix&subtype=B -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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- Definition The increase (decrease) in goodwill resulting from net exchange differences arising on the translation of the financial statements from the functional currency into a different presentation currency, including the translation of a foreign operation into the presentation currency of the reporting entity. [Refer: Goodwill] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 3 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph B67 -Subparagraph d -Clause vi -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=3&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_B67_d_vi&doctype=Appendix&subtype=B -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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