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Intangible assets - Additional Information (Detail) - GBP (£) £ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets | £ 1,468.8 | £ 1,842.0 |  | £ 2,018.4 |
Amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets | 121.5 | 201.8 |  |  |
Impairment charge on intangible assets | 26.5 | 89.1 |  | 6.0 |
Goodwill impairment charge | £ 47.7 | £ 183.9 | [1] | £ 27.1 | [1]
Pre-tax discount rate | 8.50% |  |  |  |
Percentage of recoverable amount on long term growth of asset | 25.00% |  |  |  |
First Step [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Assumed annual long-term growth rate | 3.00% | 3.00% |  |  |
Pre-tax discount rate | 8.50% | 9.00% |  |  |
Second Step [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Management forecasts for a projection period | five years |  |  |  |
Assumed annual long-term growth rate | 3.00% | 3.00% |  |  |
Weighting Of The Regional Rates ByIts Geographic Distribution Of Cash Flows [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax discount rate | 8.50% | 9.00% |  |  |
VMLY&R [member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill impairment charge |  | £ 148.0 |  |  |
Other business [member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill impairment charge |  | £ 35.9 |  |  |
Top of range [member] | Range of Pre-tax discount rates for geographic regions [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax discount rate | 13.60% | 16.30% |  |  |
Top of range [member] | Range of pre-tax discount rates for global cash generating units [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax discount rate | 7.40% | 8.70% |  |  |
Bottom of range [member] | Range of Pre-tax discount rates for geographic regions [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax discount rate | 4.10% | 6.20% |  |  |
Bottom of range [member] | Range of pre-tax discount rates for global cash generating units [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax discount rate | 6.30% | 8.00% |  |  |
Associates [member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets | £ 5.6 | £ 3.7 |  |  |
Brand names [member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets | 218.6 | 361.2 |  |  |
Impairment charge on intangible assets | 21.4 |  |  |  |
Customer-related intangibles [member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets | 100.6 | 220.6 |  |  |
Other acquired intangible assets [member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Other Intangible Assets | 4.4 | £ 13.0 |  |  |
Customer relationships [member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Impairment charge on intangible assets | 5.1 |  |  |  |
Brands With An Indefinite Life [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Impairment charge on intangible assets | 13.2 |  |  |  |
Public relations [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Impairment charge on intangible assets | 13.2 |  |  |  |
Global Integrated Agencies [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Impairment charge on intangible assets | 13.0 |  |  |  |
Specialist Agencies [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] |  |  |  |  |
Impairment charge on intangible assets | £ 0.3 |  |  |  |
[1] | 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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