XML 132 R120.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.20.4

Intangible assets - Movement of Goodwill (Detail) - GBP (£) £ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in goodwill [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Beginning balance | [1] | £ 13,132.6 | £ 12,874.6 |  |  |
Impairment on classification as held for sale | [2] | 94.5 |  |  |  |
Impairment losses for the year | [3] | 47.7 | 176.5 | [4] | £ 27.1 | [4]
Ending balance | [1] | 10,110.6 | 13,132.6 |  | 12,874.6 |
Cost [member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in goodwill [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Beginning balance | [1] | 14,051.9 | 13,597.0 |  |  |
Additions | [1],[5] | 8.5 | 154.4 |  |  |
Revision of earnout estimates | [1] | (14.1) | (67.6) |  |  |
Disposals | [1] | (18.6) |  |  |  |
Transfer to disposal group classified as held for sale | [1] | (2,729.1) |  |  |  |
Exchange adjustments | [1] | (410.0) | 368.1 |  |  |
Ending balance | [1] | 10,888.6 | 14,051.9 |  | 13,597.0 |
Accumulated impairment losses and write-downs [member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in goodwill [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Beginning balance | [1] | 919.3 | 722.4 |  |  |
Impairment on classification as held for sale | [1],[6] | 70.9 |  |  |  |
Impairment losses for the year | [1] | 47.7 | 176.5 |  |  |
Transfer to disposal group classified as held for sale | [1] | (230.6) |  |  |  |
Exchange adjustments | [1] | (29.3) | 20.4 |  |  |
Ending balance | [1] | £ 778.0 | £ 919.3 |  | £ 722.4 |
[1] | Figures have been restated, as described in the accounting policies.
[2] | Goodwill impairment of £94.5 million arose from the assessment of fair value less costs to sell under IFRS 5.
[3] | Figures in 2018 have been restated, as described in the accounting policies.
[4] | 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.
[5] | Additions represent goodwill arising on the acquisition of subsidiary undertakings including the effect of any revisions to fair value adjustments that had been determined provisionally at the immediately preceding balance sheet date, as permitted by IFRS 3 Business Combinations. The effect of such revisions was not material in either year presented.
[6] | Goodwill impairment of £70.9 million arose from the assessment of fair value less costs to sell of the Kantar group on classification as held for sale under IFRS 5.

X
- 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
Name: | ifrs-full_AdditionalRecognitionGoodwill
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes of the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfReconciliationOfChangesInGoodwillLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- 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
Name: | ifrs-full_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- 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
Name: | ifrs-full_ImpairmentLossRecognisedInProfitOrLossGoodwill
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- 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
Name: | ifrs-full_IncreaseDecreaseThroughNetExchangeDifferencesGoodwill
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Goodwill disposals . + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wpp_GoodwillDisposals
Namespace Prefix: | wpp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Goodwill impairment on classification as held for sale. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wpp_GoodwillImpairmentOnClassificationAsHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix: | wpp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Revision of earn-out estimates goodwill. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wpp_RevisionOfEarnoutEstimatesGoodwill
Namespace Prefix: | wpp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Transfer to disposal group classified as held for sale + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wpp_TransferToDisposalGroupClassifiedAsHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix: | wpp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_CarryingAmountAccumulatedDepreciationAmortisationAndImpairmentAndGrossCarryingAmountAxis=ifrs-full_GrossCarryingAmountMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_CarryingAmountAccumulatedDepreciationAmortisationAndImpairmentAndGrossCarryingAmountAxis=ifrs-full_AccumulatedImpairmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |