YouTube sensations Map Men collaborate with Ordnance Survey
In a bid to explain what Ordnance Survey (OS) actually does to a wider audience, OS has teamed up with popular double act Map Men, the 2024 UK and Ireland Tik-Tok ‘Video of the Year’ winners.
Dynamic duo Jay Foreman and Mark Cooper-Jones are behind the hit YouTube series Map Men, a unique brand of comedy about geography which has brought huge success. Comedian Mark, a former geography teacher and TV producer, and Jay who launched his career as musical comedian, first performed together at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. They began releasing comic sketch videos about geography and maps on YouTube in 2016.
Over four series, the pair’s videos have captivated millions with witty takes on maps, borders, and the quirks of geography. They also have a debut book coming out later this year.
Mark and Jay recorded a short two-part video series at OS headquarters in May. The tongue-in-cheek videos highlights the vital role OS plays in analysing data and patterns that help Britain navigate and solve real-world problems, and imagines what would happen if OS didn’t exist.
The videos have had over a million views across You Tube Shorts and Tik-Tok.
"We wanted to tell the story of what OS does and how our data is relied upon by the nation. We wanted to tell it in a different and more engaging way than we’ve ever done before, and try and engage with a younger audience. Map Men are brilliant at explaining why geography is important and how it helps us all understand the world we live in. Many people know the name Ordnance Survey – but they don’t necessarily associate us with all advanced technologies we use to produce mapping data for Britain. We think Mark and Jay’s humorous take on it can help change perception and spread the word about what OS does to a broader audience. "
"As massive map fans, we've naturally spent our entire lives looking up to OS as the gold standard for map-making. To have the chance to work alongside it, and help promote some of the exciting innovations OS is spearheading, was an absolute privilege. We hope people are happy with the way the videos have turned out, and that OS gets some great traction and reactions from them."
Part 1 can be viewed on Map Men Tiktok and YouTube Shorts and Part 2 is also available on Map Men Tiktok and You Tube Shorts.
Why choose OS?
With a rich heritage that started with the first map in 1801, following advisory roles in government to digital maps of Mars, we are home to some of the best location specialists, who tackle some of the most challenging technical issues within geospatial.
Our highly accurate geospatial data and printed maps help individuals, governments and companies to understand the world, both in Britain and overseas.