The BBC has brought mobile video downloads to its iPlayer app, enabling users to keep episodes on their mobile devices for up to 30 days.

The service, which has been part of the iPlayer desktop offering for years, is being extended to iOS initially, with Android promised to follow.

“With mobile downloads for BBC iPlayer, you can now load up your mobile phone or tablet with hours and hours of BBC television programmes, then watch them on the road, on the tube, on a plane, without worrying about having an internet connection or running up a mobile data bill,” says Daniel Danker, general manager, programmes and on-demand for the BBC. “Viewers have up to 30 days to begin watching a downloaded programme, so you can even fill up your device and take the BBC with you on holiday.”

The service even seems designed in a way thats sympathetic to mobile data usage, with episodes queued for download until the device has wi-fi access.