• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Rewind

Rewind

The museum of TV ephemera

  • Pres
  • Promos
  • Ads
  • Progs
  • Teletext
  • Test Cards
  • Miscel
  • Features
  • On This Day
  • Other Pages
    • About This Site
    • Contact Us
    • Content Finder
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Wish List
  • Our Other Websites
    • Clean Feed
    • Showreel
  • Related External Websites
    • Pres Café
    • TV Pres

Remembering the launch of BBC One’s circle-themed idents

Posted on 7th October 2019 by The Rewind Team
Last updated on 30th December 2022 Filed under Features
LnRiLWZpZWxke21hcmdpbi1ib3R0b206MC43NmVtfS50Yi1maWVsZC0tbGVmdHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOmxlZnR9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1jZW50ZXJ7dGV4dC1hbGlnbjpjZW50ZXJ9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1yaWdodHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOnJpZ2h0fS50Yi1maWVsZF9fc2t5cGVfcHJldmlld3twYWRkaW5nOjEwcHggMjBweDtib3JkZXItcmFkaXVzOjNweDtjb2xvcjojZmZmO2JhY2tncm91bmQ6IzAwYWZlZTtkaXNwbGF5OmlubGluZS1ibG9ja311bC5nbGlkZV9fc2xpZGVze21hcmdpbjowfQ==
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

FROM THE ARCHIVE OF: YouTube: Des and Mick Online

At 10am on Saturday 7th October 2006, BBC One launched a new on-air identity. On the thirteenth anniversary of their on air debut, we take a look back at comments from those involved in the commissioning and production of the sequences.

And there’s some footage of the original versions of the idents, as well as a few of the 2009 edits.

Charlie Mawer, executive creative director at Red Bee Media – the design company behind the channel’s new presentation scheme – discussed the project with Broadcast:

“Our brief was to try and ensure that what we emerged with at the end – within the tight constraints of idents: twelve seconds and a living hold – was something that would reward repeat viewing.

“The pitch-winning idea was a simple one and was born directly from how controller Peter Fincham talks about his vision for the channel. To celebrate BBC One’s unique ability to bring people together, we highlighted magical moments when people come together as one.

“We chose the symbol of a circle for a number of reasons. Throughout history it has been an emblem of unity. It’s the shape we make when gathering to listen to a story. And it’s a subtle reference to BBC One’s own history. Its very first idents, even before the globe, always referenced a circle in some way.

“We also thought that we should try and live that ideal in how we made the idents, so they became a huge collaborative project themselves.

“Idents are funny things. For storytellers they are frustrating because they don’t have a defined end. Imagine making a programme that has to make sense if it’s cut away from at any point. Also imagine that you were making a programme and you had no idea what voiceover was going to be added to it.

“But on the positive side they also have a great freedom in terms of creative possibilty.”

VIDEO: the original ‘circles’ idents. SUPPLIED BY: YouTube Channel – Des and Mick Online – TV & Radio. COPYRIGHT: BBC.

In developing the new BBC One identity, the key for me was simplicity. Out of an incredibly challenging brief, Red Bee has created a simple, true, idea with the branding at the heart of the execution.

We chose this idea from Red Bee as it celebrated BBC One’s unique ability to bring people together, and their executions beautifully convey magical moments when this happens.”

Naomi Gibney, head of marketing, BBC One

In an increasingly competitive marketplace a channel needs to stand out from the crowd and I believe our new identity is just what’s needed for BBC One.

It’s set in the everyday but shows people doing extraordinary things. It’s got variety and range – everything from daredevil motorbikes to synchronised hippos. It’s warm and it’s dynamic.

The circle, which is at the heart of this campaign, has been familiar to BBC One viewers over the years, but what we’ve got here is modern, forward looking and surprising.

Peter Fincham, controller, BBC One

Directors: Howard Greenhalgh for Surfer, Football and Moon; Stuart Douglas for Bikes and Ring-a-Roses; Matthias Hoene for Windows and Kites and Charlie Mawer and Mike McGee for Hippos.

Music composed by: Imran Hanif.

Designers: Grant Gilbert; Amy Doherty.

Typeface: Jason Smith – Fontsmith.

Related

Acknowledgements

FEATURE IMAGE:
PICTURED: BBC One ident: Hippos. SUPPLIED BY: Online. COPYRIGHT: BBC.

Related

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Sidebar

Broadcaster/Channel: BBC, BBC One
Broadcast Area: UK: England

OSP Category: Ident, Standard Presentation

OSP Package: BBC One: October 2006 - December 2016

On Air Talent: Announcer TBC, Dean Lydiate, Delroy Haynes, Duncan Newmarch, Peter Offer, Phil Vowels

Decade: 2000s, 2010s

Content Finder

We've provided an intelligent search facility that allows you to identify content via a range of categories.

Archive Collections

Ashley Sowerby, Bryan Green, Dave Baldwin, NC1, NC2, TC1, The TV Room

NOTE: this site is still in its infancy. New content is added daily.

More Information

Have you got any additional information about the content featured on this page?

Were you involved in the production of the item in some way and would like to be credited?

Get in touch via our Contact Form.

Contribute

If you were involved in the production of a channel branding package, advertisement or a set of programme titles, and have broadcast quality footage available, we'd be delighted to include that material on the site.

We also accept off-air recordings on VHS/SVHS, Betamax, N1500/N1700 and U-Matic tapes.

Get in touch using our Contact Form.

Site Content

This site generally does not feature complete programmes. We do not include material that would intentionally deprive copyright holders of income.

Rewind is presented as an educational resource, documenting the development of broadcast graphic design, channel branding, set design and marketing over the decades.

© 2023 The TV Room. This site is not affiliated with any broadcaster, production company or design/marketing/talent agency.

Back to top