• 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
  • Clean Feed
  • Showreel
  • Studio A
  • TX
  • Webfax

Unusual BBC One closedown

Posted on 20th August 2023
By Andrew Nairn
Last updated on 20th August 2023
Filed under Channel Presentation
LnRiLWZpZWxke21hcmdpbi1ib3R0b206MC43NmVtfS50Yi1maWVsZC0tbGVmdHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOmxlZnR9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1jZW50ZXJ7dGV4dC1hbGlnbjpjZW50ZXJ9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1yaWdodHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOnJpZ2h0fS50Yi1maWVsZF9fc2t5cGVfcHJldmlld3twYWRkaW5nOjEwcHggMjBweDtib3JkZXItcmFkaXVzOjNweDtjb2xvcjojZmZmO2JhY2tncm91bmQ6IzAwYWZlZTtkaXNwbGF5OmlubGluZS1ibG9ja311bC5nbGlkZV9fc2xpZGVze21hcmdpbjowfQ==
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

ARCHIVE: YouTube: Kaleidoscope

An intriguing clip appeared on YouTube this week of a BBC One closedown from August 1984.

Why the intrigue? Well unusually a late-night Open University programme was being shown on BBC One and a distinct closedown routine was followed.

After the National Anthem, a caption appeared and one of the regular Ceefax/test card tapes was played for a few minutes.

VIDEO: BBC One continuity. Announcer: Tim Nichols. TX DATE: 15th August 1984. SUPPLIED BY: YouTube channel – Kaleidoscope’s Presentation Vault. COPYRIGHT: BBC.

So why was the OU simply not shown as if it were the last programme of the night? And why the gap?

As I have explained before the BBC merely broadcast programmes on behalf of the OU – they were not supposed to be seen as part of the normal schedule.

Hence the decision was taken to show these programmes after BBC One had “closed” for the evening and bid viewers goodnight.

There is an obvious explanation for the interval too.

At this point, the nations ended the evening with their own news summary. The interval allowed them to do this, follow their own closedown routine then rejoin network for the OU.

Because of the special arrangements for OU broadcasts, it would have been inappropriate for the nations to timeshift the programme – say playing out their own copy a few minutes later or recording it to show later.

Incidentally you will notice the duller blue on the BBC One OU ident – it doesn’t match the normal BBC One colour scheme of the period.

This anomaly is merely the result of the OU ident being generated from a 35mm slide. You’ll notice the shade of blue even varies between the two slide versions of the OU ident in this clip.

It’s thought a BBC One branded OU ident was only introduced in 1983 or early 84.

Incidentally late-night intervals before the OU were quite common on BBC Two, especially in the summer months. They only ended in 1988.

There the reason they happened was different.

The BBC agreement with the OU saw the late-night programme transmitted no earlier than 11.30pm.  Where a gap existed after Newsnight, it was simply filled by a caption and music – the OU was not brought forward.

Related

Acknowledgements

FEATURE IMAGE:
PICTURED: BBC One/Open University ident. COPYRIGHT: BBC.

Related

Reader Interactions

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Sidebar

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

OSP Category: Clock, Closedown, Graphic, Ident, Partial Junction, Standard Presentation, Strand-Based Presentation

OSP Package: BBC One: September 1981 - February 1985

Ident: BBC One ident: Globe (1981), BBC One ident: Open University (1984)

On Air Talent: Tim Nichols

Decade: 1980s

Content Finder

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

Follow Us on Bluesky

Bluesky is the only social media platform where you'll find regular updates from The TV Room.

You'll find us here.

Pres Café Forum



Join in the discussion about TV presentation and branding.

TV Pres Updates



The latest updates from a number of presentation-related websites.

BBC One on Webfax



Today's programmes on BBC One.

Ceefax



A recreation of the BBC's teletext service, with the latest news, sport, weather and more.

Archive Collections

View the Archive Collection index for the many hobby archivists who have contributed to The TV Room.

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.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

About This Site · Contact Us · Content Finder · FAQ · Privacy Policy · Terms and Conditions

Unless otherwise indicated material featured on this site is © 2025 The TV Room.

Established in 1999, The TV Room is not affiliated with any broadcaster, production company or design/marketing/talent agency.

Back to top