• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Clean Feed

Clean Feed

  • Timeline
  • PresWatch
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Bloopers
  • Features
  • Other Pages
    • About This Site
    • Contact Us
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Resources
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Our Other Websites
    • Rewind
    • Showreel
  • TV Pres Partnership
    • TV Pres

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

Posted on 7th October 2019 by The Clean Feed Team Last updated on 23rd August 2021 Filed under Features

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

Related

FEATURE IMAGE:

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

Related

Related

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sidebar

Tags: BBC, BBC One, Charlie Mawer, Naomi Gibney, On-Screen Presentation, Peter Fincham, Red Bee Media, YouTube Channel - Des and Mick Online

Dates for the Diary

30th June 2022: Freeview COM7 multiplex closes. Casualties include Forces TV which will cease broadcasting.

30th June 2022: CBS TV channels will be rebranded in the UK.

26th July 2022: SyFy will be rebranded as Sky Sci-Fi.

Coming "Soon": BBC Four HD and CBeebies HD will return to Freeview - but will be more widely available than previously. The BBC has yet to confirm a date.

Don’t Miss Out – Follow Us on Twitter

Our Twitter account will usually report the latest presentation-related events shortly after they've happened and well ahead of the website. You'll also catch a variety of items there that will not be covered on the website, including some insider information.

It's well worth a follow!
Clean Feed on Twitter.

© 2022 Clean Feed · This site is not affiliated with any broadcaster, production company or design/marketing/talent agency.

Back to top