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

Clean Feed

  • Timeline
  • News
  • Opinion
  • PresWatch
  • Bloopers
  • News+
  • Resources
  • Rewind
  • Showreel
  • Studio A
  • Pres Café
  • TV Pres

Edward Barnes: the man behind the introduction of in-vision links for children

Posted on 22nd September 2021 by Andrew Nairn
Last updated on 22nd September 2021 Filed under Opinion

Richard Marson’s obituary of Edward Barnes shines some light on the introduction of the Children’s BBC strand in 1985. The obituary, published in the Daily Telegraph, confirms he lobbied Michael Grade on this.

Mr Barnes – a hugely distinguished head of the children’s department – was said to be unhappy about the staid presentation linking the department’s afternoon output.

Until 1985, of course, children’s programmes were introduced by the regular announcer and ident.

To be fair, some like Malcolm Eynon and Richard Straker went to some effort to sound friendly and less formal during children’s programmes.

Others though could adopt a tone which jarred with the friendly and informal nature of the programmes. An example on YouTube from the summer holiday mornings of 1985 seems like a classic example of oil and water failing to mix.

Other circumstances may also, perhaps, have helped force the issue.

In 1983 ITV, under IBA pressure, bolstered its afternoon children’s output. It was extended, properly networked and branded as Children’s ITV. The introduction of BBC Micro graphics on BBC One a year later was a mere tweak in comparison.

Then in September 1984 the introduction of the Six o’Clock News meant that children’s programmes lost their traditional bookend. Some days children’s programmes ran until 6pm, some days they ended at 5.30pm and on other days they finished after Newsround.

It could look as if repeats of The Good Life or Star Trek were being shown as children’s programmes. The need for clearer signposting was obvious.

Not everyone in Presentation was a fan of the introduction of Children’s BBC.  There is also an argument that using normal presentation may have helped retain some older viewers though, of course, the output was made only with children in mind.

But it soon proved to be yet another of Edward Barnes’ inspired moves. In the press release announcing the launch of the strand it was described as “giftwrapping” for children.

What a nice way to describe the presentation of the output of a department which, at its best, provided “gifts” to so many children which they cherish the memory of decades later.

Related

Acknowledgements

Related

FEATURE IMAGE:

PICTURED: CBBC ident (1985). 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, CBBC, Edward Barnes

Dates for the Diary

3rd April 2023: BBC News Channel and BBC World News merge.

November/December 2023: World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-23).

Q1 2024: SD versions of BBC channels close on satellite.

2024: BBC Four and CBBC go online-only.

2024: BBC Radio 4 Extra goes online-only.

Don’t Miss Out – Follow Us on Twitter

Our Twitter account will usually report the latest broadcast-related events shortly after they've happened and ahead of the website. You'll also catch a variety of items there that will not be covered on the website.
Clean Feed on Twitter.

Latest updates over on: Rewind

E4 continuity including service promotion for Film4 and programme promotion for The Sopranos (9th May 2001)

E4 continuity including service promotion for Film4 and programme promotion for The Sopranos (9th May 2001)

TV 3 continuity followed by Ireland AM (edits) (2 clips) (10th May 2001)

TV 3 continuity followed by Ireland AM (edits) (2 clips) (10th May 2001)

Wodehouse Playhouse closing, UK Drama continuity including programme promotions for Strathblair and Miss Marple (2 clips) (9th May 2001)

Wodehouse Playhouse closing, UK Drama continuity including programme promotions for Strathblair and Miss Marple (2 clips) (9th May 2001)

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

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

Back to top