BBC Two 2015 with 90s idents

I think with the silence surrounding any BBC ident this Christmas for both BBC1 and BBC2, there is a strong chance that both channels will be repeating Christmas idents. Last year BBC2 showed the 1998 ident alongside 2011's so perhaps they will just show a remastered version of the 1998 BBC2 Christmas Ident this year. And, BBC1 could show their 1998 ones too!

Well I doubt BBC One will bring back anything older than 2006, but if they were, 1998 would be a good choice as the baubel is generic enough not to be associated too closely with the balloon. It's not the most exciting of the 1997-2001 idents though. The best are probably 1999 and 2001.

You've made a fair point about possible ident recycling this Christmas. However, I personally think that the lack of information about any new festive BBC idents is probably because:-

(a) It's only just turned November

(b) Those "in the know" will be keeping it a secret because they have been told to.

I wasn't aware that BBC2's 1998 one was aired last Christmas. Presumably that was during the Afternoon Classics strand?

I honestly think BBC1 will have something new for us this year. They've only ever recycled their Christmas idents on 2 occasions in 2003 (the snowflake kids from 2002) and 2007 (the snowball ident from the previous year).

I'd rather not know yet anyway. We'll only have to wait 4 weeks until the first Christmas trails start airing and the endboards on those will be likely to give us a clue about the ident.

1998 is realistically the only one out of the Balloons era they could bring back. They could bring back 1997 which were nice enough (apart from the garish orange) but unfortunately I don't think these were made in Widescreen?

As a cost saving exercise, this would work in the Beebs favour. 2006 etc. I think are too early to reuse (though this never stopped them in 2003!).

I don't think it was exclusively used for the Afternoon Classics. I recall seeing it before repeats of Andrew Marr's History/Making of Modern Britain from 2007/2009.


I would have thought the 2006 onwards idents would be perfectly acceptable to re-use as they all have the current branding (logo, jingle etc). I know BBC Two reused the 1998 ident with the original logo but wasn't that because it was the 50th anniversary year?

Double post I know, but really, how lovely is it that it's 2015 yet I can put on Newsnight and see 'Silk' playing out before? I want a rebrand as much as the next person but it's also really nice to see TV Forum's other collective dream of seeing the 1991 idents used once more.

I like how its 2015 and I can turn into Newsnight and get Woodpeacker, and no that isn't one off!

Since the network has brought back scary, does that mean we might see pop up else where now for film etc?

I actually hate how it's 2015 and we're seeing idents from the 90s. For me it's beginning to ruin their legacy and it really is a sad state of affairs for BBC2.

They've changed the BBC TWO iPlayer sting again - this time to a snippet from the Autumnwatch trail.

FFS..... Do you hear yourself sometimes? Do you actually READ what you post and think "Yes, that's a sensible and well-thought-out contribution to this thread"?

How can using design classics which have stood the test of time, a range of idents that mix humour, style, solemnity and individuality, that are memorable and publically recognisable outside of the presthusiast community, be DETRIMENTAL to a channel's legacy? I'd agree if they were reusing the yellow "personality" Twos, but they're not. They're using quite simply and undeniably the best set of idents BBC2 has ever had. Some here may be itching for something new, and balk at the idea of recycling, but to be brutally honest those opinions are null, moot and irrelevant.

FFS..... Do you hear yourself sometimes? Do you actually READ what you post and think "Yes, that's a sensible and well-thought-out contribution to this thread"?

Yes, yes and yes.