BBC Two 1991–2001 idents

The BBC Two 1991–2001 idents were broadcast from 16 February 1991 until 19 November 2001, and again from 9 July 2014 until 26 September 2018, on BBC Two in the United Kingdom. The idents, which consisted of a sans-serif '2' in Gill Sans, accompanied by the colour viridian,[1] were created by branding agency Lambie-Nairn[2] (and later, Red Bee Media), who also created the Channel 4 logo.

Paint, the first of this series to be broadcast and the last to be broadcast during their first run from 1991 until 2001. This was also the last to be broadcast in Northern Ireland in 2018.

The ident package was retained following the corporate rebrand of the BBC in October 1997 when a new logo and additional idents were introduced. The idents were taken out of service in November 2001, and were later revived on 21 June 2014 for "90s Night" and in July 2014, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of BBC Two. They replaced the "Window on the World" idents and were broadcast until the evening of Wednesday 26 September 2018.

Conception

The newly recruited BBC2 controller, Alan Yentob, noticed that the then-logo for the channel, which featured the word 'TWO' in red, green and blue within a white background and the 'O' being white, was affecting the reputation of BBC2. Surveys commissioned realised that most viewers thought the branding was "dull but worthy". He then decided to commission a worthy successor capable of displaying the personality of the channel, revealing his thoughts in the How Do They Do That? episode - about the idents.[1][3]

I realised there was a problem almost as soon as I took over the channel [BBC2]. It was obvious that the logo [TWO] made absolutely no impact. In fact, it was something anyone could have told you. It was singularly unmemorable, and told you nothing about the personality of the channel. So we decided to commission a corporate design company to do some research.

— Alan Yentob[4]

The idents were designed by the late branding expert Martin Lambie-Nairn,[2] and first aired on the same day as the BBC1 virtual globe ident, also designed by Lambie-Nairn as part of a corporate rebrand of both channels.

We took this '2', actually, and you think to yourself "Well, there's nothing special about this". But there is something special about this, actually. It's a very distinctive '2'. It has very sharp bits on it and it's rather nice and fat. The reason we wanted that particular '2' is because we wanted to do things with it. So, you need lots of '2', lots of body on the '2' in order to achieve that.

— Martin Lambie-Nairn

Idents

The idents featured a sans-serif '2' in a variety of different forms and environments usually accompanied by an element of the colour viridian and accompanied by a static corporate logo DOG below the '2'. Another DOG often used with the look was a small '888' legend in the top right of the screen. This meant that subtitles were available to accompany the programme on Ceefax page 888. Following the 1997 rebrand, the BBC logo was changed, with the word TWO added after the logo at the bottom of the screen. The '888' legend was also phased out in July 1999, to be replaced with 'Subtitles' following the uptake in digital television and the increased use of the new BBC Text service. A section of the TV programme How Do They Do That? that was broadcast on 15 February 1995 described how the graphics and sound of some of the idents were created.

The clock idents had been changed through years and were mainly used for closedowns and news. The first clock ident was used in February until December 1991, the second was used in December 1991 until October 1997. The clock was edited in October 1997 with the new logo. This was the last BBC Two logo to use the clock ident.

The new idents commissioned after 1997 placed less emphasis on the use of the colour viridian and the bell/harp music. Later on, as the Internet began to grow, the URL of BBC's website (www.bbc.co.uk) was included in idents on-screen from January 2000.[5] On 27 September 2018, BBC Two received a rebrand, with the sans-serif '2' symbol being retired after 27 years; a new set of idents featuring a curve motif resembling a '2' were introduced.[6][7] The last ident from this set, Optics, was aired one minute before the new set of idents were introduced.

1991–1997
TitleDescription
PaintPaint featured a white polystyrene '2' on a black and white background, splashed by a blob of viridian paint which hurtles in horizontally from the right side of the screen.[8]
WaterThis ident featured an aqua-coloured '2' on a background of the same colour, half submerged in a pool of water at a 45-degree angle.[9]
BladeBlade featured a sharp, metal '2' falling into a viridian-coloured block and impaling it on its edge, standing and wobbling.[10]
NeonA '2' on a black background is depicted with seven viridian neon lights attached to it which flash in random sequences.[11]
Copper SparksAlso known as Copper Cut-Out. As the title suggests, it featured a copper cut-out of a '2' off of which sparks flew, as the figure glowed at its edges.[12]
GlassFeatured a glass-cut '2' against a grey background, which reflected light in various directions.[13]
SilkThis ident included a swathe of viridian silk drifting over the top of a '2' shape.[14]
Paper Cut-OutPaper Cut-Out featured a completely grey, paper-like foreground, with a '2'-shaped cut-out in the middle, revealing a partly cloudy sky behind it.
Black & White Copper SparksAlso known as Black & White Copper Cut-Out. This ident was the black-and-white equivalent of the original Copper Sparks with viridian sparks flying off the '2'.
ShadowA cast shadow of a '2' rotates against a viridian wall.[15]
Water ReflectionA variation on Water, the light was altered in such a way that it cast a reflection of the water line onto the top half of the '2'.
FlowersAlso known as Garden. A circular patch of grass in the middle sprouts several white flowers that form the shape of the '2'.[16]
PowderThis featured a birds-eye view of the '2' falling onto a bed of white powder, revealing a layer of viridian powder beneath it, left streaked around the '2' as the stray particles clear away.[17]
OpticAlso known as Optics. Optic included many optical fibres of mainly viridian and green colour, swaying from side to side, initially with great momentum but slowly and eventually settling into the shape of the '2' symbol.[18]
CarA viridian '2' with an aerial moves about on wheels in a yellow studio, in the same manner as a remote-controlled car.[19]
Jumping DogAlso known as Dog. This ident included a fluffy mint green '2' whirring, yapping and doing back flips in the manner of a toy mechanical dog on the same mint green table against the shaded-red background.[20]
BalloonBalloon featured a silver, helium-filled balloon in the shape of a '2' bobbing around gently in a fixed spot.
Crystal BallA crystal ball passes over an ethereal-looking surface, revealing a silhouette in the shape of a '2'.
FirecrackerThis ident featured a viridian '2' on a rusty-looking brown desk, with live firecrackers attached to it, which then explode.[21]
DiaryThis ident featured a white '2' on a black background, with paper layers peeling off and drifting away.[22]
SteamWater droplets fall onto a viridian-coloured, metallic '2' of extremely hot temperature, turning into steam.[23]

1997–2001
TitleDescription
AerialAerial featured a dark green '2' with aerials attached to it in a red studio, appearing in random places between flashes of static, before finally appearing in the centre of the screen.
Toy DucksAlso known as Duck. This ident depicted a soapy setting, from which a yellow '2' emerges and floats.[24]
Paint PotIn a parody of the original Paint ident, a silver paint pot is bombarded by lots of little viridian '2's, once again falling sideways.[25]
Zapper and FlyAlso known simply as Zapper. This featured a fly running into a fly zapper in the shape of a '2' upon a wall.[26]
GorillaThere were three variations on this ident. A gorilla stands up a yellow '2' in one, knocks it over in the second and walks past it in the third.
SwanIntroduced at the start of 1998, it featured three grey '2's, resembling cygnets, swimming past a swan, which shakes its head shortly after.[27]
DalekBlack and white Daleks in the shape of '2's move through a grey corridor.[28]
ExcaliburExcalibur featured a cerulean-blue '2' rising from a pool of water sideways.[29]
CatalystCatalyst features a turquoise polystyrene '2' on a black and dark teal background, in this ident, a bunch of liquid droplets fly in from the top right corner of the screen and cause flames to flare up around the '2' on contact.[30]
WaveThis featured a dark cyan '2' within a shaded-white background and a sheet of blue liquid that splashes around it throughout.[31]
PredatorPredator begins centered on a '2'-shaped butterfly sitting within a jungle environment. The camera then zooms out, and the '2' is gobbled up by a larger green '2' in the form of a Venus flytrap.[32]
KebabKebab has a '2' made of meat roasting on a kebab spit, spinning around in flames.[33]
WoodpeckerThis ident depicted five metal poles, of varying distance, against an orange background, with '2's descending down the poles.[34]
Wave NightA variation on Wave. with a darker background and liquid pool, with a bright cyan '2'.[35]
WarpThis ident depicted the '2' warping and twisting in a variety of ways. It ultimately went unused for being too abstract.[36]

References
  1. "BBC Two | 1991 Idents". TVARK. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  2. Lambie-Nairn, Martin (1997). Brand Identity for Television: With Knobs On. Phaidon. p. 129. ISBN 9780714834474.
  3. Lambie-Nairn, Martin (1997). Brand Identity for Television with knobs on. London: Phaidon. p. 122. ISBN 9780714834474.
  4. Lambie-Nairn, Martin (1997). Brand Identity for Television with knobs on. London: Phaidon. p. 112. ISBN 9780714834474.
  5. "Our Work Archive". Lambie-Nairn.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2007.
  6. "BBC Two to get first full rebrand since early 90s". The Guardian. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  7. "BBC Two rebrands for first time in 20 years". Design Week. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  8. "1991 BBC2 - Rebrand Paint ident".
  9. "1991 BBC2 - Rebrand Water ident".
  10. "1991 BBC2 - Rebrand Blade ident".
  11. "1991 BBC2 - Rebrand Neon ident".
  12. "1991 BBC2 - Rebrand Copper Sparks ident".
  13. "1991 BBC2 - Rebrand Glass ident".
  14. "1991 BBC2 - Rebrand Silk ident".
  15. "1991 BBC2 - Rebrand Shadow ident".
  16. "BBC2 Flowers ident (1991)".
  17. "BBC2 Powder ident (1992)".
  18. "BBC2 Optic ident (1992)".
  19. "BBC Two Car ident (1993)".
  20. "BBC2 Jumping Dog ident (1992)".
  21. "Firecracker - ident (1993)".
  22. "BBC2 Diary ident (1995)".
  23. "BBC2 Steam ident (1995)".
  24. "BBC2 Toy Ducks ident 1 (1997)".
  25. "BBC2 Paint Pot ident (1997)".
  26. "BBC2 Zapper and Fly ident (1997)".
  27. "BBC2 Toy Ducks ident 5 (1998)".
  28. "BBC Two Winter - Daleks ident (2000)".
  29. "BBC TWO Winter - Excalibur Ident (2000)".
  30. "BBC TWO Winter - Catalyst Ident (2000)".
  31. "BBC Two Winter - Wave ident (2000)".
  32. "BBC TWO Winter - Predator Ident (2000)".
  33. "BBC TWO Winter - Kebab Ident (2000)".
  34. "BBC Two Winter - Woodpecker ident (2000)".
  35. "BBC Two Winter - Wave ident (2000)".
  36. "BBC Two Winter - Warp ident (2000)".
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