The idents Other presentation A new era for BBC1 dawned at 9.00am on 29th March 2002, as we waved goodbye to the balloon after just four-and-a-half years. But more significantly, in a highly controversial move, the famous globe emblem, which proudly symbolised the BBC's main channel for no less than 39 years was also ditched, in favour of a bunch of dancers and absurd political correctness. The idents, loosely linked by the theme of 'rhythm and movement', were filmed at various locations across the UK, apart from Maasai, which was filmed in Africa by the 'Big Cat Diary' team. Hover the pointer over each image for more information about the idents, performers and locations. Most of the idents are available here as video clips.
 
Capoeira 
 
Acrobats
 
Festival
 
Ballet
 
Salsa
 
Hip Hop
 
Haka
 
Tapdogs
 
Music Video
 
Bollywood
 
Tango
 
Tai Chi
 
Tai Chi (Rotation)
 
Skateboarders
 
Maasai
 
Tumbler Original version Read the Guestbook for the story behind the Acrobats ident from the man who invented it! The idents Other presentation
Despite the idents' continuing unpopularity, the BBC doggedly stuck with them, with a further seven being added to the original eight, until August 2005 when incoming BBC1 controller Peter Fincham told the Edinburgh International Television Festival that "we are looking at those...it may well be that the time is coming to look at a new way of doing it." Thirteen months later, at the end of September 2006, ident fans everywhere finally heaved a sigh of relief as the dancers' imminent demise was at last announced - though unfortunately slightly too late, for they were to outlast the balloons by just over two weeks. A travesty in no uncertain terms. The dancers bowed out on at 1.10am on Saturday 7th October 2006, with a montage of all the idents, save for the withdrawn Haka and Tai Chi Rotation, finishing with the seldom seen Ballet. BBC1 was changing again, and this time was going back to the future... | 
