TV & Radio Bits - BBC Television Idents

Such was the 2's popularity, that the idents did not change when the usual six-year cycle was up. Instead, on 4th October 1997 - the same day that the BBC1 balloon was launched - the BBC2 idents continued with the addition of the new corporate logo.

Several new variants were added to the playlist, however. From now on, new idents would be made in widescreen, while the existing ones were converted to the new format. A few of the older idents were taken out of use. Another new set debuted on New Year's Day 2000, and even more were withdrawn - and by the time of their tenth anniversary, just four originals remained - Paint, Blade, Water and Neon.

Many of these idents are now available as video clips. Hover the pointer over each image for more information about the ident.

Oct 1997-Nov 2001. The 2's finally get their own back on the paint pot...

Paint Pot

Zapper

Oct 1997-Nov 2001. The channel logotype changed from white to black in June 2000 when the URL was added

Duck

Aerial

Oct 1997-Nov 2001. There are two variants, Gorilla Shadow and Gorilla Tantrum. Originally used for the Animal Zone only, they went on to become general idents Jan 1998-Nov 2001. Oddly appeared some three months after the other new idents

Gorilla

Swan

Nov 1999-Nov 2001. Originating from 'Doctor Who Night', it remarkably found use as a general ident and remained on the playlist for two years - but the BBC URL was never added Jan 2000-Nov 2001. This batch, introduced on New Year's Day 2000, were the first to have the URL added; the older idents followed suit in June 2000. Sadly, no fewer than five of the pre-1997 idents (including most of the best ones!) were dropped to make way for this new set

Dalek

Woodpecker

Jan 2000-Nov 2001 Jan 2000-Nov 2001. This ident is reminiscent of Glass, one of the very early '2's

Predator

Excalibur

Jan 2000-Nov 2001. It was known as 'Wave' until Sep 2000 when 'Wave Night' was introduced

Wave Day

Catalyst

Jan 2000-Nov 2001. There are three variants, but all were shown rarely in 2001 Sep 2000-Nov 2001. The final '2' to join the regular playlist

Kebab

Wave Night

These old favourites continued to be seen beyond October 1997 until New Year's Eve 1999.

Feb 1991-Dec 1999 Nov 1993-Dec 1999

Feb 1995-Dec 1999

And these pre-1997 idents continued in use until the very end.

Feb 1991-Nov 2001

Feb 1991-Nov 2001

Nov 1992-Nov 2001

Nov 1993-Nov 2001

Watch a tribute to the BBC2 idents (Some viewers may find this video a little upsetting...)

The idents Other presentation

The final day of the 2s

Sadly, after nearly eleven years in service, BBC bosses decided it was time for a change, and so on Sunday 18th November 2001 the old '2' idents were shown for the final time. For the record, the idents shown on network BBC2 on the final day of the old '2's were as follows:

6.45am Powder (CBBC)
11.20 Dog (Rex the Runt)
11.30 Car (Robot Wars Extreme)
12.15pm Zapper (Roswell High)
12.55 Powder (Turning Points)
1.00 Blade (Metropol)
1.30 Neon (Sunday Grandstand)
5.15 Swan (Wild)
6.45 Wave Day (Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em)
7.15 Neon (Correspondent)

8.00 Powder (Egypt's Golden Empire)
8.50 Excalibur (The Planets - Brief Encounters)
9.00 Paint (Horror in the East part 1)
9.50 Water (Horror in the East part 2)
10.40 Predator (Room 101)
11.10 Duck (Aaagh! It's the Mr Hell Show)
11.35 Gorilla Tantrum (Rex the Runt)
11.45 Aerial (Later...with Jools Holland)
12.50am Paint (The Set Up)

The next day, the '2' was still there - but the idents had changed drastically...

Back to 1991-97 Forward to 2001-07

Visit the official BBC2 website

TV & Radio Bits acknowledges that the copyright on the images and video clips on this page belongs to the British Broadcasting Corporation. This site has no connection with any broadcaster