1997-99 1999-2003 2003-08 2008-date

When the BBC's continuous news channel launched at 5.30pm on 9th November 1997 it brought a radically different approach to BBC news presentation, making the main news on BBC1 seem staid and old-fashioned in comparison. Colourful graphics and wall decorations, and presenters reading the news in their shirt sleeves gave a more relaxed feel; however this informal approach drew much criticism in the early days.

This look lasted until October 1999 when the channel relaunched completely with the more formal BBC corporate look - and the male presenters had to put their suits back on.

The best part of the original BBC News 24 were the superb title sequences featuring colourful fictional flags...

One of the two variants of the main flags sequence used in the run up to the top of every hour. The first flag would be seen for some time wafting in the breeze, before the following eleven flash through in quick succession. A shorter version (omitting the first flag) would normally be seen at 30 and 45 minutes past the hour; this was also seen on BBC1 at the crossover point to News 24.
Watch a clip

For some inexplicable reason, sometime during News 24's first year the third flag in this sequence was replaced by this one:

The second, and lesser seen, flags sequence:

Watch this flag sequence in action

Left: an example of the menu that was often seen as part of the top of the hour sequence.

Right: there was a third flags sequence used in the early days of News 24, which I unfortunately have no recording of. The up-to-the-hour version of this one was used much less frequently than the other two. The initial flag comprised a series of blue and red vertical stripes; the remainder of the sequence was similiar to the overnight sequence (see below), finishing with this flag. By the time channel had reached its first birthday and a mini-revamp, this third sequence were dropped, because as the channel name would now be displayed in the centre of the screen (below), it would have been difficult to see on this design of flag.

When BBC News 24 joined BBC World for its overnight output, this sequence was used, in addition to the main title sequence:

Hear an early BBC News 24 trailer from 1997 (audio only)

Left: the original 1997 News 24 desk, in Studio N9 at Television Centre, with David Robertson and Chris Eakin presenting here. Middle: Gavin Esler with a bulletin in the very early days, before the clock switched to a 24 hour format. Right: for the first two years News 24 weather maps were more browned off than the familiar BBC style.

Some more early images, not seen on the channel itself, but taken from a Sky Digital trailer.

Anna Jones and Matthew Amroliwala shown here presenting in N8, News 24's home from late 1998 onwards, in the newly-built news centre in Stage VI at Television Centre. Its sister channel BBC World moved into its old studio, N9.

Left: how the news was presented overnight after the move, here with Bill Turnbull. Middle, right: a couple of shots of the BBC News centre in Stage VI. On the left, a view looking across to the BBC News 24 desk.

The late Christopher Price (above) was part of News 24's launch team, and initially presented the late night slot which attempted to mix hard news with showbiz gossip. Christopher described it as 'like conducting a slow motion car crash'.

To his relief, entertainment news was soon moved into its own dedicated slot, known as Zero 30. During the flags era the show, so named because it was shown at half past midnight, was presented from News 24's sofa area. Zero 30 quickly gained a cult following, and in May 2000 Christopher moved to BBC Choice where he hosted its successor, Liquid News.

1997-99 1999-2003 2003-08 2008-date