Radios 1-3 Radios 4-7

BBC RADIO 4

Radio 4 took over from the Home Service in 1967, and there was concern that the renaming of the channel appeared to 'downgrade it from its long-established flagship status'. To help ease the transition, for the first two years the network was announced as 'The Home Service on Radio 4'.

Early/mid 1980s

The big red '4' was used as Radio 4's logo throughout much of the 1980s. The image here is a re-creation.

Late 1980s

By the late 80s, the network had apparently been renamed 'Radio Radio Radio Radio 4'!

1990-94

Radio 4's take on the 1990 look. BBC Radio Wales and Cymru also had new logos based around this corporate look; Radios Scotland, Ulster and all the English local stations continued to use logos each in their own individual style.

1994-97

Radio 5 Live launched in 1994, and the other networks, including Radio 4, all decided to take the opportunity to refresh their logos as well. I think this one's very stylish!

1997-98

Radio 4 followed the all-new corporate image in October 1997, but this original version which simply featured the titles of some of its most popular programmes didn't last very long at all! In fact I didn't see it anywhere other than in the Radio Times...

1998-2001

In early 1998 Radio 4 changed to probably the most clever of the BBC radio logos. Very simple, it features two sets of light bulbs - symbolising 'ideas' - which sit each side of the lettering acting as speech marks, Radio 4 being the BBC's flagship speech network. Well that's the way I interpreted it anyway...

2001-07

This simple, but classy, Radio 4 logo was introduced early in 2001.

2007-

Radio 4 returned to the concept of the quote mark as part of Fallon's July 2007 revamp. Apparently this logo 'keeps mature listeners happy but feels contemporary'. What?!

BBC RADIO 5/5 LIVE

Radio 5 launched in August 1990 as a network dedicated to sport, education, children's programmes, and all the other junk the other networks didn't want. Its logo followed the new look introduced to the other four networks earlier in the year. And yes, I think the lettering is supposed to be wonky!

1994-97

Radio 5 didn't last long - but the BBC's original plans for a continuous news network never quite happened, and instead the news and sport hybrid of Radio 5 Live took to the airwaves.

1997-2000

5 Live's version of the corporate logo could be seen in various forms - the five pointed stars shown here, five boxes, or just a diagonal line. The colour scheme appeared to vary between yellow-and-red and yellow-and-pink.

2000-07

R5 was the first of the five networks to break away from the corporate look with a new logo emphasising the rhyming nature of the name.

2007-

The figure '5' returned to the logo in July 2007, supposedly designed to give network a 'contemporary feel'. The spin-off station, 5 Live Sports Extra, has a similar logo, but in green which is associated with sport, apparently.

BBC 6 MUSIC

The BBC's first new national music station for 35 years began on 11th March 2002, and is available, like the other BBC networks, via DAB digital radio, digital television and over the internet. This logo is sometimes seen in black and white.

2007-date

6 Music's latest logo is apparently based on the circular shape of vinyl or the iPod wheel. But despite the fact that this logo now reads 'BBC Radio 6 Music', as does your DAB radio display, the name of the station in fact remains as 'BBC 6 Music'. Absurd or what?

BBC 7

The BBC's final new digital radio station was, rather confusingly, named simply BBC 7 (as opposed to the more logical 'BBC Radio 7'). The station launched at 8.00pm on 15th December 2002, reviving classic comedy and drama, along with childrens programming. And I do rather like this clever logo!

2007-date

The smiling mouth idea makes it through to BBC 7's latest logo, though, as with 6 Music, despite the fact that the word 'Radio' has appeared on the logo (and on the DAB display), don't be so foolish as to believe the station is now called 'BBC Radio 7'...

1XTRA

1Xtra is another new digital radio station from the BBC, playing black/urban/street music. It launched at 6.00pm on 16th August 2002. The logo is derived from that of its parent station, Radio 1, and likewise could appear either as white on black, or black on white.

2007-date

1Xtra's logo remains little changed as part of the 2007 update; note the 'play' symbol formed between the '1' and the 'X'. But it still isn't called 'BBC Radio 1Xtra'!

BBC ASIAN NETWORK

The BBC Asian Network began life as a full time station in 1996 across the Midlands, using the AM frequencies of Radios Leicester and WM. It went nationwide on 28th October 2002 as part of the year-long rollout of the BBC's digital radio stations.

2007-date

One of the better logos of the 2007 revamp, though the marketing blurb behind it is again rather obscure - the fabric design is supposed to refer to heritage and works for youth. Hmmm...