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BBC 2 Idents 1998 - 2001
Six of the original 11 idents are still in use, but their numbers have been swelled by numerous additions over the years. Here we present the complete current set of regular idents BBC2 currently in use.
If anyone can
help with the missing dates, when idents were introduced, please
get in touch.
The contents of this site are discussed in mhp-chat
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No. 1 - Water The "2" is inserted into water at a 45 degree angle. The camera is then rotated by a similar amount. The reflection variation o fthis has now been withdrawn. Introduced : 16 Feb 1991 |
| No. 2 -
"Copper Cut-Out" Sparks flying off a metallic "2". The black and white variation of this has now been withdrawn. Introduced : 16 Feb 1991 |
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No. 3 -
"Paint" The "2" gets a can of paint thrown on it. The camera is on its side, and the paint is dropped vertically. Introduced : 16 Feb 1991 |
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"Blade" A menacing "2" drops in to view, piercing the blue and wobbling from the impact. Introduced : 16 Feb 1991 |
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No. 5 -
"Sign" also known as "Neon" Flashing Neon bulbs. There are seven bulbs, leading to 5040 possible combinations. I have yet to see the sequence repeat, and I am unlikely to, as only 50 seconds was recorded. Introduced : 16 Feb 1991 |
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"Silk" A sheet of silk hovers over the "2" leaving the visible impression seen right: Introduced : 16 Feb 1991 |
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"Optic" Fibre optic cables sway vigourously, slowly settling to reveal the shape of a "2" This is the post- new logo version. Introduced : Nov 92 ? |
| "Dog" This fluffy squeaky toy "2" yaps away before doing a quick somersault. It has since been updated with the new logo. Introduced : Around 1995 |
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"Steam" This ident features water droplets falling onto a hot "2", evaporating into steam. It is accompanied by a soundtrack that starts off quiet but turns into loud bells half-way through. Unfortunately it has usually been faded down for the announcer by then. Introduced : Around 1995
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| "Diary" Sheets of "2" fly upwards towards the camera. It is all done with hidden strings, but it proved impossible to film the whole sequence without the strings getting tangled. Therefore they filmed four sheets, and then looped the tape, giving the impression of a perpetual stream of sheets flying towards the camera. Introduced : 1995 |
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"Powder" The "2" drops into white powder revealing the viridion blue powder underneath. As the "2" falls, different coloured lights make it appear to change colour between red, blue and yellow. Introduced : Unknown |
| "Firecracker" An explosive introduction to BBC2. The firecrackers explode in sequence, causing the base "2" to be thrown about in different directions. A hidden cable stops the "2" from being blown away completely, and there is one firecracker remaining that does not explode. Introduced : Unknown |
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"Car" This radio controlled car in the shape of a "2" whizzes across the screen, going in and out of view, int he foreground and background, in all directions. Introduced : Unknown |
The launch of the BBC's new logo in October 1997 led to all the existing idents having their "B B C" logo replaced with the new "BBC TWO" caption. It also gave them a good excuse to throw out the balloon (couldn't have balloons on both channels!) and the black and white version of the copper cut-out. In their place came four new idents, "Duck", "Zapper", "Paint Pot" and "Aerial".
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"Duck" The first of the new, a yellow rubber duck launching from underneath the water and then bouncing in a sea of bubbles. The soundtrack features the sound of water and bubbles, with the "2" giving a two-tone squeak once on the surface. There are currently two short animations based on this character, my favourite has the little "2" squeaking the Jaws theme as it swims through the bubbles. Introduced : 04 Oct 97 |
| "Aerial" Distorted pictures as the set is tuned in with the image appearing in the wrong positions before eventually revealing the "2" with an aerial on it's head. Introduced : 04 Oct 97 |
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"Paint
Pot" A play on "Paint", small blue "2"s fly in from the right bouncing off the Paint Pot. Introduced : 04 Oct 97 |
| "Zapper" One of the most amusing, this features a fly attracted to the fluorescent fly zapper. However when the fly flies in, the zapper is zapped and the fly survives. Introduced 04 Oct 97 |
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"Swan"
or "Swan Going Home" A new addition to the family, the serene white Swan watches bemused as the three little "2"s swim by from right to left and then leave view. Introduced : 19 Jan 1998
at 13:10 |
| Learning Zone
2 (not
official title) The New "Learning Zone" This features small acorns turning into mighty oaks. The "BBC TWO" on screen graphic remains during the programmes unfortunately. Introduced : 05 Oct 97 |
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BBC2 Clock We end with the current BBC2 clock, which has a larger face than the pre-logo change one |
This page will not be updated with further BBC2 idents, but we have teamed up with The TV Room, who will be continuing the good work of cataloguing BBC2 Presentation.
Last Update 06 Apr 2000