BBC2 - Symbol and Clockfrom 31.03.1986
Easter Monday 1986, and the striped "2" was finally consigned to history. BBC2 was now represented by the word TWO; the logo was designed by Alan Jeapes, who created EastEnders' title map.
The Open Universityfrom 31.03.1986 The Open University shield takes on the new BBC2 livery. Alas the technology used to generate the OU symbol was developed in 1981, which might explain why the TWO is displayed as a 2D, monocoloured entity and not in all its 3D glory.
BBC2 Christmas1986
BBC2 goes hi-tech with the first electronically-generated Christmas symbol. The new TWO logo sits amid the winter snow, with the letters being covered and uncovered in succession.
BBC2 Closedown1987 An unusually early closedown (even for 1987) on BBC2. Before switch-off, we are told of a programme change on Radio 3.
BBC2 Christmas1987
Had Scrooge been working in the BBC Graphics department in 1987? Like its BBC1 counterpart this was nothing more than a still picture with an opening animation.
BBC2 Christmas1988
Avant-garde was the theme of the late 80s, and this Christmas symbol was certainly that! The "TWO" is shown as coloured ice and the sequence begins with a model with hair in the shape of a Christmas tree.BBC2 Christmas 1989
Christmas got even more bizarre in 1989. The amount of airtime allocated to the Christmas ident was cut from three whole days to just two days and one evening (from Christmas Eve). Our first clip presents what we think is the first showing. Next comes the medium animation, Finally, the full animated sequence, with animated characters dropping the T, W and O into place. Finally, you probably thought BBC2 abandoned its musical "picture montage" closedowns in the mid-1980s. Not so! Christmas Eve in 1989 ended with a festive song and images of the Nativity. Roger Maude wishes us a Merry Christmas.
BBC2 Closedown1990 Into the 1990s, and nothing remarkable about BBC2's closedowns. Just a straight "goodnight" then fade to black - at the time, BBC2 ended most nights with an OU programme so a closedown was not needed. This example follows a re-run of the 1966 World Cup final during the summer.
BBC2 Christmas 1990
The final non-corporate Christmas ident dispenses with the usual "TWO" logotype in favour of this more colourful version. Anyone know what this is meant to be? I'd say it looks more like a Bonfire Night symbol than a Christmas one! Once again, trail endboards were designed to link into the ident, as seen on the right. A universal Subtitles symbol was used on both channels this year.
BBC2 - Final closedown15.02.1991
Time once again for BBC2 to say goodnight. But one small thing first - Andy Cartledge announces it's goodbye to the TWO logo and "away it goes forever" before the matching clock is shown for the final time. BBC2 would never be the same again...