1960s
BBC South West At Six1961
How it all began. BBC South West's first daily news magazine was South West At Six, hosted by Sheila Tracey. Sheila can be heard these days on Radio 2.
The programme changed its name to Spotlight on September 30th 1963.
1980s
Spotlight1981
This is how Spotlight introduced itself in the early 1980s, when BBC regional news was incorporated into "Nationwide". Click here for a real treat - this clip is not an off-air recording but comes from the original telecine.
Spotlight Car Visor Promotion1981
Everybody's doing it...displaying Spotlight car stickers, that is. Donald Heighway tells you how to get yours here, plus other Spotlight goodies.
BBC Spotlight - Christopher Slade Promo1983
Christopher Slade presents a regional news bulletin in the mid-80s; the viewer looks on from the sidelines. Not exactly sure what this film was meant to be though - was it designed for transmission?
Spotlight Sport and News1986
the Saturday teatime sports round-up. Preceded by the BBC1 SW mirror globe (sorry about the quality).
Spotlight1984 and 1986
1983 saw the launch of Sixty Minutes, an American-style news programme to replace the previous 5:40pm news slot. In a proto-corporate look, the regional news magazines adopted the Sixty Minutes theme music as they were shown during the new programme. But Sixty Minutes was not popular and was axed in favour of The Six O'Clock News in August 1984. Spotlight retained the music, and the titles remained unchanged barring the removal of the Sixty Minutes logo.
Breakfast Spotlight - The Great Storm16.10.1987
That hurricane (the one Michael Fish said wouldn't happen) caused chaos across London, and BBC1 was unable to show Breakfast Time. So at 7am the late Donald Heighway popped up to tell us what was going on.1987 - 1989
Spotlight1988
It was all hi-tech for Spotlight, with the first computer-generated titles introduced in 1987. This edition is from the following year, and Juliette Morris replaces Sue King who has defected to TSW.1989 - 1991
Spotlight1990 This look was introduced in 1989.
Just two years later Spotlight got a new look, and new theme tune. The BBC1 globe was dumped in favour of the Spotlight logo, at least for a time.
1991 - 1992
Spotlight1991
Presented by Russell Labey and Teresa Driscoll.
Spotlight's identity crisis continued. The titles were revised again in 1991.
BBC Spotlight Afternoon News1991
This sting could be seen during BBC2's afternoon news bulletins; a still was used for BBC1's hourly morning reports.
Martin Stanford now works with Sky News.
1992 - 1999
BBC Spotlight1993
Presented by Russell Labey and Teresa Driscoll.
In late 1992, Spotlight again relaunched itself and adopted a lighthouse as its symbol. The result was this great sequence which truly reflected the region.
BBC Spotlight - D-Day Anniversary1994
Forty years on from the D-Day landings in Normandy, Spotlight poignantly looks back as veterans remember. And the usual theme music is not considered appropriate.
BBC Spotlight Morning Summary1995
Presented by Matthew Hill.
The 10am bulletin - still using a slide as its intro.
BBC Spotlight 35th Anniversary1996
Presented by Russell Labey and Teresa Driscoll.
A special programme to mark 35 years of the BBC's most successful regional news programme, which included interviews with former presenters including the late Jill Dando.
1999 - 2000
BBC Spotlight11.02.1999
Presented by Russell Labey and Natalie Cornah.
Variation on a theme - the Spotlight logotype changed in February 1999 but the lighthouse remained. The new sequence was accompanied by a great orchestral score.
2000 - 2002
Spotlight2000 A generic look for the BBC's regional news programmes was being rolled out during 1999 and 2000. Spotlight tried to resist adopting the corporate look, but without success and it launched in the South West in May 2000.
BBC Spotlight - Vote 2001 Special2001
Presented by Teresa Driscoll and Justin Leigh.
Analysis of the local results in the June general election. 14:9.
Spotlight2002
Presented by Justin Leigh and Teresa Driscoll.
Following the departure of Russell Labey in 2001, Justin Leigh joins Teresa as regular presenter.
2002 - 2006
Spotlight17.09.2002 Presented by Andy Breare and Teresa Driscoll.
Another generic look from 16 September. The titles are similar to those of BBC London and feature local landmarks including the world-famous Eden Project.
BBC Spotlight Channel Islands Promo2003
Finally, the Channel Islands gets its own BBC News service. As this promo explains.
Visit the separate BBC Channel Islands pages on TVARK for more.
Spotlight11.05.2004
Presented by Justin Leigh and Teresa Driscoll.
The titles are the same but not the set - updated in line with the main BBC News studio in London. And a more regimented startup routine which also has more in common with national news procedure.
Spotlight20.05.2004
Presented by Justin Leigh and Teresa Driscoll.
A week later, and Teresa is live from the Devon County Show in Exeter. So too is Craig Rich - although now officially retired (he handed over the reigns to David Braine in late 2003) he still pops up occasionally when David is on holiday.
2006 - 2008
Spotlight02.05.2006 Presented by Andy Breare and Victoria Graham.
The lighthouse is back! Six years after being forced to adopt the BBC's corporate news identity, Spotlight has managed to resurrect its lighthouse motif that was so popular in the 1990s. It just goes to show that a generic look CAN be customised without losing its feel. However, Spotlight is believed to be the only English region to have done this.
Victoria Graham is now the main female anchor, following the departure of Teresa Driscoll in 2005.
Spotlight Late News Bulletin02.05.2006
Presented by Sophie Long.
More of the resurrected lighthouse in the late bulletin.
Spotlight2007 Another edition slightly later from 2007.
Left clip - opening Right clip - closing sequence.
2008 - Present
BBC Spotlight Lunchtime News21.04.2008 Presented by Jenny Walrond.
A major makeover for all BBC News services in 2008, bringing with it a radical new look for the local news programmes. Would Spotlight's famous lighthouse survive? See for yourself...
BBC Spotlight21.04.2008 Presented by Justin Leigh and Victoria Graham.
The same studio, but sporting all the latest graphics. Top stories; the death of a hotel guest in Newquay and mounting opposition to plans to relocate healthcare services.
BBC Spotlight Late News21.04.2008
Presented by Victoria Graham.
A final look at the local news on the first day of Spotlight's makeover.