1997
The Lambie-Nairn team created the latest BBC1 ident. Featuring a hot air balloon, with the distinctive BBC1 globe pattern printed on it. Filmed over six weeks during July97 the red and yellow hot-air balloon was shot at 10 locations around the UK including London's Canary Wharf, Scotland's Forth Bridge, Cardiff's City Hall and Northern Ireland's Grey Abbey. In all 47 different idents were produced.
As part of the £500,000 project, the balloon was shot from a helicopter by cameraman Simon Werry.
"..the pace of change within the broadcasting industry now means that BBC1 needs an identity which is more flexible and appealing. The globe has always been associated with the BBC's flagship channel and the choice of a hot air balloon seemed to us an imaginative way of emphasising the universal appeal of BBC1. Alan Yentob Director of Television
BBC One Globe - First TX04.10.97
Up Up and away - BBC1 launches a flying globe. Saturday 4th October 1997 marked a new era in BBC1's history. To coincide with the launch of the BBC's new corporate logo, the familiar revolving globe was banished after 34 years. In its place was the globe-shaped hot air balloon, sailing over various locations in the UK.
Here are the idents used that first morning:
Snowdon - 7:05am04.10.97 Snowdon - 7:24am
04.10.97 Cardiff - 7:30am
04.10.97 Scottish River - 12:12pm
04.10.97
BBC One Clock - First TX04.10.97
Since 1993 there had been a move away from station clocks and fans were concerned BBC1 had decided to take this route. In 1991 the clock appeared before the new globe. But we needn't have worried; the new clock appeared at 5:20pm complete with the familiar tones of Andy Cartledge.
Right clip - another example of the clock from the same month
more examples of the balloon in action here from 1997 - 2001...
BBC One Balloon Ident1997 BBC One Balloon Ident
1997 BBC One Balloon Ident
1999 BBC One Balloon Ident
2001
BBC One Balloon Ident2000 BBC One Balloon Ident
2000 BBC One Balloon Ident
2000 BBC One Balloon Ident
2000
BBC1 Christmas1997
As BBC1 no longer had a single ident, it was logical that there would be multiple Christmas symbols too. The theme for 1997 was "The Twelve Days Of Christmas", and to start with here's that partridge and his pear tree, then Five Gold Rings: A young gymnast, her face not visible in this sequence, spins not five but two gold rings on her arm.
BBC1 Christmas1997
Eight Maids A-Milking: Well only one actually! And it's a good job she's standing still as there's something of a tempest inside that milk churn!The balloons in widescreen
There were no less than 47 variations of the BBC1 balloon. All are filmed in widescreen though viewers could not see them as such until October 1998. The balloon collection is divided into four sets - English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh. Below is a selection from the original 47.
Scottish 7 (Forth Bridge)1998 Scottish 10 (Forth Bridge)
1998 Scottish 11 (Eilean Donan Castle)
1998
1998
BBC1 Widescreen Clockfrom 01.10.1998 And with widescreen idents came the 16:9 clock. Although identical in looks to the 4:3 version, this one used different software and the minute hand moved just once a minute. In some regions it moved every 15 seconds.
BBC One Identsfrom October 1998
One year after the balloon made its debut, a further four idents were added to the collection. And with digital TV now launched, viewers could now see the balloons in widescreen!
English 18 (St Michael's Mount)1998 English 19 (Blackpool Tower)
1998 Irish 9 (Dunluce Castle)
1998
BBC One Christmas1998 Digital television has arrived, and with it, the first 16: 9 Christmas ident! There were four variations featuring a large red bauble amidst a gentle flurry of snow.
1999
BBC One's collection of balloons continued to grow in 1999, and were changing in style slightly. Not content with hovering over deserted landscapes, the balloon would now drop in on people about their business. Left: The Angel of the North, Gateshead.
English 20 (Angel Of The North)1998 Scottish 12 (Armadillo Building)
1998 Welsh 14 (Second Severn Bridge)
1998
BBC One - Solar Eclipse Ident1999
The main event of Summer 1999 was a total eclipse of the sun, the first in Britain since 1926. BBC1 got in the spirit with this very original balloon. But why did they bother, you might say, as it was not used to introduce the channel's live eclipse coverage.
BBC One - Walking With Dinosaurs Ident1999
In celebration of the groundbreaking documentary series, the balloon demonstrates its ability to time-travel. Unfortunately the ident did not appear when the series was repeated a year later.
BBC One - Christmas Ident1999
A holographic Santa Claus rings in the new millennium. This is a clean (but not full) version - listen out for his "ho ho ho"!2000
BBC One Ident - Bungee2000
A new quartet of BBC One idents were first shown in April 2000 and signalled a change of tack for the balloon. Instead of flying over specific locations, the globe hovered over footage of people at work and play. It was even hijacked by a bungee jumper!
BBC One Football / Euro 2000 Ident2000
The universal language of football brings viewers flocking to BBC One during June and July. Perhaps the sight of our favourite balloon prevents this goalie from saving the ball!
BBC One Olympics Ident2000
During the period of the BBC balloon, BBC1 sometimes had the balloon flying over places where major events were taking place. In this case, to mark the 2000 Olympic Games, the globe was pictures flying over Sydney Opera House.
BBC One Christmas2000
One of the most magical BBC1 Christmas idents. Above a wintry skyline, Santa drops presents from the balloon which sail down to earth on parachutes. A great musical score for full orchestra too.2001
BBC One - Blue Planet Ident2001
To mark BBC One's groundbreaking nature series "Blue Planet", BBC One adds another balloon to the collection. The globe is filmed underwater from a shark-infested sea, haunting sound effects give a great dramatic feel.
Christmas Ident - Dog (full 30 seconds)2001 It might look like one ident...but there are three subtle variations! A cosy indoor setting shows the balloon flying past the window. In the foreground a dinosaur, Del-Boy's Robin Reliant and a toy dog float on balloons. In each variation, one character plays to the camera while the others drift on by.
These well-received idents were designed by Aardman Animations, creators of Wallace and Gromit - and directed by Stefan Marjoram. They were also the first BBC1 Christmas idents to remain in use until the New Year.
BBC One Christmas Ident2001 BBC One Christmas Ident
2001 BBC One Christmas Ident
2001 BBC One Christmas Ident
2001
2002
BBC One - Bug alert!2002 In the run-up to the launch of the CBBC Channel, BBC1's balloon was invaded by some rather curious green bugs!
BBC One - Final balloon28.03.2002 It was all over for the balloon - and the globe on BBC1 - at 2:10am on Good Friday. Rather fitting that English 12 - showing the balloon landed in London's Docklands - was the final ident.
Wales and Northern Ireland gave its balloon a cracking send-off, even treating us to a final showing of the clock. However it was not to be for English viewers - business as usual, with a standard "Through the night now on BBC1 with BBC News 24". What a shame.