1986
BBC Two Identfrom 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.
BBC Two Subtitles Ident1986
A rather subtle way to alert viewers that the forthcoming programme has subtitles on Page 888 of Ceefax.
Further continuity examples of the BBC Two ident in action
BBC Two Clockfrom 31.03.1986
The BBC2 clock for the 1986-1991 TWO channel identity. This example sees the clock introduce a daytime news summary.
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.
BBC Two Christmas Idents1986
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.
BBC Two Christmas Closedown1986
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.1987
BBC Two Closedown1987
An unusually early closedown (even for 1987) on BBC2. Before switch-off, we are told of a programme change on Radio 3.
BBC Two 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.1988
BBC Two Closedown1988
BBC2 closes down for the night in 1988 and the routine follows the simple format of tomorrow's programmes and clock which BBC2 had been using for many years.
BBC Two 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.
1989
BBC Two Christmas Ident & Promo1989
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 BBC Two 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.
BBC Two Christmas Closedown1989
BBC2 closes down on Christmas Eve with “Away In A Manger.” A must-see for Christmas fans.1990
BBC Two Closedowns1990
Into the 1990s, and nothing remarkable about BBC Two's closedowns. Just a straight "goodnight" then fade to black - at the time, BBC Two 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.
BBC Two Christmas1990
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.1991
BBC Two Final Closedown15.02.1991
Time once again for BBCTwo 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. BBC Two would never be the same again...Screen Two
