1993 Launch Identity
From the very beginning, Carlton disassociated itself with the on screen identity of its predecessor Thames, a skyline of famous London landmarks. The inference was that while Thames was grand and out of touch with its viewers, Carlton would have a more populist touch. The graphics company Lambie Nairn was hired to design a channel identity featuring all manner of Londoners, from jockeys and rugby players to barristers and firemen, from dancers and tea ladies to students, choristers and school children. Each of them uttered the words, "You're watching Carlton, television for London."
Carlton Television1st January 1993, 00:00
Thames has made a dignified exit, ITN's Dermot Murnaghan has given us the final headlines of 1992 and Big Ben has struck midnight. Carlton launched in the early moments of 1993 with town crier Maurice Jones, the first Londoner to appear on screen in the region. Graham Bannerman bids us a Happy New Year and announces the premiere show.
Carlton Television1993 - ITV Idents
Dual branded idents for Carlton and the ITV Network. Left, a version with clean music. Right, the same, but with a continuity voice-over from Graham Bannerman introducing World Cup Football.
Carlton Television Ident1993
The Prime Minister, John Major, was among the Carlton people, albeit in the form of his Spitting Image puppet. Off camera, an effeminate TV director can be heard issuing instructions. The voices, of course, are impersonations. How the viewers chuckled in the Chilterns.
The logo animates, with the letters CAR and T mixing off, and DON mixing on. Carlton has become London...
There now follows a large sample of idents, recorded from January to April 1993. Almost all include announcements.
Carlton Idents1993 - Easter
Two special Easter idents from 1993, featuring Gloria and Gilbert... How sweet....1993 - 1994
Carlton Ident1994 - Faith
Midway through 1993, the people idents developed to show montages of many different individuals, with background colours changing from one programme junction to another. This link into the network showing of Central TV's drama Faith, starring John Hannah & Michael Gambon (08/09/1994) is voiced by Mark Lipscomb.
Four similar examples appear below, from August & September 1994
Carlton Ident1994 - 9.30am Start-Up Carlton Ident
1994 - Baghdad Cafe Carlton Ident
1994 - Home and Away Carlton Ident
1994 - ITN News
