GH
I loved the music and the transmitter waves detail from the original Meridian Tonight titles:
https://www.tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=91631
I hated these HTV West titles:
https://www.tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=90655
The music wasn't dramatic enough for a news programme. The graphics had looked better in a previous version as they showed OS maps of various locations, but HTV didn't get permission to use them from OS so had to be redone!!
https://www.tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=91631
I hated these HTV West titles:
https://www.tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=90655
The music wasn't dramatic enough for a news programme. The graphics had looked better in a previous version as they showed OS maps of various locations, but HTV didn't get permission to use them from OS so had to be redone!!
CI
Blimey, I've never seen that before. Again a case of unnecessary 80s animation for the sake of it.
I always like Westcountry Live's titles but they seem a bit bland and slow now. The titles that came after the ones you posted are a lot slicker but a lot less cosy, I'm not sure which I prefer
I would say that both the 1994 and 1997 titles for Westcountry Live are blander and slower, whereas the 1993 version is more dynamic and interesting.
You're right about the Spotlight 87 titles. The 1989 titles were better, but they didn't hit paydirt until the lighthouse look came in in 1992. I would put the lighthouse look just barely behind 1993 Westcountry Live.
So, it's a bit difficult to pick out best and worst from across the UK, as each of us have particular attachments to a particular region. For me in the South West, the choices were rather obvious.
BEST: Westcountry Live 1993.
A very dynamic set of titles that actually had a lot of potential, but only lasted about a year a bit.
https://www.tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=91105
WORST: BBC South West Spotlight 1987-1989
Spotlight had a bit of an identity crisis in the late 80s until the Lighthouse look took hold. This was easily the worst title sequence.
https://www.tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=77379
BEST: Westcountry Live 1993.
A very dynamic set of titles that actually had a lot of potential, but only lasted about a year a bit.
https://www.tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=91105
WORST: BBC South West Spotlight 1987-1989
Spotlight had a bit of an identity crisis in the late 80s until the Lighthouse look took hold. This was easily the worst title sequence.
https://www.tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=77379
Blimey, I've never seen that before. Again a case of unnecessary 80s animation for the sake of it.
I always like Westcountry Live's titles but they seem a bit bland and slow now. The titles that came after the ones you posted are a lot slicker but a lot less cosy, I'm not sure which I prefer
I would say that both the 1994 and 1997 titles for Westcountry Live are blander and slower, whereas the 1993 version is more dynamic and interesting.
You're right about the Spotlight 87 titles. The 1989 titles were better, but they didn't hit paydirt until the lighthouse look came in in 1992. I would put the lighthouse look just barely behind 1993 Westcountry Live.
ST
The titles were too long, and somewhat boring.
I recall seeing that version when visiting family at the time and being astounded by that set design. It looks like they're presenting from the Headmaster's Study at an expensive private school. Whoever thought that was a good idea was clearly using a controlled substance.
II think it's been discussed before that this was the worst era for Granada Tonight/Reports (part of the typing-on-keyboard era I think). TBF the titles aren't too bad, it's just that bizarre set.
https://www.tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=91818
https://www.tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=91818
The titles were too long, and somewhat boring.
I recall seeing that version when visiting family at the time and being astounded by that set design. It looks like they're presenting from the Headmaster's Study at an expensive private school. Whoever thought that was a good idea was clearly using a controlled substance.
RD
I’ve got to give my home region a bit of a big up.
People may think it was a bit jazzy, but I think it was pretty well suited for the 90’s and made a stark change to bland and authoritative equivalents, especially on the BBC.
They did update it to be more ‘serious’ in 2000, but this is the version I fondly remember the most. And it’s a bit of an ear worm too.
People may think it was a bit jazzy, but I think it was pretty well suited for the 90’s and made a stark change to bland and authoritative equivalents, especially on the BBC.
They did update it to be more ‘serious’ in 2000, but this is the version I fondly remember the most. And it’s a bit of an ear worm too.
RW
The original London Plus theme is by far my all-time favourite regional news theme, unfortunately that clip is the horrible re-recorded version introduced in mid-1985, presumably because the original wasn't considered hard-hitting enough.
The original 1984 version is much nicer: https://www.tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=80113 and I also like the way the BBC1 globe morphs into the globe at the start of this title sequence, which only lasted less than six months as when the globe changed it meant they had to change the title sequence: https://www.tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=88784 (incorrectly captioned as '1984' by TV Ark). This lasted an even shorter time before being altered again and ruined as per the YouTube clip above.
Robert Williams
Founding member
London Plus had a couple of title sequences that were nice, but victim to the 80s concept of 3D animation for the sake of it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVsgE6PsGbo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVsgE6PsGbo
The original London Plus theme is by far my all-time favourite regional news theme, unfortunately that clip is the horrible re-recorded version introduced in mid-1985, presumably because the original wasn't considered hard-hitting enough.
The original 1984 version is much nicer: https://www.tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=80113 and I also like the way the BBC1 globe morphs into the globe at the start of this title sequence, which only lasted less than six months as when the globe changed it meant they had to change the title sequence: https://www.tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=88784 (incorrectly captioned as '1984' by TV Ark). This lasted an even shorter time before being altered again and ruined as per the YouTube clip above.
PE
Correct.
One thing that always confuses me about that clip though, given what an over the top and needlessly extra relaunch the C3NE debacle was, is that they use the short version of the ident into NET.
What a set and what a theme though. I've never managed to get a clean copy of that package and it's actually higher on my list than Blockbusters.
Pete
Founding member
The best regional theme is, of course, North East Tonight from 1996 onwards:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8kPJ4UZQc4
(2:09)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8kPJ4UZQc4
(2:09)
Correct.
One thing that always confuses me about that clip though, given what an over the top and needlessly extra relaunch the C3NE debacle was, is that they use the short version of the ident into NET.
What a set and what a theme though. I've never managed to get a clean copy of that package and it's actually higher on my list than Blockbusters.
SW
Demented set. In that period they also had Bob Greaves and Stuart Hall doing a regular Lighter Side Of The News feature which they presented from two thrones. The titles aren't very good either, it's nice that they make reference to the classic Granada arrow, but it's the spinning letters that make no sense, as they spell out Granada Tonight, but the Tonight is backwards. So the spinning GT is alright, as that is the initials of the programme, but then you have a spinning RH and AG. What's that supposed to mean?
Those 2001 titles include John Prescott getting egged, which is a bit of a stretch to say happened in Granadaland, it happened in Rhyl! You might just be able to pick it up there, but I doubt HTV were very happy at Granada claiming it.
I recall seeing that version when visiting family at the time and being astounded by that set design. It looks like they're presenting from the Headmaster's Study at an expensive private school. Whoever thought that was a good idea was clearly using a controlled substance.
Demented set. In that period they also had Bob Greaves and Stuart Hall doing a regular Lighter Side Of The News feature which they presented from two thrones. The titles aren't very good either, it's nice that they make reference to the classic Granada arrow, but it's the spinning letters that make no sense, as they spell out Granada Tonight, but the Tonight is backwards. So the spinning GT is alright, as that is the initials of the programme, but then you have a spinning RH and AG. What's that supposed to mean?
Those 2001 titles include John Prescott getting egged, which is a bit of a stretch to say happened in Granadaland, it happened in Rhyl! You might just be able to pick it up there, but I doubt HTV were very happy at Granada claiming it.
AN
Demented set. In that period they also had Bob Greaves and Stuart Hall doing a regular Lighter Side Of The News feature which they presented from two thrones. The titles aren't very good either, it's nice that they make reference to the classic Granada arrow, but it's the spinning letters that make no sense, as they spell out Granada Tonight, but the Tonight is backwards. So the spinning GT is alright, as that is the initials of the programme, but then you have a spinning RH and AG. What's that supposed to mean?
Yes I've always wondered what GRANADA THGINOT was
Regarding Bob Greaves, I'm guessing it was a way to keep him on the programme after he stopped doing the news
This one from Central is probably the most over the top, even for them
https://www.tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=98298
Slightly ruined by the weak voiceover at the end though.
Central News East had a similar version, but I don't think Wesley Smith in the south ever got his face in the titles
Andrew
Founding member
I recall seeing that version when visiting family at the time and being astounded by that set design. It looks like they're presenting from the Headmaster's Study at an expensive private school. Whoever thought that was a good idea was clearly using a controlled substance.
Demented set. In that period they also had Bob Greaves and Stuart Hall doing a regular Lighter Side Of The News feature which they presented from two thrones. The titles aren't very good either, it's nice that they make reference to the classic Granada arrow, but it's the spinning letters that make no sense, as they spell out Granada Tonight, but the Tonight is backwards. So the spinning GT is alright, as that is the initials of the programme, but then you have a spinning RH and AG. What's that supposed to mean?
Yes I've always wondered what GRANADA THGINOT was
Regarding Bob Greaves, I'm guessing it was a way to keep him on the programme after he stopped doing the news
This one from Central is probably the most over the top, even for them
https://www.tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=98298
Slightly ruined by the weak voiceover at the end though.
Central News East had a similar version, but I don't think Wesley Smith in the south ever got his face in the titles
GE
Over here in Norn Iron, the local news has always been a bit 'different' to the other nations and regions. And with bombs and bullets still a daily way of life, this set of Inside Ulster titles used to scare the living daylights out of me when I was a youngster...
https://www.tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=75036
As a side note, NI newsreaders at the time often had the unenviable task of the segway from something horrifying to something completely fluffy and mundane - parodied to recently in a new BBC NI sketch show from local comedian Paddy Raff...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000kshl
(Littered throughout the programme)
https://www.tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=75036
As a side note, NI newsreaders at the time often had the unenviable task of the segway from something horrifying to something completely fluffy and mundane - parodied to recently in a new BBC NI sketch show from local comedian Paddy Raff...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000kshl
(Littered throughout the programme)