2000 Today

They even had 'Bug Watch' updates on the hourly news bulletins.

Super stuff. I was hoping Jamie was laying on the slurring for effect - but the 2nd viewing, I'm not sure he was.
No doubt the director had his finger hovering over the f**k fader in TC1's gallery during that little segement. It could have very quickly derailed.

So, it's a good job it's on You Tube, as I don't think the man himself would remember where he was a 5am on New Years Day 2000!

One other thing that has come to mind about this, is that everyone in the BBC who worked that day did get a one off payment, and I can't remember exactly what it was now, but something in excess of the standard £68 for working Christmas Day.
At the end of the programme, I did feel that myself and my colleagues had earned it.

I was also involved with the BBC Club at the time, and later went to a meeting, where someone from Human Resources was present.
She had decided that it was important that she was present should a major HR issue come up that day.
There wasn't (surprisingly) and she had spent the time in the BBC Club facility and had a nice massage to earn the same that I did.
That I didn't leap over the table and throttle her was something that I still regret.
This thread has really sparked some old memories......

I think it was £200 for working that night. I know it largely paid for a very nice holiday that year

A look through YouTube throws up quite a bit of footage:

Opening



21:58 - 23:58



23:58 - 01:58



01:58 - 03:58

I thought it was more than that, but maybe you are right.
Was £200 enough for a nice holiday even in 2000?

Maybe it was, I seem to remember it depended on a number of factors including if you worked over midnight. My shift was 2 hours longer than usual, finishing at 2am rather than midnight which added OT and night payments too


It 'largely paid for' an international flight

ITV of course had the bargain basement version.

Here we are 20 years to the very day and time that Dermot Murnaghan presented ITN's Countdown 2000. The Queen lights the national beacon. For the countdown to the new Millennium, he was joined by Sir Trev for the fireworks and 'River of Fire' that never happened! #NewYearsEve pic.twitter.com/xdrcNkBpEA

— Put The Telly On 📺 (@putthetellyon) December 31, 2019

Whilst the BBC lavished in a plush studio with Parky and Gaby Roslin, 20 years ago at this very time, ITV splashed out on, well, they just stuck Sir Trev & Dermot in their usual ITN studio thinking nobody was watching...! #NewYearsEve pic.twitter.com/wjM0wq9iVI

— Put The Telly On 📺 (@putthetellyon) December 31, 2019

I remember the reports that the BBC Millennium ident with the dandelion cost £250,000.

Were ITV involved with the rival "millennium live" broadcast (which never happened)?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Live

It also turns out someone has uploaded the full US ABC version of 2000 Today.

Not sure if the actual US broadcast started with the opening of the BBC version before ABC cut in or if the user has just decided to edit that in for some reason.

I was sat on a sandy beach on the barrier reef with a glass of champagne in one hand and my wife’s hand in the other looking at a fireworks display in the distance on the mainland.

The opening was great there - Angel of the North ident, announcer bursting with pride, great sting and titles and David Dimbleby to kick it all off.

I wonder if there would ever be a possibility of somewhere like BBC Parliament repeating the whole lot, like they do with the elections. Guess there would be some rights issues, not to mention the lottery draws. If it has been 10 or 20 years later we’d all have been able to record the whole lot very easily without multiple tapes and dodgy VHS tracking!