BBC One

You can't beat these;

http://thetvroom.com/bbcuk/bbc-1-99-22.html

Best ones ever.

I quite agree. 1999 to 2001 BBC1 Christmas idents were at their peak.

But each year there is a theme. Penguins had stings and an ident to match as did Snowball, last year though they mixed the two together so it wasn't consistent. I just assumed that we'd get a new ident each year and then over Christmas they'd show all of them, just like BBC2 did during the yellow era.

As with the idents, I think the Radio Times covers of the last few years have been very lame. Although last year's was a bit of an improvement IMO.

Far too much white and not enough colour on the cover. Presumably because it's cheaper...?

EDIT : But before I get into trouble for going off thread, I agree that the Wallace and Gromit idents were some of the best ( albeit on BBC Two ). The first ident I can remember is the 1977 Christmas pudding ( I was born in 1974 ). I seem to remember that year BBC One Scotland had the clock " superimposed " over a tinsel type background.

It had the best trails but my fave Christmas balloon ident was the one they used in 1999.

Go to this page and scroll to the bottom

Santa going 'HO, HO, HO!' A nice Christmassey version of the BBC1 theme, sleigh bells, Northern lights Santa. Just beautiful.

All of you are right - three consecutive years of outstanding BBC1 Christmas pres there - not surpassed since, and somehow I think that may stay the case for some time.

The way BBC pres was going from 1999 to 2001, it showed a lot of promise for the future - you'd have expected the great ideas to keep on flowing, the same depth and range that really kicked off around '93, just with more potential - but it's a shame that did not, and has not, happened.

I think you're right Paul. It took a couple of years for them to decide on using the balloon in the Christmas idents but when they did it was worth the wait. Each year produced a great ident that was Christmassy. I'm glad you mentioned the 90's as I'd also say that there was some great Christmas pres during that period with 1992-1994 being particularly good.

Absolutely. It was a simple concept, only one version and very quick visually in terms of little build up but just worked so well as a festive ident. 1999 and 2000 had the same key elements - Father Christmas and the balloon - but both brilliant in their own unique way, and with some great accompanying presentation bits. Sigh.

I don't think the days of good Christmas pres are gone. I quite liked the Penguins, they were at least imaginative, and BBC2 had a good ident last year. I'm hoepful we won't be disappointed this year. Keep the faith!

They were too "real" though.. if you get my meaning. I like the old fashioned "camp as Christmas" feel as demonstrated 1999 to 2001.

I understand what you mean, the last couple seem like everyday scenes but those balloon idents have a sort of Christmas surrealism about them. I can't really explain this very well.

Moon was a great ident for late night and Kites was very good first thing in the morning. Unfortunately both were over used, particularly in those slots.