BBC One & the National Anthem

It's for the queen. She really loves that song.

But seriously, I think they should bring it back now so that King Charles can call for it to be abolished again in a few years to show that he is a modern and forward thinking monarch.

If we are talking about pointless presentation, get rid of the 6am junction on BBC One. Just stay with the BBC News Channel and open BBC One proper at 9:15.

Pointless.

I'm not sure if that theme tune would have the same gravitas as God Save The Queen.

Good to see that most people agree with what I was thinking when this was raised on a certain other Broadcasting forum yesterday. I think it's very much of it's time and doesn't need to come back. There are also many people who do not to be reminded of the Royal Family at all while watching TV as they dream of a Republic...by the sounds of today's News maybe Prince Charles is one of them!

Good point... Land Of Hope And Glory could be good, it was reputedly written about England (the view from Malvern Hills was to said to have inspired Elgar to compose it). Better than the much-misunderstood Jerusalem (that well-known English town , which I think is our equivalent of Born In The USA)

I have to say, I've often wondered why they stopped closing down with the National Anthem. I listen to Radio 4 regularly at the 1am close down and I think it fits well. But as has been mentioned, a proper goodnight would be needed (Just like on Radio 4) before handing over to the News Channel.

Surely it could be worded just like it is on Radio 4? "The BBC News channel is standing by to take over in a moment, but from me ... and all here at Broadcasting House, there's just time for me to wish you a very goodnight."

Not much difference between radio 4 handing over to the World Service and BBC 1 going to The NC surely?

It's just tradition, it used to be played in cinemas at the end of films.

It's not a British thing of course, other TV stations around the world used to play their anthems at closedown too

Off topic, but it's very unlikely that the next monarch will be called King Charles. Not only do previous King Charles's not have a great reputation but it also sounds like a dog! There's also the issue of Bonnie Prince Charlie.

He will probably be King George VII


Quite a few news junctions are pointless. For example, why tell the audience that they're watching Channel 4 and now the news when the next programme is called Channel 4 News

He has postulated that he may call himself George, but he's certainly not decided - now there is a baby George on the books, he may decide against it. There's nothing stopping him choosing Charles IV to appease the admirers of Bonnie Prince Charlie.

I believe the arrangement used nowadays on Radio 4 is exactly the same arrangement they used to use on BBC One at closedown until 1997.

The version of the anthem played on BBC One with a compilation of clips of the balloon flying, ending with it fading to black as it went out across the sea was terrific.

If you'll excuse the fact this is in the wrong aspect ratio, here's an excellent example:


And Dan's quip about being paid overtime of BBC One went past 3am is actually absolutely correct.