The Christmas Ident Thread 2005

But last year's started on 18th Dec, which was a whole week before the big day...

The idents in general have been getting earlier and earlier since 2001, so I wouldn't rule it out.

However, I think this is the final year they can stretch it - next year, with Christmas Day on a Monday, I think they'll go back to a Friday or Saturday launch (ie. 22rd or 23rd Dec)

Given that BBc1's schedules are the same as now until 7pm December 23rd tells you something perhaps............................

Not disagreeing with you, just not ruling anything in or out, that's all.

To be honest, it could go either way...

Maybe they should do it a week before Christmas from now on.
Sun 18th this year,and Mon 18th next year.

NOOOOOOO!!!!! Far too early! It gets boring by Christmas Day! 22nd December each year is just about right.

Oddly enough it isn't the first time the BBC conserved its imagination at Christmas. Between 1969 and 1972 BBC1 used a similar globe each Christmas, though designs and ID altered from year to year.

A radical departure followed in 1973, with a carollers ident similar to that of 1979. Then from 1974-1977 we had a Christmas object spinning above a similar "Christmas BBC1" logo. The best-known of these being the Christmas pudding in 1977.

But of course, 2003 was the ultimate in bone-idleness....

Simon, I remember the magnificent idents of the 80's and 90's. I also think the 2001 ident was one of the best. While this topic is revisited each year, it is enjoyable and nostalgic, and your website, TV-Ark, still brings a lot of pleasure, especially in these dark days since my wifes recent death. I actually like the Child Idents at Christmas, but that's probably because the main idents on BBC1 are total crap. Hope to see your mock of the BBC1 Ident very soon Simon. Happy Christmas!!!

Is there any chance that TV Ark can get the 1999 BBC1 globe?

Its on The TV Room (but you're probably talking about TV Ark itself sorry).

I think that ident is the best of the BBC's 'balloon' period. Have I mentioned that before?

It's also on TV Ark! http://www.tv-ark.org.uk/bbc1national/bbc1national1990s.html

There used to be a mock on that site showing the ident as it might have appeared if BBC1 had still closed down for the night, with the announcer wishing a Merry Christmas over the clock, and the ident playing over the national anthem. It was obvious that the ident had just been looped several times, but it was still a fun watch!

I LOVE that one from 1999 It really made me think Christmas had arrived when I saw it for the first time. Ironically I wasn't expecting much because the trailer animation wasn't particularly exciting. The brats just aren' t as good as that. BBC1 also had some great Christmas idents in their '1' period. The logo in 1994 when you had a wrapped present '1' on Christmas Eve, the '1' being unwrapped on Christmas Day and the paper removed from the '1' on Boxing Day was very good.

I really can't wait for the Christmas idents now, just want to get a few confimations.