BBC Oneness - idents and presentation

Hi, Martin Parr.

*You are Martin Parr and I claim my £5.

Step away from the booze.

None of those people are ordinary people, and none of them are doing things together, across the UK that the majority of UK public have ever done. Nothing in the idents reflect the nation whatsoever. EVen the BBC hate them now since there throw are at least two completed idents...

There’s also the big problem of the Oneness idents not representing the BBC or any of the programming shown on BBC One at all.

The globe and later, the circle, best represents what BBC One stood for, the latter seen as a spiritual successor to the globe.

The iconic ‘2’ symbol immediately identifies with BBC Two, equally.

It’s a huge contrast going from a badly made ident into a big-budget, well made drama or documentary.

Have we had official confirmation that idents have been binned or have they merely been held back for a New Year airing? Launching on January 1st with Exercise class and swimmers would make more sense.

Please explain what you think an 'ordinary person' is.


The people in them are definitely doing things together, or at least pausing the thing to pose to camera. You say they're not things the majority of people do, well what do you want; 30 idents of just people watching telly, stuck in traffic in a bus or having a latte in Costa Coffee?

Ordinary people have all sorts of hobbies and pastimes, that's what they're reflecting

Here you go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thv_4eHHQVA

Just stick a Oneness graphic over than and away you go.

The idents should reflect the channel or UK, and there nothing ordinary about most of the films. Actually all the groups of people could be anywhere in the world, what makes it special to the UK? Birdwatchers, roller skaters, cavers, runners are all around the world, while the bollywood dance around the world as well. Can you say anyone you know, has done any of those things in the idents?

Charlotte Moore, the BBC’s director of content; Said:


In what way does the idents represent the rich diversity of communities living in UK? Clear missing that point big time. Or does this represent what the BBC believes to be the rich diversity of communities? Or is this what Martin thinks?

That the major underlying problem with the idents, there don't tick any of those boxes. At least Ch4 does that, and one of its idents even saw people putting on earmuffs because there hate channel 4.

I think the idea of including different groups of people taking parts in different events and hobbies is a good idea, however the execution has been bad in my opinion. If the stings had been cut ending with the framed shot and mixed with themed music I don't think it would be as bad.

I've no doubt they'll be back in the New Year and suspect they'll be as they were, though as you say they could be significantly improved by being recut. They butchered the circle idents after a year or two so perhaps they'll see sense to try and rescue something from this, but I doubt it.

Also the Christmas campaign proves that all those who say the BBC have no money for half decent presentation are talking rubbish. A stop-motion campaign is probably one of the costlier options they could have gone for for something that'll last 4 weeks.

Indeed - the idea isn't terrible, but the idents have such poor production qualities. Wobbly camera-work, people randomly stopping and looking at the camera, bad framing, no soundtrack: stuff that could have been easily rectified and made an alright package.