TV shows that completely changed their theme tune

And of course, not forgetting Grandstand had a change (or rescore) of the famous theme which was dropped after a matter of Saturdays as people complained.

Not surprised, it wasn't very good. But there seemed to be a phase around 1997-1999 where the BBC insisted on revamping iconic theme tunes, but did a complete pigs ear of it in a lot of cases. EastEnders (as previously mentioned) was another example.

Someone also mentioned about TV news themes changing, but failed to mention that Channel 4 have pretty much used Best Endeavours since day one.

Anyway... here's Grandstand 1999 style...

More offended by the quality of the CSO on the studio shot than the remixed theme!

Noel's House Party went through a few themes

Actually the original Channel 4 news theme was posted earlier in the thread!

It looks as if we've established that it's not that uncommon for long running programmes to completely change their theme tune once in a while. Indeed many new incoming execs consider it part of their rite of passage to change the theme tune to mark their start of tenure.

Might I suggest it's rarer for long running shows to have never changed their theme tune? I can't really think of that many at the moment apart from the soaps.

... and even the soaps have changed the arrangement of their theme music, sometimes several times.

Panorama has stayed the same?

No, Panorama had a different theme tune in the early days.

Blue Peter is an exception, I think? Pretty sure that's always had the same music (albeit rearranged in modern times).

According to Wikipedia, Panorama has had three theme tunes - the first ran from 1953 to 1968, the second (Rachmaninov's Symphony No.1) from 1968 to 1971, and the third from 1971 to present albeit rearranged a few times.

And - it would appear from the brief burst you can hear in this clip - another theme tune in even earlier days

(The whole series is worth watching, all 4 parts are on YouTube)

Although they did (accidentally?) use The Sailor's Hornpipe instead of Barnacle Bill at one stage in the noughties. It was changed very quickly.

Back to Noel's House Party wasn't the last series theme actually 'House of Fun' (not really evidenced in the clip above from what was the last show of the series). You can hear it here in the first show after the axe was announced.

It appears for the last series that the opening was little more than a short sting rather than a full opening sequence.