The BBC One "Circle" idents are a set of on-screen channel identities used on BBC One from 7 October 2006 They also featured on the BBC Studios channel, BBC America. The idents contained images of circles being formed by nature, or people and their actions.

Launch
The Circles ident package was announced on 26 September 2006 as the replacement for the "Rhythm & Movement" idents that had been in use since Easter 2002. When BBC One channel controller changed to Peter Fincham, he hinted in August 2005 that the dancers would be changed soon. He announced at the Edinburgh International Television Festival that "It may well be that the time is coming to look at a new way of doing it. No date or direct decision has been made but it's under review".

The new idents would come into force alongside a revised schedule for the channel. The idents themselves were designed and produced for the BBC by Red Bee Media and marking the end of Lambie-Nairn's time at the BBC after fifteen years. Imran Hanif composed the original music for all idents, having been selected from a shortlist of 12 composers and bands.

Components of look
All the idents revolved around a circular theme and all featured a scene which is revealed to end in a circle formation. The circle symbol was decided upon as a "symbol of unity", but it was also a "nod" towards the channel's heritage and in particular, the classic globe icon used in various styles for much of its history.[1] The idents would involve people, plants or animals moving, or whose interaction causes a circular shape, which is revealed at the end of the ident.[2][3] The circle would then be emphasised by white lines and a red eclipse animating around it and revealing the BBC One logo at the end.[2] The new BBC One logo featured a large lower case "one" in the centre of the circle, with a smaller BBC logo to the upper left of the "one".[2][3] The channel uses this logo on its idents and promotions, however uses a box logo, similar to the last look, for promotions where the BBC One logo appears alongside other channels. This boxed logo features the BBC logo above the lower case "one" in a red box.[4] The box closely relates to the logos of BBC Two and BBC Four.

As with the previous look, no clock ident was used, a trend repeated across nearly all other channels in the UK, however the "Generic", "Helicopter", "Capes" and "Kites" idents may also be used for introduction into the news, following criticisms in the previous look that the dancers didn't have an ident suitable for this purpose.[2][3]

Promotion style featured the BBC One logo appear at the bottom of the screen, similar to the 1997 look, before switching to the centre of a shaded red end-board, with the logo appearing in the centre. Static slides, now very much a rarely seen occurrence, featured the image as a cut out eclipse in the right hand side of the screen.[4][5]

On 2 May 2009, all the idents were made shorter with new adaptations of the original Imran Hanif music, with the exception of "Generic", "Hippos" and "Surfers".[2][3] The May 2009 idents were composed by David Arnold.

Idents
Title Air dates Description
Bikes 7 October 2006 – A group of three motorcycle stunt riders ride the "wall of death". Filmed at Shepperton Studios and directed by Stuart Douglas, the ident features a lot of fast-paced film work, as well as a slowed down top down shot of the motor cyclists.
Football 7 October 2006 – 4 December 2016 Filmed at the Haberdashers Estate in North London and directed by Howard Greenhalgh, a circle of footballers kick their balls in time into the centre, so smaller rings form inside the circle of players. Usually used to introduce sports programming, as well as Weekend News bulletins before the 2009 revamp.
Hippos 7 October 2006 – Numerous hippos swim around in a circular formation. Produced using a combination of computer animation and live action backgrounds and directed by Charlie Mawer (Red Bee Media) and Mike McGee (Framestore CFC), this ident was edited for length in May 2009, but the soundtrack remains the same. This ident was mostly used prior to entertainment or daytime programming.[6]
Kites 7 October 2006 – July 2008; 2 May 2009 – A group of kite flying enthusiasts gather together to create a circle effect with their kites. Filmed at Ynyslas beach in Wales and directed by Matthias Hoene, it was both the first and last in this new package of idents to be aired. This ident was withdrawn around July 2008 but was brought back in May 2009 with a more upbeat soundtrack. This ident is often used to introduce the BBC News.
Ring-a-Roses 7 October 2006 – Also known as Petals, a group of children are shown playing with the natural flowers in a meadow before joining hands to form a "ring-a-roses" dance. Filmed in Coton, Northamptonshire and directed by Stuart Douglas. This ident was often used to introduce CBBC and CBeebies before they stopped airing on BBC One in 2012, and until 2016, it was commonly used to coincide drama based programmes.
Moon 7 October 2006 - [7][unreliable source?] People in fishing boats come together to form the moon out of separate sections. Filmed at the Kamenjak peninsula in northern Croatia and directed by Howard Greenhalgh,[6] it was often used to introduce the BBC News, particularly late bulletins. This ident is one of three idents that have been withdrawn.
Surfers 9 October 2006 – Carlos "Coco" Nogales and others ride a huge wave before crashing down after formation of the BBC One logo. Filmed at Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca on the west coast of Mexico and directed by Howard Greenhalgh. First shown in the Northern Ireland region on the first day of the "Circles" package, and later on the network on 9 October 2006. This was the only ident not to be edited in the May 2009 refresh, only difference is that the logo appears earlier.
Windows 9 October 2006 – Residents on a housing estate use their windows to reflect sunlight into a ring. Filmed at the Greenwich Millennium Village in South East London and directed by Matthias Hoene. First shown in the Northern Ireland region on the first day of the "Circles" package, and later on the network on 9 October 2006.
Magic Forest 16 June 2007 – The natural world and a group of fairies come together to create a circle in the middle of the sunlit woodland. Directed by Matt Losasso. This ident was originally scheduled to air for the first time on Saturday 19 May; its launch was deferred for one month. Before the 2009 refresh, a slightly shortened version of this ident was used to introduce the BBC News.
Mission Control 16 June 2007 – A group of British scientists successfully launch a pod to land on a distant planet. Out of the pod emerges a curious rover that begins drawing circles on the face of the planet. Whilst the robot spins, a shadow of a circular spaceship glides into the robot's circle, making a perfect fit, and exits at the same speed not stopping and soon comes off camera. Filmed at Shepperton Studios and directed by Matt Losasso.
Lawn Circles 14 July 2007 – A group of suburban housewives each mow a series of crop circles into their lawns using a variety of mowers from different time periods, which form three large circles when viewed from above. Filmed in a residential garden in Netherne-on-the-Hill, near Reigate and Banstead, Surrey.
Neon 13 October 2007 – Neon figures come to life, stroll down the centre street and take a ride on a ferris wheel. Shot in Blackpool, the ident was conceived and scripted by James Spence for Red Bee Media and animated by Brand New School, New York City. A shorter version also exists, with the last scene of the wheel, and the BBC soundtrack. The ident was originally used before programmes during Saturday evenings only, however this became a regular ident when it was edited in May 2009.[8]
Generic 3 December 2007 – 30 May 2018 A red arc spins around the BBC One logo on a red background. The music used is taken from the Windows ident. Only used to introduce the BBC News 90 second bulletin at 8pm. In Northern Ireland, an extended version of this ident exists since New Year's Day 2015, but with the soundtrack replaced with 'Enjoy 2015' ident music, and was used to introduce a variety of programmes.

Helicopter 1 January 2008 – An aerial shot of a helicopter landing on the top of Bishop Rock lighthouse in the Isles of Scilly. Three variations of the ident were launched including slower paced versions and shortened opening films. The soundtrack for this ident was the most sombre when launched, featuring a lone choir singer as its soundtrack, however since May 2009 the soundtrack was changed dramatically to be more upbeat. This ident often precedes BBC News.
Penguins 5 February 2008 – Originally the Christmas ident for 2007, penguins enter and skate around an ice rink with other skaters. Altered for everyday use, it was aired without Christmas decorations and a new soundtrack based on Imran Hanif's original composition and definitive three note signature counter tune. The 2009 edit saw the music being edited again. It was used frequently, but not exclusively, during the winter period.
Capes 24 August 2008 – Numerous people in colourful rain coats on bikes ride through a rain storm, as people watch, the sun comes out. The final shot shows all the bikers forming a rainbow-like circle at a roundabout. Filmed on public roads in London and a private car park at Earls Court. Directed by Matt Losasso. This ident was used before all BBC One programmes shown on the BBC iPlayer and was often used to introduce the BBC News.

Dog Display 29 August 2008 – A pack of dogs doing circles tricks, including jumping through fire hoops, jumping over fences and weaving in and out of sticks laid out in a circle which then produces the "BBC One" animation. Filmed in the garden of a stately home in Wrotham Park in Hertfordshire and directed by Matt Losasso.
Pedal Power 27 July 2009 – 5 May 2014 Numerous people use pedal power to light up the circle around the BBC One logo, displayed on a red board in the field. Directed by Grant Gee, this ident was launched to coincide with the first programme of Bang Goes the Theory. When the programme was cancelled on 5 May, this ident became out of date and was withdrawn.
World Cup 11 June 2010 – 4 December 2016 Also known as Stadium and Banners, spectators at a football match stand up and wave different colour banners in a circle pattern. This ident was introduced for use during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This ident was directed by Matt Losasso, and was used prior to sport programmes.[2][3][9][10][11]
Television Centre 20 November 2010 – 31 March 2013 400 members of the public dance in the circular courtyard of BBC Television Centre. It was launched to introduce Strictly Come Dancing, but has since been used to introduce other programming as well. When Television Centre closed down on 31 March, this ident became out of date and was withdrawn.
Special idents
In addition to the usual set of idents used throughout the year, numerous other idents have been added for special occasions, both nationally and in the nations and regions. Some of these are included below.

Christmas
Title Air dates Description
Snowball 2006: 16 – 31 December 2006
2007: 15 – 31 December 2007 A community coming together to build a giant snowball.[2] Filmed in Greenwich using various sized polystyrene snowballs, the largest of which was 6 metres (20 ft) high.[2] The ident first aired on Saturday 16 December at around 18:00, finishing in the early hours of New Year's Day when the original idents were restored.[2] This ident was revived for Christmas 2007 to run alongside the Penguins which also debuted on Saturday 15 December, and was last shown introducing "Weatherview" on New Year's Day 2008 around 02:20.[citation needed]
Penguins 15 – 31 December 2007 3D animated penguins skate round the decorated ice rink alongside human skaters. Filmed at an ice-rink in Romford. The ident first aired on Saturday 15 December at 18:10, and was last seen before linking into BBC News 24 on New Years Day at 02:25.[2] The ident was re-introduced in February 2008 as a regular ident.[2]
Wallace and Gromit's Runaway Sled 13 December 2008 – 1 January 2009 Wallace and Gromit were the subject of the Christmas ident this year, due to their new short A Matter of Loaf and Death debuting on Christmas Day. Gromit is seen pushing Wallace up a hill on a sled before Wallace slides down the other side of the hill and lands head deep in snow. Gromit then takes his place, performing tricks on the sled as it slides round the circular indented hill containing the BBC One logo. Written by Rachel Webb and James Spence and created by Aardman Animations using stop frame animation, the ident first appeared at 18:10 on 13 December. There are different versions of the ident: in one version, Wallace can be heard talking, whereas he is silent in another. A version was also made which preceded news and serious programming had slightly slower music, did not feature the characters and cut straight to the circle in view. The ident was last aired at 2:00 a.m. on 2 January 2009.[12]
Doctor Who 12 December 2009 – 2 January 2010 David Tennant, as the tenth incarnation of the Doctor from Doctor Who, was the theme that year to mark the Doctor Who story "The End of Time", which would be Tennant's last appearance as the Doctor.[2] The ident package first aired on 12 December at 18:45. The ident sees the Doctor walking through a snowy forest, and using a herd of reindeer to pull his TARDIS free from the snow and to use it as a sleigh.[13] A news ident was also created featuring a darker sky, a slightly more sombre tune, and all traces of Doctor Who removed. Another version was created for the second part of "The End of Time", featuring Tennant doing a voiceover introduction in character as the Doctor. It used the same version of the music as the news ident. The Doctor Who ident last aired in the early morning of 2 January 2010.
Christmas Lights 11 December 2010 – 1 January 2011 An ident showing people enjoying Christmas on the streets and turning on Christmas lights on the houses in a circular cul-de-sac. Filmed in Hillingdon. Variations featuring different starting films were used, as was a news version which went straight into the circular ending with slower music and the lights on the roofs don't turn on and off.[14] The ident was first aired at 18:00 on 11 December, and was last seen in the early hours of New Years Day 2011 introducing the BBC News Channel.
Consider Yourself One Of Us 10 December 2011 – 1 January 2012 A mixture of idents were used this Christmas. The main ident featured many celebrities who would be featuring in programmes on the channel that Christmas, such as Sir Bruce Forsyth, Michael McIntyre, David Jason, Brendan O'Carroll, Lee Mack, Frank Skinner, Alexander Armstrong, Tess Daly, Lenny Henry, Alex Jones, Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, a Cyberman, Graham Norton and the Outnumbered kids (Tyger Drew-Honey, Daniel Roche, Ramona Marquez) in a homefront setting with a crackling fire, singing Consider Yourself from the Broadway musical Oliver. After all the celebrities have appeared they all stand in a circle. The backdrop then disappears to reveal a snowy landscape with carol singers and sledgers gathering round them. They all sing together and look up into the sky. The circle is blurred out and large snowflakes start to fall from the sky as the logo forms. A news version was made, which cut straight to the blurred-out circle. Other shortened versions were made, which showed some of the celebrities, before cutting to a cake to make the circle. All variants featured instrumental music used in the main ident. The ident package originally debuted as a trailer 30 November after programmes until the ident was first shown on Saturday 10 December at 17:35.[15] A version was made to promote The Gruffalo's Child movie, with the two main characters playing in the snow. The same music is used.[16] The Gruffalo also appears in the window in the main "Consider Yourself" advert, looking at Tess Daly and Lenny Henry. The main ident is currently the longest in ident history as the actual feature runs for 1:15 before the logo appears. The whole package was last used in the early hours of New Year's Day 2012, the original idents were restored the next morning.
It's Showtime 11 December 2012 – 1 January 2013 Reflecting the theme of the channel's promotional trailers for this Christmas season, the ident features a long line of sparkly dust forming a Christmas tree on the backdrop of a show curtain before forming the BBC One circle, with the BBC One logo itself re-painted in a shade of gold for the first time in the history of these idents. A second ident, to be used before the news, replaces the tree with an already-drawn snowflake that morphs into the BBC One logo and removes the background music. A longer version of the "Snowflake" variant, with background music was later introduced, along with an additional ident that used fireworks as the backdrop to reflect the New Year. Special variants were also used to precede the Network Television Film Premieres of Shrek Forever After (featuring Shrek), The Princess and the Frog (featuring Prince Naveen as a frog) and Up (featuring Russell). The main idents featured Rob Brydon as a producer backstage, trying to get all the stars ready, including the casts of Mrs. Brown's Boys, Call the Midwife, Doctor Who, Britain's Got Talent winners Ashleigh and Pudsey, the child cast of Outnumbered, Lee Mack and Miranda Hart. First shown at 19:30 on Tuesday 11 December and was last used in the earlier hours of 2 January 2013. The regular idents were restored the next day with the addition of "Love 2013".
Have A Wonderful Christmas 7 – 31 December 2013 A sparkly-looking BBC One logo is drawn up on a sheet of wrapping paper, reflecting the theme used in the channel's promotional trailers for the festive season. Four versions were created for the look: one with robins on the paper, angels either side of Christmas trees, a kaleidoscope snowflake, and another that featured reindeer. A fifth variant was later introduced featuring baubles with the Toy Story characters inside, to reflect that the channel had all three films from the Toy Story series being shown over Christmas (The third one was served as Network Television Film Premiere on Christmas Day). A silent version of the snowflake ident (with just the sound effects) is used ahead of the news. At first, the Capes and Kites variations from the normal Circles ident set were used ahead of the news. First shown at 19:10 on Saturday 7 December, and was last used just before 23:15 on Tuesday 31 December. The regular idents and presentation were restored the following day with the addition of "Love 2014".
Christmas Trees 6 – 31 December 2014 A set of idents based around popular TV shows being broadcast over the Christmas period, shown as Christmas trees. Three versions have been created, a blue TARDIS tree for Doctor Who, a glitterball tree with a dancing fairy for Strictly Come Dancing, and a cake tree with gingerbread men decorations for The Great British Bake Off. These idents consist of people coming together in a forest to decorate individual trees, then panning out, revealing the circular formation of the trees. A shortened version that features just the forest of trees is used to precede the news and other serious related programming (e.g. The Queen's Christmas Day Message). A festive version of the song "To Love Somebody" by the Bee Gees is used within the package. These idents were first shown at 20:15 on Saturday 6 December 2014 and was last used at 23:15 on Wednesday 31 December with the glitterball tree being the last one used. Later on at 00:30, a month long set of presentation entitled "Enjoy 2015" was used.
Sprout Boy 1 – 31 December 2015 2015 saw the BBC launch their festive idents with the story of Sprout Boy as "not the most loved Christmas vegetable". The short story is narrated by Peter Capaldi, as Sprout Boy goes all over to find someone to like him, until he stumbles upon a gathering of BBC all-star cast, as he is shown to be part of the group and is welcomed by all. The ident was first shown on Tuesday 1 December around 19:30 after The One Show was aired. The all-star BBC cast were all done in CGI animation, including Sprout Boy himself, and was developed by ad agency RKCR/Y&R. The CGI cast include Capaldi (as the Doctor from Doctor Who), Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman (as Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson from Sherlock), will.i.am (from The Voice), Idris Elba (as John Luther from Luther), Mary Berry (from The Great British Bake Off), Graham Norton (from The Graham Norton Show), June Brown (as Dot Cotton from EastEnders) and Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman (from Strictly Come Dancing). Other variations featured the titular character pulling a cracker with a gold ring landing on his head and another where he falls over whilst writing a gift tag and gets a bow ribbon stuck to his back.[17] A variation featuring just a forest background with lanterns was used to precede the news and the Queen's Royal Christmas Message. A version featuring the city skyline was used only on BBC One Northern Ireland[18] to precede the news, but it was also used as a "Coming Next" message on all the BBC channels.[19] The presentation was last used on Thursday 31 December at 23:30, linking into Bryan Adams Rocks Big Ben Live. The regular idents were restored immediately afterwards, at 00:45 on 1 January 2016.
BBC Oneness (Christmas) 4 – 31 December 2016 Sunday 4 December saw the official BBC launch of their 2016 festive ident titled Oneness before an episode of Planet Earth II. These idents consist of: a zoom-in clip of several men in a pub, whereby one of them reveals his Christmas jumper with a flashing Rudolph nose on it which becomes the "BBC One" ident, a clip with a grandfather falling asleep in his armchair and his head becoming the BBC One logo, a family seated around a table enjoying the Christmas meal with a person attempting to light a Christmas pudding with the BBC One logo forming in front of it and another with a red bauble being hung on a lit Christmas tree (which doubles up as the variant to introduce the news). The "Winning Weekend" variant - used on the weekend of 17 and 18 December - has a gold bauble being hung on a lit Christmas tree. All of these idents appear with snowflakes flying from them. For Christmas Day, a special set of "Oneness" idents were used to introduce all of the channel's afternoon and evening programmes.
Use of the idents ended after BBC One's New Year's Eve special on 31 December, after which the regular idents were immediately restored

The Supporting Act 2 – 31 December 2017 Used from 2–31 December 2017, the idents revolve around a young schoolgirl attempting to capture her father's attention by practicing a dance routine for an upcoming school talent show for Christmas. The song "Symphony" by Clean Bandit and Zara Larsson is used within the package.[11] Like the previous year, the "BBC One" logo features added Christmas decorations and sparkly effects on these idents.
Five different idents are used as part of the package, the first three showed the father and daughter in the kitchen doing the washing up, in the living room setting up Christmas lights and running around in a supermarket.[12] The other two variants do not feature the characters,or music, and are primarily used to introduce the news, one features a view from the kitchen window and the other is a nighttime snowy landscape view of the city. BBC One Northern Ireland aired a version of the city ident, but with a few notes from "Symphony". This is the first ident to "rest" the Circles theme at Christmas

Although regular use of the idents ended after BBC One's New Year's Eve special on 31 December, the presentation was used one last time the next day to introduce a rerun of A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong (as it is featured in mock continuity seen in the special).

Wonderland 1 – 31 December 2018 Used from 1–31 December 2018 and filmed in Cromer, Norfolk including Cromer Pier. A short fantasy, it depicts the distant personal relationship between a busy mother's lifestyle working with IT crossed-over to her son's video-game-driven lifestyle, causing the screens of both to display distorted fragments of each other's content and everyone else's real-time frame to freeze, allowing mother and son to enjoy unique quality time together.[13] The musical theme is Emmy the Great's Lost in You.[14][15] Two versions were made in this Pier ident, one in day-time and one in night-time. The other two featured the mother and son from the two-minute promotion: one in a scene around a Christmas tree and the other in a bumper car. In both sequences, everyone other than the mother and son are frozen in time. A total of four idents were made, the first three of which have alternate music for use to introduce BBC News bulletins.

Blog Post: The Return of a Classic: A Cherished BBC One Christmas Ident from 2006 Makes a Comeback in 2019

This Christmas, we delight in the nostalgia of holiday traditions. As families gather, festive lights twinkle, and heartwarming shows fill the schedule, BBC One is bringing back one of its most beloved Christmas idents from yesteryear: the enchanting Snowball ident, which first graced our screens in 2006 and made its mark once again in subsequent Christmas seasons.

A Walk Down Memory Lane

For those unfamiliar or who need a quick refresher, the Snowball ident showcases a charming community celebration, where cheerful families come together to build an enormous snowball. Filmed in the scenic Greenwich, the ident featured polystyrene snowballs—one that stood a towering 6 meters high—symbolizing the joy and unity found in community holiday festivities. The original airing created a delightful backdrop for holiday programming, bringing to life the magic of snowy days spent with loved ones.

In the years it aired, the Snowball ident created a sense of warmth that resonated with viewers, reminding them of the simple joy of the festive season. Its return in 2019 finds its place in the pantheon of memorable Christmas moments on the BBC.

Why Bring It Back Now?

Amid today's fast-paced, ever-changing media landscape, where new idents frequently replace the old, the decision to revive the Snowball ident reflects a growing trend of celebrating nostalgia. In a year that has witnessed its share of turmoil, audiences may find comfort in returning to cherished memories from earlier days.

Moreover, as families increasingly seek togetherness in an age of digital distraction, there's something incredibly heartening about the warmth and simplicity embodied in the Snowball ident. It serves as a reminder that the holidays are about connection, joy, and shared experiences—elements that truly resonate over time.

Modern Touches with a Classic Feel

While this nostalgic ident returns, BBC One has ensured it features a few modern updates. The original vibrant soundtrack, with its cheerful melody, has been remixed to include a fresh twist that appeals to both old fans and new viewers. The ident has also been integrated into BBC One’s holiday programming with a 21st-century flourish, effortlessly bridging the past with the present.

Viewers can expect to see the Snowball ident before festive favorites and new holiday specials alike, allowing everyone to participate in a shared experience that celebrates warmth, togetherness, and holiday spirit.

Tune In and Celebrate Together

Whether you’re cozying up on the couch with family, enjoying a cup of hot cocoa, or simply taking a moment to escape into the joy of Christmas programming, tune into BBC One this December to catch the return of the Snowball ident. Let it remind you of the importance of community, togetherness, and the cheerful celebrations we hold dear during this magical time of year.

As we look towards new memories and traditions, let’s raise a metaphorical toast made of snow—here’s to harking back to simpler times, and to many more Christmases filled with joy and laughter. Happy Holidays from all of us, and welcome back, Snowball!

Zog and the Flying Doctors and The Gruffalo's Child 29 November – 31 December 2020 Used from 29 November–31 December 2020, and produced by Magic Light Pictures, it features characters from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's children's books. Two idents feature Zog, Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout the Great from Zog and Zog and the Flying Doctors (promoting the animated adaptation of the latter premiering on BBC One), and another features The Gruffalo and his child from The Gruffalo's Child, as well as a shot of a Christmas tree (with daytime and nighttime variations) to introduce news bulletins and other serious programmes. The Christmas trees were decorated by the characters in the regular idents.
In 2023, idents from this run were reprised as part of a second wave of Christmas idents by Magic Light Pictures involving other Donaldson and Scheffler books.[17]

Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas 4 – 31 December 2021 A set of idents themed around the Aardman Animations franchise Shaun the Sheep, promoting its new Christmas special premiering on BBC One.[14] It consisted of three scenes panning around a Christmas tree being assembled by the sheep; the daytime version showing the tree being pulled up, but falling on one sheep's head due to the appearance of the farmer. Another is set during the evening, with the tree being dressed and pumped by Timmy on a bicycle. The last version is set at night, with the lights being turned on and the sheep bleating "Jingle Bells". Each ident also features a variation without the characters used to introduce news and other serious programmes.
The idents were used from the evening of 4 December 2021, through BBC One's New Year's Eve special on 31 December 2021, after which the normal idents were reinstated

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse 2 – 31 December 2022 A set of idents featuring characters from the Charlie Mackesy storybook, promoting its animated adaptation premiering on BBC One. The daytime version showed the boy and the mole eating a Christmas pudding. Another is set at night, with the boy and the mole sitting on the tree while the fox and the horse come to them. The last version is set during the evening, with the titular characters walking on the river.[15] Write a blog post where due to a tragedy involving kids in a river, the River ident from the current Christmas package has been withdrawn, News will now be introduced by one of the normal News idents, say which


Blog Post: A Heartfelt Change to BBC One’s Christmas Ident Lineup

As we usher in the festive season, bringing warmth and joy to homes across the nation, we are reminded of the power of community and the fragility of life. It is with great sadness that we announce the withdrawal of the “River” ident from BBC One’s current Christmas package. This decision comes in light of a recent tragedy involving children in a river, prompting a national reflection on safety and togetherness during this holiday season.

A Moment of Reflection

In the days leading up to Christmas, our screens bring a sense of joy as families and friends come together to celebrate. However, the heartbreaking news of lives affected by unforeseen tragedies reminds us that our thoughts must turn towards compassion and understanding in these trying times. The "River" ident, while enchanting, now carries a weight that doesn't align with the sentiment we wish to portray during this season of optimism and hope.

Transition to Familiar Comforts

In response to this change, BBC One will revert to using one of our beloved normal news idents to introduce news bulletins. We’ve decided to utilize the “Kites” ident, a brilliant imagery of kite-flying enthusiasts coming together to create a circular formation against the backdrop of the breathtaking Welsh coastline. This ident embodies community spirit, happiness, and light-heartedness—essentials we all need to embrace now more than ever.

The “Kites” ident usually radiates positivity and reflects the joyous feeling of celebration and togetherness, making it a fitting choice as we move forward in a sensitive manner. As we introduce our news segments, may this familiar image remind us of the importance of unity and support as we navigate the complexities of our world together.

Honoring the Moments that Matter

While we adjust our Christmas programming and presentations, it’s important to reflect on the true meaning of the season. The holidays have always been a time for connection, love, and togetherness. Let’s take a moment to cherish the simple joys of the festive season—time spent with family, traditions that bring us comfort, and the joyful spirit that lights up our homes.

As we enjoy our favorite holiday shows, let’s keep those affected by recent events in our hearts and minds. We encourage everyone to connect with loved ones, offer support to those in need, and nurture the cherished relationships that matter most.

BBC One wishes you a heartfelt holiday season filled with warmth, love, and the spirit of community. Together, we can shine brighter and create a resonance of kindness that spreads beyond screens and into our daily lives.

Thank you for your understanding as we navigate through these sensitive changes. Keep an eye out for “Kites” and other classic idents, as they remind us of the beauty of our shared humanity.


Write a tweet listing idents that more or less resulted in the normal theme being rested at Christmas (as in those that don't use the normal theme at all)