The BBC One "Circle" idents were a set of on-screen channel identities used on BBC One from 7 October 2006 to 4 December 2016. 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. This was the longest-lasting set of idents used by BBC One, as they remained in use for over 10 years.
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 March 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. 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. 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. 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". 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. 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 did not have an ident suitable for this purpose.
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.
In July 2008, the "Kites", "Moon", and "Windows" idents were dropped, but the "Kites" ident was reinstated on 2 May 2009.
On 2 May 2009, all the idents were made shorter and the animation of the lines were red with new adaptations of the original Imran Hanif music, with the exception of "Generic", "Hippos" and "Surfers". 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 – 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. Kites ; ; 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.
Despite the "Circles" package being taken out of rotation on 4 December 2016, this ident was mistakenly used to introduce Reggie Yates: Hidden Australia on 7 September 2017. 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 ; (in Northern Ireland) 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, it was often used to introduce the BBC News, particularly late bulletins. This ident is one of three idents that have been withdrawn. It was reintroduced in Northern Ireland on 4 October 2016. 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 – July 2008 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. This ident was withdrawn in 2008 and was often used to introduce daytime programming. 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. Generic – A red arc spins around the BBC One logo on a red background. The music used is taken from the now-retired 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 the soundtrack was replaced with 'Enjoy 2015' ident music, and used to introduce a variety of programmes.
Despite the "Circles" package being taken out of rotation on 4 December 2016, this ident was withdrawn in May 2018 due to the 90 second bulletin being axed by the BBC. 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. A sting of the ident was used before all BBC One programmes shown on the BBC iPlayer and was often used to introduce the BBC News.
Despite the "Circles" package being taken out of rotation on 4 December 2016, this ident was still used to introduce Panorama on 9 January at 20:30, due to the lack of a suitable ident for the replacement Oneness idents. 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 – 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. Television Centre 20 November 2010 – 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