The BBC One "Lens" idents are the current set of on-screen channel identities used on BBC One; soft launched with the channel's Christmas presentation in December 2021, and officially launched on 1 April 2022, replacing the 'Oneness' idents. The identity was developed by BBC Creative and branding agency ManvsMachine.
Components of look
ManvsMachine said the idents are designed to capture "British life through multiple lenses". Each ident features a large community space, being utilised for a variety of different purposes. The idents present these spaces by slowly rotating around the image, with a circular, lens effect showing parts of the space being used for different events, during different times of day, and in different configurations. Each location has a set of three idents each; corresponding scenes from the other two idents are shown within the lens. Like the "Circle" idents, the lens device pays homage to BBC One's historic use of a rotating globe as part of its identity. The music of the idents were produced by Resonate, a sound design agency in London.
The idents were originally intended to launch in October 2021 alongside the introduction of the new BBC logo, but the launch was delayed to April 2022; a repackaged version of the existing "Oneness" idents were used in the meantime, while the remainder of the presentation package associated with the idents launched as scheduled.
Idents Regular idents Title Air dates Description WarehouseSkateboarding 1 April 2022 – present A group of people skateboard in an empty warehouse (Village Underground, Shoreditch, London). The lens rotates to reveal a figure drawing class and a rave. This was the first ident of the new look to be used at 7pm on 1 April 2022.Rave A group of people rave in the same empty warehouse. The lens rotates to reveal the figure-drawing class and the group of skateboarders. Normally used to introduce entertainment and music programming.Drawing 2 April 2022 – present A person lies on a bench in a figure-drawing class, with people painting the person. The lens rotates to reveal the group of skateboarders and the group of ravers. HallTrampoline 1 April 2022 – present A group of people bounce on trampolines in a hall (Yeomanry House, Bloomsbury, London). The lens rotates to reveal a prenatal class and a group of people preparing for an event.Showtime A group of people prepare for an event, lifting a disco ball towards the ceiling, and testing lights. The lens rotates to reveal the prenatal class and the group of people bouncing on a trampoline. Normally used to introduce entertainment and music programming.NCT 2 April 2022 – present A prenatal class. The lens rotates to reveal the group of people bouncing on a trampoline and the group of people preparing for an event. FarmlandFestival 1 April 2022 – present A campsite at a festival (South Farm, Kent). The lens rotates to reveal ramblers in stormy weather and sheep running across a field. Normally used to introduce entertainment and music programming.Livestock Sheep run across a field. The lens rotates to reveal the ramblers in stormy weather and the campsite at the festival.Ramblers 3 April 2022 – present Ramblers in stormy weather. The lens rotates to reveal the campsite at the festival and sheep running across a field. MarketCalm 2 April 2022 – present A bridge underpass (Scoresby Street, Southwark, London). The lens rotates to reveal a market taking place at the underpass and the aftermath of the market.Hustle 1 April 2022 – present The same market by a bridge underpass. The lens rotates to reveal the aftermath of the market and the same empty location.Aftermath 2 April 2022 – present The aftermath of the earlier market, with people cleaning up the street. The lens rotates to reveal the earlier market taking place at the underpass and the same empty location. BenchEmpty 1 April 2022 – present An empty bench at night (Windmill Hill, Hitchin, Hertfordshire). The lens rotates to reveal a family sitting at the bench and a group of teenagers congregating. Normally used to introduce the news, along with overnight simulcasts of the BBC News Channel.Teens A group of teenagers congregate at the bench on their way home from school. The lens rotates to reveal the family sitting at the bench, and the bench at night. First aired on the same night the new Lens idents launched on 1 April 2022.Family 2 April 2022 – present A family sitting at the same bench. The lens rotates to reveal the group of teenagers congregating, and the bench at night. SkyDaytime 3 April 2022 – present A shot of the daytime sky (Windmill Hill, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, the same location as the Bench idents). The lens rotates to reveal the sky in the evening and at night. Normally used to introduce the news.Evening 2 April 2022 – present A shot of the evening sky. The lens rotates to reveal the sky in the daytime and at night. Normally used to introduce the news. A still version of this ident was used once on 12 December 2022.Night 1 April 2022 – present A shot of the night sky. The lens rotates to reveal the sky in the daytime and in the evening. Normally used to introduce the news, along with overnight simulcasts of the BBC News Channel. Outdoor PoolSwim Squad 20 April 2022 – present A group of people swimming outdoors (Park Road Lido, Crouch End, London). The lens rotates to reveal a man diving into a pool where two women are sitting and a group of people partying in the pool.Clowning Around 21 April 2022 – present A man dives into the pool where two women are sitting. The lens rotates to reveal the group of people swimming outdoors and the group of people partying in the pool.Party 24 April 2022 – present A group of people party in the pool. The lens rotates to reveal the group of people swimming outdoors and the man diving into the pool where two women are sitting. CaféFirst Date 9 May 2022 – present A couple having their first date in the café. The lens rotates to reveal a group of people celebrating about winning a cup in the café and a group of builders having a food break in the café.Builders 10 May 2022 – present A group of builders having a food break in the café. The lens rotates to reveal the group of people celebrating about winning a cup in the café and the couple having their first date in the café.The Cup Winners A group of people celebrating about winning a cup in the café. The lens rotates to reveal the group of builders having a food break in the café and the couple having their first date in the café. Normally used to introduce sports programmes, and in particular football.
Special idents Title Air dates Description The Capture 27 – 29 August 2022 A modified version of the Market "Aftermath" ident with a CCTV-style graphics to promote series 2 of The Capture. It was preceded by a special trailer of the series featuring the hijacking versions of Strictly Come Dancing, Frozen Planet II and MasterChef trailers respectively, as well as a mysterious deep voice interrupting the continuity announcer (Duncan Newmarch) during Antiques Roadshow, at 8:00pm on 28 August 2022. HM Queen Elizabeth II 10 – 19 September 2022 Same as the "Family" ident from 2021, but with the coat of arms of Queen Elizabeth II and coloured purple. The text reads "HM Queen Elizabeth II - Remembered", in all caps. This ident was used to introduce special programmes following her death and leading up to her state funeral. 100 Years of Our BBC 18 October – 2 December 2022 These idents were used to introduce special programming across BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four and BBC Scotland, following BBC's centennial celebrations. "Quiet Joy 2" was the final BBC 100 centenary ident used on BBC One, at 8:00pm on 2 December 2022. Doctor Who 2024: 6 May 20242025: 2 – 13 April 2025 Used to promote the fourteenth series of Doctor Who in 2024. Same as the Market "Calm" ident, but the Fifteenth Doctor (played by Ncuti Gatwa) provides the voiceover for introducing EastEnders; however, he accidentally punches up the 1953 "Bat's Wings" and 1966 "Watch Strap" idents by the TARDIS.
In 2025, the Doctor and the TARDIS appear inside the lens (via a glow effect) to promote the programme's fifteenth series. BBC1 COW 8 January – 13 February 2025 This Northern Ireland-exclusive ident used to promote Video Nasty. Same as the Bench "Teens" ident, but when the lens partially rotates to reveal the COW, the ident then glitches into the 1985 ident. It was also used to promote EastEnders's 40th anniversary, at 7:30pm on 13 February 2025.
Christmas idents Title Air dates Description 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 special premiering as part of BBC One's Christmas programming. 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.