The creative minds at Lambie-Nairn were behind BBC One’s latest ident, which debuted a hot air balloon adorned with the channel’s signature globe pattern. Filmed over an intensive six-week period in July 1997, the vibrant red and yellow balloon was captured at 10 iconic locations across the UK, including London’s Canary Wharf, Scotland’s Forth Bridge, Cardiff’s City Hall, and Northern Ireland’s Grey Abbey. As part of this £500,000 initiative, cameraman Simon Werry shot the balloon footage from a helicopter.
Alan Yentob, the Director of Television, reflected on the new design, stating, “The rapidly evolving landscape of the broadcasting industry necessitates a more versatile and engaging identity for BBC One. The globe has long been synonymous with our flagship channel, and the hot air balloon serves as an imaginative vehicle to underscore BBC One’s universal appeal.”
BBC One Launch Day “Balloon” Idents – 4th October 1997
The BBC One balloon ident came in an impressive array of 47 distinct variations, all originally filmed in widescreen. However, audiences were unable to experience them in this format until October 1998. The extensive collection was organised into four regional sets: English, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh. Below, you’ll find a curated selection from the original 47 variations.
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
4th October 1997
Views: 4864
Likes: 18
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
4th October 1997
Views: 1128
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
4th October 1997
Views: 1082
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
4th October 1997
Views: 870
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
4th October 1997
Views: 769
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
4th October 1997
Views: 857
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
4th October 1997
Views: 1034
Likes: 3
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
4th October 1997
Views: 676
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
4th October 1997
Views: 870
Likes: 6
Format: 4:3
BBC One Continuity
Within a year, the roster of idents was expanded to include new captivating locations. In Autumn 1998, additions featured scenes from the Isle of Wight, Norfolk, St Michael’s Mount, Blackpool Tower, and Ireland’s Dunluce Castle. The following year, the iconic Angel of the North, the Second Severn Bridge, and Glasgow’s Armadillo building were incorporated. By March 2000, four more idents were introduced, each uniquely spotlighting human subjects.
New, it's not
Quality: ST
1999
Views: 1122
Likes: 11
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: ST
2000
Views: 709
Likes: 2
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: ST
2000
Views: 672
Likes: 2
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: ST
2nd April 2000
Views: 675
Likes: 3
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
28th June 2000
Views: 643
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
10th July 2000
Views: 535
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
28th August 2000
Views: 622
Likes: 1
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
28th August 2000
Views: 635
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
18th October 2000
Views: 549
Likes: 2
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
24th December 2000
Views: 750
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
2000
Views: 642
Likes: 4
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
2001
Views: 426
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
2001
Views: 413
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
2001
Views: 590
Likes: 3
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
2001
Views: 628
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
29th January 2001
Views: 417
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
31st March 2001
Views: 859
Likes: 3
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
2nd July 2001
Views: 420
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
2nd July 2001
Views: 447
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
10th August 2001
Views: 454
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
27th August 2001
Views: 402
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
21st September 2001
Views: 560
Likes: 3
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1st December 2001
Views: 479
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
24th December 2001
Views: 604
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
26th December 2001
Views: 608
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
26th December 2001
Views: 607
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
circa December 2001
Views: 750
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
31st December 2001
Views: 757
Likes: 2
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: ST
28th January 2002
Views: 1113
Likes: 7
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: ST
29th March 2002
Views: 1414
Likes: 10
Format: 16:9
BBC One Clean Balloon Idents
Presenting the complete collection of all 47 original 1997 idents in their full splendour, alongside a selection of subsequent widescreen additions.
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
Date unknown
Views: 361
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 514
Likes: 4
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 471
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 335
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 266
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 255
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 251
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 271
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 228
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 266
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 275
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 350
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 259
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 290
Likes: 3
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 281
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 226
Likes: 3
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 325
Likes: 3
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 308
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 352
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 200
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 178
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 312
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 287
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 249
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 255
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 315
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 182
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 415
Likes: 5
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 219
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 409
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 251
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 379
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 246
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 361
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 239
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 249
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 280
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 302
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 309
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 309
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 359
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 247
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 239
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 411
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 321
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 250
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 402
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 830
Likes: 7
Format: 4:3
Here is all the 2000 people idents in all their glory as well.
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
2000
Views: 1409
Likes: 3
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
2000
Views: 856
Likes: 2
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
2000
Views: 760
Likes: 3
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
2000
Views: 727
Likes: 2
Format: 16:9
BBC One Special Balloon Idents
New, it's not
Quality: ST
1999
Views: 455
Likes: 16
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
7th August 1999
Views: 378
Likes: 16
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
2nd October 1999
Views: 457
Likes: 16
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: ST
2000
Views: 785
Likes: 3
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
2000
Views: 448
Likes: 1
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: ST
2000
Views: 380
Likes: 3
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
27th June 2000
Views: 419
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
12th September 2000
Views: 520
Likes: 1
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
17th October 2000
Views: 407
Likes: 2
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: LQ
2001
Views: 310
Likes: 16
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: LQ
2001
Views: 509
Likes: 16
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
11th September 2001
Views: 1304
Likes: 16
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
15th November 2001
Views: 343
Likes: 16
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
Date unknown
Views: 213
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 161
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 215
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
1997
Views: 149
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
1997
Views: 165
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
1997
Views: 187
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
6th October 1997
Views: 116
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
22nd November 1997
Views: 166
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
21st December 1997
Views: 145
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
21st December 1997
Views: 240
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
25th December 1997
Views: 135
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
28th December 1997
Views: 167
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
31st December 1997
Views: 158
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
1998
Views: 150
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1998
Views: 89
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
9th April 1998
Views: 146
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
10th April 1998
Views: 182
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
28th May 1998
Views: 107
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
14th June 1998
Views: 85
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
6th August 1998
Views: 126
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
24th September 1998
Views: 161
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
23rd December 1998
Views: 162
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
25th December 1998
Views: 245
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
25th December 1998
Views: 123
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
26th December 1998
Views: 174
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
26th December 1998
Views: 107
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
9th May 1999
Views: 405
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
7th August 1999
Views: 200
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
7th August 1999
Views: 86
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
24th December 1999
Views: 214
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
2000
Views: 216
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
2000
Views: 134
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's new
Quality: ST
17th June 2000
Views: 39
Likes: 3
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
28th August 2000
Views: 124
Likes: 0
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
3rd October 2000
Views: 137
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
3rd October 2000
Views: 134
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
18th October 2000
Views: 140
Likes: 0
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
25th December 2000
Views: 240
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
26th December 2000
Views: 100
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
2001
Views: 89
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
2001
Views: 137
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
2001
Views: 138
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
2001
Views: 227
Likes: 0
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: ST
2001
Views: 167
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
12th January 2001
Views: 181
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
29th January 2001
Views: 44
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
2nd April 2001
Views: 59
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
4th July 2001
Views: 184
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
9th November 2001
Views: 205
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
15th November 2001
Views: 266
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1st December 2001
Views: 135
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
26th December 2001
Views: 160
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
2002
Views: 206
Likes: 1
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: ST
2002
Views: 218
Likes: 1
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1st March 2002
Views: 335
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
22nd March 2002
Views: 270
Likes: 0
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: LQ
28th March 2002
Views: 124
Likes: 0
Format: 16:9
BBC One Holding Slides
Even with the advent of digital TV intensifying competition, programme slides continued to be an integral part of BBC’s on-air presentation. However, both channels transitioned to a more utilitarian slide design in 1997, featuring merely the channel’s name and eschewing any of their unique stylistic elements.
New, it's new
Quality: ST
25th May 1998
Views: 44
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
3rd October 2000
Views: 219
Likes: 0
Format: 4:3
Inside Story
Song Of The South Holding Slide
Holding Slide
Eclipse Online
They Think It’s All Over
The Fix
BBC News 24
The Cover Girl Murders
Back To The Future III
Attack Of The 50-Foot Woman
Starring Julie
Doctor Who Online
Weather
Lust For Murder
Fear Of A Calm Blue Sea
Watchdog Healthcheck
Omnibus
Jericho Fever
Eastenders
The Weakest Link
Match Of The Day
Top Of The Pops
The Cisco Kid
Queen’s Tennis
Malice
Inside Story
Moving Target
Holiday You Call The Shots
America Under Siege
Wind In The Willows
Royal Ascot Highlights
It’s Only TV But I Like It
Eastenders
Ironside
Battersea Dogs’ Home
Unlikely Angel
BBC One – September 11th 2001
Coverage of BBC One during the 11th September 2001 terror attacks.
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
11th September 2001
Views: 714
Likes: 2
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
11th September 2001
Views: 660
Likes: 4
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
11th September 2001
Views: 583
Likes: 2
Format: 16:9
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
11th September 2001
Views: 608
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
12th September 2001
Views: 500
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
12th September 2001
Views: 397
Likes: 1
Format: 4:3
BBC One Miscellaneous Items
A selection of miscellaneous clips.
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
1997
Views: 349
Likes: 5
Format: 14:9
New, it's not
Quality: ST
1998
Views: 360
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
31st December 1998
Views: 148
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: ST
2000
Views: 419
Likes: 2
Format: 4:3
New, it's not
Quality: HQ
29th March 2002
Views: 728
Likes: 6
Format: 16:9