Thames 1968 – 1969 Branding

Thames Demonstration Idents

Check out these fascinating clips which trace the evolution of the skyline and the choice of tune to accompany it, recovered from a Thames demo tape preserved on an antiquated video format. A test animation was dubbed with 22 separate tunes, of which we have nine.

A major influence on the developing ident tune appears to have been the chorus of Who Will Buy My Sweet Red Roses?, from Lionel Bart’s musical Oliver! Other influences include the traditional songs Oranges and Lemons and London Bridge is Falling Down. The last two clips feature embryonic versions of Hawkesworth’s tune.