BBC Two at Christmas

What could be more festive than a mix of stop motion animation and creepy looped music, as made up the festive idents for BBC2 in 1993. Shown here in one of the shorter edits which existed that year.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

From Christmas 1997 and a snowglobe sits around the usual 2. Not quite as elaborate as the 'twelve nights' set in use on the sister channel, but better than the efforts the channel would get in later years.

A return to the creepy and surreal for BBC Two's Christmas 1998 presentation. Two small characters feature in the ident for that year, as well as popping up across other areas of pres.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

The 1998 festive trailer style for BBC Two, and one character gets quite a nasty shock from the tree lights in order to light themselves up. er... Merry Christmas?

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

The BBC2 ident originally from Xmas 2000. This was unusual in that it shows the 2 from an angle for an extended time, rather than face-on(like normal!). The ident was to make several reappearances in later years. First during the 2006 Winter Olympics, now sporting the purple box in the bottom right and with an updated piece of music. And then again after the whole set were brought back in to use in 2014.

The BBC2 ident from Christmas 2001. This was the first of the Christmas idents introduced under the new 'yellow' look, and shows the 2 character, with an angel exploding out of its hand (You know, as angels do!!).

As well as recycling last years BBC2 ident, for Christmas 2002, this new version was added to the set.

Although BBC2 recycled both 2001 and 2002's idents for 2003, at least they did introduce a new one to make a set of 3, unlike the none-existent effort from their bigger brother BBC1 that year. Sadly though, the following year for Christmas 2004 things were different. Whilst BBC1 did finally bring in a new ident, BBC2 simply recycled the same set of 3 from previous years.

2005 saw a complete return to traditional form for the BBC. Not only did BBC1 have a new ident, but BBC2, widely expected to just recycle the same christmas package once more, surprised us all with 3 lovely idents. Either someone at the BBC had a guilty conscience, or they just feared ITV outshining them again. In somewhat of a break from the usual style of the channel presentation, the traditional jingle is almost indistinguishable, whilst the usual bright yellow background has been toned down to mere yellow spotlights against a 2 formed from shooting stars. The presentation resurfaced again for the last year of the yellow 2's in 2006.

Subtle differences in the behaviour of the shooting stars make the 3 variants (And whilst they are *very* minor differences, it's still nice to more effort being made than the previous year)

Only barely distinguishable from the idents by their length and positioning, some edits were made to produce the stings for use between trailers.

Christmas 2006 on BBC Two didn't bring any particular surprises. A rehash of the 2005 package was brought back out, although given the channel was already expected to rebrand early in 2007 this was understandable.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

The ECP for BBC Two is updated to feature the festive 'cut out' graphics, first introduced for Christmas 2007.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

BBC2, as widely expected, brought back out 2007's ident for Christmas 2008, complete with the same oddly creepy cutouts. At least it was a nicely produced ident the first time round!

Promos on BBC2 in a matching style, this time highlighting the return of a classic comedy from the 90s for a one off special on the channel.

What with budget cutbacks and recessions and similar... it was no surprise in 2009 when the BBC dug out the same BBC Two idents again for the third year running, albeit slightly tweaked to move the BBC Two box to the other side of the screen. Shown here is the Welsh variant.

And just incase you've had your head under a rock for several years, and not already seen it, the network variant of the gremlin paper cutout ident....

Trailers saw a little bit more change to them for 2009, with the new endboard style being used, as well as the shared floating cubes for the BBC logo.

Not unsurprisingly, BBC Two continued to be the forgotten sibling for Christmas 2017 at the BBC. Similar to the practice of the last few previous years, a batch of previous idents were rehashed, just with new 'sung' audio tracks slapped over the top. This time round the animated package first introduced in 2011 made yet another return. Featuring 'Deck the Halls' played over the top of this one from first network transmission on December 2nd, 8.30pm.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

BBC Two Northern Ireland chose a different ident from the batch for their first transmission of the Christmas 2017 package, starting with the Turkeys with the same 'Deck The Halls' song as network had used over the top. Continuing a common practice there, Northern Ireland also ditched the right-aligned box on their copies in favour of a centralised and boxless version of the BBC Two logo.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing' features over the top of this second reused BBC Two Christmas ident.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

A third Christmas ident for BBC Two, and possibly a rejected candidate for a My Parents Are Aliens reboot. This time with 'The Holly and The Ivy' played over the top.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

The BBC Two Christmas 2017 promotional style has an endboard which follows that of the main idents. Now complete with the recently introduced excessing kerning style of font.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

The ECP style for the BBC sees some updates for the Christmas 2017 season too.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

Turkeys from 2011 again for Northern Ireland, only this time with 'Ding Dong Merrily on High' in the background as an audio track.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

In addition to the 2011 idents, BBC Two Northern Ireland only once again brought some older Christmas Idents back out of retirement, complete with the updated centralised logo. This version was first used for Christmas 1994 and had been brought back in Christmas 2016 by Northern Ireland pres.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

Originally from Christmas 1996, but updated for Christmas 2016 and 2017 by BBC Two Northern Ireland. This ident was used for Northern Ireland's last junction before the New Year on December 31st, and also marked the last regular use of the Christmas ident for 2017.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

A new look BBC Two yields new Christmas presentation at last in 2018. First aired into the 8.30pm junction on network and Wales on December 1st, the curve of the 2 is made up from a tree.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

The BBC Two Wales variant of the 'Tree' Christmas 2018 ident.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

The second new BBC Two Christmas ident for network first aired in the 9pm junction, with Scotland and Northern Ireland also getting on the action. Wales were the only nation to repeat the Tree ident. In this version, the curve of the 2 is made up from the Northern Lights.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

Due to a different optout schedule on the first night, BBC Two Scotland's first Christmas ident was the 'Northern Lights' variant into the 9pm junction.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

The first BBC Two ident to air in Northern Ireland was also the Northern Lights version, again in the 9pm junction on December 1st 2018.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

Wales got to see their debut of the Northern Lights Christmas ident into the 10pm junction instead.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

Scotland's version of the Tree Christmas ident. Premiered in the 10pm junction for them, due to their different schedule earlier in the evening.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

Northern Ireland also saw their premiere of the tree Christmas ident into the 10pm junction on December 1st.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

An overall promotional trailer for the Christmas 2018 season on BBC Two. Using the tree ident style at the beginning and end.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

BBC Two Wales were first to unveil a third BBC Two Christmas ident on December 7th. This time the curve of the 2 is made up from a cat's tail.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

Appearing network-wide on December 8th, the day after its premiere in Wales, the third BBC Two ident for Christmas 2018 features a cat tail making up the curved shape of the 2.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

Northern Ireland's version of the third BBC Two Christmas ident featuring a cat swishing its tail.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

BBC Two Scotland's variation of the 'Cat Tail' ident, which appeared later than the others during the Christmas 2018 period.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

BBC Two reused the same presentation package as 2018, but added to it. For the launch 8pm junction on December 1st, Network and Wales used the Northern Lights style ident. Whereas Northern Ireland chose to launch a new ident based on Tinsel forming the curve ahead of everyone else. Official name apparently 'Festive'.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

BBC Two Network and Wales finally saw their first outing of the new 2019 Christmas ident in a late junction after midnight on Monday 2nd December. A slightly later airing from the daytime of Monday 2nd here.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

BBC Two Wales' variant of the new 2019 Festive ident featuring tinsel forming the 2 curve. From an airing on Monday 2nd December.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

The same four festive idents returned to BBC Two for Christmas 2020, albeit now with a rather crudely overlaid 'Channel of the Year' tagline. This had first appeared on the regular idents shortly before the Christmas package went to air.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

Unsurprisingly, Christmas 2021 on BBC Two saw the same idents as in previous years reused, just now updated with the new BBC blocks design that had been introduced in October 2021. Here the network version of the 'Magical' ident featuring trees.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

BBC Two Northern Ireland's version of the Christmas ident 'magical'.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

The 'Magical' christmas ident, as it appeared on BBC Two Wales for Christmas 2021.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

The refreshed version of the 'Glamourous' ident for Christmas 2021, the same as before except for the new BBC blocks being added.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

BBC Two Northern Ireland's refreshed version of the 'Glamourous' ident for Christmas 2021.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

The refreshed Christmas 2021 'Glamourous' ident for Christmas 2021 as it appeared on BBC Two Wales.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

The 'Festive' ident also saw the updated BBC blocks added from Christmas 2021, but remained otherwise unchanged.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

BBC Two Northern Ireland's version of the 'Festive' ident from Christmas 2021 onwards.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

The 'Festive' ident as it appeared on BBC Two Wales for Christmas 2021.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

The warming 'Cosy' ident also made a return for BBC Two for Christmas 2021, now updated with the new BBC logo.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

BBC Two Northern Ireland's version of the 'Cosy' Christmas ident, after the 2021 refresh.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image

The 'Cosy' ident with the refreshed BBC blocks, as it appeared on BBC Two Wales.

• Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image Expand Image