BBC One "Oneness" idents

The Exercise Class ident

The BBC One 'Oneness' idents are a set of on-screen channel identities used on BBC One from 1 January 2017 to present. The idents feature groups of people doing activities in everyday life, with the aim of the showing them coming together in these various ways. The logo is now placed at the bottom of the screen instead of the middle.

Launch

Street photographer Martin Parr was commissioned by BBC One to create the idents. The 'Oneness' theme had first been exhibited the previous Christmas for the channel's identity, hence giving the impression that those idents ultimately served as a preview to the new look that made its full launch on New Year's Day 2017. Around 24 idents are expected to be filmed, which will be gradually introduced one by one over the course of the first year. More idents are expected to be produced throughout 2018.

This is the first set of idents that have been produced with the input of BBC Creative, a new in house creative agency responsible for BBC presentation.

Components of look

Each ident begins with a tagline showing who the people are and what they are doing, and the location of where the ident is filmed. At the bottom of the screen, the word 'Oneness' is drawn up before fading into the BBC One logo. Programme trailers retain the same look and design of the previous 'Circle' era, except the endboards now consist of a plain red background as opposed to a one with a circular design as before. Some of the idents also seem to have been inspired/ echo the themes of the past 'Rhythm and Movement' ones from before the 'Circle' Era. End credits promotional material is changed.

Idents

Title	Air dates	Description
Exercise Class, Avonmouth (2 versions)	1 January 2017 – present	A group of people are performing a dance workout routine. Filmed in Avonmouth. This was the first ident of the new look to be used at 01:00 on 1 January 2017. Removed after a few months due to initial poor reception.
Sea Swimmers, Clevedon (2 versions)	1 January 2017 – present	A group of people are walking in and back out of the sea. Filmed in Clevedon. Initially used for the BBC News before the introduction of more suitable idents. Removed after a few months due to initial poor reception - however, version 2 of the ident appeared before Sunday Politics on 2 July 2017.
Mountain Rescue Volunteers, Brecon Beacons (2 versions)	9 January 2017 – present	A mountain rescue team and their dog are walking down from a 4x4 emergency vehicle in a wintry forest. Filmed in the Brecon Beacons. Commonly used to introduce serious programming.
Wheelchair Rugby Team, Llantrisant (3 versions)	11 January 2017 – present	A team of wheelchair rugby players. Filmed in Llantrisant. Usually used to introduce sporting programmes. Also used in entertainment and comedy programmes, but nowadays used for serious programming and the BBC News.
Forest	15 January 2017 – present	A still forest with no people in sight. Used for BBC News and sombre/emergency situations. This ident lacks the 'oneness' animation.
Skaters, Southwark	11 March 2017 – present	A group of skaters skate around a dance hall. Filmed in Southwark. Often used to introduce daytime programmes, entertainment programmes and comedy programmes.
Birdwatchers, Rainham Marshes (2 versions)	11 March 2017 – present	A group of birdwatchers stand in a field, looking at offscreen birds with their binoculars and commenting on them. Filmed in the Rainham Marshes. Primarily used for serious programming and the BBC News, though it has been used rarely in recent months.
Cavers, Wemyss	1 April 2017 – present	A group of modern cavers with headlamps are going underground inside the cave. Filmed in Wemyss. Often used to introduce the menagerie of drama based programmes, BBC Three programmes and serious shows.
Bhangra, Edinburgh New Town	3 April 2017 – present	A group of bhangra dancers dance to Indian music. Filmed in Edinburgh New Town. Primarily used for comedy programming, films and entertainment shows.
Tandem Cyclists, Belfast	10 May 2017 – present	A group of tandem cyclists look at the camera and then cycle off. Filmed in Belfast. Occasionally used to introduce a wide variety of programmes.
Night Kayakers, Killyleagh	10 May 2017 – present	A group of kayakers paddle in the water during the nighttime. Filmed in Killyleagh. Often used for serious programming, programmes from BBC Three, drama shows and the BBC News.
Allotment Holders, Smethwick	7 June 2017 – present	A group of allotment holders tend to the ground and then pose to the camera. FIlmed in Smethwick. Used for a wide variety of programmes.
Bog Snorkellers, Llanwrtyd Wells (2 versions)	7 June 2017 – present	Five Bog Snorkellers in various costumes. In one ident there are preparing to enter the bog, while in the other they emerge. Filmed in Llanwrtyd Wells. Used for the likes of entertainment, comedy shows and live shows.
Boxers, Digbeth	7 June 2017 – present	A group of boxers pose for the camera and then start an exercise session. Filmed in Digbeth. Used for a range of programmes, as well as sport programming.
Banger Racers, St Brides	7 June 2017 – present	A group of racers pose through the open windows of their cars, while a race takes place in the background. Filmed in St Brides. Often used to introduce drama shows, sport programmes and primetime shows.
Ten Pin Bowlers, Hockley	22 July 2017 – present	A group of ten pin bowlers are ready and waiting to knock down some skittles by using a ten pin bowl. Filmed in Hockley. Frequently used for entertainment, comedy shows and live shows.
Fell Runners, Mourne Mountains	4 August 2017 – present	A group of runners come to a stop at a group of rocks, and decide where to go next. Filmed in the Mourne Mountains. Used for the likes of daytime, primetime programmes, drama shows and fairly serious programmes.
Llama Trekkers, Armagh	4 August 2017 – present	A group of young people walk through a gate with three llamas. Filmed in Armagh. Often used to introduce a wide array of daily based programmes, along with overnight simulcasts of the BBC News Channel.
Drone Racers, Nottingham	1 January 2018 – present	A group of young people play around with their drones. Filmed in Nottingham. Frequently used to introduce entertainment, reality and comedy programmes. Originally filmed in August 2017, but was held back from being shown until the New Year.
Wild Campers, Glencoe	1 January 2018 – present	A group of young people come out of their tents. Filmed in Glencoe. Used for the likes of drama, serious programmes and everyday programmes. Originally filmed in August 2017, but was held back from being shown until the New Year.
Under 7 Footballers, Barnet (2 versions)	15 June 2018 – present	A team of under 7 footballers participate in a training session. Filmed in Barnet. First shown to tie in with the start of BBC's coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but usually used for sporting programmes.
Sausage Dog Walkers, Newcastle upon Tyne	14 July 2018 – present	Filmed in Newcastle upon Tyne. Often used to introduce a wide array of programmes, along with BBC News.
Cheerleaders, Manchester	14 July 2018 – present	A group of cheerleaders (9 women and 1 man) dance to Electropop music. Filmed in Manchester. Used for a menagerie of programmes, as well as entertainment programming.
Taekwondo Club, Trafford	14 July 2018 – present	Filmed in Trafford. Frequently used for sporting programmes, primetime shows and entertainment programmes, along with BBC News.
Swing Dancers, County Durham	14 July 2018 – present	A group of 12 swing dancers dancing in a variety of styles. Filmed in Crook, County Durham. Primarily used for a wide range of programmes, also introduced to coincide the sixteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Volunteer Lifeguards, Exmouth (2 versions)	6 August 2018 – present	Filmed in Exmouth. Often used to introduce a whole number of programmes.
Steel Pan Band, Plymouth	8 August 2018 – present	Filmed in Plymouth. Usually used for a selection of all round programmes.

Special idents

Title	Air dates	Description
Let it Shine	7 January – 25 February 2017	Used to promote Let it Shine, the ident features: Graham Norton, Mel Giedroyc, Dannii Minogue, Martin Kemp and Gary Barlow. However, the logo is placed at the middle of the screen instead of the bottom.
One Love Manchester	4 June 2017	Used to introduce the One Love Manchester benefit concert, the ident features the BBC One logo in the middle of the screen on a splash of black background over the top of the usual red one, with a single bee flying over it. The 'O' in the logo is shaped like a heart.
Generic	14 June 2017 – present	Used to introduce the BBC News at Six on the day of the Grenfell Tower fire. Similar to the One Love Manchester ident, the BBC One logo silently appears on a dark red background. Used only in BBC One Northern Ireland.
Pitch Battle	16 – 17 June 2017	Used to promote Pitch Battle. The ident featured various choirs from the show singing the theme tunes of The One Show, EastEnders, The Graham Norton Show, Doctor Who and Casualty before they aired over the weekend. An ident featuring all of the choirs was used to introduce Pitch Battle itself.
Strictly Come Dancing	9 September – 25 December 2017	Used to introduce Strictly Come Dancing. The ident features couples waltzing around in a circle, a nod to the previous incarnation of BBC One idents, whilst people are heard humming the first few bars of the Strictly theme tune. Like the Let It Shine variant, the BBC One logo is in middle of the screen instead of the bottom.

Christmas idents

Title	Air dates	Description
The Supporting Act	2 – 31 December 2017	First launched at 20:10 on 2 December 2017 before Michael McIntyre's Big Show. The idents revolve around a young schoolgirl attempting to capture her father's attention by practicing a dance routine for an upcoming school talent show for Christmas. The song "Symphony" by Clean Bandit and Zara Larsson is used within the package. Like the previous year, the 'BBC One' and 'Oneness' logos feature added Christmas decorations and sparkly effects on these idents. Five different idents are used as part of the package, in the kitchen doing the washing up, in the living room setting up Christmas lights and running around in a supermarket. The other two variants do not feature the characters or music, and are primarily used to introduce the news, one features a view from the kitchen window and the other is a night time snowy landscape view of the city. These two variants also lack the 'Oneness' theme. Regular use of the idents and presentation was last used at 23:20 on 31 December 2017. The regular idents and presentation were restored immediately afterwards, however a single use of the package occurred on the 1st January 2018 at 13:15 introducing an airing of A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, which later in the show uses parts of the package during a mock breakdown.

Stings

Title	Air dates	Description
Let's Sing and Dance for Comic Relief	4 – 25 March 2017	This special sting is used to promote Let's Sing and Dance for Comic Relief, the promo features: Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins with Red Noses on her nose. However, the logo is placed at the middle of the screen instead of the bottom.
All Round to Mrs. Brown's	25 March 2017 – present	Another special sting is used to promote All Round to Mrs. Brown's The promo features Agnes Brown (Brendan O'Carroll) from Mrs. Brown's Boys. However, the logo is placed at the middle of the screen instead of the bottom.
Eurovision Song Contest 2017	1 – 13 May 2017	This special sting is used to promote the 2017 grand final of Eurovision Song Contest, in a cloudy-starry purple background, a heart symbol zooms in as the text name in the middle of the screen EUROVISion forms in, after the text disappears except for the heart to form the "BBC One" text, then the "BBC One" at the end. Graham Norton announces "We Love Eurovision".
FA Cup Final 2017	26 – 27 May 2017	This special sting is used to promote the BBC’s live coverage of the FA Cup final.
Big Day	19 May 2018	This special sting is used to promote BBC One’s programmes on 19 May 2018, including the Royal Wedding live and the FA Cup Final 2018.
Semi Finals here we come	7 – 10 July 2018	This special sting is used to celebrate England’s entry for the World Cup semi finals.

Reception

The idents received overwhelmingly negative reception from viewers. Many criticised the lack of creativity and thought put in the idents, as the set conveyed a still photograph, leading to derision for its bland presentation.

The lack of a distinctive soundtrack or a symbol was also noted, and some viewers believed that the Sea Swimmers ident was not suitable for the news or serious programming. (This was rectified with the introduction of Birdwatchers in March). Other criticisms include the lack of consistent branding devices (trail endboards in particular were a hungover from the previous set), and production values were seen as poor, due to the shaky camera and no post processing work. The local news slide on BBC One HD was also seen to be far too intrusive and loud before it was edited in March 2017.

Initially, further criticism was aimed at the fact that the BBC launched the new look with only 2 idents; this was allayed with the launches of Mountain Rescue and Wheelchair Rugby Team.

With the introduction of Skaters and Birdwatchers in March 2017, changes were made to make the idents much less awkward, with the people featured continuing their activities after posing for the camera and a glow effect was added to the Oneness logo. However, some viewers have claimed that these changes were marginal at best, and major issues still persisted.

As of 2018, new variations of the idents have been added featuring groups from different parts of the United Kingdom, however these have still came under fire from the majority of viewers , facing heavy criticism online .

See also

• History of BBC television idents