When BBC Television began in 1936, the idea of a TV channel identity was essentially an unknown concept.
With commercial competition starting in the mid-1950s, the BBC started to understand their programmes as part of a channel - the framework that said something about what to expect from that part of the Corporation.
One way of making a big impact was, and still is, at Christmas.
Christmas on-screen identity got going in the late 50s, and by the late 60s it was in colour.
Our video takes you through a selection of Christmas idents from BBC One and BBC Two across the decades.
- BBC One Christmas Trailers 2023A selection of Christmas trailers for 2023
BBC idents
Early Identities
The Television Service's visual branding, 1936-1953
Abram Games and the Television Symbol
The story of the bat's wings logo used between 1953 and 1960
Global Ambition
BBC One's visual identity 1960-1997
Into the New Millennium
BBC One idents from 1997 to the present day
BBC Two 1991
How BBC 2 was rebranded in 1991
BBC Two 2018 idents
The first new identity for BBC Two in 20 years
BBC Christmas idents
40 years of Christmas idents on BBC One and BBC Two
