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.
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BBC One Christmas Trailers 2023 A selection of Christmas trailers for 2023
BBC idents
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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
