BBC Two is the second major terrestrial television channel of the BBC. It was the second British television station to be launched by the BBC and Europe's first television channel to broadcast regularly in colour, from 1967, envisaged as a home for less mainstream and more ambitious programming.
The latest style of presentation was introduced on 18 February 2007, designed by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO and produced by Red Bee Media. The figure 2 - which has been altered from Lambie-Nairn's original '2' design for the first time in 16 years - became a 'window on the world'. The first ident broadcast from this set was "Cappuccino Scoop". Additionally, the plum coloured box previously used for the BBC Two logo was changed to a deep aqua colour, along with a font change from Gill Sans to Avenir across the channel.
Idents
Cappuccino
The ident that launched the 'Window on the World' era. Chocolate sprinkles are poured through a 2 template, creating the logo on top of a cappuccino. Two variants see the clearly unappreciative customer destroy the figure first with a spoon and then with sugar cubes.
Chase
A man evades a pursuing gang by climbing through various 2 portals. Five variants were produced, four (Dive, Jump, Pit and Wall) are shown below, only one was regularly used by Network BBC Two and all were withdrawn from use in June 2009. Money well spent then...
Mirror
As a car races through a city, its stylised wing mirror offers a more relaxed view of the world behind. A variant, officially known as Car, was introduced a few months after the original's debut. Car features the same visuals accompanied by a lighter soundtrack.
Seascape
A breakwater with a fatal flaw. Waves crash through the 2-shaped hole accompanied by a dramatic orchestral soundtrack.
Sunroof
A nice view through the 2. A driver opens their unique sunroof to treat us to some blue skies.
Tent
The adventures of a yellow BBC Two tent. From a sandy beach to a music festival and even as a companion to an Arctic explorer.
Zoetrope
Scenes from the future are animated via a primitive way of viewing moving pictures.
Tagging Football
A rogue with a 2 template spray paints a pink 2 onto a football. As part of a series of 'Tagging' idents, Tagging Football is shown only before Match of the Day 2.
Special Presentation
Back to Nature
Wildife programming gained special idents in May 2008. A tree trunk, with a 2 cut out of its bark, is positioned in front of a variety of woodland scenes. A relaxing, if a little basic, set of idents.
Burn Up
Stings used to promote high-octane oil drama series, Burn Up.
Electric Proms 2008
Neon signs come together to form the 2.
Heroes
BBC Two ensured the launch of their big US import Heroes didn't go unnoticed by creating a special ident featuring the 2 in the guise of the planet seen in the Heroes logo.
The Restaurant
Food flies towards a porcelain 2.
Thursdays
Special quirky branding for the Thursday night comedy zone.
2Dimensions Promotions
These strange and extravagant trailers were aired during Autumn 2008 to promote key BBC Two programmes. Shown below are the promos featuring Bruce Parry (of Tribe) and Valentine Warner (of What To Eat Now).
Trail Style
Initially, the BBC Two box was present throughout trails. This was altered around two months after the rebrand so that it faded in following the completion of the endboard's animation.
A few trail endboards that strayed from the standard style, spot the glaring error!
Slides
Once a staple of TV presentation, slides are now mainly restricted to appearances during Schools programming.
Programme Menus
Used to highlight an evening of programmes.
Next Pointers
Let's have a look at what's coming up next on Two...
Cross-Channel Menu
Promoting what's on across the BBC.
ECPs
Those infuriating credit-squeeze designs. Top introduced in July 2007, bottom introduced in November 2008.
Bits & Pieces
And now the weather
