Concept and creative process
The ‘Circles’ campaign was launched in 2006 as a replacement for the ‘Rhythm and Movement’ series of channel idents that had been in use since 2004. The change was driven by the new BBC One Channel Controller Peter Fincham and marked in a way a return to the channel’s brand heritage of the circular globe. The creative brief was to devise and film sequences of people, plants, machines and animals which ended in a circular image incorporating the new BBC One logo. It was a brief that gave free rein to the imagination and resulted in a memorable series of channel idents which were used successfully throughout the decade. The ident ‘Bikes’ was one of the first of the series to air and it was on air for the whole decade. The scenario involved a group of three motorcycle stunt riders riding a ‘wall of death’. The bikers were all part of the existing stunt team of Ken Fox and his family. It was filmed on a stage at Shepperton Studios and involved a lot of fast and furious bike action as well as a surprising top shot which created the circle leitmotif and the background for the logo.
Creative Idea - Charlie Mawer.
Producer - Ella Littlewood.
Director - Stuart Douglas.