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'''Variants:''' There were quite a few variants of this logo: |
'''Variants:''' There were quite a few variants of this logo: |
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*The bottom reflection was distorted for a brief period of time. |
* The bottom reflection was distorted for a brief period of time. |
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*One variant had the right-side-up "THAMES" text fade out at the same time as the reflection text, resulting in the logo being textless. |
* One variant had the right-side-up "THAMES" text fade out at the same time as the reflection text, resulting in the logo being textless. |
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*A still variant was seen on ''Man About the House''. |
* A still variant was seen on ''Man About the House''. |
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*In 1980, there was a "night-time" version of the logo, with darkened buildings and a night sky. It was primarily seen preceding ''Armchair Thriller''. It was also used for mid-1980s overnight links, with the silver text "Into the Night" sliding in below; other versions were seen before different overnight "strands". |
* In 1980, there was a "night-time" version of the logo, with darkened buildings and a night sky. It was primarily seen preceding ''Armchair Thriller''. It was also used for mid-1980s overnight links, with the silver text "Into the Night" sliding in below; other versions were seen before different overnight "strands". |
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*Another variant was a Christmas version from Teddington in Middlesex, where Thames' studios were in use. It read "Merry Christmas - THAMES - Teddington". |
* Another variant was a Christmas version from Teddington in Middlesex, where Thames' studios were in use. It read "Merry Christmas - THAMES - Teddington". |
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*A variant was made for a special Russian-themed week in 1989, with the reflection of the landmarks replaced with a reflection of Russian landmarks (including the Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral), and Thames in the reflection written out in Russian (as "ТЭMС", which is pronounced "Téms"). A version of this that inverted the sides (the Russian side on top and the Thames logo on the bottom, albeit with the reflection inverted) exists on a promo to promote this. |
* A variant was made for a special Russian-themed week in 1989, with the reflection of the landmarks replaced with a reflection of Russian landmarks (including the Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral), and Thames in the reflection written out in Russian (as "ТЭMС", which is pronounced "Téms"). A version of this that inverted the sides (the Russian side on top and the Thames logo on the bottom, albeit with the reflection inverted) exists on a promo to promote this. |
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*There was a closing version, which was the usual logo with the phrase "'''FROM THAMES'''", "'''FROM THAMES IN COLOUR'''", or "'''THAMES COLOUR PRODUCTION'''". Prior to 1985, the last of these variants also included the text "© UK (year in Roman numerals)" below "PRODUCTION". |
* There was a closing version, which was the usual logo with the phrase "'''FROM THAMES'''", "'''FROM THAMES IN COLOUR'''", or "'''THAMES COLOUR PRODUCTION'''". Prior to 1985, the last of these variants also included the text "© UK (year in Roman numerals)" below "PRODUCTION". |
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*Another version read "Produced for THAMES TELEVISION", with "Produced for" and "Television" added above and below the Thames text which appears on ''Jack the Ripper'' (1988). |
* Another version read "Produced for THAMES TELEVISION", with "Produced for" and "Television" added above and below the Thames text which appears on ''Jack the Ripper'' (1988). |
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*On a 1987 UK airing of ''Hands of the Ripper'', the 1969 "From Thames In Colour" variant was used. |
* On a 1987 UK airing of ''Hands of the Ripper'', the 1969 "From Thames In Colour" variant was used. |
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*During the Colour Strike (industrial action taken by all ITV companies between November 13, 1970 and February 8, 1971), all shows were broadcast in black-and-white instead of colour. Such programs produced by Thames featured the end card text "THAMES PRODUCTION" in place of "THAMES COLOUR PRODUCTION" during this time. |
* During the Colour Strike (industrial action taken by all ITV companies between November 13, 1970 and February 8, 1971), all shows were broadcast in black-and-white instead of colour. Such programs produced by Thames featured the end card text "THAMES PRODUCTION" in place of "THAMES COLOUR PRODUCTION" during this time. |
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*In 1982, Thames added a new closing logo without the reflections for its [[Channel 4 (UK)|Channel Four]] |
* In 1982, Thames added a new closing logo without the reflections for its [[Channel 4 (UK)|Channel Four]] programmes. Against a black or {{color|blue}} background was a box with a {{color|blue}}/white outline of the buildings, a {{color|blue}}/{{color|purple}} gradient background and the word "THAMES" inside. Underneath were the words "A THAMES TELEVISION PRODUCTION FOR CHANNEL FOUR" (an early version lacked the box). |
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*The ''Kenny Everett Video Show'' had many comedic variations of this logo: |
* The ''Kenny Everett Video Show'' had many comedic variations of this logo: |
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**The standard version had Everett bursting through a large-scale version of the logo, which ripped like paper. At the end of the show, the video was played in reverse, giving the appearance that Everett was "fixing" the torn logo. This variation had an extended version of the "Salute to Thames" jingle, with a comedy sting at the end. |
** The standard version had Everett bursting through a large-scale version of the logo, which ripped like paper. At the end of the show, the video was played in reverse, giving the appearance that Everett was "fixing" the torn logo. This variation had an extended version of the "Salute to Thames" jingle, with a comedy sting at the end. |
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**A variation of this played the video with no jingle, and after Everett had "fixed" the logo, his voice was heard saying "Is that what you wanted?" to which the audience shouted "YES!", which was followed by him saying "Good!". |
** A variation of this played the video with no jingle, and after Everett had "fixed" the logo, his voice was heard saying "Is that what you wanted?" to which the audience shouted "YES!", which was followed by him saying "Good!". |
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**Another Everett variant has him performing an "Action Replay" of the Thames logo in slo-mo, with added comedy sound effects. |
** Another Everett variant has him performing an "Action Replay" of the Thames logo in slo-mo, with added comedy sound effects. |
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**Everett was also responsible for an "adult" version of the logo, which replaced the buildings with a multitude of women's breasts. This was only seen on a fake promo at the beginning of an episode. |
** Everett was also responsible for an "adult" version of the logo, which replaced the buildings with a multitude of women's breasts. This was only seen on a fake promo at the beginning of an episode. |
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*A variation similar to Everett's was used at the end of Thames' 1984 Christmas tape, with another person bursting through the logo, uttering "Shoulda made this at [[Tyne Tees Television (UK)|Tyne Tees]], man. Goin' down the bus club, get some proper tunes". |
* A variation similar to Everett's was used at the end of Thames' 1984 Christmas tape, with another person bursting through the logo, uttering "Shoulda made this at [[Tyne Tees Television (UK)|Tyne Tees]], man. Goin' down the bus club, get some proper tunes". |
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*On ''Pauline's Quirks'', the logo animates as normal, then all of a sudden, Pauline Quirke, dressed up as King Kong, comes out of the ocean and eats and destroys the logo. |
* On ''Pauline's Quirks'', the logo animates as normal, then all of a sudden, Pauline Quirke, dressed up as King Kong, comes out of the ocean and eats and destroys the logo. |
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*In 1980, a special version of this ident was used to introduce ''The Dick Emery Hour'': the logo plays as normal, then the camera zoomed in on the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral. Emery's buck-toothed vicar character then stepped out from behind the columns and welcomed viewers to "an hour of comedy and music". Oddly enough, on this version, the reflection of the "THAMES" lettering at the bottom of the screen does not fade away. |
* In 1980, a special version of this ident was used to introduce ''The Dick Emery Hour'': the logo plays as normal, then the camera zoomed in on the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral. Emery's buck-toothed vicar character then stepped out from behind the columns and welcomed viewers to "an hour of comedy and music". Oddly enough, on this version, the reflection of the "THAMES" lettering at the bottom of the screen does not fade away. |
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'''FX/SFX:''' The right-side-up and upside-down buildings rising together, the "THAMES" lettering rising with them and the reflection of the lettering fading away. The picture of the Thames skyline was designed by Minale Tattersfield. |
'''FX/SFX:''' The right-side-up and upside-down buildings rising together, the "THAMES" lettering rising with them and the reflection of the lettering fading away. The picture of the Thames skyline was designed by Minale Tattersfield. |
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'''Music/Sounds Variants:''' |
'''Music/Sounds Variants:''' |
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*By 1971, the re-arranged version was used more often. |
* By 1971, the re-arranged version was used more often. |
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*On the closing variant, it used the closing theme of the show, or none. |
* On the closing variant, it used the closing theme of the show, or none. |
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⚫ | * On ''The Kenny Everett Video Show'', the tune was extended slightly; there are at least two different endings that were used on the show. Everett would also occasionally subvert the tune by humming it in a campy way, or playing it in slow-motion with the addition of comedy jingles and canned laughter. |
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'''Music/Sounds Trivia:''' The theme to this logo appears in the first episode of the infamous Netflix series ''Neo Yokio''. |
'''Music/Sounds Trivia:''' The theme to this logo appears in the first episode of the infamous Netflix series ''Neo Yokio''. |
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'''Music/Sounds Variants:''' |
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⚫ | *On ''The Kenny Everett Video Show'', the tune was extended slightly; there are at least two different endings that were used on the show. Everett would also occasionally subvert the tune by humming it in a campy way, or playing it in slow-motion with the addition of comedy jingles and canned laughter. |
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'''Availability:''' Very common, given its 23-year lifespan and preservation on reruns. |
'''Availability:''' Very common, given its 23-year lifespan and preservation on reruns. |
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*Seen on ''The Benny Hill Show'', ''Rumpole of the Bailey'', ''Danger Mouse'', ''The Wind in the Willows'', ''Count Duckula'', '' |
* Seen on ''The Benny Hill Show'', ''Rumpole of the Bailey'', ''Danger Mouse'', ''The Wind in the Willows'', ''Count Duckula'', ''Rainbow'', ''The Sooty Show'' and ''Mr. Bean'' (plastering both the [[Tiger Aspect Productions (UK)|Tiger Television]] and 1997 Pearson Television logos at the very end of episodes in the latter series (or show) from early 1990 until its last airing in early 1994). |
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*It is also seen on the original 1970s UK version of ''The Tomorrow People'', ''Love Thy Neighbor'', ''George and Mildred'', ''Man About the House'' (it has been tacked onto episodes of the third and fifth shows on which it did not originally appear, as well |
* It is also seen on the original 1970s UK version of ''The Tomorrow People'', ''Love Thy Neighbor'', ''George and Mildred'', ''Man About the House'' (it has been tacked onto episodes of the third and fifth shows on which it did not originally appear, as well), and the first series of ''The Bill'', all of which are available on DVD. |
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*This logo also makes an appearance at the start of the 39th episode of ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' ("Grandstand") as a joke. |
* This logo also makes an appearance at the start of the 39th episode of ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' ("Grandstand") as a joke. |
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'''Editor's Note:''' This is a fondly remembered logo to a generation of British TV fans who grew up with television during this time. |
'''Editor's Note:''' This is a fondly remembered logo to a generation of British TV fans who grew up with television during this time. |
Thames Television (commonly simplified to just Thames) was the second ITV franchise holder serving London and its surrounding areas on weekdays. It was formed from a "shotgun marriage" between ABC Television and Rediffusion London, and started broadcasting on July 30, 1968. Over the years, Thames became highly regarded inside the ITV network for its consistently high-quality programming, which included shows like The Benny Hill Show, The Kenny Everett Video Show and The Avengers, and (through its animation subsidiary Cosgrove Hall Productions) a variety of cartoons like Chorlton and the Wheelies, The Wind in the Willows and Danger Mouse.
Amidst the passing of the Broadcasting Act 1990, Thames' broadcasting license was withdrawn, and the network was replaced on January 1, 1993 by Carlton Television after the auction-style 1991 franchise round (interestingly, Carlton had already made two unsuccessful attempts to outbid Thames beforehand). Afterwards, Thames continued on solely as a production company, which was acquired by Pearson Television in mid-1993 (itself sold to CLT-UFA in 2000, merged to become the RTL Group, and rebranded as FremantleMedia in 2001). In 2003, Thames was merged with another Fremantle subsidiary, Talkback to form Talkback Thames, which was then split in 2012 into four production companies, resurrecting the Thames brand.
Nickname: "Early Rising Buildings"
Logo: In an oval-shaped frame, a group of buildings meant to represent London (from left to right: BT Tower, Big Ben, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the Tower Bridge) quickly rise up from the middle of the screen. In the bottom half, another set of buildings rise upside-down, giving the effect of a reflection. The word "THAMES" in Helvetica appears in both images, then fades out from the reflection, leaving the right-side-up word. This logo was in black and white, as colour broadcasting was not introduced on ITV until November 15, 1969 at the earliest.
Variants:
FX/SFX: The right-side-up and upside-down buildings rising together. For the "non-London" variant, the black screen "opening" vertically and revealing itself.
Music/Sounds: A loud eight-note horn fanfare, known as the "Salute to Thames", composed by Johnny Hawksworth. The first four notes would be played on a tenor saxophone (the fourth one sounds like a duet with another instrument), and the last four notes would either be played on a trumpet or a French horn.
Music/Sounds Variant: A re-arranged version of the fanfare was also used.
Music/Sounds Demo Variants: According to the TVArk website, a test version of the animation was discovered on a Thames demo videotape from 1967 with twenty-two separate tunes dubbed onto the animation, including predecessor ABC Weekend's chime tune; several variants of what would eventually become the standard Thames logo music in 1968 were also used.
Availability: Extremely rare.
Editor's Note: None.
Nicknames: "Rising Buildings II", "Buildings Out of the Water"
Logo: A colorized version of the previous logo, but it now has a sky background and looks more like a reflection in the water. Slight changes in definition of the image and such were made over the years, but this is basically how the logo went.
Trivia: According to the Thames Logo Parade website: "The animated ident was created just as you would imagine. The top half of the image was laid flat and filmed from above. A sheet of foil was used to provide the reflection and was at a slight angle from the perpendicular (hence the tall vertical structures bend in towards St. Paul's dome in the reflection for a more realistic effect). Using stop-frame animation produces the appearance of movement. The skyline image did not have the letters on it. The letters were filmed separately using the same process and then the negatives from both films were married together to produce the final effect. Treating the letters separately allowed for the reflected letters to be faded out."
Variants: There were quite a few variants of this logo:
FX/SFX: The right-side-up and upside-down buildings rising together, the "THAMES" lettering rising with them and the reflection of the lettering fading away. The picture of the Thames skyline was designed by Minale Tattersfield.
Music/Sounds: Same as the last logo.
Music/Sounds Variants:
Music/Sounds Trivia: The theme to this logo appears in the first episode of the infamous Netflix series Neo Yokio.
Availability: Very common, given its 23-year lifespan and preservation on reruns.
Editor's Note: This is a fondly remembered logo to a generation of British TV fans who grew up with television during this time.
Nicknames: "Rising Buildings III", "CGI Rising Buildings", "Thames Triangle", "CGI Thames Triangle", "Thames XXI", "Thames' 21st Anniversary"
Logo: Against a black background, a triangular shape rises into view from the centre of the screen. As it reveals itself, it looks somewhat like an upside-down Christmas tree shape (two triangles joined together), and the upper triangle has an abstract version of the Thames waterfront scenery against a blue skyline. The lower one is gold in color, and contains the words "THAMES XXI" ("XXI" is the Roman numeral for 21). As the logo rises, it too has a reflection, though it does not last when it is completely formed.
Variant: At the end of programs, the bottom of the smaller triangle is wordless, and the text "THAMES TELEVISION PRESENTATION/PRODUCTION" or (from September 4, 1989) the text "THAMES TELEVISION PRODUCTION/PROGRAMME FOR" and the then-newly-introduced ITV logo appears below.
FX/SFX: None for any of the end-credits variants, but very good computer-generated animation, which is a modernization of Thames' "Rising Buildings" design.
Music/Sounds: An orchestral version of the Thames fanfare, with a newly-composed six-note ending. A continuity announcement would follow.
Availability: Very rare. It was only seen in the United Kingdom as a special ident for Thames' twenty-first anniversary, but it's preserved on sites like TVArk.
Editor's Note: None.
Nickname: "ITV Generic"
See ITV for descriptions.
Nicknames: "CGI Thames Triangle II", "Thames Triangle II", "Thames' Final Stand"
Logo: The camera goes through a three-dimensional image of London. As it pans away, one of the buildings "fades" into the ident, which is now on top of a blue triangle. On the triangle are the words "THAMES TELEVISION". The background is again a skyline.
FX/SFX: The panning over the towers and fading into the triangle. A very nice combination of live-action and CGI.
Music/Sounds: An updated orchestral score. In December, a more festive version of the theme was used, which was heard the last time this logo was seen.
Availability: This was also a London-only station identity, due to the reason covered for the 3rd logo, so it is extinct, but it is preserved on sites like TVArk.
Editor's Note: None.
Nickname: "Thames Triangle III", "Thames Reborn (after 1992)"
Logo: Against a medium blue background is a blue and gold version of the triangular Thames logo from before. Below that is the text "THAMES TELEVISION PRODUCTION/PROGRAMME FOR" with the 1989 ITV logo. After 1992, this became the primary logo, and the 1989 ITV logo was removed.
Byline: In 1996, the byline "A Pearson Television Company" was added below the triangle, and "Production" was moved on to it, now in the same font as the rest of the logo. The copyright text "© Thames Television Limited MCMXCVI" was also added at the bottom of the screen, as it was previously on the credits.
Variants:
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show, or none.
Availability: Uncommon.
Editor's Note: None.
Nicknames: "Thames Video Wall", "Thames Triangle IV", "A Talent for Television"
Logo: A background consisting of various program scenes configuring themselves into a video wall appear on the screen. As the wall goes out of focus, the Thames triangle fades onto the centre of the screen.
Trivia: This was originally taken from a promotional music video which Thames aired in the run up to its closure.
Variant: There was a version of this logo which featured a byline that faded in under the Thames Triangle logo and stated: "Thames. A Talent for Television."
FX/SFX: The program clips forming a wall, then going out of focus as the Thames Triangle logo fades in, and the "Talent for Television" byline appearing.
Music/Sounds: A synthesized moderate-tempo brass and string fanfare. This was the third and final Thames ident to not use the "Salute to Thames" fanfare. The music video advert which used this featured a cover of "I Only Want to Be with You" by The Tourists, and the video wall/logo appears during the last line of the song.
Availability: Extinct. This was a London-area-only ident, and was seen on The Bill and This is Your Life. However, it is preserved on websites such as TVArk.
Editor's Note: None.
Nickname: "The (Pearson) Tower Bridge"
Logo: Against a black background is a tall blue box with a whitish silhouette of the Tower Bridge. Under that are the words "THAMES" in the Copperplate Gothic font and the respective company byline. On co-productions, the name of the station (e.g. "For Channel Four") would be seen under the byline. A copyright byline is seen below.
Bylines:
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: The end theme of the show or silence.
Availability: Common.
Editor's Note: None.
Nickname: "River Waves"
Logo: As we see waves on the surface of a river, the name "THAMES" in a white sans-serif font is seen in the center of the screen. Like the "Rising Buildings", there is a reflection given to the Thames name (in a sky-bluish shade). The byline "A FremantleMedia Company" is under this.
Variant: On co-productions with the BBC (such as the long-running British edition of This Is Your Life), the Thames logo is seen on a black background with the BBC logo under it. Copyright notices for both are seen under the BBC logo.
FX/SFX: A still image rendered in modern CGI.
Music/Sounds: The end theme of the show or silence.
Availability: Uncommon.
Editor's Note: None.
Logo: Against a bluish/whitish background with many dots and lines, we see the word "THAMES"; below that is the "talkbackTHAMES" logo. "Part of the FremantleMedia Group" (or "A FremantleMedia Company") is shown underneath it in a smaller font. Sometimes, a FremantleMedia copyright date is at the bottom.
Variant: This logo was sometimes shared with the 19 Entertainment logo.
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: Just the end theme from any show.
Availability: Was seen on Pop Idol, The Bill, Play Your Cards Right, Idols!, and Hardware, among others.
Editor's Note: None.
Logo: A purple circle zooms in, with the word "thames" (with a massive "t") turning on the circle. The bottom shines. The FremantleMedia byline appears on the bottom of it.
FX/SFX: The circle zooming and "thames" turning in.
Music/Sounds: Just the end theme from any show.
Availability: Seen on Britain's Got Talent and The X Factor from 2012-2019, and the 2012 series of Blockbusters on Challenge, among others.
Editor's Note: None.
Logo: On a black background, the word "THAMES" now in a gold and a different font rises up, and the reflection fades out, similar to the "Rising Buildings" logo.
Bylines:
Variants:
FX/SFX: The "THAMES" lettering rising and its reflection fading away.
Music/Sounds: A whoosh sound with a "thud", the ending theme from any show, or none.
Availability: Current.
Editor's Note: None.
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