Thames (2012-)

This article is about the production logos used by Thames as an ITV franchise from 1968-1992 and as a production company from 1993 onwards. For Thames' TV idents, see Thames Television.

Credits

Compiled by
RSX-798

Editions by
Michael Kenchington and Camenati

Background

The Thames production company was originally the production arm of Thames Television, formed from a merger of the separate previous units ABC Television Productions and Rediffusion London Productions. Even after Thames had lost its ITV franchise in 1992 to Carlton, it continued on as a production company, which was acquired by Pearson Television in mid-1993 (itself sold to CLT-UFA in July 2000, merged to become the RTL Group, and rebranded as FremantleMedia in 2001).

On 10 February 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 to focus on entertainment shows.

1st Logo (30 July 1968-1969)

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Logo: Essentially a still version of the 1968 logo, with "FROM" on the top left of the logo.

Variant: On some programmes, a still version of the black background version is used.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: The ending theme of the programme or none.

Availability: Common.

• Many Thames shows had kept the logo, like General Franco and Special Branch, among others.
• The still version of the black background version of this logo also appeared at the end of a July 19, 2022 airing of S01E02 of The Mind of Mr J.G. Reeder on Talking Pictures TV, which is then followed by the 2018 Fremantle logo.

2nd Logo (15 November 1969-1 September 1989)

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Logo: It's a still version of the 1969 logo, but with the text reading "COLOUR PRODUCTION" below the logo.

Variants:

• Sometimes, a still version of the 1969 logo without the words "COLOUR PRODUCTION" also exists as well.
• During the 1970 ITV strike, a black-and-white version exists, where the logo reads only as "THAMES PRODUCTION"
• Other versions of the logo exist, reading as "FROM THAMES" or "FROM THAMES IN COLOUR", which was seen at the end of movies and imported programmes.
• Prior to 1985, the last of these variants also included the text "© UK (year in Roman numerals)" below "PRODUCTION".
• 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).
• In 1982, Thames added a new closing logo without the reflections for its Channel Four programmes. Against a black or blue background was a box with a blue/white outline of the buildings, a blue/purple gradient background and the word "THAMES" inside. Underneath are the words "A THAMES TELEVISION PRODUCTION FOR CHANNEL FOUR" (an early version lacked the box).
• The TV show Pauline's Quirkes (1976) had a variant that had a kaiju (played by Pauline Quirke) rise from the river and eat the logo.
• The late-night mystery series Armchair Thriller (1978-81) used a variant of the logo set at night.
• One episode of The Kenny Everett Video Show (1978-81) had the building domes in the logo replaced with women's breasts.
• One edition of the Morecambe and Wise Christmas comedy sketch shows produced by Thames used a choral version of the Thames logo jingle: "Here they are now, Morecambe and Wi-i-i-i-i-ise!"

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: The ending theme of the programme or none.

Availability: Common.

• Still saved on most shows, like The Bill, Danger Mouse, The Wind in the Willows, Count Duckula, Rainbow, The Sooty Show, Rumpole of the Bailey, The Sweeney and Armchair Theatre, among many others.
• It was also seen on the 1970s UK version of The Tomorrow People, Love Thy Neighbor, George and Mildred, Man About the House, series 1 of Everybody's Equal, Des O'Connor Tonight, and the first four series of Strike It Lucky, among many others as well.
• The "COLOUR PRODUCTION" variant also makes a surprise appearance at the end of the French dub of the first three Mr. Bean episodes "Mr. Bean", "The Return of Mr. Bean", and "The Curse of Mr. Bean", respectively, which is then followed by the 2001 FremantleMedia International logo as well.

3rd Logo (4 September 1989-31 August 1990)

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Logo: On a blue spotlight background, we see a still version of the Thames XXI logo, except the bottom triangle is wordless. Below it is text reading either "THAMES TELEVISION PRESENTATION/PRODUCTION" or "THAMES TELEVISION PRODUCTION/PROGRAMME FOR", and the 1989 ITV logo appearing below.

Variants:

• Sometimes, the words read as "THAMES TELEVISION PRODUCTION FOR CHANNEL FOUR", which was seen on Thames programmes for Channel 4.
• A B&W variant of the above also exists, which was seen on a TCM airing of the 1921 film The Blot.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: The ending theme of the programme or none.

Availability: Rare.

• It appears on Thames shows from 1989 to 1990 such as The Bill, This Is Your Life, Wish You Were Here, Harold Lloyd: The Third Genius, episodes of both The Sooty Show and Rainbow from 1989 to 1990, Des O'Connor Tonight and the fifth series of Strike It Lucky, among many others.
• It was also originally seen on season 3 (1989-90) episodes of Count Duckula, however it does not appear on the DVD release, nor does it not appear on VHS releases as they are often deleted out, or plastered over by either Thames Video's first logo or Cosgrove Hall Productions' second logo (which was extended on the DVD release).
• It also appears on 1989 episodes of Never The Twain and is intact whenever Forces TV aired this.
• Season 1 episodes of French Fields also kept this intact on UK Play and whenever Alibi decides to air it.
• The B&W variant of the "THAMES TELEVISION PRODUCTION FOR CHANNEL FOUR" endcap was also seen on a TCM airing of the 1921 film The Blot as well.
• It was also seen on the original airing of the first episode of Mr. Bean as well.
• It was also seen on T-Bag's Christmas Carol and T-Bag and the Pearls of Wisdom as well.
• It also appeared at the end of the 1989 TV movie Darlings of the Gods as well.
• It also appeared at the end of an October 20, 2020 UK airing of the French Fields episode "A Moving Experience" on Drama, which is then followed by the 2018 Fremantle logo.

4th Logo (3 September 1990-1997)

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Logo: Against a medium blue background is a blue and gold version of the triangular Thames logo with the words "THAMES TELEVISION" appearing on the triangle in a Friz Quadrata font. 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: Beginning in mid-1996, the byline "A Pearson Television Company" was added below the triangle, and "Production" was moved on to it, now also 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:

• For Thames' Channel Four-produced programmes, either the text "A THAMES TELEVISION PRODUCTION FOR CHANNEL FOUR" or "THAMES TELEVISION PRODUCTION FOR CHANNEL FOUR" would be displayed.
• There was also a version with the text of "THAMES TELEVISION PRESENTATION", which appears at the end of movies and imported programmes, and in 1993 and 1996, there were also three variants for Thames' Yorkshire, Central and UK Gold-produced programmes, with the text "THAMES TELEVISION PRODUCTION FOR YORKSHIRE TELEVISION/CENTRAL/UKGOLD".
• On programmes produced for Sky such as Great Escapes, the logo appears with the words "A THAMES TELEVISION PRODUCTION FOR SKY TELEVISION (C)(year)" appearing below.
• In 1994, Thames' then-parent company Pearson remastered the 1973-75 documentary series The World At War, with the following plastered over the original "From THAMES" and "THAMES Colour Production" ending: following a quick montage of black and white photographs, the 1990 Thames Triangle logo (with the colour removed) appears on the screen on a black background, with the copyright date under it.
  • A variant of the above also exists where the 1990 Thames Triangle logo changes from black and white to colour, which was seen on at least one episode of the remastered version of The World At War as well.
• Variants of this logo for Thames Video, Euston Films, and Cosgrove Hall Productions were also used.
• There was also a version with "INTERNATIONAL" replacing "TELEVISION". The name is put on a separate bar, and the logo takes up more of the screen with no other words around it. Oddly enough, this version was seen on Avenger Penguins (the first show produced by Cosgrove Hall after Thames had lost their broadcasting license at the end of 1992). However, it was not seen on the original airings, instead featuring Granada's 1992 "stripe" end board.
  • This also appears on the Arena Home Entertainment VHS release of Lorna Doone and a DVD print of the Mr. Bean episode "Goodnight Mr. Bean" as well.
• A variant with just the 1990 Thames triangle logo also exists, which appears on an early 2000s print of the second season of Avenger Penguins as well.
• A print version of the logo exists on prints of Cold Comfort Farm, which appears with the 1988 BBC logo.
• On episodes of This Is Your Life on BBC1 from 1994 to 1997, this logo appears with the 1988 BBC logo.
• Sometimes, on the mid-1996 production variant:
  • The Pearson byline would appear on the triangle instead of "Production" as well.
  • The Thames Television copyright would be omitted.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: The ending theme of the programme or none.

Availability: Uncommon.

• It was seen on Executive Stress, the later French Fields (second season onward), series 6 (1990) of Danger Mouse, series 3 (1990-1991) of Count Duckula, episodes of The Sooty Show, T-Bag and Rainbow from 1990 to 1992, all episodes of Truckers and Victor and Hugo: Bunglers in Crime, later Rumpole of the Bailey episodes, This Is Your Life, Mr. Bean, Wish You Were Here...?, the first five series of The Bill, the first four series of Take Your Pick!, Strike It Lucky, Des O'Connor Tonight and Hope It Rains, among many others.
• The first version also originally used to appear on public TV rerun prints of the Mr. Bean episode "Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean", but it has since been removed for current broadcasts.
• The monochrome version was also seen on The World At War after its "remastering" in 1994 and has also been aired on BBC Two during December 2002.
• The production variant with the 1989 ITV logo was also seen on a Drama airing of the French Fields episode "Make for the Hills", which is then followed by the 2018 Fremantle logo.
• The production variant without the 1989 ITV logo also plasters the 2nd logo on programmes which were seen on UK Gold such as The Upchat Line, The Bill, Danger UXB, Give Us A Clue, The Sweeney and George and Mildred, among others, and on a Talking Pictures TV airing of a 1979 episode of Quatermass as well.
• The mid-1996 production variant was also seen on a later print of S8E09 of Minder titled "The Greatest Show in Willesden", a mid-1990s print of the 1983 adaptation of The Wind in the Willows, series 10 of Michael Barrymore's Strike It Rich, Des O'Connor's Christmas with the Stars and at the end of a UKTV Play streaming print of S13E01 of The Bill and a September 22, 2022 airing of S4E02 of Callan on Talking Pictures TV, respectively, among others.

5th Logo (1997-2002)

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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.

Variants:

• On co-productions, the name of the station (e.g. "For Channel Four") would be seen under the byline.
• A copyright byline is sometimes seen below.
• On some shows, like reprints of The Sweeney, the show's URL appears below the logo.
• On Des O'Connor Tonight at Christmas, the URL "itv.virtualchristmas.co.uk" appears below the 1998 copyright notice.
• Sometimes, the logo shares the screen with the other logos, including the 1988 and 1997 BBC logos.

Bylines:

• 1997-2001: "A Pearson Television Company"
• 2001-2002: "A FremantleMedia Company"

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: The ending theme of the programme or none.

Availability: Common.

• Plastered over older Thames logos (primarily on British cable TV); otherwise uncommon in America, as recent Thames productions have rarely aired on PBS.
• It was also seen on The Bill, Michael Barrymore's Strike It Rich, Wish You Were Here and the final series of Take Your Pick!, among many others.
• Early episodes of the 4th season of the UK version of Fort Boyard on Challenge also feature this logo, with the remaining episodes of that season using the next logo.
• Recent reruns of season 7 of Strike it Lucky on Challenge also feature this logo with the Pearson byline, followed by the 2001 FremantleMedia logo.
• It also appears on a UK 4:3 DVD release of Jack the Ripper (1988) plastering the 2nd logo.
• It also appeared at the end of a late 2019 UK airing of the French Fields episode "Inside Story" on Drama, which is then followed by the 2018 Fremantle logo.
• The FremantleMedia byline version is rare, due to it only being used for a short-time.

6th Logo (2001-2003)

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Logo: As we see waves on the surface of a river, the name "THAMES" in a white sans-serif font is seen in the centre 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.

Variants:

• For older shows and movies, it plasters older Thames logos like the 5th logo, and there is a copyright disclaimer appearing below relating to the year it first commissioned.
• 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 1997 BBC logo under it. Copyright notices for both are seen under the 1997 BBC logo.
• On Pop Idol, the 19 Entertainment logo is seen below the Thames logo.
• On shows co-produced with Channel 5 such as Open House with Gloria Hunniford, the logo and the background are on the right side of the Channel 5 logo with the copyright disclaimer below.

Technique: A still image rendered in modern CGI.

Music/Sounds: The ending theme of the programme or none.

Availability: Uncommon.

• It was seen on Pop Idol, The Bill, and Play Your Cards Right, among others.
• Just like the fifth logo, most Thames productions and episodes of Take Your Pick that air on Challenge currently have this plaster over older Thames logos, usually adding in a copyright byline dated the year the series was originally transmitted/aired.
• A few episodes of the 4th season of the UK version of Fort Boyard when aired on Challenge end with this logo.
• This logo is also seen on a UK 16:9 widescreen DVD release of Jack the Ripper (1988), plastering the 2nd logo.
• It was also seen at the end of Challenge airings of Lily Savage's Blankety Blank, which is then followed by the 2001 FremantleMedia logo.

7th Logo (2003-2005)

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Logo: Against a bluish/whitish background with many dots and lines, we see the word "THAMES"; below that is the "talkbackTHAMES" logo. The byline "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.

Variants:

• This logo was sometimes shared with the 19 Entertainment or Syco TV logos.
• As per the previous logo, the logo and the background are on the right side of the Channel 5 logo with the copyright disclaimer below on shows co-produced with Channel 5.
• On Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon, the logo is white and on the same background as the Granada logo.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: Just the end theme from any show.

Availability: Seen on Pop Idol, The Bill, Play Your Cards Right, Idols!, early episodes of The X Factor and Hardware, among other shows from the era.

8th Logo (1 January 2012-2019)

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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.

Technique: Simple computer animation.

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.

9th Logo (2018-)

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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:

• 2018-2021: "Part of Fremantle" (sometimes the Fremantle logo is used)
• 2021-: "A Fremantle Label" with "Fremantle" being said company's logo.

Variants:

• Sometimes, it shares the screen with other logos, including the 1997 BBC and 2013 ITV logos.
• On Too Hot to Handle starting with season 2, the logo appears on the top and the Talkback logo appears underneath, making it similar to the Talkback Thames logo.
• A still version of this logo exists.

Technique: Simple CGI.

Music/Sounds: A whoosh sound with a "thud", the ending theme from any show, or none.

Availability: Current.

◄ Rediffusion London Productions ABC Television Productions

Thames (2012-)

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