CHANNEL 4 ON-AIR IDENTITY - A COMPILATION OF IDENTS AND PROMOTIONS (1982-2002)

A fantastic video showcasing many of the idents and promotional styles of the UK's Channel 4, from 1982-2002. There are a few examples not included unfortunately, but this is still a great compilation and appears to have been sourced from master material.
I believe this originally appeared on the 'Sounds Familiar' website - it is not my own work. All copyrights acknowledged.

[@superkoopa3695]

I like how at the beginning of the video, the blocky 4 is shown encased in glass, symbolising it’s museum-worthy identity.

[@dylanfagan3356]

Deceased the loving memory of Martin Lambie-Nairn 1945 - 2020

[@nottimhortons]

I believe the words you are looking for there is "dedicated to".

[@jakubwidlarz]

The square idents with their original music were IMO the best British idents of all-time. Whilst ITV were promoting themselves at the time as TV from the heart, C4 were truly TV for the new millenium, and that glorious music surely promoted the brave new age better than that Robbie Williams single.

[@desbest4]

I agree. The square idents were great design.

[@rustyfrombluey]

Yooka: Yooka-Laylee: Laylee's Bad Scale Day confirmed (with Channel 4 reference during round 4).

[@larrymartin9550]

Reminds me of faceandlms

[@UWMGraphics]

In 2023, a bunch of new idents from Channel 4 were released this year, and the idents were looking good! It's titled "Modern Britain," and wow, the idents reflects our current day culture in the UK. Looks like I am watching an endless ident all over again.

[@CringePoop]

The theme music for the square era is so good! It sucks they kept on getting worse and worse as time went on. They were truly onto something great.

[@cataclysmiceas]

O MAH GAHD I WAS LOOKING FOR THIS FOR A LONG TIME I thought this was removed

[@CaptainSiCo]

It was on my other channel. I’ve transferred it over.

[@cataclysmiceas]

@@CaptainSiCo ok thanks

[@itsjemmabond]

@@CaptainSiCo Lol, I remember you. Someone said in the comments section "You better post the other idents," and you weren't too pleased. I don't think he was trying to be rude, but he should have apologised. Thanks for transferring these though, It's a Sin brought me here.

[@MarkGenner-xz4zu]

Happy 40th Birthday From Channel Four.

[@michaelreddington658]

This is great, what a find!!!

[@shaunflynn8314]

The imagination on show is superb! It got a bit weird in 1986 for my liking but still very creative

[@Nikotron2000]

9:42 This ident became the inspiration for the 2004-2015 ident

[@markgenner1747]

40 Years.

[@squitlertron]

8:29 these 1990 idents are my favorite. I always had a knack for dated cgi.

[@northernplacecorporation]

That "master material" thing could mean a few things: 1" C videotape reels, analog Betacam SP videocassettes, and Digital Betacam videocassettes.

[@centminst1984]

9:05 I like this four redesign.

[@lostindixie]

More than I expected.

[@mrhammadmossop1988ul-haq]

Thanks for this upload

[@MisatoKatsuragiHD]

22:16 FaceandLMS

[@SigmaRho2922]

15:26 is my favorite Tapping campaign ident while 19:46 is my favorite 1995 channel 4 bumper.

[@11Gibb11]

aye yeah 15.26 love the music in background

[@desbest4]

Channel 4 has the best idents

[@vincentwhitehead]

If anyone hasn’t already recognized him yet, yes that is Captain Picard, Patrick Stewart ,narrating the sci-fi weekend Ident

[@rustyfrombluey]

Rusty: Hold up, the voice of Captain Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek narrated Channel 4's Scj-Fi Weekend ident?

[@rustyfrombluey]

Rusty: Also, I thought it was Scj-Fi… Sorry in advance!

[@vincentwhitehead]

@@rustyfrombluey yep, if you listen closely to the ident, it’s definitely him

[@FromtheHerts81]

Did anyone notice Billie Piper as one of the kids' facing advertising Channel 4 Schools?

[@Evemeister12]

Yep

[@itsreeyah]

21:14 this ident must've been filmed before or during the episode of Friends where Ross and Emily get married.

[@wifikraftofficial8645]

21:43 the former doctor who character rose Tyler played by billie piper

[@benwsp]

0:57 is the most memorable and classic

[@KevinSmyth1985]

@16:56 I complytfully forgot that Two Irish Aliens from my Childhood, were big over in England for a time.

[@rustyfrombluey]

Rusty: Yeah, their names are Zig and Zag, voiced by Ciaran Morrison and Mick O'Hara respectively. I believe the two voice actors also wrote part of the script for Claude…

[@mattyb8788]

Channel 4 have bought back the 1980s idents to celebrate the premiere of drama It's A Sin

[@Cheeseburgerandfries2006]

I know but I had online class that day so I missed the whole day of this

[@Charlotte-Charly]

9:14 *startup*

[@danielslade9485]

19:43 "NEXT!"

[@Super71_lpc]

8:58 BOO!

[@rustyfrombluey]

Also 8:58 Yooka starts screaming. Well, Yooka and Laylee start screaming. BTW Happy Halloween, everybody! #ThisIsNotATest

[@skezial]

22:15

[@brandontheeveryfan305]

3:18 - 3:24 This pretty much predates the 1999-2004 Channel 4 logo

[@chloearchibald5843]

10:41 '4' lyf ;)

[@plushmariogaming]

24:31 that looks worse than season one animation 💀

[@SuperHoppyLogan92]

8:52

[@jackcrawford3921]

Is that someone from Hollyoaks at 19:30?

[@adamwithey8194]

02:58

[@Seany06]

What year is the one at 3:42 from?

[@CaptainSiCo]

Summer 1984.

[@adamwithey8194]

21:19 what is this animated tv programme called?

[@CaptainSiCo]

I have no idea! Perhaps it’s not from a programme.

[@adamwithey8194]

@@CaptainSiCo it must be family guy

[@CaptainSiCo]

I doubt it. Channel 4 didn’t have the rights.

[@adamwithey8194]

@@CaptainSiCo mmmm.

[@sakilook]

Who's this at 15:12? Kinda scary...

[@CaptainSiCo]

Dunno but he featured on the breakfillers too!

[@lmcast3792]

It’s nagging me but who is that presenter on 18:48 ???

[@markc8956]

Richard Orford. Remember him for shows other than those he presented on C4.

[@garethluvsthetruth6782]

emotional much

[@JamieAllottKid]

16:56

[@centminst1984]

(second comment here) 16:49 He somehow looks familiar. Who was he?

[@markc8956]

That's Jack Dee!

[@RainStorm2]

video : kzbin.info/www/bejne/el6rdWSCi7WUm80

[@EalesOnWheels]

21:42 IS THAT BILLIE PIPER?

[@CaptainSiCo]

Looks like her, but probably isn’t!

[@43Third]

Yes

[@user-hr4dk6ry9s]

16:17 СТУКНЕТ МОРСКОГО ЛЮДЯ

[@user-hr4dk6ry9s]

13:48 РЕПЕТИЦИЯ ОРКЕСТРА

[@rustyfrombluey]

9:30: New Channel 4 logo appears. Yooka and Laylee: (coughing, vomiting) We really hate the new logo! #YookaLaylee #ThisIsNotATest

[@rustyfrombluey]

Uh, this is... Sit down and pay attention. Yooka: This is a nightmare! Also Yooka: Wait, me and Laylee don’t work for Channel 4. #YookaLaylee

[@Evemeister12]

From 1999 onwards Channel 4 lost its way, culminating in the cultural wasteland that it is today.

[@SanFran51]

The circle idents sucked. It made the channel look like daytime TV 24/7.