Background: Action Time was originally started out as a UK-based broker of US game shows from different British broadcasters, formed by Jeremy Fox in 1978, such as Paramount Television and Ralph Edwards Productions, so in 1987, it was sold off to Zenith Entertainment, a joint venture of Carlton and Paramount, so they would place the company up for sale. Action Time actually began operations in 1980 with the arrival of British broadcaster Channel 4, and had a strong format development side led by Stephen Leahy and Trish Kinane, which would later leave to form Ludus Produtions. Leahy would then start Action Group in 1989 to encompass different formats worldwide. Fox then revived the company in 2018.
1st Logo (1984-1986?)[]
Logo: On a black background, we see the green letter "A" that connects with a white "T" on the bottom. Below it was the words "AN ACTION TIME PRODUCTION FOR CHANNEL FOUR", with a copyright stamp shown below the logo.
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: The end theme of the show.
Availability: Seen on some earlier shows from the period, like Ear Say and 6.20 Soul Train.
Editor's Note: None.
2nd Logo (1986?-1988)[]
Logo: As the last scene of the credits appear, we see gray and green triangles flying from the screen. Both of them conjoin together and spins to the center to firm a green triangle with a gray shadow. The word "ACTION TIME" wipes in and two green lines fade in above and below the logo. The word "AN ACTION TIME PRODUCTION FOR CHANNEL FOUR" fades in below the logo.
FX/SFX: The spinning and flying of the logo.
Music/Sounds: The end theme of the show.
Availability: Seen on some shows like Solid Soul.
Editor's Note: None.
3rd Logo (1988-1991)[]
Logo: On a space background like the 1988 CIC Video Warning, that zooms out with streaks, we see a silver box containing the same logo from before, albeit in metallic, with the text and lines is in blue. The word "AN" and "PRODUCTION FOR" is above and below the lines, and underneath is the channel information (either Galaxy, Sky One or Granada Television) is below the logo, also in blue. Red streaks move from the space background.
FX/SFX: The space background zooming out.
Music/Sounds: The end theme to the show.
Availability: Rare. Appeared on some game shows like early episodes of Stars in their Eyes, Runway and Intellect.
Editor's Note: None.
4th Logo (1991-1994)[]
Logo: On a black background, we see the blue words "Entertainment from" in script zooming out, along with the same triangle from the previous two logos zooming out in silver, and the camera pans out to reveal the word "ACTION TIME" in the same font as the previous two logos, which also pans out. The camera then rotates and we see a blue shadow of the triangle that pans out and two blue lines slide from the left and right and settle to the center. The logo then shines, and either the copyright info, or channel info (either the BBC, Granada Television or Sky One) is shown below the logo, also in blue.
Variants:
- Sometimes, the logo is still.
- On the UK version of Remote Control, the triangle stands to the left of the logo, and it was next to the Granada logo. Below it was "AN ACTION TIME/GRANADA PRODUCTION FOR CHANNEL FOUR".
- On the Netherlands version of Love at First Sight, a silver version of the logo was placed in the end credits.
FX/SFX: The camera panning.
Music/Sounds: A warbling synth theme with drumbeats. Sometimes, the end theme plays over it, or it was silent.
Availability: Seen on some game shows like Runway, Love at First Sight, Remote Control and Caught in the Act.
Editor's Note: None.
5th Logo (1993-1994)[]
Logo: Just an in-credit text saying "An ACTION TIME Production for", with either the Carlton logo, or the texts that read "CARLTON TELEVISION" or "THE FAMILY CHANNEL", with copyright info below the logo.
Variants:
- On Lose a Million, the text is behind the sailboat from the show's opening.
- On Michael Ball, the logo is behind spotlights.
- On Family Catchphrase, a clock drops down with Mr. Chips (The mascot of Catchphrase, or Herbie in America) wearing a visor and holding a megaphone. The clock ticks and Mr. Chips taps his foot while looking at it. Once the clock is at half past seven, Mr. Chips starts shouting the word "Action!" which flashes, and the text is shown below the logo.
- On the 1994 series of Catchphrase, we see Mr. Chips is saying "Action!" through a megaphone next to a sand timer, all set on a blue background.
- On Series 1 of the UK version of Trivial Pursuit, the logo is on a blue background with an image of a butterfly in it.
- On Series 2 of the UK version of Trivial Pursuit, the logo is on a teal background with a dark circle and wallpaper of the game's circle board behind it.
FX/SFX: None, depending on the variant.
Music/Sounds: None or the end theme of the show.
Availability: Seen on Michael Ball, Trivial Pursuit, Lose a Million and Catchphrase.
Editor's Note: None.
6th Logo (1994-1998)[]
Logo: On a gray stony background, there is a blue circular line with an large "A". The text "ction time" (the "A" being filled in by the blue 3D "A") is seen next to it.
Variant::
- On some shows, a copyright date and/or the co-producer of the show appears below the logo.
- Sometimes, the logo is shown on a box.
- There could be co-producer variants with Carlton UK Productions (on Catchphrase) or Yorkshire Television (on Raise the Roof).
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: Same as the last logo.
Availability: Seen on the 1995-1996 season of Catchphrase. The logo also appeared on the Sky One game show Spellbound, Jeopardy! UK and Wipeout episodes from this time period.
Editor's Note: None.
7th Logo (1998-2000)[]
Logo: On the same gray stony background, there is some purple text that says "action time" with "A" on the top and "Production" on the bottom.
Variants:
- Starting with the 1998-1999 series of Catchphrase, the text is on the bottom and reads "An Action Time Production".
- On Wipeout, the BBC Manchester logo is shown below the logo.
- On 1999 episodes of Catchphrase, the logo is shown with the Carlton logo.
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: Same as the last logo.
Availability: Seen on later episodes of Catchphrase, as well as Wipeout and The Mole episodes from the era.
Editor's Note: None.
8th Logo (2000-2004)[]
Logo: On a white background, we see the word "action time" in the same font as the previous logo, also in purple. The word "An" and "Production" is shown above and below the logo.
Variants:
- On the 2000 series of Catchphrase, the logo is shown on the same background as the Carlton logo, with the Carlton logo is shown below the logo. Sometimes, the text is in white, or would have an URL below the logo.
- On the 2002 series of Catchphrase, the logo is on a white box with the Carlton logo on the right.
- On Wipeout, the logo is on a purple background, with the text in white and had the BBC Manchester logo.
- On The Mole, the logo is in-credit, with the text below reads "Production for Channel 5" and have a copyright stamp.
- On It's Your Chance of a Lifetime, the logo is below the Carlton America logo.
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: The end theme of the show or none.
Availability; Seen on later series of Catchphrase, as well as episodes of Wipeout and the UK version of The Mole.