Central Independent Television (UK)

1st Logo
(January 1, 1982-November 1983)

Logo:

• Opening: On a dark blue background, we see what appears to be a total eclipse of the sun. The "shine" disappears after a second and then the disc turns sideways, revealing it to be a light blue planet-like object. As the shadow gets halfway round, the globe opens up like an egg and a bright array of colored lights burst out. A couple of seconds later, the two halves come back together, the lights go back inside and the word "CENTRAL" appears in a white Erbar Neo Mini font below the globe, which now has a crescent shadow.
• Closing: On the same dark blue background, a flat white planet with a rainbow crescent inside is seen above the text "CENTRAL PRODUCTION", set in the same font as the opening logo.

Variants:

• Sometimes, the moon closes in later.
• On movies and imported programmes, "PRESENTATION" replaces "PRODUCTION."
• Sometimes, a copyright stamp is added underneath, reading "©Central Independent Television plc. (year)".

FX/SFX:

• Opening: The globe opening, and the lights exploding. Likely done on Scanimate.
• Closing: None.

Music/Sounds: A synthesized string arrangement with a "wah" effect. This is joined by a nine-note synthesized bell fanfare after two notes.

Music/Sounds Variants:

• On 1983 episodes of Family Fortunes (the UK's version of Family Feud), it's either silent, or very muted.
• On episodes of Bullseye, the music is low-toned, probably to go with the pitch of the show's theme tune.

Availability: Rare. Logo buffs in the UK have preserved Central's logos, as they did with all the ITV companies. This logo is preserved on most episodes of the 1983-84 series of Family Fortunes, as well as the second series of Bullseye on Challenge.

2nd Logo
(January 1, 1982-August 27, 1988)

Logo:

• Opening: On a black background, we see a shining circular outline. A dark shadow slowly dissipates from the right side revealing a white spherical object with a rainbow crescent. The word “CENTRAL” in the same font as before slowly fades in below the logo.
• Closing: Same concept as the previous logo, except the moon's rainbow shading is more blended and detailed and the logo is now against a black background.

Variants:

• On episodes of Family Fortunes from 1987, it would zoom out and plaster itself onto the video screen used in the show as it segues to the intro.
• On ATV programmes made before the changeover to Central, the text below the logo reads CENTRAL PRESENTS.
• Sometimes, the white outline around the logo isn't present on the logo. This can be seen on some programmes such as The Little Green Man, Boon, Mengele, Bullseye from 1983-88, the original airings of the first two seasons of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends from 1984 and 1986, Decade of Destruction, and Duran Duran: As the Lights Go Down.
• Some versions would be on a blue background.
• Some versions would have the text below reading CENTRAL PRODUCTION, CENTRAL PRESENTATION, CENTRAL OUTSIDE BROADCAST, A ZENITH PRODUCTION FOR CENTRAL, ZENITH PRODUCTION FOR CENTRAL, CENTRAL PRODUCTION FOR CHANNEL 4, CENTRAL PRODUCTIONS FOR CHANNEL 4, or A CENTRAL PRODUCTION in association with MOSTPOINT Ltd for CHANNEL FOUR.
• Some versions have a copyright date below.
• A still variant on the short-lived cartoon The Little Green Man has the moon smaller and the company name larger than usual.
• On 1987 (Series 7) episodes of Family Fortunes, the endcap is seen in a box with a purple outline, which is also used to show the credits. After a few seconds, the box zooms in and the logo becomes full-screen.

FX/SFX:

• Opening: The shadow fading from the right, revealing the logo.
• Closing: None.

Music/Sounds:

• Opening: Same as the 1st logo.
• Closing: The ending theme of the programme or none.

Music/Sounds Variant: On earlier episodes of Bullseye, the jingle plays in a lower pitch, and is slowed down slightly. Most likely done to keep the same pitch as the opening theme to the show. Once the theme tune changed, the logo's music returned to its normal pitch.

Availability: Rare. Used concurrently with the first one in 1982 before replacing it in November 1983. The "Central Production" variant was also seen on original airings of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, but current prints of the show & U.S. prints remove this logo. When Challenge ran episodes of Bullseye from 1983, the low-tone variant played before the opening credits on series 3 episodes, while series 4 episodes retained the standard version. Challenge broadcasts of most Family Fortunes episodes from the era should retain this logo as well.

3rd Logo
(1985-1988)

Logo: On a black background, we see a cylindrical version of the symbol from the 2nd logo, which is divided into twelve blocks. There are six colour blocks (from above to below: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, purple) to the left, which form a crescent shape, and six white ones to the right. Under the symbol is the word CENTRAL in the same font as before. There are many variants of the logo, the symbol of which flies around the screen in a similar fashion to Channel 4's 1982 logo package. Note that this logo was only used in the midlands.

Variants: Many variants were used during the ident's lifespan. The following list is not exhaustive, and many other variants may exist.

• The cake spins around several times.
• The colour blocks come onto the screen from the bottom left, the white blocks come from the top right, and the CENTRAL lettering comes in from the bottom right. They then assume their position in the centre of the screen and turn to face the viewer.
• The camera pans along the curve between the colour blocks and the white blocks in the symbol.
• The "cake's" white blocks are lying down whilst the colour blocks fit themselves into place. The "cake" then sits upright and turns 90 degrees anticlockwise. The CENTRAL text then zooms outwards below.
• The "cake" spins downwards from the top of the screen while the CENTRAL text flies upwards from the bottom of the screen. The "cake" and the text then join together and the logo ends with them facing northeast.
• The "cake's" blocks separate from one another and fly towards the camera which then turns 180 degrees. The blocks then join together and turn around to face the viewer. CENTRAL then zooms out from the bottom of the screen.
• the logo sometimes appears on a silver circuit board.
• Sometimes, the CENTRAL text is replaced with Central's slogan at the time "The one to watch".
• For longer continuity announcements, several animations would be played in succession and sometimes in reverse.

FX/SFX: Decent CGI for 1985 overall.

Music/Sounds: Several different jingles were used:

• The main tune was a fast-paced synth rock theme with synth toms. This was usually abridged.
• A more relaxing sounding theme with xylophones and a harmonica lead.
• A synth version of the above theme.
• A more formal sounding piece was often played on idents just after start-up.
• A playful sounding theme with flutes and xylophones, and with "beeping" noises in the background (a la LWT's 2000 logo).
• A synth tune with powerful claps and a lot of pitch-bend.

Availability: Extinct. This was only ever used in the Central region to be played over continuity announcements.

4th Logo
(September 2, 1988-1995)

Logo: On a black background, a silver disc (divided into six rows and a crescent-shaped column appearing towards the screen) rotates from underneath, while six small colored balls (red, orange, yellow, green, light blue and purple) leap from the bottom of the screen. As we reach the frontal view of the logo, now in white (the crescent part is still silver), one by one the balls quickly fall and absorb into the silver segments on the left. The logo continues to rotate until it reaches the centre of the screen, while the word “CENTRAL”, "A ZENITH PRODUCTION FOR CENTRAL", or "CENTRAL PRODUCTION" (in white) fades in underneath. The end result is a segmented white disc with a multi-colored crescent three quarters towards the left.

Variants: Different variants apply:

• From September 1989 until 1993, this logo was dropped from national program end caps. Instead, there would be a still variant of the logo, displaying A CENTRAL PRODUCTION FOR and the ITV logo below.
  • Another 1989 variant which features the flatter looking Central cake logo and the words "CENTRAL FOR" and the 1989 ITV logo appearing below also exists, which appears at the end of movies and imported programmes.
• Beginning in early 1990, a still version of the 1988 Central ident is used, but with the cake smaller and the fourth and fifth blocks of the cake logo are also recoloured from light green and light blue to green and blue, respectively. The text also now reads "A CENTRAL PRODUCTION", which appears below the logo.
  • A filmed version of the 1990 variant of the logo also exists, which appears on some drama programmes until 1992. It was also strangely seen on original airings of some episodes of The Dreamstone.
  • Sometimes on the 1990 variant, "PRODUCTION" may be reworded to "PROGRAMME" or "PRESENTATION" (the latter of which appears at the end of movies and imported programmes such as The Pink Panther Show (1969), The Young Doctors, and Home and Away, among others).
  • The 1989 ITV logo also appears below either the "A CENTRAL PRODUCTION FOR", "A CENTRAL PROGRAMME FOR" or "A CENTRAL PRESENTATION FOR" notice on networked programmes on the 1990 variant of the logo.
• Beginning in 1994, the Central cake logo is larger and more colourful and the text now reads either "A CENTRAL PROGRAMME" or "A CENTRAL PROGRAMME FOR" with the 1989 ITV logo below on the latter for networked programmes, which appears on the 1994 series of Blockbusters, 1994 episodes of Family Fortunes, The Upper Hand (series 6), Soldier Soldier (series 4), a March 7, 2023 airing of the Peak Practice episode "Losing Out" on UKTV Drama, Outside Edge, and the original 1994 airing of the Mr. Bean episode "Back to School, Mr. Bean," among others. However, some programmes such as Sharpe's Company, Sharpe's Enemy and Sharpe's Honour continued to use the 1990 version.
  • Another version of the 1994 variant with the text reading "A CENTRAL PROGRAMME FOR CHANNEL FOUR" also exists, which appears at the end of programmes for Channel 4.
• A superimposed version of the 1994 variant of this logo with the text reading "A CENTRAL PROGRAMME" also exists, which was seen on Central Weekend Live.
• 1989 (Series 9) episodes of Family Fortunes use a similar concept from the previous logo, the 1989 version of the endcap is seen inside a box with a orange outline, which again contains the shows credits. It also then zooms in after a few seconds, making the endcap as usual take up the full screen.
  • 1990 (Series 10) episodes took a slightly different concept. The credits are now on a cube which rotates to the left and now has a purple outline. The cube eventually turns to the 1990 version of the endcap, which then zooms in per usual to take up the full screen.
• Beginning in 1993, the logo received an update. The animation is much smoother and subtly different, and the cake now looks more colourful and pleasing.

Custom Variants:

• Slanted: Same as normal, except that the "cake" turns flat and facing northeast. "CENTRAL" fades above.
• Revolving Cake Staircase: On a futuristic staircase, we zoom down it and see the logo on a ruby background.
• Fire & Sapphire: On a sapphire background, we see fire forming the logo.
• Shading: On a black background we see the transparent pieces of the cakes zooming up to a square, which splits the cake into it's 2 pieces, which segues into the normal or slanted version of the logo.
• Crystal ITV: On a yellow background we see the ITV logo of the time rotating on the Central logo, in which the ITV logo turns out to be an illusion.
• Sparkle: On a black background, we see the ITV logo zooming across a light, which turns the logo into the Central logo.
• Powder (version 1) On an orange background, we see a translucent glass Central logo, which soon transforms into the color logo via flying streams of powder,before subtly filling out. A 35-note fanfare is used, which was only used for this version.
• Powder (version 2): Same as above, only the music is shorter and is more high-pitched.
• Grid (version 1): On a black squared background, we see an enclosed version of the Central logo, which zooms out on a ruby background.
• Grid (version 2): Same as above, only the background is emerald. Used as a bumper for ITN news breaks.
• Grid (version 3): Same as above, only the background is blue and the logo doesn't have "CENTRAL" at the bottom of it as usual.
• Grid (version 4): Same as above, only the parts of the cake are made out of sails.
• Grid (version 5): Same as above, only the parts of the cake are in color and "Central" appears to the right.
• Transparent Blue: On a blue background, we see a blue version of the Central logo which starts out as a zoom-in, and ends up in its normal form.
• Heart of the Network: On a blue background, we see the ITV logo floating to the west and the Central logo zooming in.
• The City: On a black background, we get a view of the skyscrapers, which are the Central logo when viewed from the top.
• Channeling Spring (version 1): On a black background, we see a extended version of the Central logo zooming to the bottom-left, showing something behind it: a line with "CENTRAL" on it. Used as a bumper for later shows.
• Cake Model 1: The camera pans through the central logo made of coloured marble, before panning out to reveal everything in its standard position. The cake is revealed to be on a brown marble background.
• Cake Model 2: The cake is gently sunken into a water pool.
• ITV occasionally showed Central programmes. ITV used special variants on these programmes.

FX/SFX: Top notch CGI (for 1988).

Music/Sounds: Depending on the year:

• 1988-93, standard version: A synthesized “sweep” culminating in a majestic, seven-note orchestral fanfare.
• 1988-93, sub-variant 1: The synthesized sweep is absent. Otherwise, the music is still the same. Very rare.
• 1988-93, sub-variant 2: A violin arrangement of the fanfare.
• 1988-93, sub-variant 3: A synthesized variant of the theme, with two extra notes at the end.
• 1988-93, sub variant 4: A softer,more minimalist fanfare.
• 1993-96, standard variant: A nine-note fanfare with a choir at the background and glass.
• 1993-96, sub-variant 2: An extended version of the standard variation, with a total of seventeen notes. The animation is also slowed down.

(This list is unlikely to be exhaustive, due to Central's usage of many logos throughout the years.)

Music/Sound Variants:

• Sometimes, the synthesized sweep is absent in the seven-note orchestral fanfare, which is heard on the filmed version of the 1988 animated logo.
• On the New Faces of '88 final, the orchestra playing the seven-note fanfare is heard.
• Beginning on September 1, 1989, either silent, the programme's ending theme, or in the case of Central ITV airings of Taxi, the last note of the 1975 Paramount Television "Blue Mountain" logo's fanfare is heard.

Availability: Rare. Reruns of Family Fortunes and Bullseye episodes from 1988 on Challenge have the animated "Production" variant intact. Can also be seen on Rosie & Jim on Canadian cable channel BBC Kids (which is available in the United States as a VOD service on select providers). Also found some Inspector Morse tapes by BFS Video, as well as a Cineplex Odeon/MCA VHS of Woof!. Challenge airings of Blockbusters also have the still version of the "Production" variant intact. VHS and DVD releases of The Dreamstone feature the still "Production" variant, though on the DVD release of the first-two series (which had the involvement of Filmfair Animation), the length of time the logo stays on after the credits end is shortened for the Cookie Jar logo.

Editor's Note: This logo is a favorite of many UK logo fans.

5th Logo
(1989-1990)

See ITV for description.

6th Logo
(1990)

Logo: On a purple background with moving dark shaded shapes, the cake symbol is formed through a rotating black sphere, which crossfades into said logo. It then rotates and lays flat on the ground, followed by "CENTRAL", while parallel to the object, slides in and rests on top of the cake symbol. Underneath, "A CENTRAL PRESENTATION" fades in and then it, alongside the logo, fades out.

FX/SFX: CGI.

Music/Sounds: A funky percussion soundtrack accompanied with an announcer.

Availability: Only seen on original Central airings of various movies from this period such as An Officer and a Gentleman.

7th Logo
(1995-1997)

Logo: On the same grey marble background as the 1995 Carlton UK Productions logo, the cake, now with added shading, is above "A Central Programme".

Variants:

• Like before, "Programme" may be replaced by "Presentation" or "Production".
• The 1989 ITV logo also appears underneath either the "A Central Programme For" or "A Central Presentation For" text on networked programmes.
• On the seventh and final series of The Upper Hand, it is preceded by the Columbia TriStar Carlton UK Productions logo, which also takes place on the same background.

FX/SFX: None.

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

Availability: Although it had a short lifespan, it is fairly easy to find, thanks to it preceding the 1995 Carlton UK Productions logo on most programmes produced within said banner.

• These include Family Fortunes, Dale's Supermarket Sweep, Rosie & Jim, Tots TV, the first two seasons of Wolves, Witches and Giants, the seventh and final season of The Upper Hand, the first two seasons of Scratchy & Co., the first two seasons of Kavanagh QC, and The Way Through the Woods, among many others.
• The latter can also be found on VHS releases, whereas several other programmes such as Cadfael have this logo intact on streaming prints of some episodes.
• It also survives intact on current prints of the 1995-1996 episodes of Sharpe.
• It also appeared on the original airings of Molly's Gang.
• The "A Central Programme For ITV" variant also appears at the end of UKTV Drama airings of the Cadfael episode "The Raven in the Foregate," which is then followed by the 2004 Granada International logo.
• The "A Central Programme For ITV" variant was also seen at the end of A Tribute to Marti Caine.
• The "A Central Presentation For ITV" variant was also seen at the end of Des O'Connor's Christmas with the Stars, following the mid-1996 production variant of the 1990 Thames Television endcap.
• The "A Central Presentation" variant was also seen on the original 1995 airings of the Mr. Bean episodes "Tee Off, Mr. Bean" and "Goodnight Mr. Bean."
  • However, on DVD, the former uses the "A Central Programme For ITV" variant instead, while the latter plasters it with the 1990 Thames International endcap.

8th Logo
(1997-April 1998)

Logo:

• Opening: Same as the 4th logo, but the background was animated and now shaded dark blue cloudy, and the rest is kept intact. Sometimes, the animation is slowed down.
• Closing: The logo from before is now against the same dark blue cloudy background as the 1997 ident and the text now simply reads "Central programme".

Variants:

• Like before, "Programme" may be replaced by "Presentation".
• The 1989 ITV logo also appears either below the "Central programme for" or "Central presentation for" text on networked programmes.
• From late 1997 until April 1998, the ITV URL also sometimes appears on the bottom right of the screen reading "www.itv.co.uk".

Technique:

• Opening: Same as the 4th logo.
• Closing: None.

Music/Sounds:

• Opening: A re-arranged version of the nine-note fanfare, with extra detail in the background for the standard variant or a fifteen-note fanfare with rock guitars for the sub-variant.
• Closing: The ending theme of the programme or none.

Availability: Appears on Central programmes from the time-period until 1998.

• These include Family Fortunes and Dale's Supermarket Sweep episodes from this period, which can only be found through old video recordings, Rosie & Jim, Tots TV, season 3 of Wolves, Witches and Giants, the final two series of Scratchy & Co., seasons three and four of Kavanagh QC, and on Des O'Connor Tonight (following the 1997 Thames logo), among others.
• It also appears on Challenge airings of Family Fortunes episodes from 1997-98.
• It was also seen on Sharpe's Revenge, Sharpe's Justice, and Sharpe's Waterloo, with current prints of them keeping it intact, with it succeeded by the 2013 ITV Studios Global Entertainment logo. Meanwhile, 1997 ITV reruns of Sharpe's Gold, Sharpe's Battle and Sharpe's Sword plaster it over the 5th logo, while current prints of Sharpe the Legend plaster this with the 1999 Carlton International logo.
• It was also seen on a December 8, 1997 rerun of the Mr. Bean episode "Mind the Baby, Mr. Bean."

See Carlton Television for anything from 1998 onwards.