HTV: Blocking Out

In 1987, HTV, introduced a new presentation package, which retained the 'aerial' logo design, but rendered it in 3D. At the centre of the redesign was a new ident, which used the latest in 3D computer animation techniques and was accompanied by a synth-based jingle. This replaced the original 'aerial' ident, which was a classic, but after roughly 17 years service, was starting to look quite dated...

The original HTV 'aerial' ident. Uploaded by YouTube user "BelfastGav"

The new ident had 3 versions, just like the previous design.

• One with "HTV WALES" branding
• One with "HTV WEST" branding
• And one with just "HTV", for any occasion when both HTV regions shared their output.

HTV Wales' version of the 1987 ident, uploaded by YouTube user "jkmac1973".

As you can probably guess, the only difference with each version are the words

(or lack of) that fly in to join the logo at the end.

At the end of the day, it's quite a nice ident, even if the music isn't as good as the its predecessor. The only thing I have against this ident, is one small flaw in the animation. Actually, it's quite a big flaw. Did you spot it? Watch the video again, then read on...

Oops!: Eastenders (TX: 1/1/15)

CONTAINS POSSIBLE SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN EASTENDERS FROM 1/1/15!

As we all know, celebrations and death/disaster go hand-in-hand in Albert Square - the setting of Eastenders - and 2015 has already lived up to the show's reputation. Whereas the 10th Doctor once pointed out that "This'll be the best Christmas Walford has ever had" is usually a good indication of misery under the Mistletoe, the residents of the fictional East London borough had hardly had a chance to say 'Happy New Year' to each other, before a sabotaged car hit somebody, flipped over, crashed through the Square's famous railings and then caught fire!

"When I said 'let's start 2015 with a bang', that's not what I meant. Dial 999. Again."

Now, the actual crash itself was very well done, considering how small and tightly-packed the exterior set is. Eastenders may be the master of misery as far as soaps go, but to give them their due, they certainly pull out all the stops when a stunt is required. 

If only this attention to detail extended to making sure bits of technical equipment didn't appear on screen. In one of the scenes that followed the stunt, as shocked relatives of those involved in the crash came to blows in The Queen Vic, one of the cameras was accidentally caught in shot...