Brighton charity behind Burning the Clocks create ITV ident

Community arts charity Same Sky, which produces the Burning The Clocks event in Brighton every year, as well as the annual Children’s Parade in May, was chosen to create a new “ident” for the channel – short films with the ITV logo which appear before programmes.

Artistic director John Varah said he is glad their film was able to be used as they shot it on March 13, just before lockdown.

John, who lives in Moulsecoomb, worked alongside his wife Hazel, a community artist.

He said: “We were worried it wasn’t going to go ahead, but luckily we were just in time.

“We met some students at a school in Kings Cross in London ahead of filming to give them a chance to have a go and make lantern stars, just like we do for Burning The Clocks.

John and Hazel Varah from Same Sky

“Then on the day we made all the elements for the ITV logo.

“They all really enjoyed it – the great thing about this sort of making is it’s very simple and you get to use your hands, which is nice in this virtual world we’re in.

“The lantern process is a great medium to make and share skills and stories.”

The ident will accompany ITV programmes this week until Sunday with a set of five different versions, including a film which shows the making of the lanterns.

John added: “People who I haven’t spoken to for years have been messaging me to say they saw me on the telly.

“There was obviously a delay with it coming out because of coronavirus and eventually I think they will do a whole series of these community-based art projects.”

Although the Children’s Parade could not go ahead as planned this year and was staged at home, John is hopeful there will be scope to have an event for Burning The Clocks in December.

He said: “I don’t think they will let us have 10,000 people in town for it, but we are set on finding another way to deliver Burning The Clocks.”