A Knight To Remember
A tribute to one of ITV's best known regional symbols
Spotlight
The Anglia Knight is one of the best known symbols in British broadcasting, but was retired by his masters in 1988 after design consultants Robinson Lambie-Nairn persuaded the station that it had an old fashioned image.
Certainly, the way in which the knight was chosen as the station's logo would be unheard of today. The trophy was spotted in Aspreys, of Bond Street, London, shortly after Anglia Television was awarded the franchise to broadcast to the East of England, and it was purchased almost on impulse. No market research or focus groups were consulted about the decision, but it proved a shrewd move, as the memorable knight helped Anglia to become one of the best known ITV companies. In fact, national research conducted by the Independent Broadcasting Authority in 1979 placed Anglia as the second best known ITV company in the Network, an amazing feat when you take into account that the station produced far fewer networked programmes than the big five of the time - Thames, LWT, ATV, Granada and Yorkshire.
Certainly, the way in which the knight was chosen as the station's logo would be unheard of today. The trophy was spotted in Aspreys, of Bond Street, London, shortly after Anglia Television was awarded the franchise to broadcast to the East of England, and it was purchased almost on impulse. No market research or focus groups were consulted about the decision, but it proved a shrewd move, as the memorable knight helped Anglia to become one of the best known ITV companies. In fact, national research conducted by the Independent Broadcasting Authority in 1979 placed Anglia as the second best known ITV company in the Network, an amazing feat when you take into account that the station produced far fewer networked programmes than the big five of the time - Thames, LWT, ATV, Granada and Yorkshire.
Above: the famous Knight up close.
When it made its first television appearance in 1959, the knight was almost 80-years-old. It was commissioned originally by the King of the Netherlands, who was patron of a society called the Falcon Club, which met once a year to compete in various country sports. In 1850, the King was so confident of victory that he commissioned a trophy from a firm of London silversmiths. It was modelled on the statue of Richard the Lionheart, which stands outside the Houses of Parliament, but it was made to represent the Black Prince. However, to the king's dismay, it was won by an Englishman who brought it back to Britain where it remained in the possession of the victor's family until 1959.
Certain modifications were made to the trophy before its television debut, including the addition of a pennon, inscribed with the legend 'Anglia' on the lance. The knight logo was filmed in a variety of ways over the years, and one of the most effective was its first incarnation in monochrome black and white in which the knight was gradually lit up as it was shot from different angles. The mid-1970s version of the knight revolving as the camera zooms in on the pennon didn't really do it justice. In fact, some comics and commentators levelled the rather unlikely accusation that it was an airfix model turning on a Dansette record-player. In fact, the knight is made of sterling silver and weighs over 700 ounces, and the detailed work was hand-chased by a master craftsman.
Throughout its rein, the musical fanfare that accompanied it was part of Handel's Water Music, specially arranged for Anglia by Sir Malcolm Sargent. The knight has made a couple of fleeting appearances since taking up his pension. In 1999, it was used as part of Anglia's special 40th anniversary ident (along with the pennant), and in 2001 he appeared alongside the Dream Team, Caprice, and other stars of stage and screen, co-hosting a late night chat show entitled 'A Knight with O'Brien'.
Certain modifications were made to the trophy before its television debut, including the addition of a pennon, inscribed with the legend 'Anglia' on the lance. The knight logo was filmed in a variety of ways over the years, and one of the most effective was its first incarnation in monochrome black and white in which the knight was gradually lit up as it was shot from different angles. The mid-1970s version of the knight revolving as the camera zooms in on the pennon didn't really do it justice. In fact, some comics and commentators levelled the rather unlikely accusation that it was an airfix model turning on a Dansette record-player. In fact, the knight is made of sterling silver and weighs over 700 ounces, and the detailed work was hand-chased by a master craftsman.
Throughout its rein, the musical fanfare that accompanied it was part of Handel's Water Music, specially arranged for Anglia by Sir Malcolm Sargent. The knight has made a couple of fleeting appearances since taking up his pension. In 1999, it was used as part of Anglia's special 40th anniversary ident (along with the pennant), and in 2001 he appeared alongside the Dream Team, Caprice, and other stars of stage and screen, co-hosting a late night chat show entitled 'A Knight with O'Brien'.
