BBC news in focus

BBC news logo in 1954, the year the first TV bulletin launched Photograph: BBC

Richard Baker announces the first bulletin in 1954. Note the minimal set and the radio-style microphone. It was not until the following year that a newsreader actually appeared on screen Photograph: BBC

For the first bulletin, Baker announced the news, before John Snagge read the headlines Photograph: BBC

The first female newsreader, Nan Winton, appeared on screen in 1960, and Angela Rippon became a familiar face over the next two decades Photograph: BBC

BBC news logo in the late 1970s. The Nine O'Clock News was launched in 1970 and continued for 30 years until BBC1's late evening news was moved to the 10pm slot in 2000 Photograph: BBC

BBC news logo in the early 1980s. It was animated by an invisible clock hand sweeping round the circle Photograph: BBC

John Simpson in 1981. The horizontal lines of the studio were usually broken by a picture superimposed in place of the blue screen. Note the beige-on-beige colour coordination and the Trimphone. Photograph: BBC

Jan Leeming in 1983. Note the 'Miami Vice' pastel colour scheme Photograph: BBC

Six O'Clock News logo in 1984, with a slabby monolithic look typical of the graphics of the time. The title sequence started out as a globe, which turned into the pages of a book and then formed the logo Photograph: BBC

The Nine O'Clock News logo had a similar high-tech look, evocative of a Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster - or a gameshow Photograph: BBC

Later in 1988, the logo was changed to incorporate lightning flashes that some critics claimed had Thatcherite, or even fascist, overtones Photograph: BBC

In 1993, the corporation's computer design arm turned to the Silicon Graphics computers used in movies to enhance the high-tech look, with a 'virtual' studio featuring layers of visuals Photograph: BBC

Peter Sissons reads the news, with the corporation's logo clearly visible in the background Photograph: BBC

The end titles from 1993, showing the epitome of the high-tech look - the 3D 'glass' BBC crest Photograph: BBC

In 1999, the BBC adopted its now familiar red colour scheme. The set moved away from the high-tech look with a desk made out of what appear to be recycled beer kegs Photograph: BBC

Another shot of Huw Edwards from 1999 clearly shows the newsroom in the background Photograph: BBC

The screen behind Edwards shows the Six O'Clock News graphics, which incorporated the names of cities into a spinning globe Photograph: BBC

Michael Buerk reads the 10pm bulletin in 2000 Photograph: BBC

This shot of Peter Sissons in 2000 shows how stories were backed by layered graphics - as well as a trail for the BBC's news website Photograph: BBC

Rolling news service News 24 was launched in 1997. This shot from 1999 shows the harsh lighting and shiny 'sci-fi' set, which drew criticism Photograph: BBC

Gavin Esler and Valerie Sanderson on the new set of News 24 in 1999 Photograph: BBC

By 2003, News 24 had adopted a red palette to match the corporation's new branding Photograph: BBC

The News 24 studio, shown here in 2003, further underlined the red colour scheme Photograph: BBC

By 2004, News at Ten had adopted a similar swirling logo and red branding Photograph: BBC

Richard Baker (right) joins Huw Edwards for the 50th birthday of BBC TV news in 2004 Photograph: BBC

Huw Edwards in the current 10 O'Clock News set, shortly to be replaced Photograph: BBC

The corporation has just unveiled a £550,000 makeover of the its news service. Here Huw Edwards is pictured in the revamped studio Photograph: BBC

This is the updated BBC News domestic channel and bulletins titles Photograph: BBC