The BBC is about to ring the changes on its news operations through a series of Saturn-style spheres.

A design agency enlisted by the corporation has spent £550,000 giving its news channels a spruce-up. In keeping with the success of its drama Life on Mars, the corporation has kept a planetary theme, with the new opening credits featuring a globe surrounded by pulsating rings colour-matched for Britain’s regions. In the revamped set-up presenters will sit behind a new oval desk.

The rolling news channel News 24 will be renamed BBC News while its international channel BBC World will become BBC World News.

Mark Byford, the corporation’s deputy director-general, denied that the revamp, which is due to be launched on its television broadcasts on April 21, was prompted by recent changes at rival news broadcasters.

He said that the “refresh” was the first since 2003 and would allow the BBC to “stand out clearly, loudly and simply for what it is”. He added: “The BBC that says, ‘Stand still, we don’t need to do anything here’, is on a mission to decline.”

The corporation said that the new designs would provide its internet and television news outputs with a consistent, recognisable look.

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