‘This Morning’ theme tune: who wrote the catchy music for the daytime TV show?
13 August 2019, 15:57
With thousands of people tuning in each day, ‘This Morning’ has become one of the nation’s favourite TV shows – but who wrote that lively melody?
Ever since the first episode aired in 1988, British daytime TV show This Morning has become hugely popular with audiences, recently winning ‘Best Daytime Programme’ at the 2019 National Television Awards.
Broadcast on ITV, the show is currently presented by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield from Monday to Thursday, with married TV couple Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford taking over on Fridays.
It covers everything from news, showbiz and fashion to food, health and real-life stories – and the theme tune is undeniably catchy.
People hear it every day, but who actually wrote that upbeat melody we’ve all come to know and love?
It was composed by a man called Pringle...
TV and film composer, David Pringle, penned the original theme tune for This Morning, then presented by Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan.
It starts off with a cheerful melodic motif using a major third in the key of G – and with layer upon layer of pure ‘80s synth, it’s no wonder the tune gets stuck in your head.
Pringle also wrote the opening music for several other hit TV shows throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, including Wheel of Fortune, Fun House and The Pyramid Game.
What does the theme sound like today?
In 2014, leading TV and film composers Stuart Hancock and Toby Jarvis wrote a new musical arrangement for This Morning, after agency A-MNEMONIC were commissioned to refresh Pringle’s version.
Stuart Hancock is an award-winning composer known for his work on the fantasy series Atlantis, and he also won the BASCA British Composer Award in 2015 for his community song-cycle, Snapshot Songs.
Toby Jarvis is also an esteemed British musician – he has played clarinet in the Richmond Youth Wind Orchestra, worked as an arranger and engineer at a London-based film scoring studio, and written themes for several shows, including ‘Dating in the Dark’ and ‘Love Island’.
Now, the main melody (in the brighter key of E flat) is mostly led by the strings, while piano chords, steady percussion, powerful brass and an electric guitar give it more of a contemporary feel.
In November 2018, the theme music suddenly changed (albeit temporarily and only for one show) to a solo piano version, confusing viewers.
Schofield dropped clues and mimed playing the piano throughout the morning, before confirming later in the show it was to highlight the release of Sir Elton John’s new Christmas advert for high street retailer, John Lewis.
Pringle’s memorable theme tune may have been updated since its ’80s debut, but today it’s the breakfast soundtrack for a daily audience of around one million people. Pretty impressive stuff.
