Big Ben on Remembrance Day: Big Ben sounds again for Armistice centenary... but BBC viewers complain they can't hear it

Jacob Jarvis11 November 2018

Big Ben chimed again today to mark the two minute silence for Armistice Day at 11am and to lead an international bell-ringing service 90 minutes later.

The iconic bell, at the palace of Westminster, chimed for the centenary commemorations despite the conservation works being carried out on its tower.

It first rang 11 times to start the two minute silence at 11am then again for the start of international bell ringing at 12.30pm.

However, those who tuned in to hear the second round on the BBC live broadcast were left disappointed as they complained they were unable to hear it.

Big Ben is currently in the middle of restoration work
PA Archive/PA Images

A band played over it initially drowning the sound out, with the coverage then cutting away to other places around the country.

The BBC attributed the issue to "ambient noise" which made it "harder to hear Big Ben".

One person wrote on Twitter: “Awkward moment when Big Ben was meant to strike at 12:30 but the TV missed it lol.”

Another said: “So much for hearing Big Ben strike what happened there BBC?”

A BBC spokesperson said: "We heard Big Ben clearly at 11.00 when it was marking the beginning of the two minute silence because Whitehall and Parliament Square were quiet in anticipation.

"However, at 12.30 when we went to Big Ben for the second time there was a great deal of other ambient sound and this made it harder to hear Big Ben.”

One who was able to hear the bell, which struck 11 times, described it as a “magnificent” moment.

The 159-year-old clock tower, which homes the 13.7 tonne Big Ben bell, is currently undergoing renovation work.

The bell has only sounded on special occasions since August 2017, including to mark the New Year in 2018.

The entire clock mechanism has been removed for repair and maintenance works.

However, for this momentous occasion, and for the next New Year, a bespoke electric mechanism was built to power the 200kg striking hammer.

The second time it rang was as part of a programme of events to mark the end of World War One 100 years ago.

Remembrance Day in pictures

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This was a joint campaign coordinated by the British and German governments.

It was arranged to not just symbolise the end of the First World War but to also conclude four years of centenary commemorations.

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