BBC rings the changes after MP challenges Big Ben silence
THE BBC has bowed to pressure from ministers who complained about the silencing of Big Ben and agreed to a series of programmes to “celebrate bells around the UK”.
While repairs are carried out on the great bell at Parliament’s Elizabeth Tower, the corporation is broadcasting a recording of Big Ben before Radio 4 news bulletins at 6pm and midnight.
But ministers urged the BBC to use replacement live bells from across the UK instead, to counteract the “silence of the bongs”.
In January, Jake Berry, the Northern Powerhouse minister, wrote to Lord Hall of Birkenhead, the BBC directorgeneral, urging him to broadcast the live chimes from the clock above Rochdale Town Hall, which has the same “Westminster chimes” as Big Ben.
And in a letter to Mr Berry this week, Lord Hall agreed to broadcast more bells from around the UK.
The BBC director-general said: “I really like the idea of celebrating bells around the UK. Radio 4 already launches its Sunday programming with Bells on Sunday, but there might be potential for us to feature programmes about the bells of the nation in other ways.
“Radio 4 will explore that idea and, whatever happens, will feature the chimes of Rochdale around Christmas time this year.”
Mr Berry told The Sunday Telegraph: “This is a welcome acknowledgment by the BBC of my campaign to have recognition of the North of England in their scheduling.”
Ian Duckworth, the Conservative mayor of Rochdale, is delighted that the bells of its town hall will be heard during the festive season.
He said: “This is welcome recognition – it is good for Rochdale and the North West to be recognised in this way.”
Christopher O’Mahony, president of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers, said: “Although the chimes of Big Ben may be silent, the bells of Britain bear witness not only to the passage of time, but also to the acknowledgement of civic and historical events.
“This awareness is important especially in 2018 through our Ringing Remembers campaign, attracting 1,400 new bell ringers in recognition of the 1,400 bell ringers who lost their lives in the First World War.”