Big Ben Bongs Bow Out

LIVE Westminster BIG BEN BONGS BOW OUT Last bongs at midday with expected restart in 2021 Bell will fall silent to allow repairs to tower

A BBC News-style clip shows close-ups of Big Ben and then a wide aerial view of Westminster, the Thames, and the London Eye. The headline announces that Big Ben’s bells will fall silent for repairs, while upbeat music makes the solemn news unexpectedly funny and melodramatic. It works as a reaction to taking a break, going silent, or dramatically announcing a temporary absence. EN: A BBC News-style clip shows close-ups of Big Ben and then a wide aerial view of Westminster, the Thames, and the London Eye. The headline announces that Big Ben’s bells will fall silent for repairs, while upbeat music makes the solemn news unexpectedly funny and melodramatic. It works as a reaction to taking a break, going silent, or dramatically announcing a temporary absence.

Never before has Big Ben fallen silent for so long, not during war, not during previous repairs. So we're going to let you listen to the entirety of this last midday chime for some time.

• @memetutorial / 13813 2020-11-19