Big Ben

[Mick HenshallParticipant @mickhenshall99321]

Watched an interesting programme on Channel 4 last night about the refurbishing of BB, its worth a look folks on catch-up. The clock mechanism is really impresive, hope there are going to be further episodes, mind you the cost has risen from 29 million to 61 million and they have only just started but still worth it I think

Mick

 

[Mick HenshallParticipant @mickhenshall99321]

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

+1

I thought it very well produced and presented

Way above the now-common standard of TV

MichaelG.

[GeorgineerParticipant @georgineer]

I must have been watching a different programme. The one I saw had a presenter who mumbled, talked over other people and windmilled her arms worse than a BBC news reporter. Just watch her walking round the gallery behind the clock faces. In terms of content there was far too much gravy and not enough meat, though what meat there was, was good.

George

[John MCParticipant @johnmc39344]

Posted by Georgineer on 13/11/2017 22:07:47:

I must have been watching a different programme. The one I saw had a presenter who mumbled, talked over other people and windmilled her arms worse than a BBC news reporter. Just watch her walking round the gallery behind the clock faces. In terms of content there was far too much gravy and not enough meat, though what meat there was, was good.

George

Totally agree, So they are going to take the "roof" off and do some maintenance to the clock mechanism, what about the rest of the building. What about the lean of the tower? leave it or try to arrest it? I'm still wondering how they managed to stretch the content to 1.5 hours.

To paraphrase an ex-student of mine, "they crammed a damn good half hour program in to an hour and a half!" (He wasn't talking about one of my lectures, I hope!)

John

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by John MC on 14/11/2017 07:47:23:

To paraphrase an ex-student of mine, "they crammed a damn good half hour program in to an hour and a half!"

.

… Which, in my estimation would put it 'Way above the now-common standard'.

MichaelG.

[Mick HenshallParticipant @mickhenshall99321]

Strikes me that some people are never satisfied, thought it was a reasonable heads up but there you are,personally I thought it was well presented and very interesting

Mick

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Well, having been away from the UK for about 14 years, I found it interesting. There has to be enough non technical content to retain the plebs' interest but I thought the balance was O.K. and much better than some.

Russell

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Don't watch much telly but have been getting SWMBO to record one called wheeler dealers on her gadget

Seems to be plenty of them too

[John MCParticipant @johnmc39344]

I think a much better program of this type was done about the Crossrail project, If memory serves, three one hour programes Technically good on content for the more enquiring of mind but pitched so as not to put off the general viewer. And done without the need for an interrupting arm waving presenter, just a competent sounding narrator and the guys actually doing the job!

That documentary skillfully avoided the subject of cost and timescales.

John

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

I hate to steal Michael Gilligan's pedant thunder, but, strictly speaking, Big Ben is the bell, not the clock. Haven't watched the programme yet, but will do, now.

John

[geoff walker 1Participant @geoffwalker1]

Hi Ady

Don't watch much telly but have been getting SWMBO to record one called wheeler dealers on her gadget

Seems to be plenty of them too

There are loads of em Ady, I reckon I've seen em all!

Program inspired me to buy the MR2 and I never thought I would get back into cars again!!!

geoff

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by John Hinkley on 14/11/2017 13:21:41:

I hate to steal Michael Gilligan's pedant thunder, but, strictly speaking, Big Ben is the bell, not the clock. Haven't watched the programme yet, but will do, now.

John

.

Feel free, John

I thought that the intelligent and well-spoken presenter made it sufficiently clear.

MichaelG.

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

I suppose the more correct title "The refurbishment of the Elizabeth Tower and the great clock" would have been lost on the great unwashed and wouldn't have the correct ring to it.

Pity they didn't explain how much cost was saved in the clock mechanism and the hands from the original "Requirements".

Regards Ian

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

Talking about BBC presenters waving their arms around like windmills, why do they do it? Perhaps more bizarre is why BBC reporters have to nod their heads repeatedly while listening to a question. A couple of times, when interviewed on the BBC, at the end the cameraman has shot a sequence of me doing what they call "noddies", so that they can be inserted before the news programme goes out. It's really weird!

 

Edited By Mike on 14/11/2017 14:49:13

[MM57Participant @mm57]

I thought I heard (or maybe just made it up myself) that the reporter "nodding" was to confirm to the person in the studio that they were actually hearing the question…to avoid embarrassing silences/allowing them to abort the interview quickly if the comms was broken?

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

Oh well. In for a penny …………

Quote from Circlip:

"I suppose the more correct title "The refurbishment of the Elizabeth Tower and the great clock" would have been lost on the great unwashed and wouldn't have the correct ring to it."

With pedantic hat on – I see what you did there, but surely you mean it wouldn't have the correct "BONG" to it?

I'll get me coat………

John.

Edited By John Hinkley on 14/11/2017 17:04:15

Edited By John Hinkley on 14/11/2017 17:04:42

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

Did you have to chime in John?

Regards Ian.

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

I thought it was a wind-up!

John

Edited By John Hinkley on 14/11/2017 17:46:17

[GeorgineerParticipant @georgineer]

Posted by MM57 on 14/11/2017 16:50:15:

I thought I heard (or maybe just made it up myself) that the reporter "nodding" was to confirm to the person in the studio that they were actually hearing the question…to avoid embarrassing silences/allowing them to abort the interview quickly if the comms was broken?

I may be wrong, but I suspect it started with interviews over satellite links, each of which introduces a 1/4 second delay, so the reply can take 1/2 second to appear, or a second if using a double-hop to the other side of the planet. They keep the camera on the interviewer as long as they dare, then cut to the interviewee who is busily nodding their head as if they can hear the question. The delay could of course be reduced by using an audio link by cable on the outbound channel. Or then again, perhaps I'm mistaken.

The nodding then became a requirement, the same as standing some reporter in the rain (can't use an umbrella because it spoils the sound) in front of an empty field, unlit building or busy road to add verisimilitude to whatever they are saying.

[GeorgineerParticipant @georgineer]

I watched the first part of "Border Country: the Story of Britain's Lost Middleland" presented by one Rory Stewart this evening on BBC4, and would recommend it as an example of how I believe a documentary should be produced and presented. It was also extremely interesting, even though it had no engineering content.

George

[Mick HenshallParticipant @mickhenshall99321]

I agree George, i watched it too, history is a major interest lf mine, was very good, the presenter has made some good programmes, I like Michael Woods who is very good

Mick

[ChrisHParticipant @chrish]

I thought it was an interesting programme although a little spun out with padding rather than facts; I would have liked a bit more on the bell casting. Although the narrator was usually clear she did talk over over contributors a lot which I found annoying, and when they built the clock they did so using imperial units so why refer to heights and distances in metres and millimetres now – we still use feet and inches in England, except the TV crowd (and the BBC mob especially) always use kilometres and metres despite us retaining miles and yards and feet.

I love the bit when they were talking of the "can-do" attitude of the Victorians, 'this is England and this is what we do'. That attitude still here in England, today, somewhere, but I wish we had that attitude in greater abundance today. People are so negative, "it can't be done because…." seems to prevail so.

Not surprised the cost has risen so much either, the scaffolding operation is a huge cost in itself what with the cranes and the special bridging beam etc., never mind the actual work, and the work will increase as they get to it as more will be found that needs doing for sure. I suppose the new estimate includes the cost of stopping the tower leaning any further, it ought to, they had to in Pisa! But at least it will be of value to many, as opposed to some other projects I could mention. And how did they lift that bell up that height and into position 150+ years ago, they didn't tell us that, they didn't have our cranes back then.

Made a change from the usual 'crap tv' programmes they all usually serve up.

Chris

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

Unfortunately Fred Dibnah didn't get round to this before his demise but then, those with the interest retention of Goldfish would complain – – – Having said that, my Goldfish knows when it's grub time.

Regards Ian.

Are you feeling run down yet John?

[ken king, King DesignParticipant @kenkingkingdesign]

Just getting back to the refurbishment project for a moment :- Are other readers as incensed as me (i ?) at the decision to silence Big Ben for four years "in order to protect the hearing of workmen". During said TV programme the presenter and expert stood within a few yards of the bell whilst it struck twelve. Of course they were wearing ear protection ! Has it not occurred to any of the bureaucrat numpties involved that similar protection could be supplied to the workmen – just as it is in many well-regulated noisy industrial situations ?

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