Big Ben

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

 

+1

I thought it very well produced and presented

Way above the now-common standard of TV

MichaelG.

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

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

MichaelG.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Feel free, John

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

MichaelG.

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

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

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?

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

Did you have to chime in John?

Regards Ian.

I thought it was a wind-up!

John

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

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.

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