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Big Ben - working around the clock

Tim Muffett meets the mechanics working on one of the UK's biggest - and trickiest - repair jobs, to discover the unique challenges of refurbishing Parliament's Elizabeth Tower.

±«Óãtv correspondent Tim Muffett climbs the scaffolding surrounding London's most iconic landmark, to meet the mechanics working on a repair job like no other. Since 2017, Big Ben has been largely silent, while the tower in which it sits - Parliament's Elizabeth Tower - has undergone a much-needed refurbishment. It's proved a mammoth task and delays, caused by the pandemic, have seen costs spiral to more than £80m. As Big Ben's time to chime moves ever closer, Tim speaks to engineers and historians about the unique challenges - and privileges - of working on this once-in-a-lifetime project. (Image: Carl Court via Getty Images)

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5 minutes