LONDON: ITN Productions and Channel 4 have been granted unprecedented access to document the conservation and refurbishment of the Elizabeth Tower, the Great Clock and the Great Bell, also known as Big Ben.<\/p>\n
The structure is about to undergo the\u00a0most extensive restoration in its 157-year history, and ITN and C4 will be chronicling the process in a series of films tentatively titled Big Ben<\/em>. Three prime-time documentaries, to broadcast over the three-year conservation period, will follow in detail the \u00a329 million project. Using innovative filming techniques, the docs will reveal how a dedicated team of architects, builders and craftsmen from around the U.K. are working to conserve the monument.<\/p>\n The first program is slated to air in spring 2017.<\/p>\n Sir Paul Beresford, chair of the House of Commons administration committee, said:\u00a0\u201cWe are looking forward to working with ITN Productions to document the restoration of the Elizabeth Tower, the most iconic building in the U.K. and an international symbol of democracy. While the works will necessitate a temporary closure of the tower to visitors, we hope ITN\u2019s documentary will encourage more people than ever before to take an intimate look at the most beloved clock in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Will Smith, the head of factual at ITN Productions, added:\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re delighted to be working with the House of Commons to record the epic transformation of one of the most iconic landmarks in the world. We\u2019ll give Channel 4 viewers a front row seat as the scaffolding goes up on Big Ben and work begins to painstakingly restore and conserve the 157 year-old bell tower.\u201d<\/p>\n Lizi Wootton, commissioning editor for features at Channel 4, said:\u00a0\u201cI am delighted to be working with ITN and the U.K. Parliament to witness the extraordinary restoration of one of the country\u2019s most important architectural and political landmarks. As the great clock reveals its secrets, the skill and craftsmanship of today and yesterday is going to be astonishing to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" LONDON: ITN Productions and Channel 4 have been granted unprecedented access to document the conservation and refurbishment of the Elizabeth Tower, the Great Clock and the Great Bell, also known as Big Ben.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":350,"featured_media":9440,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[289,1560],"class_list":["post-9439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-top-stories","tag-channel-4","tag-itn-productions","pmpro-has-access"],"yoast_head":"\n