The Pips return from a 3 hour break

The computer operating the Greenwich Time Signal, most popularly known as the pips, stopped working on Tuesday evening.

The absense of the six short tones took the station by surprise at 5pm – the start of the flagship BBC Radio 4 news programme PM with Eddie Mair – but they returned three hours later at 8.

The journalist instinct of the station meant an on-air interview with BBC Broadcast Engineer John-Paul Dunkley followed, who explained the situation.

“The box that creates the audio of the pips have died unfortunatley. We do have a reserve but unfortunatley that has not been picked up,” said engineer John Paul.

“It could be a power supply problem, and we are still investigating”

The interview about the death of the pips is now on audioBoo for your listening pleasure.