Hundreds of budding musicians from all over the UK have sent in clips of themselves playing the BBC News music.
They’ve all been inspired by Owain the BBC’s drumming weatherman last week.
Owain Wyn Evans of BBC North West Tonight was getting so many clips sent to him of people joining in and playing along with his virtuoso performance that he decided to launch an appeal for a Big House Band to bring some fun and lift spirits during lockdown.
Drumming weatherman
Last week when he released the video of him drumming 700,000 people viewed it in just two hours.
A week later it’s been viewed over five million times, making headlines everywhere from America to Australia.
After he announced the launch of his Big House Band on Friday night, over 500 drummers, singers and string players had sent in clips of themselves playing along to the iconic music.
Entries range from a man playing trumpet in a bubble bath; to The Proud Mary Barber Shop Choir who have harmonised the ‘pips’.
One lady tap dances the rhythm, while the composer of the original music David Lowe has even got involved himself. He sent in a clip of him playing the banjo.
Owain’s Big House Band is part of the BBC’s Make A Difference campaign; which is bringing communities together to support them through the crisis.
“It’s absolutely brilliant. I’m so pleased that so many people have wanted to jump on board with my Big House Band”, Evans said.
“We’ve had so many fabulous entries and have made a video of some of them which is another bit of fun really.”
Composer David Lowe is pleased that his tune has struck such a chord: “I am totally thrilled with all the attention it is getting.
“I have been a BBC fan all my life, so this has been an amazing experience.”
Now the weather!
Explaining the original video, Evans said: “Like so many other people I have been working from home since early March and doing my weather bulletins from my garden or dining room, sometimes with the help of my cat.
“I thought it would be a bit of fun to put a bit of a weather forecast in front of a rocked up drum track to the BBC News theme… and it’s gone bonkers darlings! I had no idea it would be such a hit.”
He is overwhelmed with the reaction he has had, and thanks everyone for getting involved.
“I am just really happy that it has brought a bit of enjoyment at such a difficult time. Making music – whether singing or playing an instrument – is a great pastime anyway; and a fabulous option when we can’t go out and about as we would normally.”
Head of the BBC In the North, Rozina Breen said: “Our aim with this project was to unite the communities of England through music, inviting audiences to pick up anything from an electric guitar to the Indian drums and even pots and pans, for a moment of shared creativity.”
Evans is best known for presenting the weather on BBC North West Tonight.
He joined the Salford based team last year, before that he was based at BBC Look North in Yorkshire.