How to use the online alarm clock
You have just woken at 1:39 am, and the BBC studio is still waiting to be prepared for its morning broadcast. Before touching the controls, give yourself a moment to become properly alert and recall which checks come first. Setting the alarm for 2:00 am creates a clear boundary: by then, the essential lighting, sound desk and running notes should be ready for the next stage.
While you begin the studio checks, this alarm page may sit behind production notes or another browser window. It should continue counting in the background, although some browsers may restrict an inactive page and make its alert less punctual. Keep the sound enabled and return to the page once during your preparations to confirm that the alarm remains active. This alarm only works while its page stays open and the computer remains awake; otherwise, the studio preparation will receive no warning at 2:00 am.
During a pre-dawn BBC shift, use the changing noise around you as a practical check on timing. At 1:39 am, corridors and nearby streets may still be unusually quiet, so an alarm can seem much louder than expected. Set a moderate volume, place the computer close enough to hear clearly, and avoid relying on a distant speaker. As activity begins to build towards 2:00 am, recheck that production sounds will not mask the alert.
Common questions
Can I use this on a phone?
It works in a mobile browser, but phones lock the screen and suspend background tabs far more readily than a laptop does, which can stop the alarm sounding. For anything important, a desktop or a plugged-in laptop is the steadier option.
Does the alarm still work if I close the tab?
No. Everything runs inside this page, so closing the tab — or quitting the browser altogether — ends the countdown there and then. Leaving it open in the background is all it asks, and switching to another tab makes no difference.
What happens if my laptop goes to sleep before 1:39 am?
The tab sleeps along with it and the alarm will not sound on time, if at all. If you are relying on it, change the power settings so the machine stays awake, or keep a phone alarm running as well.
Do I need an account or an app?
Neither. Choose a time and a sound, press Start, and it runs in this browser tab. Nothing is downloaded, nothing is registered, and closing the page leaves nothing behind on the device.
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