The BBC’s website was replaced with a fiery test card on Thursday morning in an apparent technical issue lasting almost an hour.
Visitors to the popular website were greeted with an Error 500 warning and a test card of a puppet close to flames.
Of course, internet users across the UK and further afield didn’t know where to go and took to social media in the meantime.
The BBC website has reacted strongly to today's weather forecast: pic.twitter.com/XPaYaPy8WP
— Captain Cape (@CaptainCape) July 26, 2018
BBC website is down…hope it's not the signal for the start of a coup d'etét!#BBCwebsite pic.twitter.com/twsI7PFCxV
— Mark Moran (@pictureville) July 26, 2018
I'm sure the BBC News website going down is a sign of the apocalypse…
— Ident Central (@identcentral) July 26, 2018
The BBC website is down…the apocalypse is coming #IBlameBrexit pic.twitter.com/zy7bSUuDS7
— Tom (@SpinksTom) July 26, 2018
oh the #bbcwebsite seems to be down. Quick turn Ceefax back on! pic.twitter.com/Ht4AybTdUO
— Reborn Media (@RebornMedia) July 26, 2018
BBC Website is down. Looks like someone forgot to test before they committed changes… Also, that 500 error page is giving me nightmares 🙈 pic.twitter.com/8sUXeRUXDD
— Jack Willmor (@jackwillmor) July 26, 2018
Tesco's has run out of food, there's been no rain for weeks, the earth is on fire, the government is on its knees and now the BBC website is down. Truly the end of days.
— Jonathan Wentworth (@JM_Wentworth) July 26, 2018
Yep, the BBC News website has officially melted in the heat. There's even a fire behind the creepy error message clown! pic.twitter.com/RMignaDiEC
— Freddy Mayhew (@FJMayhew) July 26, 2018
In a tweet of its own, the broadcaster said it was working to fix the issue.
We’re aware that some people are having problems accessing some parts of our website. We’re trying to fix this as soon as possible.
— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) July 26, 2018
Can someone please put 50p in the BBC News website meter please!
— Matthew Chapman (@Matt528chap) July 26, 2018
Order was eventually restored at about 10am, to the delight of many.
