FOR the second year running, May Morning celebrations turned virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Normally, thousands would gather outside Magdalen College from 5am to hear the bells and choristers from the Great Tower, with Morris dancing and folk singing taking place in the city centre.

This year, the choristers from Magdalen College School once again performed the Hymnus Eucharisticus online.

Recorded in secret, filming took place at the top of the Great Tower, and was broadcast at 6am on May 1 via the Choir of Magdalen College Facebook page.

Read again: Oxford celebrates a virtual May Morning during lockdown

The virtual broadcast follows some of the choristers meeting comedian and actor Alexander Armstrong.

Mr Armstrong, who lives in Oxford, was announced as the ambassador for the Cathedral Music Trust on Friday.

Three choristers were lucky enough to meet the Pointless host, a former chorister at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh.

“I owe my entire career to my experience as a chorister,” said Mr Armstrong.

“It’s where I learnt to perform, to use the full range of my voice, to write comedy and to listen.”

See also: 10 pictures show Oxford on May Morning

An event like no other, May Morning has a series of rich traditions.

For decades, jumping from Magdalen Bridge on May Morning has been one of them, but in 2005, when river levels were low, about 40 people were injured.

Since then, in certain years, restrictions have been placed on bridge access.