David Cameron (literally) hums a song of relief after announcing resignation

Maybe David Cameron could have done a better job of hiding his relief after announcing he would be replaced by a successor by Wednesday.

Unaware his microphone is still on, the soon-to-be-former U.K. PM can be heard humming to himself

Jillian Bell · CBC News · Posted: Jul 11, 2016 2:10 PM EDT | Last Updated: July 11, 2016

David Cameron hums a tune

8 years ago

0:21

British PM heard singing after officially announcing his resignation at a news conference Monday

If you were retiring from a high-stress job before the age of 50, you'd probably be pretty happy too.

Especially if that job was prime minister of the U.K., and, you were responsible for a referendum where Britons voted to leave the E.U., wreaking havoc on the country's economy with no clear end in sight.

But maybe David Cameron could have done a better job of hiding his relief after announcing he would be replaced by a successor by Wednesday.

An instantly viral video making the rounds on Twitter shows the soon-to-be former PM walking away from the podium and into 10 Downing St. after making the announcement Monday. Unaware that his microphone is still on, he sings a lyricless little ditty ("doo doo doo doo") before stepping inside and saying, "Right. Good."

Wow, Cameron announces his resignation as prime minister, then walks back inside *singing* while still mic'd: <a href="https://t.co/wb4adNcCnk">pic.twitter.com/wb4adNcCnk</a>
—@Yair_Rosenberg

Twitter users had a great time mocking Cameron's not-so-private celebratory tune.

<a href="https://twitter.com/BBCDanielS">@BBCDanielS</a> Sounds of a man who has just cleared his desk before a long holiday.
—@156Sharknose

<a href="https://twitter.com/BBCDanielS">@BBCDanielS</a> Cameron reveals the secret "open sesame" tune to open the door of Number 10
—@thewyebird

Everything you need to know about Twitter: David Cameron on future of country - 16 retweets. Cameron humming after - Twitter meltdown
—@BBCDanielS

Some speculated about what he was singing and what it meant.

<a href="https://twitter.com/bethanywhite">@bethanywhite</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCDanielS">@BBCDanielS</a> It does sound like the ending bit of the West Wing theme tune. Oh dear Dave!
—@BeckyMurphyEDP

<a href="https://twitter.com/OpperKop">@OpperKop</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCDanielS">@BBCDanielS</a> was he humming the opening to the overture to Tannhäuser? Perhaps Cameron sees himself as the heroic minstrel-knight.
—@MilesKing10

Cameron haters found the moment symbolic.

<a href="https://twitter.com/BBCDanielS">@BBCDanielS</a> Ah, he's humming doodoo - which is what he's left us in.
—@amserinewid

<a href="https://twitter.com/BBCDanielS">@BBCDanielS</a> sums up his time in office. Just a bit of laugh, a man that has played at politics because he can.
—@egalitarianfunk

A BBC journalist who posted the video on Twitter joked about its virality.

Everything you need to know about Twitter: David Cameron on future of country - 16 retweets. Cameron humming after - Twitter meltdown
—@BBCDanielS

To be fair, Cameron isn't the first singing world leader we've seen. Maybe with those pipes, he could join the Van Cats.

Harper sings Sweet Child O' Mine

10 years ago

1:07

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his band the Van Cats entertain Conservatives at their Christmas party Tuesday night

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jillian Bell

Senior Writer

Jillian writes for CBCNews.ca. Her work has previously appeared in The Globe and Mail, Metro and Chatelaine.

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