When do the clocks go forward in 2022 and why do they change?

The arrival of March not only means less days until Easter – start thinking about your chocolate egg options now – but more daylight hours in the UK.

Traditionally everyone in this time zone moves their clocks forward by an hour and although everyone may get less sleep, mornings and evenings will be a lighter and brighter.

The time is changed twice a year in the UK and the nation last pushed their clocks back by 60 minutes in October.

Why does the time change and what has it got to do with Coldplay’s Chris Martin?

Clocks are always changed in the last week of March to mark the beginning of British Summer Time (BST), otherwise referred to as Daylight Saving Time.

It was first designed to help the population, and season dependant farmers, maximise sunlight throughout the year.

It came into existence in 1916 through the Summer Time Act after a petition by British builder William Willet – the great-great-grandfather – of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.

It was believed the change would help save energy by reducing the amount of coal households consume and the act was passed during the First World War when resources were stretched thin.

However some say Mr Willet’s motives for changing the clocks were also down to having his golf game cut short when the sun went down but sadly the law was implemented after his death.

The idea did not originate in the UK and the notion was first put on the table by American politician and inventor Benjamin Franklin, who said if people get up earlier everyone might save on candles.

When do the clocks go forward?