THEY SAID WHAT?

“The joyful striking of Big Ben will ring in the festive season for Londoners, visitors, and the millions of viewers who use it as a focal point to celebrate the New Year” – Keeper of the Great Clock (Big

Ben) Steve Jaggs.

“I am increasingly concerned about the intolerance, the abuse, the intimidation that is happening in British politics. We have a lot of banter, we disagree sometimes vehemently, but I think we also all know that whilst we have very strongly held opinions, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re right”

– Tory MP Nigel Huddleston.

“It’s time for British politicians to stop making useful idiots of themselves by appearing on and taking money from Kremlin propaganda outfits like Russia Today or Sputnik”

– Labour MP Ben Bradshaw criticises those who appear on

Russian TV networks.

“Excuse me saying so, is anyone going to say the two people in Buckingham Palace are past their sell-by date? Absolutely not. So instead of talking about older people as bed-blockers, houseblockers and so on let’s prize them”

– Dame Esther Rantzen, above.

“It’s like breaking into Fort Knox” – Singer-songwriter Tom Chaplin, on getting into the Christmas music market.

“I don’t think I’ve got bad taste. I’ve got no taste”

– Broadcaster Graham Norton.

“If you’ve never seen an elephant ski, you’ve never been on acid”

– Comedian Eddie Izzard.