THEY SAID WHAT?

“Ken Livingstone’s behaviour has been grossly offensive to British Jews. The truth is that Ken’s despicable and hurtful attitude should have seen him expelled years ago and the fact that it has taken this long to see him go beggars belief ”

- Labour MP Ruth Smeath on the former London mayor’s resignation from the Labour Party.

“I do not accept that I have brought the Labour Party into disrepute, nor that I am guilty of anti-Semitism. However any further disciplinary action against me may drag on for months or even years, distracting attention from Jeremy’s policies. I am therefore, with great sadness, leaving the Labour Party”

- Ken Livingstone’s resignation statement after his comments on

Zionism and Hitler. “I don’t think people realise quite how intense it is. I find if I take my foot off the pedal for half an hour, it’s like ‘Oh my God’. You do have to be focused for the whole day, which is quite draining when you’re 52”

- TV presenter Michaela Strachan, above, on the problems of hosting Springwatch. “I thought somebody was doing an April Fools’ joke on me. I just didn’t in my wildest imagination...”

- US Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry recalls his reaction to the invitation to preach at the royal wedding.

“Look at Hollywood! How insidious it is. Look how people feel entitled to this, that and the other, and they can only be surrounded by ‘Yes’ people. It’s a poisonous, toxic atmosphere and I don’t want to be surrounded by people like that. The ‘lovey’ and the kissing cheeks - I can’t stand it. There’s so much hypocrisy... and they know nothing”

- Actor Sir Anthony Hopkins.