Words of the week

THOSE iconic white cliffs mean a great deal to so many people. – Forces Sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn, 100, pledges to support an appeal to protect the White Cliffs of Dover of which she famously sang during the 1940s.

WE’RE a couple. We’re in love. – Prince Harry’s girlfriend Meghan Markle.

SOME of the things that happened to me would definitely be described now as sexual harassment. – Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman on school bullying.

IF Chinese diplomacy cannot change the mind of the Korean leader, what will short of force? – Lord David Owen, a former Foreign Secretary, on North Korea’s nuclear threat.

NOBODY has ever pretended this would be simple or easy. – Brexit Secretary David Davis, updating MPs on negotiations with the EU.

THE four Fs: fun, firm, feisty and fair. – The mantra of Strictly Come Dancing’s new judge Shirley Ballas.

I’D say my dancing is maybe 4/10 or, when I have a drink in me, 6/10. – Actress Gemma Atkinson, a Strictly Come Dancing contestant.

I DIDN’T want to carry on and then people say ‘Oh dear me, we’ll have to get rid of him’. – Commentator John Motson whose 50-year association with the BBC will finish at the end of the football season.

I’VE done my bit by having six children. – Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg when asked whe could do to encourage more Conservative voters amongst the young.

THE Selfridges of sport. – Entrepreneur Mike Ashley’s vision for this Sports Direct empire.

I CAN’T imagine writing books about (Rebus) when he’s in a care home, whizzing around on his electric wheelchair. – Ian Rankin hints the end could be nigh for his fictional detective.

IT’S so anarchic, I love it. It’s much more like me than anything else ... I invented swearing! – Actress Dame Judi Dench revels in Tracey Ullman’s description of her as a “troublesome pensioner”.

I’VE handled deadly spiders, snakes and scorpions, but if I see a rat, I’ll run. – TV naturalist Sir David Attenborough.