"Back in the 1980s, Richard Dawkins was a respected Oxford University Professor, and one of the world’s leading voices on evolutionary biology. After crafting several brilliant tomes that explained the origins of life to lay people, he became well known in the wider world too. The Selfish Gene, The Extended Phenotype and The Blind Watchmaker transformed the public’s understanding of science and taught them a lot in the process. Dawkins was on his way to being a national treasure, in the same way that David Attenborough is today." - Mark H

"Meanwhile, over in Northern Ireland Gerry Adams was a hugely divisive and infamous figure. In 1983 he became the President of Sinn Fein, and a thorn in the British government’s side. He was also alleged to have had links to the IRA, and has even been alleged to have been involved in one of the group’s murders. In short, he was viewed by the British establishment as one of the most dangerous men in Britain. So dangerous was he that the British government took the draconian step of banning his voice from British airwaves, as they were so concerned about what he would say. (In the event, broadcasters simply responded by broadcasting his words read by an actor)." - Mark H

"Almost every day, there’s a new Dawkins-related furore, where he has said something controversial and the masses of Twitter have reacted. Today, for example, he has been offering his opinions on rape." - Mark H

"So what about Gerry Adams? Surely such a renowned firebrand would be taking to Twitter with all sorts of inflammatory rhetoric? It turns out he really likes rubber ducks." - Mark H