now on bbc news...hardtalk welcome to hardtalk, i'm sarah montague.a is calling on the eu to stump up billions of dollars to help rebuild syria. i am in brussels to speak to russia's representative to the eu, vladimir chizhov. he said that if the eu doesn't pay, then they will bear the responsibility for that. but russian planes are still destroying parts of syria and rather than support the peace talks at the united nations, russia has set up their own parallel talks. so what responsibility does it have to end the war in syria? vladimir chizhov, welcome to hardtalk. thank you. what do you mean when you say that if the eu don't pay for the reconstruction of syria or contribute to it, they will bear the responsibility for that? well, the reconstruction of syria, after the extensive damage that has been inflicted on that country during over six years of war, is, in my view, the responsibility of the whole international community, including, of course, the european union. now, the european union has been declaring a number of times its willingness to con

i'm sarah montague. my guest today is one of the big beasts of british politics.wn as the father of the house because he is the longest serving member of the commons, he's also held more cabinet posts than any other living british politician. yet, ken clark says we are now in the maddest situation of his lifetime and talks of a political system that is broken. it is one of the reasons he could not quite bring himself to retire at the last election, staying on to fight against brexit and for the conservative party. is it a fight he can win? ken clark, welcome to hardtalk. glad to be here. you have served under four prime ministers, heath, thatcher, major and cameron and yet you say we are now in the maddest situation. what do you mean by that? it is so chaotic and unpredictable. we got here by accident, nobody planned it. nobody thought that leave would win the referendum campaign. neither side did. nigel farage was as amazed as david cameron to find he had won. nobody had planned for it. both political parties lost their traditional political support too, or large

i'm sarah montague.here aren't many people who are recognisable only from their make—up, but mention a zig—zag of black flames around the eyes painted on a white face, and millions of people around the world will know you are talking about the frontman of the rock band, kiss. take away the makeup and you have gene simmons, a man so canny about business that he realised he could make more money from marketing the kiss brand than from selling records. his famously long tongue has also proved a loose one. he's frequently invited on chat shows and revels in scandalising his critics. but is that also all part of the act? gene simmons, welcome to hardtalk. thank you. wonderful being here. is it all front with you, promoting an image and a brand through both your music and your opinions? well, i mean, i think it's fair to say we all wake up and stand in front of a mirror and try to see how the rest of the world sees us. if your own shakespeare says "the whole world's a stage" then we're alljust players. i mean,