Talk of the Town: Boris is the real spokesman here

FROM gold medals to freedom of his home city, there isn’t much Sir Chris Hoy hasn’t achieved this year. But when it comes to influence, he couldn’t even get on the podium.

GQ magazine has published a list of Britain’s most influential people – with Sir Chris trailing home in joint 15th place (alongside Tour De France champion Bradley Wiggins) in the poll topped by London’s Mayor, Boris Johnson.

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So it seems the cost of power these days is finding yourself contributing to the Olympics by becoming stranded on a zip wire above the host city.

Listen to House music

MPs and popular culture don’t always go together, so it makes a refreshing change to find Queen rocker Brian May quoted in Livingston member Graeme Morrice’s latest press release.

They’ve joined forces to call on musicians to enter the parliament’s Rock the House contetst, which aims to find fresh, new talent.

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Guitarist and songwriter May said: “It is a great honour to back Rock the House. The UK is a hotbed of musical talent from all genres, and if the British music industry is going to grow and thrive then musicians need to be able to make a living from selling their product.”

Helmet hair problem

THE Queen’s gongs, Sports Personality, Evening News Person of the Year – all top awards handed out the mark the end of 2012. But now TOTT can bring you the one you’ve been waiting for. Yes, that’s right, it’s winner of the “Most Iconic Hair of 2012”, as dished out by hair products retailer Fabriah.com.

That honour’s gone to Kate Middleton, who beat off competition from Scots singer Emily Sandé and, that man again Boris Johnson.

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Francesca Davies from Fabriah.com said: “From the Jubilee to the Olympics to the announcement of a new Royal baby, 2012 has been full of highlights. What’s more, throughout the year, these pinnacles have been marked with some fantastic hair.”

Sir Chris robbed again . . . just because he wears a helmet.

Brought to book

IT’S the tomb that ensures the good and the great live on long after their passing. And two renowned Edinburgh-born luminaries have been posthumously handed that honour after being named in this year’s Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

Broadcaster Sir Ludovic Kennedy and artist Craigie Aitchison, who both died in 2009, have been added to the volume.