This week, Danielle O'Donovan told the story behind Big Ben, Westminster and the Houses of Parliament from the mid-nineteenth century, when a political hot potato was tossed between the two sides of the house as they seek an architect for their new parliament.

Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.

You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.