A clamping apparatus for clamping an elongate object, the apparatus comprising: a housing defining a first aperture therethrough for enabling an elongate object to extend through said apparatus, wherein the housing comprises a first body part having a second aperture therethrough for receiving said elongate object, and a second body part having a third aperture therethrough for receiving said elongate object, wherein the second body part is adapted to be mounted to said first body part, and wherein said second and third apertures define said first aperture; actuator means arranged in said housing; and a plurality of clamping members adapted to slidingly engage said actuator means; wherein said clamping members are arranged in said housing and the second body part is adapted to engage said first body part to cause movement of said clamping members relative to said actuator means, in an axial direction of an elongate object extending through said apparatus; wherein said movement of said clamping members relative to said actuator means causes sliding movement of said clamping members relative to said actuator means between at least one first condition, in which said elongate object can move in said axial direction relative to said clamping members, and at least one second condition, in which said elongate object is clamped between said clamping members; wherein a plurality of said clamping members are each adapted to slidingly engage a pair of further said clamping members arranged adjacent thereto when moving between a said first condition and a said second condition; wherein a plurality of said clamping members overlap in said axial direction; wherein said actuator means comprises a plurality of first engaging surfaces, and a plurality of said clamping members each comprise a respective second engaging surface, adapted to engage a respective said first engaging surface, such that said movement of said plurality of clamping members relative to said actuator means, in said axial direction of an elongate object extending through said apparatus, causes radial movement of said plurality of clamping members relative to said actuator means; wherein a plurality of said clamping members each has a respective first engaging portion, adapted to slidingly engage a further said clamping member adjacent thereto radially outwards of said further clamping member, and a respective second engaging portion, adapted to slidingly engage said further clamping member radially inwards of said further clamping member; and wherein at least one said first engaging portion has a respective first radially extending surface adapted to engage a second radially extending surface of a said second engaging portion of a further said clamping member. a housing defining a first aperture therethrough for enabling an elongate object to extend through said apparatus, wherein the housing comprises a first body part having a second aperture therethrough for receiving said elongate object, and a second body part having a third aperture therethrough for receiving said elongate object, wherein the second body part is adapted to be mounted to said first body part, and wherein said second and third apertures define said first aperture; actuator means arranged in said housing; and a plurality of clamping members adapted to slidingly engage said actuator means; wherein said clamping members are arranged in said housing and the second body part is adapted to engage said first body part to cause movement of said clamping members relative to said actuator means, in an axial direction of an elongate object extending through said apparatus; wherein a plurality of said clamping members are each adapted to slidingly engage a pair of further said clamping members arranged adjacent thereto when moving between a said first condition and a said second condition; wherein a plurality of said clamping members overlap in said axial direction; wherein said actuator means comprises a plurality of first engaging surfaces, and a plurality of said clamping members each comprise a respective second engaging surface, adapted to engage a respective said first engaging surface, such that said movement of said plurality of clamping members relative to said actuator means, in said axial direction of an elongate object extending through said apparatus, causes radial movement of said plurality of clamping members relative to said actuator means; wherein a plurality of said clamping members each has a respective first engaging portion, adapted to slidingly engage a further said clamping member adjacent thereto radially outwards of said further clamping member, and a respective second engaging portion, adapted to slidingly engage said further clamping member radially inwards of said further clamping member; and wherein at least one said first engaging portion has a respective first radially extending surface adapted to engage a second radially extending surface of a said second engaging portion of a further said clamping member.