First time I was involved in intercepting a Bear (tanking a couple of F4s) was almost 43 years ago according to my logbook. Still that was in the far less crowded skies North of the Shetlands. Nipping through the 20 mile wide Straits of Dover is somewhat different. Did the French join in the game? I cant imagine they wouldn't.
The Russians are certainly getting their moneysworth out of these airframes (as are the US out of the B52s), although no doubt they have been extensively modded.
(Just read they didnt get up as far as Dover, but still, it's a new route for them as far as I know)