NB1 sidelight removal

My headlight wiring has been butchered by a previous owner, and they taped round the side light bulb holders on both sides. the bulbs are extremely weak and I got some freebies with my new headlight bulbs but I can’t for the life of me get the sidelights to twist out! anyone else struggled with this?

They should twist anti-clockwise by about 30 degrees, they’ve not been glued in have they if they’re been previously butchered?

I hope they haven’t, the cars not a total hack job so I’m hoping the o rings are just gummy, going to source new holders before I try to get the old ones out with pliers, cheers though