WHAT a pity Liverpool will not look to host the Commonwealth Games.

It could have been a real boost for the area, especially if the "super authority" with all five areas, contributed with various venues and locations.

We are a sporting lot here on Merseyside – just look at the number of marathons and fun-runs that take place here.

Maybe all our local politicians should have sat down and talked through a positive joint bid.

The Commonwealth Games was a massive boost to the economies of Manchester and Glasgow and showed just what can be done when everyone pulls in the right direction with pride.

And the benefits of hosting such an event now remain in those cities with facilities being used by the communities.

Sadly, mayor Joe Anderson says such a bid is too costly and would need cash support from central government.

The Three Queens was an incredible success, as was the visit of the French Giants, but it would be great to have a major sporting tournament based here.

We've shown Merseyside knows how to put on grand events on an international scale.

Let’s think about a bid in 2026 when hopefully there will be more money around.

For now, how about planning a "Mersey Games" with all five boroughs taking part?

Surely we could manage that once every four years?

**

'ALLO 'Allo. I will say this only once.

The Dunsandles B&B in New Brighton is going all Continental by introducing a French-themed dining room. The establishment is already famous having appeared in Channel 4's hit reality series Four in a Bed.

Owner Alan Johnson says he is now stopped in the street by people who have seen the show and, despite some rude comments on the internet, he would do it all again.

"We came second but it certainly raised our profile," says Alan.

Now he wants to build on the success with his French cuisine theme and what better way to launch it than on July 14 – Bastille Day – when his establishment becomes La Dunsandles.

And Alan, who is brushing up on his French accent will dress up as the 'Allo 'Allo gendarme officer Crabtree who gets all his words wrong.

"I've decided to accept payment in Euros," laughed Alan.

Which reminds me, with all the monetary chaos in Greece, does it mean that from now on restaurants will stop smashing plates to save money?

**

WHILE actors such as James Cordon and Sheridan Smith get accolades and gongs for their contribution to the arts, isn’t it time we recognised the talents of someone closer to home?

The Inferno refers to Anna Friel who started out on Brookside playing Beth Jordache – famous for soap's first lesbian kiss.

Since then actress Anna, who is 39 on July 12, has gone on to greater things on stage and on film both in the UK and Hollywood.

Her most recent successes have been war time series Saboteurs and her current work, the powerful drama Odyssey on BBC2.

Anna has matured as an actress and she has always had her feet firmly on the ground. I remember when I first met her she plied me with drinks.

Actually, I will explain. I was invited to appear in Brookside playing the role of showbiz reporter at the celebrity opening of Grant’s Bar along with Lily Savage.

Not being a thespian I had to do one scene 14 times – it involved Anna playing a waitress offering me champagne.

I managed to eventually get it right thanks to her guidance.

The encounter with delightful Anna also left its mark as it wasn’t real champagne, but 14 glasses of warm apple juice – a tipple I cannot face to this day because of it.

**

AND finally ... continuing my search for daft surveys, I can reveal researchers at a Californian university have found men who survive on microwave dinners are prone to short-term memory loss.

That explains why I once placed a ready-made cottage pie in the washing machine.

Peter Grant