ROUND one ... what a 'knockout' piece of television it was.

And as Jimmy Cricket would say, “there’s more”.

I always stay up to watch televised election nights.

X Factors with a difference.

There was one exception – the UK's last General Election when David Dimbleby ruined it for me and millions of others when he told us the exit poll result that the Tories were the majority party – and it was only 10.05pm.

I had stocked up on Marmite crisps, pizza and beer.

I went to bed – the party over before it had begun.

After recovering from all-night viewing with the Brexit results, I was happily at it again.

And wow ... nobody does politics like the Americans.

This was House of Cards for real – watching them all fall down.

The race for the White House is always preceded by a Republican and Democrat debate which started when a cool JFK took on a sweaty, tricky 'Tricky Dicky' Richard Nixon (56 years ago yesterday).

Tuesday morning I was jet-lagged – but still buzzing.

Ninety minutes of live television (with six minutes extra-time) – better than any football cup final or heavyweight boxing contest.

Hillary Clinton versus Donald J Trump in a bout of sharp-suited, mud-slinging, verbal combat.

Already both camps are claiming victory trump cards on show – yet they are polls apart.

There are 42 days left and two more re-matches.

I do hope this American way of seeing our politicians raw and roaring comes across the Atlantic.

Our own plodding party political conferences could learn a lot from this no-holds-barred piece of brutal spin-doctoring.

Transparency by TV. If only our town hall elections could have such revealing curtain-raisers.

Phil Davies at the lectern taking on the opposition parties and vice versa – at Wallasey Town Hall transmitted across Wirral on big outdoor screens.

Now that's something to write about in the council's new paid-for (by you) newspaper.

As for Hillary and Don, ring the bell for round two. Bring it on and the black coffee.

HEY ya all... Sunday is Grandparents' Day.

This idea stems from America.

Relatively speaking, we should always celebrate our grans and gramps.

I am all for celebrating such things as Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day but this idea really strikes a real chord especially with children who love their grandparents.

And to prove it I came across just what these junior adults think of their parents' parents in a smashing survey.

Here's a couple of politically-correct gems: "A grandma is old on the outside and young on the inside." and "Grandpas are delightful things – they date back to the turn of the century."

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SOME stars really do shine.

I always salute celebrities who use their fame for the good of others.

Many years ago I set up a charity fundraiser for a national newspaper.

I wrote to megastars to record special messages that people could phone and hear.

Cliff Richard and Kate Bush were tremendous.

So I was saddened this week to hear of the news that Monty Python star Terry Jones has dementia – so serious that it will take away his power of speech.

A cruel irony for a lovely, kind man – a genius with words.

I got to know Terry well and even interviewed him on film sets and at his home.

Terry is brave enough to tell the world about his illness.

It gives comfort to those who have family and friends with this awful disease.

I felt selfish that Terry is no longer able to be interviewed again and that I will never ever hear his magnificent chuckle again.

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AND finally ... it's time to get out my black tie as they roll out the red carpet for the Liverpool Empire, now 150 years old.

Tomorrow Prince Edward Earl of Wessex will grace the venue to see a black tie gala performance of Willy Russell's Blood Brothers.

The theatre memorably hosted the Royal Variety Performance in 2007, so it’s about time it became centre stage itself.

Arise... Royal Liverpool Empire.

Peter Grant