OSCAR Wilde once said there is one thing worse than being talked about and that is not being talked about.

Wirral is, I can report, being talked about a lot.

My film, TV and theatre critic colleagues in London keep asking me about the peninsula.

I have put many straight that a lot more has come out of the area than the ferry and Paul Hollywood.

And when it comes to film, Helen Walsh's critically-acclaimed work The Violators - made in Birkenhead - was a great calling card when it comes to showing what Wirral has to offer.

There are inspirational people like Kevin Samson who created the urban classic Awaydays and actors like Stephen Graham who loved filming the 2013 gritty thriller Blood here.

Just look at the architecture in Hamiltion Square and the atmospheric Hilbre Island.

Screenwriter Author Marc Gee has not been Gee-d up, however, by his proposal to certain council officials which have ended up on the metaphorical cutting-room floor.

Marc wants to see a brochure published highlighting what Wirral can offer and take it to film fairs and networking places like Cannes.

Stan Boardman, no stranger to celluloid, is currently discussing movie projects with Marc who is also working with Stan's son Paul – a well-respected film producer.

Stan is currently working on projects in Cardiff and Manchester, but told the Inferno he would support any film work closer to home.

Having written about Liverpool's reputation as the second most-filmed city outside London, I have seen how the local economy has benefited from the film crews.

Good news for bars, hotels, shops and work for extras.

When our Super Authority Metro mayor is finally installed can he or she set up a feasibility study for a Liverpool/Wirral Film Office collaboration.

This would be reel 20/20 vision. 

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WE have just about coped with Remain and Brexit - now comes Birkenhexit! a term conjured up by a pair of local writing stars.

Wirral will be the talk of the towns when Brick Up 2 - The Wrath of Anne Twackey takes to the stage in early 2017 at the Royal Court.

The original Brick Up the Mersey Tunnel told the story of the Kingsway Three, who block up the tunnels in protest at Wirral looking down on Liverpool folk.

It is a fantasy idea that came about when writers Dave Kirkby and Nicky Allt overheard a genuine rant in a pub.

Dave tells me in this much-awaited sequel: "Wirral doesn't want the tunnels back. It's not taking it lying down."

I have had a sneak preview where a blue-rinsed Anne Twackey, played by the incomparable Eithne Brown proudly, waves her huge Wirral Conservatives flag.

Iain Christie from the Royal Court says Brick Up is a hit on both sides of the river.

He added: "The audience for the show was always a real mix of Liverpool and Wirral.

"Many of the stellar cast including Suzanne Collins live in Wirral.

"We get a lot of people coming over from the other side of the Mersey for all our shows.

"Wirral-based theatre-goers have shown they have a great ability to laugh at themselves."

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FULL marks to South Wirral High School for their fourth Hillsborough Day on July 18.

It is their admirable much talked about aim to get the disaster studied on the National Curriculum.

Teacher Graham Jones continues to promote "critical thinking" about the tragedy and following this year's inquest, the fight for justice.

This year where the cover up was exposed I was moved by the staff and pupils video rendition production of You’ll Never Walk Alone.

I immediately signed the school’s petition.

Margaret Aspinall of the Families Support Group is a woman I have met many times during my reporting on Hillsborough.

She has given the petition a welcome boost with her backing.

Onwards and upwards.

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AND FINALLY I am so optimistic that education is changing for the better as our inspirational Wirral Globe School Awards proved.

Looking back on my school days in the late 60s I knew times in the outside world would be tough back then when our careers teacher was suddenly made redundant!

Peter Grant