THE River of Light fireworks display will be illuminating the peninsula - bigger and brighter than ever.

Following on from the success of the friendly French Giants, Wirral again has a chance to show just what it can offer – notably as a welcoming, friendly location and one that believes in quality time ... putting the people's collective enjoyment first.

Sometimes on Merseyside we can be all festivaled out.

Yet this year's family event on November 4 is already looking like a standout firecracker of an attraction The theme this year is the elements.

And I applaud organisers Culture Wirral for adding a supernatural family element.

We will meet ghostly pirates rising up from the iconic Black Pearl in New Brighton for one more fiery battle.

A band of drumming spooky buccaneers will accompany this special parade as it marches towards the fort to spark a 20 minute stunning display - weather permitting.

Forget the Caribbean, our spectral pirates of Wirral will shiver your timbers.

There are plenty of fireworks in the House of Commons at the moment - the River of Light gets my vote.

This will be a spectacular spotlight on one of the most famous rivers in the world lit up from both sides NOW.

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TALKING of Wirral's growing destination reputation, the borough is featured in many dramas of late and continues to get healthy name checks on our local theatre stages.

New Brighton is featured in the Royal Court's current hit Maggie May and will also be seen in Willy Russell's classic Blood Brothers when it comes to the Floral Pavilion in November.

Wirral also stars in Rob Fennah's adaptations of Helen Forrester's books.

In By the Waters of Liverpool our heroine finally gets the "twopence to cross the Mersey" to Hoylake.

The 10th anniversary show of Twopence will be at the Empire next year.

This has inspired me to start work on Tranmere Rovers - the Musical.

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ONE of the highlights of my journalistic career was appearing on Radio 4's Today programme.

I talked about Ian Duncan Smith's one-man show at the Philharmonic Hall when he appeared before just 76 people in 2004.

The venue holds 1,600.

That sorry UK tour received universal dis-credit.

My live review made Mr Humphreys (a one-time Liverpool correspondent for the BBC) laugh out loud. It proved that he isn't humourless at all.

He has his own view on why he is perceived as surly.

The host of Mastermind is looking forward to the grand final next month.

He himself believes he is no egghead as he revealed in a charity book called the Book of Regrets.

You see, he never went to university opting to become a reporter instead.

John recalled: "I've always had a chip on my shoulder about it and I suppose I always will. Maybe that is what makes me stroppy.

"I have a clutch of honorary degrees and have been invited to be a university chancellor but turned it all down.

"I'd feel too much of a fraud." 

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I HAVE my birthday treat planned for January 2019 when the film Stan and Ollie arrives on our cinema scenes.

Having enjoyed the trailers, I am reminded of the time when I was given access all areas to an auction of memorabilia.

Two super-star items where Laurel and Hardy's bowler hats with their sepia-tinted names Stan and Babe (Oliver's nickname) stitched inside.

Another lasting memory is working with the late, great Derek Whale, an historian who told me how he met the famous comedy duo at Lime Street station in a train carriage when they played the Empire in the early '50s.

Derek said both stars, who stayed at the Adelphi were tearful, when their loyal Merseyside fans came to Lime Street to wave them an emotional, final goodbye.

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THE World War One film They shall Not Grow Old has left a striking impact on so many people from all walks of life.

As revealed in the Globe, Alan Bleasdale and Elvis Costello were moved by its humanity as was Brian Nash of Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

Film critic Mark Kermode (the man from Barnet with the quiffy barnet) was also stunned by Peter Jackson's mould-breaking documentary being screened on BBC 1 on November 11.

Now I hear that we can turn "critic" on Mark when he appears at the Liverpool Playhouse on November 14 with his one-man show about his failed attempt to be a skiffle star detailed in his memoirs How Does it Feel?

I've got my popcorn at the ready.

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AND finally ... tempus fugit.

Just ask Theresa May how time flies.

Next Sunday we get an extra hour in bed.

Alas, at school I always hoped it would fall mid-week.

Now I lie in bed worrying every last Sunday in October not because the European Union are planning to scrap British Summer Time, but I have a recurring nightmare when I am told "the clocks have to go back."

I can't remember where I bought them.

Peter Grant