WHILE the UK reluctantly plays Brexit Lottery, at least we have something to celebrate elsewhere - a household namesake that is 25 years old.

It was on November 19,1994, that the first state-franchised National Lottery balls were dropped.

At a conservative estimate it has to be the lasting legacy of John Major's government.

It continues to help change society for the better.

Alas, it hasn't changed me - my biggest ever win was £75.

Since hitting that jackpot I joined a syndicate - forever dreaming that one day my fellow members and I will be featured on News at Ten cracking open a magnum of champers while gleefully explaining how we will individually spend the collective windfall.

I remain a supporter of the Lottery because it has genuinely helped boost funding for the arts, heritage, sports and good causes in this austerity-obsessed country.

Our hard-earned money is well spent on our nation's diverse wellbeing.

The National flagship also opened the doors for others to follow such as the Health Lottery and the popular weekly Postcode Lottery.

I am looking forward to receiving my annual advent calendar from them where each little cardboard door opened reveals a recipient of cash such as water supply for a third world country or improving a local community centre.

Charity does begin at home and the National Lottery certainly makes a difference.

So we are quids in, so to speak, whether our numbers come up or not ... supporting our lotteries means that someone somewhere wins.

As for the National Lottery, I hope I am around to see its 50th birthday.

That would be my priceless bonus ball.

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VIEWERS would love to see one TV classic make a comeback - The Golden Shot.

The game show where contestants would phone in and instruct a blind-folded operator to aim a crossbow - mounted on the front of a TV camera - to hit a target and thus win prizes.

It gave us the enigmatic Bernie The Bolt and we enjoyed the thrill of callers saying 'up a bit .. left ... right ... down a bit ... FIRE.'

Yet it seems we have been playing this game for the past three and half years in a parallel universe - with our very own 'Boris-the-Bolt-it.'

Time now for a Christmas Golden Shot special on December 12.

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AND the winners are ...

It is always generous of spirit to think about those thoroughly deserving people overlooked as the awards season gets underway.

A time to salute those who quietly get on with doing the business - many not in salaried jobs - who are never nominated for prizes.

While I welcome the inaugural Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards and say well done to the shortly listed few, I hope the net is cast as wide as possible in future so that as many unsung heroes get recognition.

I have the utmost respect for the 'ideas' people here in Wirral - the dedicated doers who are the real lifeblood because without them there would be no culture to celebrate.

If it is any consolation, I know who you are ...

And, happily, you know who you are, too.

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WHILE The Who announce a new album and tour with 50 per cent of the original line-up, fans still wonder what mischief their late drummer Keith Moon would have got up to today.

Ray Connolly, screenwriter of the cult film That'll Be The Day, recalls that Keith was also unpredictable off stage.

Keith once sawed the top part of his hotel room door in half so that he could peer out like a horse.

Proof that Mr Moon was far from stable.

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TALKING tours are an acquired taste.

Yet famous telly celebrities who take to the stage with versions of their respective hit series continue to sell out.

The Hairy Bikers and Bear Grylis clearly have a following who want to see them in the flesh.

Now Escape to the Chateau reality stars Dick and Angela Strawbridge are appearing at the Philharmonic Hall next February.

I will go out of sheer curiosity.

In case there's audience participation I'll bring my toolbox.

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SOAKING up surveys is one of my favourite past times.

And, according to a recent poll, I'm not alone - we all enjoy quirky statistics.

The iconic Beano comic has revealed its findings when it comes to the most scary inspirations for Halloween costumes.

And it's a Trans-Atlantic toss-up for who is the most frightening figure - our PM or the US President.

That said, look out for a scary outbreak of Boris Johnsons on Thursday.

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AWESOME - that's one word I never use when describing Channel 5.

Yet I was moved by a recent poignancy-packed, two-hour compilation of 100 video clips.

Titled the 'life-changing moments that changed lives', the sentimental shorts were culled from the Internet.

After the forced humour of You've Been Framed this was a genuinely warm antidote.

Heart-warmers included: a once paralysed woman rising from her wheelchair to surprise her nurse; a sight-impaired toddler who, when given a pair of spectacles, could see his parents for the very first time.

But I was left speechless when watching a deaf woman put on a high-tech ear device.

It was pure joy seeing her reaction on hearing someone say so clearly to her the words 'I love you.'

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And finally ...

Pity the Edith Piaf fan who had the following emotive exclamation permanently etched on her arm ... NO REGERTS.

The moral being - never trust a dyslexic tattooist.

Peter Grant