There was magic in the air in Liverpool last night, as the Royal Variety Performance and the announcement of the Turner Prize vied to call the nation's attention to the city's imminent emergence as European Capital of Culture.
I was at the Empire Theatre to see some of the greatest stars in showbusiness entertain the Queen and Prince Phillip, and it was a night to remember.

Topped and tailed appropriately by Beatles songs, opening with Seal singing Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and closing with Jon Bon Jovi performing Let It Be, it was a fantastic evening's entertainment.
Jimmy Tarbuck turned out to provide a warmly received Liverpool presence on stage, but the main comic plaudits were shared by Russell Brand and Joan Rivers, both pushing the envelope as far as they dared in front of a Royal audience. Brand had the audience literally gasping at times, almost afraid to hear what he would say next.
From the English National Ballet to James Blunt, and from Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Paul Potts to Al Murray and Enrique Iglesias, it was a variety show in the truest sense of the word.
There wasn't a weak performance from start to finish, and there was something there to appeal to just about every taste.
I thought it was a great night, and if you weren't lucky enough to be there, I'd warmly recommend you to tune in when it is televised on ITV on Sunday night.
My only tinge of regret was that I couldn't also be at the Tate Liverpool to see movie legend Dennis Hopper present the Turner Prize, the first time modern art's most famous and controversial arts award has been presented outside London.
What an extraordinary night for Liverpool. If this is a taste of what 2008 is going to be like, I can't wait for it to start.

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit