First night of the competition last night. The adjudicator looked like a kindly slender Santa Claus so I feared he might despise anything "racy". But then he told someone off for saying "dyke" in too much of a throwaway way and I thought we might be back in the game.

He seems to be a very thorough man, reviewing the set, the costumes, the characters versus the script, the direction and then the individual performances. Just as the score sheet would have him to. But he's not one to speak for the sake of it.

Nor is he one to mince his words. He sharply told the last group that they hadn't quite pulled it off. And on that very downbeat note, the curtains were hauled shut and we all went home.

I feel anticipation.