Word play aside, I have found the debates quite something. Three leaders all together, live, without knowledge of what anyone’s going to ask, having to speak to us, the electorate.

People have been cynical about them. Yes, they all have their spin, their body language, their one-liners to get in. They have their jokes rehearsed (well, you can’t expect them to be humorous impromptu) and their criticism too.

Seeing errors – they were all visibly weary (Nick Clegg looked like he hadn’t slept for 72 hours), – hesitation, some fast thinking and even the odd natural body language (Gordon Brown raises his shoulders when speaking) was what I’ve been looking for in these men.

Last night in particular I learned something about what they really thought on immigration, money, banks, the economy. They looked impassioned and even genuine, dare I say.

I think the idea of keeping the audience quiet was a good one. Concentrating and thinking for 90 minutes is no mean feat. Having some bigot heckle along the way would have irritated me. This is serious stuff, not a stand-up comic event.

So many people (me included) have said, ‘They’re all the same, what does it matter?’ It may not matter too much (though I think it matters quite a bit) but this is the only system we have and these are the people (along with the other parties) we can vote for.

Our families won’t get shot if we want to vote for the Green Party. In that sense, we’re lucky.

Some people get excited about the next episode of Eastenders; this was the equivalent of my third week watching an unfinished storyline. It was exciting, satisfying and entertaining. Of course, the concluding part is next Thursday.

Cameron, I thought looked and sounded as he ever does. He seems to be ahead in the polls today and did present his ideas with energy.

Clegg was fresh sounding. He talked with a slightly less stilted tone than the other two, sounded unsure at times, and spoke like one of my neighbours might in a talk over the garden hedge.

Brown certainly shone. Not as a glamorous smooth talker but as someone who can think and is committed to what he feels is right. The media, having (I feel) bullied him for years because he’s not a pretty boy who can sweet-talk and oil his way around any fool, continued repeating what they don’t like about him.

But... my nine-year-old daughter and 26-year-old son have been talking about politics. That’s progress. For these debates to have invigorated the allegedly young and apathetic is a success.

It doesn’t mean we’re going to get a super-hero for PM or that these three men are beyond behaving badly or that everything’s now going to be all right.

It means, I feel, that people have become interested again. Apathy is lethal. An apathetic population dreams its way through decisions taken by leaders and wakes up to find we’re at war/broke/have been swallowed up by something larger.

I think now we might see more actual live talking and discussion on other issues. Why not? One of the things that has turned me off politics for a long while is the rehearsed, prepared speeches (like their opening and closing statements).

All in all I think the debates have acted as a dose of caffeine straight into the bloodstream. It feels like the three leaders have put some work in which is always pleasing. There’s everything to play for; let the best man win!