The job interview.

First candidate up was Dave.

There was a seat but the "pumped up" PM was up on his feet straight away and addressed the audience fists clenched and legs akimbo.

The gaping policy hole was addressed immediately, helped along earlier in the day by one Danny Alexander; namely, the Tories want to cut £20bn from welfare and either do not know where the cuts will come from or do know and are simply not telling people. One audience member accused the Tory leader of "deceiving the public".

Asked if he was offering an "absolute guarantee" not to cut child benefit or child tax credit, the Tory leader rambled on about having increased child tax credit and that was not going to fall and that child benefit was very very important. But in political terms, this was not closing down the story.

In a dramatic flourish, Dave then took a step back and produced the notorious Liam Byrne note from 2010, saying there was no money left in the Treasury. Stressing how there were more jobs and growth, he held up the note and declared: "I don't want to go back there ever again."

As the questions on cuts continued, the perspiration on the Cameron lip grew and grew as he rambled on about tax evasion, departmental efficiencies and then wandered off on how he wanted to "stop taxing poor people".

As His Dimblebyness began to move to another topic, the questioner could be heard saying: "That wasn't my question..."

Questions were asked about why the public did not trust the Tories on the NHS, which prompted the PM to talk of not just care from nurses and doctors but also love. He looked at the audience and insisted the NHS was "my life's work".

Second candidate up was the happy warrior.

Again, Ed was under immediate pressure from the audience this time over spending and that infamous note. "It's his regular prop," joked the Labour leader about Dave's piece of paper but no one appeared to be laughing.

There was an ambush afoot with questioner after questioner insisting Labour had spent too much when it was in government, which contributed to the crash. But Red Ed, shaking his head, was having none of it, emphasising that the money Blair and Brown had spent built much-needed schools and hospitals.

Hand in pocket, the chief comrade exuded relaxation and was trying hard to look in charge and prime ministerial. While he did not punch the air or clench his fists, Ed stepped off the podium and walked right up to the audience, eyeballing its members. At times, he was trying too hard to be chummy by asking questioners their name. "Shirley, it's a great question."

But one questioner, a small businesswoman, received cheers when she denounced Ed Balls for saying that that note was "a joke"; it was not, she insisted, and if the Shadow Chancellor had been in business, he would have been sacked.

But then came the zinger.

We knew Scotland would be a question but we were not expecting the answer.

Ed insisted there would be no deal in any form whatsoever with the SNP. Indeed, he made clear he would rather there not be a Labour government than have to do a deal with the Nationalists.

His Dimblebyness had to take a second look; did he really say what I think he said. Indeed he had.

"We're not going to have a deal. Let me just say this to you. If it meant we weren't going to be in government, not being in coalition, not having a deal, so be it. I'm not going to sacrifice the future of our country, the unity of our country, I'm not going to give in to SNP demands around Trident or the deficit or anything like that." Eyebrows were raised not just in the spin room but across the country.

It was a polished performance but right at the end - was it an omen? - Ed tripped up and almost fell over.

Third candidate was Calamity Clegg.

And in similar fashion, the Lib Dem leader came under pressure from the off on the old chestnut of tuition fees; the millstone.

Nick tried his best to say sorry all over again, making clear he had even done his mea culpa to music. But the audience appeared unimpressed.

He was on much firmer ground, justifying why the yellow peril had got into bed with their erstwhile sworn enemies. "We could have been Greece," insisted the DPM. It was a brave act of putting country before party. In the spin room, leaning up against a pillar was Paddy, nodding furiously and inwardly saying: "Go on my son."

In the end, banana skins had been avoided. There was no killer blow, no blood on the carpet. Just six days to go and all still to play for.

ENDS