Alastair Upton, Chief ExecutiveThat was fun. People came, and came and came. 10,000 of them. It was even more than we expected for the opening weekend and so we ran around like crazy but we kept all the plates spinning.

I spent Monday afternoon filming ‘Les’s Liverpool’ with Les Dennis. He had done his research and knew a huge amount about the Bluecoat. In fact, Les is yet another talent who started at the Bluecoat. He did a TV talent show audition here when he was 14.

Loads of people came up and spoke to him including someone who asked him if he was ok after the documentary they made about him. He said Extras had done a huge amount to boost his career. That said he hadn’t done a documentary before and there was a moment when his face showed an almost painful vulnerability between takes.

One question he asked was ‘You know what Scousers are like, they tell you what they think, so did they like the building?’ The answer was they did tell us and they did like it, at least most of them, a few didn’t and that was mostly the change to the garden. People want benches, which are ordered and the plants only went in last week so the garden will grow up and get its special character back.

It felt odd to come in on Monday with the opening party over and find it was the first day of being open forever. I’m tired, I’m sure everyone else is, but I’m buoyed up by that feeling you have of having succeeded by working together with others. People are at their best when they come together and pull of an incredible feat. Today I’m incredibly proud of the people who work here.