For Gordon, this was always going to be an easier subject area – his experience on the world stage even before he was Prime Minister easily contrasts with Cameron in particular. He looked far more comfortable and relaxed in his performance, engaging with both the audience in the room and at home with a less rushed delivery.

He also ditched the ‘I agree with Nick’ line which seemed to backfire in the first debate, and instead turned his fire on to both party leaders, slamming Cameron as ‘anti-European’ and Clegg as ‘anti-American’ – telling the latter to ‘get real’ about the nuclear threat from Iran and North Korea.

The main issues brought out the usual policy lines from most parties – Brown talked tough on Afghanistan and terrorism, Cameron rehashed an old William Hague line of ‘in Europe but not run by Europe’ while Clegg sounded most convincing on climate change.

The clearest dividing line between the parties was over Britain’s relationship with our European neighbours, with Cameron claiming he wouldn’t let down the people of Bristol when he went to Brussels, but getting slammed by Nick Clegg for allying with ‘nutters’ and ‘extremists’ by Brown.

There was inevitable discussion on Afghanistan and Trident. Even though Cameron and Clegg tried to attack Gordon Brown on troop equipment, the debate had none of the sting and poison that discussions on Iraq had in 2005. Perhaps it was inevitable that the leaders hardly mentioned international issues in their closing statements.

The biggest surprise of the night was the question on the Pope’s visit to the UK. This exposed Cameron’s greatest weakness – thinking on his feet. He looked genuinely nervous when trying to explain his views on religion, abortion and gay rights – issues that he has failed to take on amongst his reactionary MPs. Clegg, who is an atheist, but who’s wife is Catholic looked more assured – appealing to people’s emotions in the audience and expressing his understanding of those of faith. But the most assured response came from Presbyterian Brown who spoke thoughtfully about the victims of child abuse, and urged people of different faiths to work closer together.

In all, Gordon did much better than last week, Clegg looked assured and Cameron looked nervous. The polls at the end gave no clear verdict for any leader – in all, a score draw at best.