The BBC brings people together. Providing a shared space for people to debate and discuss is a vital part of our mission, so I’m delighted we’re holding this series of debates and election specials, hosted by such talented presenters.
The BBC will host two prime-time TV debates – the final head-to-head leaders’ debate before polling day, and a seven-party debate – and a Question Time leaders’ special, as part of its election campaign coverage on Network TV.
There will be additional dedicated debates in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.
The debate line-up is:
Friday 7 June, London – Mishal Husain will host a debate between leading figures from the seven biggest political parties in Great Britain. This will be broadcast from 7.30pm-9pm.
Thursday 20 June, York – Fiona Bruce will host a Question Time Leaders’ Special with the leaders of the four biggest political parties in Great Britain, broadcast from 8pm-10pm.
Wednesday 26 June, Nottingham – Sophie Raworth will host a head-to-head debate between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer. This is set to be the last TV debate of the election campaign, as people prepare to cast their votes the following week. It will be broadcast from 9pm-10pm.
Nick Robinson has invited each of the leaders of the seven biggest political parties in Great Britain to be interviewed for Panorama specials across the next four weeks.
All of the above programmes will be broadcast on BBC One, BBC News, and local radio across the country and will be available on BBC iPlayer. There will be full live online coverage.
Jonathan Munro, Deputy CEO of BBC News, says:“TV debates have become a key part of elections in the UK, giving voters the chance to hear leaders and senior politicians debate policies and ideas directly with each other, which rarely happens on the campaign trail.
“The BBC brings people together. Providing a shared space for people to debate and discuss is a vital part of our mission, so I’m delighted we’re holding this series of debates and election specials, hosted by such talented presenters.”
Debate Formats
The BBC Election Debate
The seven-handed debate will take place in front of an audience which reflects the broad electoral map of Great Britain.
This audience will ask questions and the BBC will also ask members of the public to submit questions via the BBC website.
The seven parties taking part are the Conservative Party; the Labour Party; the Liberal Democrats; The Scottish National Party; Plaid Cymru; the Green Party; and Reform UK.
Parties’ representatives will be announced in due course.
Question Time Leaders’ Special
Fiona Bruce will present a special two-hour programme in which leaders from the Conservative Party; the Labour Party; the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party will answer questions from the studio audience for thirty minutes each.
The BBC Prime Ministerial Debate
The final debate will be a head-to-head between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer, in front of a studio audience.
Scotland
BBC Scotland is putting the audience at the heart of the campaign with extensive coverage right across the country hearing about the issues that matter most to voters.Across the month there will be in-depth interviews with party leaders on The Sunday Show, simulcast on BBC One Scotland and BBC Radio Scotland, and on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland which will provide detailed scrutiny of policies. BBC Scotland’s team of experienced journalists will also bring on-the-ground perspectives from communities and people around Scotland each day, reflecting what the country is really thinking as polling day approaches. Debate Night will continue to cross the country giving voters the chance to have their voice heard.
On Tuesday 11 June Debate Night – Election 2024 Leaders’ Special will broadcast on BBC One Scotland at 8pm. Hosted by Stephen Jardine in front of a live audience, the hour-long programme will feature the leaders of five Scottish parties – SNP, Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour, Scottish Liberal Democrats and Scottish Greens. The debate will provide the opportunity for members of the public to put the big questions that matter to them to party leaders and it will be streamed live on the BBC News website and app with a live page bringing instant analysis and reaction.
Wales
BBC Cymru Wales will offer comprehensive coverage of the election campaign on TV, radio, podcasts and online. As well as coverage of the campaign across Wales on our digital news services in English and Cymru Fyw in Welsh, BBC Wales Today, Radio Wales and Radio Cymru there will be an opportunity to examine the parties’ policies in depth and put questions directly to the politicians in a series of special programmes.
From June 11, Nick Servini will interview senior politicians from the main parties in Wales in four programmes on BBC One Wales at 7pm. And on Friday 21 June, join Bethan Rhys Roberts for the Wales Leaders’ Debate live from Central Square, BBC Wales’s broadcast hub in Cardiff at 7pm. A digital live page will run during the leaders’ debate offering analysis and reaction. It will be simulcast on BBC Radio Wales. There will also be two special Hawl i Holi debate programmes for BBC Radio Cymru from Ystradgynlais and Wrexham.
Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland will provide comprehensive coverage of election issues, candidates and developments in all 18 local constituencies. It will give audiences the information that they need to know about the election and provide them with an opportunity to put questions to party leaders and engage in debate. Tara Mills will bring key developments into focus as the election campaign nears its end with the Northern Ireland Leaders’ Debate on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer on Thursday 27 June. And this will be complemented by other coverage of party manifestos, constituency profiles, interviews and BBC analysis across our radio, television and digital news services.
For more information about the BBC’s approach to debates during the election period, click here.
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