Broadcasters confirm televised leader debate dates

Broadcasters have confirmed the dates when the televised leaders debates will go ahead.

A debate with the seven party leaders will be broadcast on ITV on April 2.

The live two-hour debate will include David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg, Nigel Farage, Nicola Sturgeon, Natalie Bennett and Leanne Wood.

David Cameron and Ed Miliband will take part in a live question and answer programme on Channel 4 and Sky News on March 26th.

The 90-minute programme, presented by Jeremy Paxman and Kay Burley, will feature separate interviews with David Cameron and Ed Miliband.

A studio audience will also put questions directly to the two leaders but the leaders will not debate with each other during the programme.

On April 16th, the BBC will host a debate involving opposition party leaders. The debate will include the leaders of Labour, UKIP, the SNP, the Greens and Plaid Cymru.

There will also be a special BBC Question Time programme a week before May 7, with David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg answering questions from a studio audience.

Each leader will appear separately on the programme to be broadcast on 30th April.

A spokesperson for the broadcasters said: "We're delighted that there will be a debate with all the party leaders during the election campaign.

"The debate on 2nd April will build on the success of the 2010 TV debates which were so highly valued by viewers.

"We're very pleased to be able to offer viewers an extensive range of programmes, across the four channels, featuring the party leaders interacting directly with voters during the campaign."