BBC outline plans for December General Election coverage

The BBC have, a week after ITV and Sky, announced their plans for the December 2019 General Election build-up and coverage.

Fiona Bruce will host Question Time.

“Question Time has a proud history of giving the public – the voters – the chance to put their points and questions directly to their elected representatives. That’s never more important than during an election campaign. I’m very much looking forward to these special programmes.” – Fiona Bruce

The BBC Prime Ministerial Debate on Friday 6th December sees a head to head between Conservative Party leader, Boris Johnson and Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, live from Southampton.

On Friday 29th November, The BBC Election Debate will be broadcast live from Cardiff on BBC One and BBC Radio 5 live. It will feature a seven-way podium debate between leaders or senior figures from the seven major GB political parties. The format will see each of the panellists make short opening statements; these will then be followed by questions and debate. At the end of the debate the representatives will be invited to make short closing statements.

Related News: ITV and Sky General Election Coverage December 2019

Nick Robinson will host two debate programmes.

On Friday 22nd November, Fiona Bruce will host a Question Time Leaders’ Special, broadcast from Sheffield on BBC One and BBC Radio 5 live. Across two hours, Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn, Nicola Sturgeon and Jo Swinson will each be invited to take questions from the audience for thirty minutes.

In the run up to the election, Nigel Farage, leader of the Brexit Party, is expected to take part in a 30 minute Question Time special and Sian Berry or Jonathan Bartley, leaders of the Green Party, will also feature on an audience focused special programme. Plaid Cymru party leader Adam Price will also feature on an audience debate programme on BBC One Wales.

On Monday 9th December the BBC is planning a 90 minute Question Time for younger audiences hosted by Emma Barnett. A selected audience of under-30s will question leading figures from each of the main parties, and it will be broadcast in prime time on BBC One at 8.30pm. Radio 1, 1Xtra and 5 live will partner in the coverage, the Beeb note. Following the election result, there will be a Question Time special broadcast on BBC One on Friday 13th December at 8.30pm.

Across the nations the BBC Wales Live team will host two live debates as they put key questions to a panel of politicians. The first debate takes place in Pembrokeshire on Tuesday 26 November with the second on Tuesday 3rd December from North Wales. On December 10th, with just two days until the country goes to the polls, BBC Scotland will broadcast its Scotland Leaders debate live from Pacific Quay in Glasgow. Sarah Smith will chair the programme in front of an audience with party leaders facing questions about the issues that matter most to them.

In Northern Ireland the leaders of the main parties will be invited to take part in a debate in front of a studio audience. The NI Leaders’ Debate will be on BBC One NI on Tuesday 10th December at 10.45pm and will be chaired by Noel Thompson.

“The BBC Prime Ministerial Debate and The BBC Election Debate will illuminate the choice we all face between competing parties, leaders, policies and visions for the country. They are just one of many ways the BBC aims to do that. I hope they’ll reach people who don’t normally switch on for politics on TV. I covered my first election in 1987 and it’s an absolute thrill to have played a part over the years as a researcher, producer, political editor and now as debate host.” – Nick Robinson