General election coverage on BBC to include seven-way TV debate

The BBC will broadcast a live television debate with spokespeople from seven political parties ahead of the 8 June UK general election, as well as a special Question Time episode in which Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn will be present.

In an announcement, the state broadcaster said that the seven-way debate on 31 May would include representatives from the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Plaid Cymru, Green Party and UKIP.

The BBC will also broadcast two Question Time specials, one of which featuring PM May and opposition leader Corbyn taking questions consecutively, similar to the format used when David Cameron faced Ed Miliband prior to the 2015 election.

BBC's head of newsgathering Jonathan Munro said: "We have an exciting line up of special programmes over the general election period. We’ve made the time to discuss the issues in our schedules, and got the right mix of people on air so they will reach out to all audiences who trust our impartial approach to news."

The BBC will also broadcast two Question Time specials, one of which featuring PM May and opposition leader Corbyn

"Our plans include bringing Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn in front of the same Question Time audience on the same night to be quizzed by the public."

"It is firmly in the public interest for audiences to hear from those seeking election. We know they connect with these formats because they are a public moment to focus on and audience members from all across the country get the chance to ask politicians their own questions," Munro added.

May called the snap election last month as she said that it was "the only way to guarantee certainty and security" in the UK following last year’s Brexit referendum.

Among the other televised events on the BBC, a series of interviews will take place with some of the major figures involved in the vote. In addition to May and Corbyn, Tim Farron, Paul Nuttall and Nicola Sturgeon will also appear in one-on-one interviews.

ITV last week confirmed it will hold a live leaders debate, though it not yet unclear whether the Prime Minister or Jeremy Corbyn will take part.

Should the Conservative and Labour leaders not attend, the debate, chaired by ITV’s Julie Etchingham, is likely to be made up of the Scottish National party’s Nicola Sturgeon and Tim Farron of the Liberal Democrats, potentially alongside Ukip’s Paul Nuttall and Leanne Wood of Plaid Cymru.