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  1. Politics
2 March 2010

10 things you need to know about the leaders’ debates

Format, length, location, etc.

By Jon Bernstein

Thanks to Sky News, we now know the details of the forthcoming party leaders’ debates. It’s a lengthy old document, but here are the bits you need to know:

  1. Each debate will last 90 minutes.
  2. Alastair Stewart (ITV), Adam Boulton (Sky News) and David Dimbleby (BBC) will be the moderators.
  3. The debates will take place in Manchester (ITV), Bristol (Sky News) and Birmingham (BBC).
  4. The order of the debates will be: ITV (domestic affairs), Sky News (international affairs) and BBC (economic affairs).
  5. The polling firm ICM will manage audience selection: a mix of party supporters, plus 20 per cent undecideds.
  6. The leaders will stand at podiums throughout the debate.
  7. Each leader will have a minute to make opening remarks on the debate topic.
  8. Each leader will have one minute to answer questions.
  9. There will be no ad breaks during the ITV and Sky News debates.
  10. At the end of each programme, the three leaders will shake hands.
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