What time is the challengers election debate, what channel, and who is appearing?

 
Challengers: Labour's Ed Miliband, Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood, Natalie Bennett of the Green Party, the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon and Nigel Farage of Ukip (Pictures: PA/Getty/Rex)
Ramzy Alwakeel16 April 2015
WEST END FINAL

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The leaders of the five main opposition parties in the General Election will go head-to-head tonight for a third and final TV debate.

The politicians, all of whom had the chance to thrash out policy with David Cameron and Nick Clegg in a similar debate two weeks ago, drew lots to decide where they would each stand.

Labour leader Ed Miliband will be on the far left, followed by the four smaller party heads: Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood, Green leader Natalie Bennett, Nicola Sturgeon of the Scottish National Party (SNP), and finally Ukip's Nigel Farage.

The debate, chaired by David Dimbleby, airs on BBC1 from 8pm. It lasts an hour and will be followed by an analysis programme featuring responses from the Tories, the Lib Dems and Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which has not appeared in any of the debates.

Standoff: Ed Miliband, Leanne Wood, Nicola Sturgeon and David Cameron during the last debate on April 2 (Picture: Getty)

The leaders will each be allowed a short opening statement before Mr Dimbleby invites questions from 200 voters.

Ms Wood will make the first statement, followed by Mr Farage, Mr Miliband, Ms Sturgeon and Ms Bennett.

The debate will cover five subjects. Each question will see one-minute opening statements followed by 10 minutes of free debate.

At the end, there will be short closing statements from each party, starting with Ms Sturgeon and ending with Mr Farage.

Standoff: Ed Miliband and David Cameron clash on immigration during the April 2 debate (Picture: Pixel 8000)

BBC director of news James Harding said: "The BBC election debate will give a fascinating insight into the policies and priorities of five of the parties which were in opposition during the last parliament.

"The party leaders will lay out and debate their alternatives to the policies pursued by the coalition over the past five years.

Heckler: Victoria Prosser confronts David Cameron (Picture: Channel 4)

"Afterwards, we will be able to gauge the instant reaction of other parties in an evening of viewing dedicated to helping voters understand the choices which will be before them on May 7."

The first TV debate last month saw Mr Miliband and Prime Minister Mr Cameron taking questions from Jeremy Paxman and a studio audience, while the second event was the only time the leaders of all seven parties - the five main opposition groups plus Mr Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Mr Clegg - shared a stage.

Mr Farage caused confusion by appearing to tweet throughout the show - apparently thanks to a staff member keeping his account updated - while there was brief excitement as a heckler confronted the Prime Minister about rights for veterans before being removed from the audience.

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