THE STV leaders' debate will take place next Tuesday, the broadcaster announced today as it unveiled its plans for its Holyrood election coverage.
Other dedicated programmes include an STV News Election Special on the results, one-to-one leader interviews on Scotland Tonight and reporting from the campaign trail.
Its live leaders' debate will take place from 7.30pm to 9pm on April 13 and will be hosted by the channel's political editor, Colin Mackay.
The leaders of the five political parties represented in the 2016 to 2021 parliament will take part with Nicola Sturgeon for the SNP up against Douglas Ross from the Scottish Conservatives, Anas Sarwar from Scottish Labour and Willie Rennie from the Lib Dems and Patrick Harvie for the Greens.
The debate will begin with opening statements from each party leader, followed by discussion, cross examination between the leaders and closing statements.
The programme will be streamed live and with analysis and discussion continuing on Scotland Tonight later that evening at 10.40pm.
Former first minister Alex Salmond has not been invited to take part despite writing to the broadcaster urging it to include his Alba party.
In a series of Scotland Tonight Specials – Colin Mackay will carry out one-to-one leaders’ interviews, which will also be available for catch up on STV Player. These will be confirmed shortly.
The STV News Election Special will air between 4pm and 7pm and 8pm to 8.30pm on Friday May 7, bringing viewers the first results as they come in.
The programme will be presented by John MacKay outside Holyrood, with STV special correspondent Bernard Ponsonby and Rona Dougall analysing the numbers at STV’s results studio in Glasgow – with key declarations as they happen live on air.
An additional STV News Election Special will air on Saturday May 8 from 4.30pm to 6.30pm, covering the results being declared as the new parliament begins to take shape.
Linda Grimes Douglas, Head of News and Current Affairs at STV, said: “It’s a hugely exciting time for Scottish politics and our team is primed and ready to bring viewers the most comprehensive coverage of Election 2021.
"From our Leaders’ Debate and one-to-ones on Scotland Tonight, to analysis and on-the-night updates as part of special programming – alongside fully comprehensive ongoing updates from across the country on STV News at Six – we’ve got it covered.”
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