LONDON -- The first thing to get out of the way is that this isn't a debate. It's a grilling of both party leaders, separately, by a host and audience.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour Party leader Ed Miliband will appear Thursday evening in the joint Channel 4 and Sky News Battle For Number 10 broadcast. Cameron ruled out a head-to-head debate earlier this month.
1. The format
Thursday's event is a live 90-minute programme in front of a studio audience of 100 people. Miliband, having won a coin toss, has decided to be interviewed second. Cameron will be interviewed first for up to 18 minutes, followed by an 18-minute questions-and-answers segment with the audience. This format will then be repeated with Miliband.
2. Paxman is back taking on politicians
Former Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman will interview both Cameron and Miliband almost a year after he left the BBC's flagship current-affairs programme following a 25-year run.
Which gives us an opportunity to roll out this old gem:
Sky News' Kay Burley will moderate questions coming from the audience.
3. There may be dubious pre-election claims
Channel 4 News' Factcheck team has rounded up the most likely half-truths and evasions that could crop up over the course of the programme. From VAT and National Insurance to the cost of living crisis, there are many policy areas that the Factcheck team have highlighted, here.
4. How to watch
The programme is being broadcast simultaneously on Channel 4 and Sky News from 9 p.m. GMT. It will also be broadcast via Channel 4 and Sky News' YouTube channels. The hashtag is #battlefornumber10.
Here's the live feed:
5. How do the polls look going into the event?
Here's the YouGov daily poll, which shows that the Conservatives and Labour are in a dead heat right now:
Update: Lab lead at 1 - Latest YouGov / The Sun results 25th Mar - Con 34%, Lab 35%, LD 8%, UKIP 12%, GRN 6%; APP -11 http://t.co/uXmcD6Wlz2— YouGov (@YouGov) March 26, 2015
Wednesday's Survation poll shows something similar:
New Survation poll for Daily Mirror has LAB 1 ahead LAB 33% -1 CON 32% +3 UKIP 18% -1 LD 8% -1 GRN 4% nc SNP 4%— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) March 25, 2015
Meanwhile, a nationwide poll from Panelbase has the parties tied:
UK-wide Panelbase poll out tonight: CON 34% LAB 34% UKIP 15% GRN 6% LD 5%. Only 8% think UK politicians less corrupt now than 20 yrs ago.— Panelbase (@Panelbase) March 26, 2015
However, when it comes to who voters would prefer as prime minister, Cameron is ahead. YouGov polling figures published Wednesday put the incumbent at 39%, Miliband at 21% and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg at 4%, while the don't knows make up a large 35%.
6. When do the debates begin?
The first debate takes place next week on Thursday, April 2. Hosted by ITV newsreader Julie Etchingham, it's a seven-way, two-hour debate featuring Cameron, Miliband, Clegg, UK Independence Party's Nigel Farage, Green Party's Natalie Bennett, Scottish National Party's Nicola Sturgeon and Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood.
A second debate featuring the five opposition party leaders, but not Cameron or Clegg, will take place on April 16.