Debate Night
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{{Infobox television
| image = Debate Night.jpeg
| caption = Current title card
| alt_name =
| genre = Topical debate{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006t1q9|title=Question Time genre}}
| creator =
| director =
| developer =
| presenter = Stephen Jardine
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| composer =
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| executive_producer =
| producer = Mentorn Media
| editor =
| location = On location
| camera =
| runtime = 60 minutes
| company =
| channel = BBC Scotland
| first_aired = {{Start date|2019|02|27|df=yes}}
| last_aired = present
| num_episodes =
| list_episodes =
| related = Debate Night Extra
Question Time
}}
Debate Night is BBC Scotland's flagship current affairs debate show, hosted by Stephen Jardine, which airs on Wednesdays nights.
History
Stephen Jardine was named as the host on 15 February 2019 ahead of the launch of the new BBC Scotland channel on 24 February 2019.{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/stephen-jardine-named-presenter-of-question-time-style-show-on-new-bbc-scotland-channel-1-4874048 |title=Stephen Jardine named presenter of Question Time-style show on new BBC Scotland channel |first=Brian |last=Ferguson |work=The Scotsman |date=15 February 2019 |accessdate=2 January 2020}} The show first aired on Wednesday 27 February 2019 with a 10.45pm start time, with an initial run of 24 episodes. In April 2019, BBC Scotland announced a move to airing the programme on Sunday nights at 10pm.{{cite news |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/17601572.bbc-scotlands-debate-night-shifted-to-late-graveyard-sunday-slot/ |title=BBC Scotland's Debate Night shifted to late 'graveyard' Sunday slot |first=Stewart |last=Ward |work=The National |date=27 April 2019 |accessdate=2 January 2020}} In September 2020, due to coronavirus restrictions, changes were made for the audience to participate by videoconference links.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-52299328 |title=Debate Night: Join the virtual audience |work=BBC News |date=10 September 2020 |accessdate=13 October 2020}} On 29 September 2021 audience participation in person restarted with a show in Edinburgh.{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Hannah|date=15 September 2021|title=BBC Debate Night returns to Edinburgh as local residents urged to take part in audience|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/people/bbc-debate-night-returns-to-edinburgh-as-local-residents-urged-to-participate-in-studio-audience-3384709|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-30|website=Edinburgh Evening News|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918182720/https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/people/bbc-debate-night-returns-to-edinburgh-as-local-residents-urged-to-participate-in-studio-audience-3384709 |archive-date=18 September 2021 }} Shows were aired on Wednesdays on BBC Scotland at 10:30 pm and on BBC One Scotland at midnight.
Format
It uses a format where panel members are not behind a desk and where usually four topics are each afforded 15 to 20 minutes to allow discussion.{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/bbc-scotland-politics-show-will-not-descend-into-slanging-match-1-5004570 |title=BBC Scotland politics show 'will not descend into slanging match' |first=Gina |last=Davidson |work=The Scotsman |date=15 September 2019 |accessdate=2 January 2020}} Details of the guests are usually kept confidential until the programme is broadcast.{{cite news |url=https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/bbc-scotland-channels-flagship-political-show-debate-night-returns-to-inverness-187407/ |title=BBC Scotland channel's flagship political show Debate Night returns to Inverness |first=Scott |last=Maclennan |work=The Inverness Courier |date=3 December 2019|accessdate=2 January 2020}}
The programme is produced by Mentorn Media, the company that make the Question Time programme that airs on BBC One.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}