Showdown! York to host live TV grilling for both Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn

York could be the city where Election 2017 is decided.

It has been chosen as the location for a live edition of BBC1 Question Time – with both Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn.

The Prime Minister and Labour leader have both said they will not take part in a live TV debate.

So the programme, screened on Friday, June 2, looks set to be the only live television showdown between the heavyweight opponents.

Same audience, same night

Hosted by the BBC’s election anchor David Dimbleby, Question Time Live will see Mrs May and Mr Corbyn face questions from the same audience consecutively.

This will be the first of two specials – a programme featuring Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron and Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish Nationalists, will be broadcast two days later from Edinburgh.

The venue for the York programme has not yet been released.

Jonathan Munro, head of BBC newsgathering says: “We have an exciting line up of special programmes over the General Election period.

“We’ve made the time to discuss the issues in our schedules, and got the right mix of people on air so they will reach out to all audiences who trust our impartial approach to news.

“Our plans include bringing Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn in front of the same Question Time audience on the same night to be quizzed by the public.

“It is firmly in the public interest for audiences to hear from those seeking election.

“We know they connect with these formats because they are a public moment to focus on and audience members from all across the country get the chance to ask politicians their own questions.”

It will see a quick return to York for Jeremy Corbyn.

He is in the city on Wednesday (May 10) for an election rally.