Alan Savage, Fergus Ewing and Lesley Riddoch to feature in Inverness BBC debate night
BBC Scotland have announced their line-up for Debate Night in Inverness, with Alan Savage, Fergus Ewing and Lesley Riddoch among the panel members set to feature.
The corporation has announced the city will host the first of a new Scotland-wide series of the topical Debate Night show hosted by Stephen Jardine.
It is not yet confirming the venue for the opening night in Inverness on Wednesday, April 23, but is inviting members of the public to apply for free tickets for the event.
Last March, the show’s panel in the city featured author A. L. Kennedy, film and TV producer Chris Young of The Inbetweeners fame, as well as the SNP’s Emma Roddick, Scottish Labour’s Rhoda Grant and the Scottish Conservatives’ Harriet Cross.
The panel will consist of SNP MSP Fergus Ewing, Conservative MSP Edward Mountain, Labour MSP Torcuil Crichton, former Caley Thistle chairperson Alan Savage and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch.
The programme will also be broadcast on April 23 at 9pm on the BBC Scotland channel, and repeated 10.40pm after the 10 o’clock news on BBC1 Scotland.
A spokesperson for the show’s producers said: “Debate Night is BBC Scotland’s political TV discussion show and we want the people of Scotland to have their say.
“The programme travels across the country on Wednesday evenings. We’re filming in Inverness City Centre on Wednesday April 23, 2025 and are inviting locals from across the Highlands to be part of the studio audience.”
The dates confirmed are:
Wednesday 23 April INVERNESS
Wednesday 30 April GLASGOW
Wednesday 07 May PERTH
Wednesday 14 May ST ANDREWS
Wednesday 21 May DUMFRIES
Wednesday 28 May STIRLING
Debate Night broadcasts every Wednesday in a new timeslot of 9pm on BBC Scotland and straight after the 10 o’clock news at 10:40pm on BBC One Scotland.
Those wishing to apply for free studio tickets can visit www.bbc.co.uk/debatenight and choose ‘23 April – Inverness’.
An online application takes two minutes to complete and is also accessible via mobile or tablet.
Those who wish to attend with somebody else should ask the individual to apply separately.
The spokesperson added: “Debate Night is the only television programme of its kind in Scotland.
“It gives you the opportunity to put your questions to the country’s decision-makers and public figures.
“We want people from all walks of life, whether a parent, a carer or a student, those who run a business or are frontline worker - retired, self-employed, unemployed or just starting out in the workplace - we need you.
“It’s your questions, stories, experiences and opinions that lead our discussion.”
