David Cameron has given his strongest signal yet that any television debates ahead of the next General Election will follow a different format from 2010.

Watched by millions, the programmes were responsible for a temporary soar in Liberal Democrat popularity – a phenomenon dubbed "Cleggmania".

But while the Prime Minister said that he had enjoyed them last time round he had not made up his mind about how to approach them in 2015.

He added that in 2010 they had been easy to agree between the three parties, because they were very controlled.

"I think that that was right because we wanted to get everyone to agree," he said.

"But as a result they were quite dry and what mattered was just delivering the soundbite down the camera rather than a proper debate or more interaction. I think we can learn from last time in those regards."

But Labour suggested the Conservative leader wanted to avoid future debates.

Responding to the PM's expressed doubts about TV debates, Labour vice- chairman Michael Dugher said: "David Cameron is weak, out-of-touch and running scared of the public.

"At the next election, David Cameron should have to defend his decisions and his record – from a disastrous economic record to the fact that we now have fewer nurses in our NHS and fewer police officers fighting crime.

"The public will rightly want to see him and Ed Miliband questioned properly about what changes we need for the future of the country, including during the general election campaign itself."