STV will host the first televised leaders’ debate of the Scottish election campaign in Edinburgh on March 29

The Assembly Rooms is to host the the five-way debate which will involve all the main leaders, starting at 8pm. It will be chaired by STV’s political editor, Bernard Ponsonby.

It will see First Minister Nicola Sturgeon lock horns with Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson, Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie, and co-convener of the Scottish Greens Patrick Harvie.

Marking the official start of the 2016 Holyrood election campaign, the leaders will face off in front of a live studio audience selected by pollster Ipsos MORI to reflect the wider Scottish electorate.

Last year, STV held the first Scottish leaders’ debate of the General Election campaign in the same venue. The broadcaster also held the first televised debate for 2014’s independence referendum between Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling.