What to watch
Election 2017
BBC ONE, FROM 9.55PM; ITV, FROM 9.55PM; CHANNEL 4, FROM 9.00PM;
SKY NEWS, FROM 9.00PM
With Brexit looming, a recent terrorist attack, a struggling police force, the NHS in crisis and terror attacks on our streets, this is the most pivotal General Election for a generation. Tonight will see the three terrestrial big hitters go head to head, with Channel 4 having joined the fray with 2010’s Alternative Election Night. This will see Jeremy Paxman return to anchor the occasionally inspired blend of political analysis and satirical comedy alongside Richard Osman and David Mitchell. Cathy Newman and Gary Gibbon will lend their expertise. Channel 4 unexpectedly beat ITV’S coverage in 2015, so much will rest on Tom Bradby to pull in the viewers. Robert Peston and Nina Hossain will be assisting, the latter offering analysis of social media responses.
The BBC, which is the usual ratings winner on such occasions, sees David Dimbleby leading coverage for the 10th time, with Mishal Husain and Emily Maitlis at his side and Jeremy Vine presumably hoping for as little graphics gimmickry as possible. Over on Sky News, Adam Boulton and Sophy Ridge anchor the coverage, with camera crews heading out to 300 constituencies. Gabriel Tate