BORIS Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn will trade blows in the first ever head-to-head TV election debate.
The two party bosses will be grilled on Brexit, crime and the NHS in a live clash on ITV, telly bosses revealed.
TV debates have been around since 2010, but this will be the first time that it will just include the leaders of Britains two biggest parties.
The move sparked a furious row in Westminster as the Lib Dems and SNP were left raging after they were ignored.
The seething Lib Dems accused the two leaders of a cosy establishment stitch-up.
Lib Dem Deputy Leader Ed Davey raged: Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn are running scared.
They appear determined to block the woman leader of the strongest party of Remain from the debate stage.
SNP boss Ian Blackford stormed: Given that the SNP may well hold the balance of power in the next parliament, ITVs proposed head-to-head debate is deeply misleading for audiences.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
If Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn think they are good enough to be Prime Minister, then they should be up to debating the SNP and broadcasters should not let them hide from that challenge.
The televised clash will see the PM and the hard-left Labour boss grilled by ITV News presenter Julie Etchingham on their plans for the country.
It will be aired on November 19, and will be the first televised debate of what is set to be a fierce election campaign.
Boris said he was raring to go on the telly to make his case to the nation.
He tweeted: Looking forward to making the positive case to the country that we should get Brexit done and deliver on the peoples priorities our NHS, schools, tackling crime and the cost of living.
While Mr Corbyn said that when it comes down to it, the snap election will be a stark choice between the two leaders.
He said: This is a once in a generation election. So its welcome that Boris Johnson has accepted our challenge of a head to head TV debate.
In 2010, the televised debates helped send then-Lib Dem leader Nick Cleggs popularity soaring as he charmed viewers. Gordon Brown and David Cameron spent the election campaign saying I agree with Nick as they tried to get in on his popularity.
Theresa Mays ill-fated 2017 election campaign was dealt a blow after she refused to take part in the leadership debates. She sent Amber Rudd to stand in for her. But the move bombed with voters and fuelled criticisms that she was out of touch.
The latest announcement of a televised clash came a day after Labours deputy leader Tom Watson wrote to broadcasters demanding they rise to the challenge of Boris Johnsons lies during the campaign.
The announcement sparked a furious row in Westminster as the Lib Dems were left raging after they were ignored
SNP boss Ian Blackford stormed: ‘Given that the SNP may well hold the balance of power in the next parliament, ITVs proposed head-to-head debate is deeply misleading for audiences’
The 2010 election debates saw Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg come out on top over David Cameron and Gordon Brown
