The coverage

The BBC will endeavour to build on its viewing success during the 2001 General Election when it attracted an audience of 18.4 million viewers for its Election Night coverage.

The BBC's key strengths of in-depth coverage, specialist reporters and a range of platforms for audience opinions will all make for accessible, informative and authoritative coverage.

The BBC will go on the road to air the key issues, hear the voters' views and party promises.

BBC programmes will visit towns and cities across the UK, via the BBC's official election bus, allowing people to voice their opinions and take part in the leading debates.

BBC News 24 and BBC Parliament will provide a rolling service of live and recorded news conferences, rallies and events during the campaign.

On radio, there will be coverage across all networks, including election first-timers, 1Xtra and Asian Network, with the latter offering the UK's ethnic audiences a wider platform for airing their opinions.

Comprehensive reporting of all the latest developments will also be found on Radio Five Live and Radio 4.

The BBC's flagship TV and radio programmes, including Panorama, Today, Newsnight, The World At One and Question Time, will all provide special election coverage.

Programmes will feature interviews with the leading political players, with presenters including David Dimbleby, Jeremy Paxman and John Humphrys asking the questions which the electorate wants answered.

Specialists

Across news bulletins on radio and TV, the BBC's stable of specialist correspondents, including Andrew Marr, Jeff Randall, Evan Davis and Mark Easton, will provide comment and expert analysis, helping audiences form their own opinions as the campaign develops.

They will cut through the rhetoric, clarifying party pledges and the party numbers.