Question Time Election Leaders Special: What time does it start, who's taking part and why is Nigel Farage not involved?

The final leaders' clash ahead of the election can be seen at 8.00pm on Thursday 30 April, BBC One

David Dimbleby on the set of the BBC Election Debate 2015 (BBC)

Tomorrow is the last of four special UK-wide programmes put on by the main broadcasters in the run up to the general election.

The final programme in the series, hosted by the BBC, is a Question Time election leaders special. Here is everything you need to know about it:

When is the last leaders debate?

8.00pm on Thursday 30 April, BBC One.

What’s the format?

David Dimbleby, the presenter, will select questions from the audience and put them to the party leaders, who all get a stab at answering it and arguing between themselves. The audience may get to pitch in. The leaders will appear separately.

Who is taking part?

David Cameron, Nick Clegg, and Ed Miliband are taking part. The debate will not include Nigel Farage, Natalie Bennett, or Nicola Sturgeon.

Ukip’s Nigel Farage will get his own programme later in the evening, however.

Why does Nigel Farage get his own separate programme?

Nigel Farage isn’t taking part in the main debate, but the BBC have given him his own slot at 10.40pm as part of their ‘Ask...’ series.

The placement of this slot may be due to the fact that Ukip have been given major party status, or it could be a coincidence.

It should be remembered David Cameron was uneasy about appearing alongside Nigel Farage without the Green Party present to provide competition on the left for Labour.

Will it make any difference?

It might – last time we had a three-way leaders debate Nick Clegg surged ahead of Gordon Brown and David Cameron in the polls.

By contrast, the debates this time around have seemed to have less impact on people’s votes.

Previously the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon has been perceived to have done very well. She won’t be there this time, which will change the dynamics.

I haven’t been paying attention. Were there other debates?

Yes. To begin with, Ed Miliband and David Cameron were both interviewed on the same night by Jeremy Paxman.

There was also a 7-way debate including the Greens, Plaid Cymru, the SNP and Ukip.

Then there was a give-way debate with all those people except David Cameron and Nick Clegg, because David Cameron didn’t want to take part and told Nick Clegg he couldn’t either.

Will the Independent be covering the debate?

Of course! We'll be liveblogging the build-up from the morning onwards, the debate itself, and curating all the best reaction afterwards.