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They can decide the outcomes of elections, sway some voters, alienate others - and they’re always unpredictable. On Friday evening I will be hosting the BBC Wales election debate, with representatives of the five main parties in Wales. Having done a few over the years, ahead of elections and referendums, I know temperatures and adrenaline can run high.

It will be my role to ensure that each politician has time to put their points across and to challenge each other while making sure it doesn’t all descend into chaos. The panel will feature Wales' first minister and Welsh Labour leader Vaughan Gething, Conservative secretary of state for Wales David TC Davies, leader of Plaid Cymru Rhun ap Iorwerth, Welsh Liberal Democrats leader Jane Dodds and Reform UK’s Oliver Lewis. Each party has chosen which participant to put forward, some are general election candidates on 4 July and some aren’t.



As for the debate itself, it’s all about balance. It's a case of trying to encourage an energetic debate that doesn't just become aggressive and incomprehensible. We have a team of people checking for balance within the 100-strong live studio audience - between the different parties and decided and undecided voters.

As with any live broadcast, you have to be ready to expect the unexpected, as has happened many times in previous debates. Ahead of Brexit, an audience member charged out of the crowd during one debate, heading toward the politicians brandishing some sort of object in his .

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