Social media users compare BBC general election debate to quiz show as seven political heavyweights go head-to-head in battle for votes

Social media users have labelled the BBC general election debate the 'worst episode of the Weakest Link ever'.

Voters took to Twitter to joke that the BBC's studio in London left all seven political leaders standing next to plinths which bear eerily similarities to the hit BBC quiz show.

The showbiz setting is the backdrop for the broadcaster's flagship political debate which has seen Tory Penny Mordaunt, Labour's deputy Angela Rayner and Reform leader Nigel Farage debate leading figures from the Liberal Democrats, SNP, Green Party and Plaid Cymru.

It is the first multi-party debate comes less than a month before voters go to the polls on July 4. 

BBC journalist Mishal Husain has been moderating the debate and has been seen as playing the role of feisty Weakest Link host Anne Robinson.

The lights and backdrop surrounding the contestants also appeared to give the debate a quiz show feel. 

One social media user commented 'Conservatives, you are the Weakest Link goodbye'.

Another wrote: 'So who is the weakest link?'.

While another said: 'This episode of the weakest link is just awful.' 

Another commented: 'Is this the weakest link's new studio?'

Meanwhile another said: 'Not sure about this reboot of The Weakest Link.' 

The Weakest Link ran from 2000 to 2011 with its host Anne Robinson, before it was rebooted starring Romesh Ranganathan in 2022.

The original format features nine contestants, who take turns answering general knowledge questions. Each round a contestant would be voted off, with the iconic last line delivered by the host as 'You are the Weakest Link goodbye'.

Earlier this week, viewing figures showed millions of Britons snubbed Tuesday night's first showdown between the PM and Sir Keir on primetime ITV.

The programme was watched by an average of just 4.8million viewers, with a peak of 5.2million viewers.

This was down from the average audience of 6.7million for the ITV debate between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn during the 2019 general election.

A YouGov snap poll revealed nearly two-thirds who did watch the clash between Mr Sunak and Sir Keir branded it 'frustrating'.

The debate saw both party leaders repeatedly speak over each other during tetchy exchanges, as ITV host Julie Etchingham struggled to rein them in.