Donald Trump vs Joe Biden: What time is the first presidential debate, and how can I watch live in the UK?

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Tonight Donald Trump and Joe Biden will go head to head for the first time as they kick start a series of televised debates ahead of the November 3 election. 

The 90-minute meeting will take a different format to usual thanks to restrictions necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic. There will be no standard handshake between the two presidential candidates, and moderator Fox News star Chris Wallace will have a much smaller audience than usual to contend with. 

With Mr Trump, 74, claiming Mr Biden, 77, “doesn’t even know he’s alive” and Mr Biden branding the president "a toxic presence”, the debate is expected to produce heated moments. 

Behind in the polls, Mr Trump is in fighting mode, while Mr Biden will be hoping recent headlines play in his favour. 

The New York Times’ publication of a report detailing the president’s tax returns, finding that the self-declared billionaire avoids paying almost all federal taxes, will surely be brought up. 

What time is it on?

The first of the three presidential debates between Mr Trump and Mr Biden will start at 9pm ET (2am on Wednesday morning in the UK). 

It is being held at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. The debate will be 90 minutes long and have no advert breaks. 

How can I watch the debate in the UK?

You can catch the debate on all major news channels, including BBC News and Sky News. Coverage from CNN is also available to those with Sky TV in the UK. 

Other news outlets, such as the Washington Post, will be streaming the first debate live from their YouTube channels. 

2020 election battles

What are the topics in the debate?

The debate will be split into 15-minute segments which focus on six different topics chosen by moderator Mr Wallace. These topics will be:

• President Trump and Mr Biden’s records

• The Supreme Court

• The integrity of the election

• Covid-19

• Race and violence in US cities

• The economy

What can I expect?

By all accounts, Mr Trump has skipped formal debate preparation, but as a former reality TV star he usually appears at ease on camera. The president is likely to pursue withering attacks, including derisive nicknames and potential comments on Mr Biden’s mental and physical stamina. 

Mr Biden’s performances during the Democratic primary debates were hit and miss, and played a role in his early polling struggles. But with decades of political experience, Mr Biden is better versed in debating than the president. He has promised to play the role of “fact-checker” as he faces Mr Trump, but has said he does not want to get sucked into a “brawl”.