Welsh party leaders gear up for live debate ahead of tightly contested Senedd election

We're counting down to the Senedd election, and gearing up to what could be a very revealing hour-and-a-half of television at Tuesday's leaders' debate.

Political debates can be tetchy and noisy at times, but they're also an opportunity for voters to learn more about the individuals leading the parties and what their priorities will be if they get a chance to govern.

For the six party leaders taking part it is a chance to sell themselves and their policies to undecided voters, but it's not without peril.

Mistakes can be made during a live debate. It could be a slip of the tongue, a flash of anger or even a strong reaction from an audience member.

With just over a week to go, in a very tight election, nobody can afford that.

What can we expect from the debate?

This is an election unlike any other we've had in Wales. The new electoral system and more politicians means the next Senedd will look very different.

But there is also the potential for real political jeopardy, with polls suggesting Labour's 27-year dominance is under serious threat from Plaid Cymru and Reform.

So there is pressure to perform and not mess it up. If they do make an error, it won't just be the people watching who see it, mistakes will be clipped up and shared on social media within minutes.

Each one of the leaders will have prepared answers for a host of topics, rehearsed their core messages and practised their attack lines to challenge the other leaders.

What's impossible to predict is what the audience will say. It could be a strong reaction to a policy or comment, or a personal experience which highlights the difference between political promises and day-to-day reality.

Politicians are used to batting off each other's criticism, but a moving story about a particularly bad experience in a hospital, or the struggles to feed a family can challenge even the most experienced politician.

Health, education and the cost of living are some of the key concerns for voters in this election and are sure to be discussed during the debate.

But the one issue that's most likely to lead to clashes is immigration.

Immigration policy is controlled by Westminster, not ministers in Cardiff Bay, but - as we've seen in other debates - politicians here in Wales have plenty to say about it.

Expect Reform and the Conservatives to bring up Welsh government spending on the Nation of Sanctuary, the policy which aims to help refugees and asylum seekers placed in Wales to integrate and access public services.

They would like to see it come to an end, arguing the money should be spent on public services instead.