lord peter ricketts. hello, a warm welcome to the programme. it is a decisive moment in the race to become the next french president. tonight, the incumbent emmanuel macron is taking on marine le pen in the only televised debate of the campaign ahead of sunday s second round vote. two very different candidates and in front of the the french electorate two very different visions of the future. everything at stake, which is perhaps why the two teams have put so much focus on every detail of the preparation for tonight s debate, from the air conditioning, which we are told will be maintained at 19 degree celsius throughout. the two candidates are sat behind tables that are exactly 2.5 metres apart, each candidate has a director advisor in the gallery, who presumably will hover over the real director to ensure their candidate is treated fairly.