Election 2017 TV channel guide: Where to get the results and watch the coverage

Not sure whether to watch David Dimbleby, Tom Bradby or Jeremy Paxman's General Election coverage? Here's our guide
Election experts: BBC's coverage will feature Jeremy Vine, Mishal Husain, David Dimbleby,and Emily Maitlis
BBC

Once you've figured out which candidate deserves your vote in the General Election and got yourself down to the polling station to mark that ballot paper, there’s another choice to be made – which TV channel should you tune in to for the best coverage?

The BBC, ITV, and Channel 4 all have competing programmes tonight, and you’ll want to choose the broadcaster that has your best interests at heart for the good of the country going forwa- wait, we might be getting mixed up here.

Picking the station that gives you the right coverage isn’t going to change the future of Great Britain or prevent a hard Brexit, but it might affect your enjoyment of tonight’s results. Here’s our guide to choosing the channel that works for you.

BBC

Start time: 9.55pm

Finish time: 9am

BBC’s bringing all the old familiars for its General Election coverage. David Dimbleby takes the reins once again, as despite indicating he’d step down after the last election, this one has come around quicker than expected. He’ll be supported by the likes of Emily Maitlis, Jeremy Vine and his unusual voting visualisations, Mishal Husain and Laura Kuenssberg.

For all die-hard Dimble-fans, BBC is certainly the channel for you – he’s hosted election night coverage for 36 years, so he knows how to handle the onslaught of information.

Verdict: Familiar, reliable, steady hands

Funny General Election Campaign Pictures 2017

1/36

ITV

Start time: 9.55pm

Finish time: 6am

Host: Tom Bradby

If the BBC isn’t your preferred choice but you still want a fairly straight-faced look at the results coming in, ITV is your port-of-call. In a shake up to their usual coverage, this year host Tom Bradby and political editor Robert Peston will be joined by two former MPs. George Osborne, ex-chancellor turned editor of the Evening Standard, and Ed Balls, his old Westminster opposite number, will be giving expert opinion and no doubt butting heads as they used to do during PMQs.

There’ll also be an emphasis on interaction via social media from Nina Hossain. Twitter-hounds and Facebook fans can have their say and get involved in discussing the results as they pour in.

Verdict: Insider knowledge and political heft meets social media interaction and insights

Channel 4

Start time: 9pm

Finish time: 6am

Ah, Channel 4, ever playing the cool uncle to BBC and ITV’s fusty parents. If you want your election coverage a bit snarkier and cock-eyed, this is the place for you – there’s all the usual results waffle coming in, but to liven things up a bit you’ll get the Gogglebox gang giving their take on the election campaign and panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.

Following those, the main coverage brings big names – Jeremy Paxman! David Mitchell! Richard Osman! Meanwhile Channel 4 news presenters Gary Gibbon and Cathy Newman will look after the more serious side of things.

Verdict: Best for gags and the full Paxman experience

#ElectionDogs - in pictures

1/11

Sky News

Start time: n/a

Finish time: n/a

Host: Adam Boulton and Sophy Ridge

Sky News’ coverage comes as part of their rolling news channel, so there’s no set beginning or end time. Adam Boulton is the main host, accompanied by Sophy Ridge who’ll be stationed at Westminster, with Durmot Murnaghan taking over on the morning of results day. Election expert Professor Michael Thrasher, will be on hand to analyse the results as they arrive.

Their coverage is part of an all-singing-all-dancing multi-platform experience including rolling Snapchat updates and a live blog, so fire up your smartphone while you watch for the full effect and make sure you have a charger to hand.

Verdict: The one for multi-screeners, who want their coverage on TV, online, and on mobile simultaneously

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