We still haven't seen any sign of Boris Johnson arriving at the debate venue yet.

But Labour figures are already out in force in the spin room, as our political correspondent notes...

Jennifer Scott
BBC News

Another Labour frontbencher is making an appearance in front of the camera.

Shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner says Jeremy Corbyn is "revved up" for tonight's debate and "raring to go".

We'll see for ourselves in less than an hour.

The BBC's Reality Check team is gearing up for another evening of fact checking. They'll be looking at claims made by Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn.

If you're interested, give them a follow...

Here's a reminder of what we'll see tonight from 20:30 GMT on BBC One.

The live debate will begin with one-minute opening statement from both leaders.

Jeremy Corbyn won a coin toss earlier so he will go first, then Boris Johnson.

They will then take 10 questions from the audience.

The programme will finish with closing statements from both leaders.

If you're just joining us now, here's a quick round up of today's campaigning as we gear up to the main event:

• Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn are preparing for their head-to-head debate tonight, which is being hosted by the BBC's Nick Robinson. It will be live on BBC One at 20:30.
• Away from the debate venue, former Tory prime minister Sir John Major made a major intervention, urging voters to support MPs expelled from the Parliamentary Conservative Party for rebelling over Brexit. He's backing independent candidates David Gauke, Dominic Grieve and Anne Milton, all running against his party in the general election.
• Sir John was among the speakers at the Vote for a Final Say rally, where supporters of another EU referendum were calling for tactical voting to block a Conservative majority. He called Brexit the worst foreign policy decision of his lifetime, while former Labour prime minister Tony Blair said voters have "six days to save our future".
• Earlier today, Mr Corbyn released leaked documents, which he claims show Mr Johnson is "misrepresenting" the effects his Brexit deal will have on Northern Ireland. Mr Corbyn called the paper "hard evidence" NI would be "symbolically separated" from the rest of the UK, with customs checks on goods. Mr Johnson has repeatedly said there will be no border in the Irish Sea and dismissed Labour's claims as "complete nonsense".

• The Tory candidate for Hastings is facing criticism for suggesting disabled people could be paid less than minimum wage, as some people with learning difficulties "don't understand about money".
• The PM said Mr Corbyn should reconsider plans to extend the franchise to EU nationals living in the UK if the Labour hold a new EU referendum.

BBC online reporter Jennifer Scott just caught up with our very own Laura Kuenssberg ahead of the debate and asked her why the spin room is such an exciting place for a political journalist - or in her case, a political editor - to be.

She says: "It's exciting because it isn't just watching how the two main rivals land blows, but seeing how their supporters react to how they're doing - even though you know at the end they'll all tell everyone who is willing to listen their guy came out on top."

Image source, Getty Images

Expect to hear talk of Brexit, the NHS and the issue of trust tonight. And possibly a few other big topics.

But what is not being talked about in this campaign? Here we look at nine seemingly overlooked issues.

The Daily Telegraph's chief political correspondent has a bit of a joke...

This, of course, relates to all the discussion in recent weeks about Boris Johnson not making room in his schedule for a sit-down interview with the BBC's Andrew Neil...

Questions will come from members of the audience recruited by the BBC's opinion research partner Savanta ComRes, and from members of the public who have submitted questions via the BBC website.

The audience has been selected to reflect the country's demographic distribution and political views. Jonathan Munro, the BBC's head of newsgathering, says the audience has been weighted to reflect the Brexit vote and will have a slim majority of people who voted Leave over Remain (except for a few young voters who weren't old enough to vote in the referendum).

The editorial team will pick the questions, with the aim of reflecting the issues that matter to the public and feature prominently during the election campaign.

Jeremy Corbyn, as we told you, arrived a short time ago at the debate venue in Maidstone, Kent.

Some of his key supporters are here too and already giving interviews in the spin room. Here is Labour's Baroness Chakrabarti...

Jennifer Scott
BBC News

This may be a BBC debate, but all the big hitters from across the media spectrum are here.

I've been having a bit of a chat with some of the more seasoned correspondents to see how this compares with spin rooms from previous events.

One told me they had fond memories of a Tory leadership debate that was held in the Olympic Park, surrounded by trophies and inspiring team photos.

"This room feels more like a highway maintenance depot," they said - and they may have a point.

There was also a beg for a sympathy vote from another.

"Look around the room. Everyone looks tired, totally shattered from this campaign," they said.

But let's face it, most of the public are in the same boat...

There is enthusiasm here too though - and from more than just me, who is living her best life at the heart of the climax of this campaign.

Another journalist tells me: "It may just be a concrete box, but we are in the thick of it!

"It is great to be surrounded by experts and waiting for a debate that could decide the outcome of the next five years of our country.

"What could be more exciting?"

A journalist after my own heart...

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has just arrived at the venue for the debate.

Unlike the ITV head-to-head earlier in the campaign - where he revealed he had been preparing with a Caesar salad and cups of tea - he simply says "Delighted to be here!" as he steps out of his car.

Use our policy guide to see what the parties are promising in key areas like health, education, climate change, defence and so on.

Jennifer Scott
BBC News

Let it never be said that journalism isn't glamorous...

It's a Friday night so you might be looking forward to a treat. Chippy tea? Takeaway curry? Maybe a sneaky glass of vino on the side?

This is the hearty meal we're having in the spin room. But there are free cookies!

Just a reminder if you're only joining us now. We're building up to the BBC's live head-to-head debate between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn.

With polling day less than a week away, it'll be the last time the two men take each other on in person.

The debate starts at 20:30 GMT - it'll be live on BBC One and the BBC News Channel.

We hope you'll also stay here with us where you'll get live commentary and analysis from our correspondents and Reality Check team.

Back at the Final Say rally - where supporters of another referendum are calling for tactical voting to block a Conservative majority - Lord Heseltine is criticising the parties for building "public distrust" with "patent untruths" since the Brexit debate began.

He says they have created a "forest of magic money trees" and criticises Jeremy Corbyn for refusing to reveal what side he would back in another referendum.

But he says Boris Johnson "has form too", refusing to publish the report into alleged Russian interference in UK elections, to "come clean" about the Northern Ireland border, and to face questions from the BBC's Andrew Neil.

He says after Brexit, the UK will be "an empty chair" on the "sidelines of history".

And Lord Heseltine says we face years of further negotiations. "Get Brexit done is the greatest delusion of all," he says.

The BBC's Helen Catt is watching...

Polling day is just six days away - Thursday 12 December.

Polls are open from 7am to 10pm.

You don't need to have your polling card to vote, but you can only vote at the polling station detailed on the card.

If you live in Northern Ireland, you will need to show a valid form of ID.

If you have a postal vote but haven't sent it back in time, you can still take it to the polling station before 10pm on polling day.

This video explains the options available for disabled voters.

Registration to vote closed on 26 November. The anonymous registration process for domestic violence survivors closed on 4 December, although concerns have been raised about whether all survivors knew about it.

Applications for a proxy vote have also closed.

The government's guide to election day is available here, external. And the BBC has a simple run down too.

Once polls close at 10pm, we'll be bringing you the exit poll results: our prediction of how the country has voted. Then on BBC One you'll be able to watch the constituency results as they come in overnight and into Friday, as well as reaction and analysis.

But there's a long way to go before then.

Jennifer Scott
BBC News

A bit more from behind the scenes at tonight's debate...

After working our way through security, journalists are ready and waiting in the so-called "spin room".

This is where the media gather to watch the debate, broadcast all the reaction and - most importantly - question the party representatives on how their candidates fared.

There is a fairly calm soundtrack at the moment of writers on phones to editors, broadcasters finishing off their early evening bulletins, and final checks of the plans for the night.

We expect it to get much louder though.

Earlier, Sir John Major addressed the Final Say rally in London via video.

The Press Association has now tweeted the clip.