When challenged on why she called an election after saying she would not, Mrs May says she made the decision because of Brexit.

"What became clear to me when going through the Article 50 process... was that other parties wanted to frustrate negotiations and the will of the people.

"It would have been easy for me as prime minister to stay on and keep a hand on the job.

"But this is an important moment for our country, we've got to get it right."

Theresa May is currently facing questions from David Dimbleby and a live studio audience. The Conservative leader hopes to convince voters that she is the tough, competent leader the country needs to steer it through difficult times.

But until she moved into Downing Street, following the resignation of David Cameron, she was, in truth, something of a mystery, even to many in her own party. She is a private politician, by modern standards, and has rarely opened up about her personal feelings or beliefs.

Read about Theresa May's life and times here

Theresa May opens by referring to her record as home secretary, saying she delivered on promises to exclude hate preachers, be tough on crime and give "police and security services the powers they need to do their job".

Prime Minister Theresa May is first in the hotseat, taking questions from a live studio audience and David Dimbleby.

BBC News Channel

Jeremy Corbyn's campaign coordinator Andrew Gwynne says his advice for the Labour leader ahead of tonight's Question Time is to "be who you are".

"One of the reasons people have been moving towards the Labour party is because for too long political parties have been staged managed," he says.

"Here we have a Labour manifesto and top team that don't play by the the traditional rule book. We look and sound like ordinary people... people with a desire to change our country for the better".

BBC News Channel

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon says Jeremy Corbyn "has it all to do tonight - he has to explain how he's going to finance what he's promised and explain his poor record on defence".

He says the Conservatives "never believed we were 25 points ahead" but "inevitably things begin to sharpen" as the campaign progresses.

Tonight "is hugely important", according to Sir Michael, as the focus will be on "who has leadership potential to take this country into Brexit and make this country stronger".

BBC News Channel

Also in the spin room, shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey contrasts Conservative Britain today with Jeremy Corbyn's "bold vision" to transform the economy.

Asked how he will fare with questions from the audience, she replies: "He'll cope well, he's a very good debater - Theresa May doesn't want to debate him."

BBC News Channel

In the "spin room" in York, Culture Secretary Karen Bradley says viewers will see the "clear choice" before them - whether they want Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn leading the Brexit negotiations.

Asked about the opinion polls, she says there's a "real risk" that by next week, Mr Corbyn "could be negotiating deals to get himself into Downing Street".

The BBC's political editor prepares to cover the Question Time Leaders Special.

BBC News Channel

Jessica Elgot from the Guardian tells the BBC that so far in TV interviews "neither of them has had a real knockout blow" and they'll be hoping to "land some sort of knockout moment".

She thinks Jeremy Corbyn "goes into it having had the easier week and doesn't want to jeopardise that" while Theresa May will be looking to "seize back momentum".

Anne McElvoy of the Economist says their main job tonight "is to convince people who should be the next prime minister, who is going to run the country".

She points out revealing moments have happened in the past "when somebody just said something to throw them off" and tonight could be "unpredictable".

Financial Times

Theresa May has been defending her decision not to take part in a face-to-face debate with Jeremy Corbyn.

In an interview with the Financial Times, external she said:

"I can't see the entire population."

She added that "the one poll that matters is the poll on June 8," and "I've been doing exactly the kind of campaign I've done throughout my political career".

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Since that day in April when Theresa May called a snap election, 5 Live has been up and down the country talking to people about how they feel and what they want to hear from politicians. But this afternoon some voters have come to them.

Audience members have been putting their questions to Mark Harper for the Conservatives, Lisa Smart for the Liberal Democrats, John Bickley for UKIP and Richard Burgon from Labour. They're discussing issues like the NHS, the economy and of course, Brexit.

Watch the webcam feed here.