The leaders' debates: could be more exciting?

What I'm enjoying most about the election is seeing the party leaders battle it out on telly. I'm viewing it all with a healthy dose of cynicism though. They know what the main topics of discussion are going to be so everything has been well-rehearsed. Every stance, gesture and word has been practised and honed for the TV cameras. They've been styled and made-up and polished and shaved and plucked (probably) and waxed (perhaps). Everything is presented to us in a carefully orchestrated manner.

They're not really being challenged on what they say are they? The audience aren't allowed to heckle or throw anything. And they're only allowed to very slightly argue with each other. I was expecting some confrontation along the lines of Prime Minister's Questions. They must be finding these debates a walk in the park compared to Prime Minister's Questions.

I've found the debates good for giving me a summary of the parties' policies. And that's quite useful considering they all occupy the centre ground these days. Politics was a bit more extreme when I was growing up with Maggie Thatcher the only Prime Minister I'd known and Michael Foot and Neil Kinnock being the very different alternatives. And weren't David Steele and David Owen knocking around too? Politics has changed a lot since then.

To be honest after watching half an hour of the leaders debating I do tend to switch off and do some blogging or eat chocolate. But it's nice to see them on the telly like this, it's a good idea which the Americans have been doing since the 1960s. Which suggests that it's becoming more about personalities than politics. But that's inevitable I suppose, we embrace the media and enjoy loving or hating the personalities within it. There's a saying that politics is 'showbusiness for ugly people'. But I think that will change and politicians are going to get better looking over time as television has a bigger role in election campaigns.

I'm sure I heard that a record number of people have registered to vote since the first leader's debate. If that's true, then these debates are having a positive impact on the election. They're getting people interested.

But it could be more interesting couldn't it? I think audience members should be able to shout and cheer and throw stuff. I'd like a few leftfield questions they're totally unprepared for to be chucked in too. I think the leaders should be allowed to argue more, maybe walk away from their podiums and square up to each other on the stage? Maybe even a fight? Now that would be great telly. It's getting there, but it could be better.