Candidates in the Glasgow East by-election will be given two chances to go head to head on live television, the BBC confirmed last night.

The corporation said it would invite the four main candidates on to this Sunday's Politics Show and a special edition of Newsnight to be shown on July 17. The announcement follows a spate of sabre-rattling between the two front- runners, Labour's Margaret Curran and John Mason for the SNP, over whether to hold a live TV debate.

Moments after being selected on Monday night, Ms Curran challenged Mr Mason to a TV clash, to which he responded yesterday: "Absolutely - I would debate with Margaret every single day if she would like to."

Atholl Duncan, the BBC's head of news and current affairs, said: "This is clearly one of the most significant by-elections in Scotland in recent times and we are happy to provide a forum."

Candidates from Labour, the SNP, LibDems and Conservatives will be invited onto the Politics Show and interviewed by Gary Robertson, and would reconvene on Newsnight in front of a live audience.