The National:

PRODUCERS of the new BBC Scotland political debate show have their work cut out for them after Question Time's shambolic track record.

Daebate Night previously failed to contact pro-independence groups about applications for the audience being open.

This was despite arch-Unionist group Scotland In Union being among those it did contact, inviting it to instruct its members on how to apply for the show's audience.

READ: Scottish 'Question Time' producer's message to National readers

But last week got off to a promising start with more than half of the panel – the SNP's John Swinney, poet Jenny Lindsay and entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter – pro-indy so we were hoping for more of the same in tonight's lineup.

Here's the guests:

  • SNP MSP Kate Forbes
  • Marsha Scott, CEO of Scottish Women's Aid
  • Scottish Tory MSP Liz Smith
  • Labour MP Anas Sarwar
  • Alison McDonald, co-founder of Scots for Leave

Three out of the five support Scottish independence. Despite being a Brexit voter, Alison MacDonald voted Yes in 2014, Marsha Scott was on the board of Women for Independence and Kate Forbes is a long-standing advocate for Scottish independence. 

This is promising as the independence debate is well and truly on the agenda in Scotland. The First Minister has promised an update on indyref2 within weeks, Yes groups are busy campaigning across the country and Brexit has put the issue into focus.

Let's hope they actually get to talk about Scottish independence and won't shorten the guests' responses ...