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3rd May 1978 BBC Television Centre 10 PM

David Dimbleby: "Good Evening. After 4 weeks of frantic campaigning voters will tonight decide on which piece of history to make. Either they have elected Harold Wilson as Prime Minister for a fifth time or whether to elect the UK's first ever female Prime Minister in Margaret Thatcher.

We have cameras across the country. In Huyton near Liverpool with the Prime Minister, In Finchley, North London with Mrs Thatcher and with Jeremy Thorpe in Devon North.

Plus we will be the fastest with the results from across the UK. With me in the studio the ever reliable Robin Day will be will be joined by the victorious and vanquished and our ever reliable experts.


Robin Day: Thank You David and joining me for what will almost certainly be a long night and even longer day is the ever reliable Bob Woucester and making his election night debut by the swingometer, Peter Snow.

DD: To say this election has been tight is perhaps an understatement of huge proportions. Mr Wilson called this election as something of an attempt to capitalise on the improving economic situation as well as a concerted effort to re-establish his parliamentary majority which has been non-existant.

Mrs Thatcher meanwhile has been engaged in an all-out attempt to prove she can portray the Tories as a viable alternative. Questions about her leadership and gender have been a constant thorn in her side since her surprise leadership election win in 1975.

Mr Thorpe however hasn't really got anything to lose.The Liberal Party has been relegated to a supporting role in this election.

So I suggest you settle down with us here on BBC 1 and watch history in the making. Now over to Angela Rippon for the latest news, Angela...
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