LONDON — Jeremy Paxman will interview Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn in a live election programme for Sky News and Channel 4 later this month.

One of Britain's fiercest political interviewers will question the Tory and Labour leaders in "May v Corbyn Live: The Battle for Number 10" at 8.30 p.m. (BST) on May 29.

The general election programme, which is a substitute for the debating format that the broadcasters originally pushed for, will take place just days before May and Corbyn appear on a special edition of BBC "Question Time."

The format will mirror that of the Sky and Channel 4 collaboration ahead of the general election in 2015, when David Cameron and Ed Miliband took part.

Paxman skewered Cameron on food banks, while Miliband famously fluffed his lines when stating he was "tough enough" to become prime minister.

The 2017 show will open with an audience Q&A, hosted by Sky’s political editor Faisal Islam, with either May or Corbyn, followed by an interview with Paxman. The second half of the show will follow the same format with the other party leader. The order of appearance will be decided nearer the time.

Paxman, the former host of BBC2's "Newsnight," is well known for his brusque and direct interview style. Perhaps his most famous encounter was with Michael Howard in 1997, when he asked the Conservative politician the same question 12 times.

Beyond "May v Corbyn Live: The Battle for Number 10," Sky News announced that Adam Boulton and Sophy Ridge will anchor its election night coverage from 9 p.m. on June 8.