BBC's Question Time held a special episode in Makerfield on Thursday, June 4, focusing on the upcoming by-election. Broadcast two weeks before constituents go to the polls, the program provided a unique opportunity for audience members to direct questions to the candidates. Hosted by Fiona Bruce, the show featured a selection of the candidates and was made available on iPlayer at 9pm, followed by a broadcast on BBC One at 10.40pm.

Out of 14 candidates representing 11 different parties and three independents contesting the by-election, only a select few were invited to participate on the BBC panel, a decision based on polls. The panel included Andy Burnham for Labour, Jake Austin for the Liberal Democrats, Robert Kenyon for Reform UK, Sarah Wakefield for the Green Party, and Michael Winstanley for the Conservatives. This selection drew criticism from some quarters, notably from Rupert Lowe of Restore Britain, who voiced discontent over the exclusion of his party's candidate, Rebecca Shepherd. The BBC responded by stating that panel selections are made carefully, considering past and current electoral support within the constituency, and affirmed its commitment to covering various parties appropriately across its platforms.

The debate itself was likened to a