Gilles Duceppe is off the campaign hustings to prepare for the two televised leaders' debates — in French Wednesday night, and in English Thursday.

Tim Duboyce

In preparation for debates, some leaders appoint members of their staff to play the part of other debate participants. So, for example, Stephen Harper might face off in private against his campaign strategists who pretend they are Stéphane Dion, Jack Layton, Elizabeth May, and Gilles Duceppe. (Not sure whether they imitate the accents or not.)

Duceppe says he finds role-playing distracting, and prefers to simply memorize the points he wants to make. He also says getting lots of rest and going to the gym a couple of times a day help keep his mind clear.

Ironically, Duceppe says the main reason he doesn't participate in role playing is because he isn't very good at it.

"I'm not much of an actor," he told reporters in Gatineau, Que.

The irony is, the Bloc leader's father, Jean Duceppe, was one of Quebec's best known dramatic stage performers. One of Montreal's biggest playhouses is even named after him.

— Tim Duboyce