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"They're not exactly dancing around and doing a chicken impression, but that is pretty much the gist of it", reports the BBC's Chris Mason
The Labour, Lib Dem and UKIP leaders will ask broadcasters to press ahead with general election TV debates even if David Cameron refuses to take part.
Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage have written to Mr Cameron saying it would be "unacceptable" for the prime minister to refuse to appear.
Mr Cameron has said he will take part only if the Green Party is included.
The leaders said they would call for an empty podium to be provided "should you have a last-minute change of heart".
'Self-interest'In identical letters to Mr Cameron, the three leaders call for a repeat of the 2010 debates - the first ever leaders TV debates in a British election.
They say: "I believe it would be a major setback to our democratic processes if these debates were not repeated in 2015 because of one politician's unwillingness to participate."
They add: "It would be unacceptable if the political self-interest of one party leader were to deny the public the opportunity to see their leaders debate in public.
"Therefore, if you are unwilling to reconsider, the three party leaders who have committed to participate will ask the broadcasters to press ahead with the debates and provide an empty podium should you have a last-minute change of heart.
'Huge caution'"These debates are not the property of the politicians and I do not believe the public will accept lightly the prospect of any politician seeking to block them."
Conservative Party leader Mr Cameron has said he would like the debates to take place, but insists that "you can't have some minor parties in and not other parties in".
BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said there would be a "huge amount of caution" from broadcasters before proceeding with the debates without Mr Cameron.
AnalysisBy Chris Mason, BBC Political Correspondent
It's not often you get these three gentlemen all signing the very same letter.
In effect, it says 'Look, if David Cameron doesn't want to turn up that's fine, just leave a podium there in case he changes his mind at the last minute. But otherwise just press ahead.'
The question is will the broadcasters have the nerve to actually do that? And would it be deemed to be within the election rules?
Downing Street are yet to respond to this letter because it has only just been published, but their argument has always been, at least for the last week or so publically, that unless the Green Party is included, David Cameron is none-too-keen.
He says it wouldn't be fair to push ahead with these debates without the Green Party. There are plenty within the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats rather glad the Greens aren't there, because they might just nick their votes.
'Running scared'Mr Miliband has said the debates should go ahead "with or without" Mr Cameron, whom he claimed was "running scared".
Danny Alexander, the Liberal Democrat chief secretary to the Treasury, told Radio 4's Today programme: "I think that it looks very much like the Conservative Party is wriggling and looking for any excuse it can to get out of having these debates.
"I suspect that what they really fear is going up against the UK Independence Party."
Last week, the Greens said they were "deeply disappointed" with a consultation by the regulator Ofcom that suggested the party did not have "major status".
Under plans put forward by the major broadcasters in October, the pre-election live TV debates would include the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and UKIP.
Mr Cameron would take on Labour leader Mr Miliband head-to-head in one debate, another would feature Mr Cameron, Mr Miliband and Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg, and a third would also include UKIP's Mr Farage.
The suggested schedule is for debates on 2 April, 16 April and 30 April, ahead of the general election on 7 May.
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