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When the five Tory leadership candidates arrived for the first TV debate of the campaign at studios in east London, they were greeted by a woman in a chicken costume.

The aim, of course, was to portray Boris Johnson as "chicken" for not turning up, a decision he will either now feel vindicated about or regret handing a propaganda coup to his opponents.

Inside the hall, one of the six lecterns for the candidates to stand behind was vacant. At least they didn't have the candidates' names on them to remind viewers who was missing.

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But at the start of the debate, the Channel 4 presenter acting as debate chairman rather mischievously announced that Mr Johnson was welcome to turn up at any time during the 90-minute programme.

The first half of the programme was dominated by Brexit and Mr Johnson, no doubt watching on TV at home, will perhaps have felt glad he wasn't there as Rory Stewart led a charge against a no-deal Brexit.

Dominic Raab probably suffered from Mr Johnson's absence, because he took the brunt of the attacks on no-deal and at times it was four against one.

Mr Johnson had complained on Friday that a debate between six candidates would be "cacophonous" with "blue-on-blue" attacks. And at times that argument appeared justified as the remaining five slugged it out in some feisty exchanges on Brexit.

Jeremy Hunt led the "Where's Boris?" attack. For him, in second place behind Mr Johnson in the first ballot of MPs last Tuesday, this debate was potentially dangerous because he doesn't want his rivals with fewer votes than him in the first round of voting gaining ground and catching him up.

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Mr Johnson has gained the backing of Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who pulled out of the contest last week, former candidate and fellow Brexiteer Esther McVey, fairly predictably - although she could have opted to support Mr Raab, and Scots-born Michael Gove won the support of the Scottish Secretary David Mundell.

During the debate, no doubt deliberately timed, the highly respected digital minister Margot James - admittedly strongly pro-Remain - announced she was supporting Mr Stewart.

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Most of the candidates had good moments during the debate. But on a clapometer, based on the volume of applause for the candidates, it was a good night for Mr Stewart.

But some had awkward moments too. While Mr Gove did well when he boasted about his ministerial record and Commons debating skills and claimed Jeremy Corbyn would be "terrified" of facing him in the Commons, he was challenged once again about his cocaine confession.

And Mr Raab looked uncomfortable again when he was reminded of his "I'm not a feminist" gaffe.

The quality of questions from the audience was good, particularly one about each candidate's top priority apart from Brexit. Mr Gove, the environment secretary, was asked why he didn't say climate change. He insisted he had.

There was probably no clear winner. Mr Johnson's supporters will no doubt claim it was him since he didn't get dragged into an unseemly row about Brexit or his character.

The exposure was probably good for Mr Stewart, the least well known candidate before this contest. But before the next TV debate, on Tuesday, comes another round of MPs voting.

Mr Stewart, Mr Raab and Mr Javid are all competing for enough votes to stay in the contest, so the next debate could be fought out by between three and five candidates.

Mr Johnson is turning up on Tuesday, which will mean a very different - and potentially more highly-charged - debate.

And this time the leadership frontrunner can't, for a second time, be a chicken.

:: Follow Sky News for live coverage of the second leadership ballot - Tuesday from 6pm.