Ah, Mr Blair, Thursday, 18 January, 2001
" Tony Blair's decision not to take part in televised election debates with the other main party leaders has been staunchly defended by senior Labour figures.
The prime minister was accused of political cowardice following Wednesday's announcement that he would not take part in the proposed TV debates."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1122468.stm
That was an era before there was a particular public interest in TV debates. It was deemed by many at the time - as still is by a large number - as an unwanted Americanism that puts personality ahead of politics. He certainly had nothing to fear from William Hague The first debate wouldn't happen until 2010.
There's many axes you could grind with Blair - TV debates doesn't seem like a particularly good one..