BBC REVEALS EASTER PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS
This year’s Faith and Hope For Spring 2024 will showcase a vibrant mix of programmes across TV and radio channels, shining a spotlight on faith at a time when many of the major religions are marking key moments in the calendar.
Gareth Malone's Easter Passion
Good Friday and Easter Sunday, Friday 29 March & Sunday 31 March (2x60')
This Easter, acclaimed choirmaster and broadcaster Gareth Malone, is taking eight untrained singers and staging his own St John Passion by Bach on the 300th anniversary of its debut.
The novices will be performing alongside the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the BBC Singers and a cast of internationally renowned soloists. 2x60’ documentaries will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC One Wales with the full performance airing on BBC Two and BBC Two Wales on Easter Sunday evening.
Easter Sunday Worship
Sunday 31 March, 10am-11am
Live from the magnificent and historic setting of Canterbury Cathedral, the Most Revd Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, shares his Easter message in a joyful celebration.
The traditional Easter Service is led by the Dean, the Very Revd Dr David Monteith. With favourite seasonal hymns and choral music, including Jesus Christ is Risen Today and Thine Be the Glory, sung by the Cathedral Choir and congregation, directed by Dr David Newsholme.
Urbi et Orbi
Sunday 31 March, 11am
Live from Rome, on the eleventh Easter of his pontificate, Pope Francis gives his Easter Message and Blessing, Urbi et Orbi – to the City and to the World. Petroc Trelawny sets the scene.
Songs of Praise at Easter
Sunday 31 March
Aled Jones visits Canterbury to celebrate Easter at the oldest existing church in the English-speaking world and he explores what the message of Easter means to Christians.
My Big Bar/Bat Mitzvah (w/t)
My Big Bar Mitzvah follows four young Jewish people all celebrating their bar and bat mitzvahs in the same week. This uniquely Jewish rite of passage, marking a child’s transition to adulthood within the faith, will be one of the most important nights of these 12 and 13-year-olds’ lives.
Each will be marking it with a special religious ceremony and a unique celebration - but these four celebrations – reflecting a range of Orthodox, Reform, Ashkenazi and Sephardi voices and traditions - couldn’t look more different.
Sikh Warriors (w/t)
The film centres around a community boxing club in Walsall, headed up by Sikh boxing enthusiast and coach “Pops”. The gym is run in conjunction with the Midland Langar Seva Society - a charity that provides hot meals to those in need - and is an expression of Pops’ faith and values.
Sikh Warriors (working title) was commissioned by Daisy Scalchi, Head of Religion and Ethics within the Specialist Factual department headed up by Jack Bootle. It was directed by Paul Shenkin and edited by Anita Sandhu. The Assistant Producer is Gurjinder Sandhar. The Executive Producers are Jo Woolf and Lucy Pilkington. Head of Production is Audrey English. It is being produced by Milk and Honey Media.
Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales
Good Friday - 29 March
Pilgrimage is back with a brand new sixth series returning to BBC Two and iPlayer next month, as seven well known personalities, of differing faiths and beliefs, tackle a modern-day pilgrimage, this time along the North Wales Pilgrim’s Way.
Across 3 x 60 minute episodes, Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales will follow seven celebrity pilgrims, as they take a personal journey along a route that celebrates Celtic early Christian saints, with Bardsey Island the fabled ‘Island of 20,000 saints’, just off the western tip of the Llyn Peninsula - as their final destination.
Big Zuu Goes To Mecca
Double BAFTA-winning TV chef and rapper Big Zuu visits Mecca, the holiest city in Islam, where he performs the pilgrimage of Umrah for the first time.