The BBC has today announced how it is marking Easter and other major faith festivals, including Holi, Ramadan, Vaisakhi, Passover, Eid and Vesak Day under the Faith and Hope for Spring 2022 heading, with a rich mix of new commissions, live programming and content on flagship strands across its TV and radio channels.
One of its BBC One programmes will be Jill Halfpenny’s Easter Walks (w/t), which will see the actor takes viewers on a journey through North East England.
The new series follows the star of Coronation Street, EastEnders and Waterloo Road as she takes two spiritual walks on country and coastal paths to explore the surprising origins and connections between faith and place in her beloved Northumbria.
Jill Halfpenny will explore a region of wild coastlines, blasted moors, raging rivers and ancient communities – in search of the area’s deep and secret connections to the origins of Easter celebrations.
Jill says: “Though I was born and bred in the North East I have just moved back after years working away, and I am really, really loving it. I didn’t travel much as a child, and a lot of what I am finding is new to me so I am enjoying exploring my own backyard.
“When I was younger I was part of the choir at church, and I always felt that Easter was really intense – I seemed to be in church all of the time. For me it’s all about renewal and rebirth and in these programmes I have enjoyed seeing if I can find anything about myself in the area where I grew up.”
Jill Halfpenny’s Easter Walks 2×60 for BBC One and iPlayer is Executive Produced by Harry Bell and Brendan Hughes for Tern Television at Zinc Media. The BBC Commissioning Editor is Daisy Scalchi.
Daisy Scalchi, BBC Commissioning Editor, Religion, says: “The BBC is passionate about providing audiences with a vibrant mix of religious content across its networks, bringing people together to worship, reflect and celebrate.
“Our Easter content this year offers everything from insights into how kindness and compassion can bring joy, to how communities have been built on faith over millennia.”
Full details of the BBC’s tv and radio programme commissions for Easter can be found on their website.
