Faith & Hope for Spring for 2024

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.

BBC One and Radio 4 are joining forces to bring audiences Easter Sunday Worship from Canterbury Cathedral led by the Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury. Further content on BBC One on Easter Sunday includes a special performance of Bach’s St John Passion from Cardiff. It will be led by acclaimed choirmaster and broadcaster Gareth Malone and marks the 300th anniversary of its first performance. Pope Francis’s Easter Message and Blessing, Urbi et Orbi, will be live from the Vatican and a special edition of Songs of Praise comes from Canterbury, presented by Aled Jones.

On Radio 2, Revd Kate Bottley will celebrate Easter Sunday with the Archbishop of York, and Choral Evensong comes live from Canterbury Cathedral on Radio 3. Radio 4 will also have a Sunrise Service from Durham Cathedral and Easter Sunday Worship from Canterbury Cathedral.

Three new faith films for BBC One and iPlayer explore different aspects of faith: Aunties (working title), which follows a group of Asian aunties from Bradford as they come together to organise an intergenerational coach trip to the coast – in a bid to keep their culture and traditions alive, My Big Bar/Bat Mitzvah (working title), which follows four young Jewish people all celebrating their bar and bat mitzvahs in the same week, and Sikh Warriors (working title), which centres around a community boxing club in Walsall, headed up by Sikh boxing enthusiast and coach “Pops”.

Big Zuu Goes To Mecca will air on BBC Two and iPlayer in celebration of Eid: double BAFTA-winning TV chef and rapper Big Zuu will visit the holiest city in Islam, where he performs the pilgrimage of Umrah for the first time. Also on BBC Two and iPlayer, Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales sees a new cast of well-known faces embarking on a stunning journey that celebrates Celtic early Christian saints.

BBC Asian Network will challenge their presenters from all different religious backgrounds to carry out Good Deeds throughout the month of Ramadan with its Good Deed Feed; a new series of Not Even Water presented by Mehreen Baig will also mark Ramadan; and the station will be offering bespoke playlists curated by their presenters for Ramadan and Eid.

On BBC One and iPlayer, there will be Holi and Vaisakhi editions of Celebration Kitchen, as well as a special, festive edition of Sunday Morning Live and there will be further coverage across BBC News and the World Service.

Content on BBC Children’s includes Easter and Holi episodes of My First Festivals, Easter themed episodes of JoJo & Gran Gran and Bluey, a Newsround report on Ramadan and Easter and Holi themed items on Blue Peter.

In addition, there will be worship, reflections and bespoke programming on BBC Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and across local radio.

The Faith and Hope page on BBC iPlayer will bring a range of content together in one place, creating a central hub where audiences can find recent highlights.

Daisy Scalchi, Head of Religion & Ethics, BBC Television, says: “This is such a special time of year and we’re delighted to work across our networks to bring viewers a diverse range of content that brings faith, belief and spirituality into focus.”

Tim Pemberton, Head of Religion & Ethics, BBC Radio, says: “I’m delighted to be bringing listeners such a wide range of special programming, with opportunities for worship and reflection, as well as some wonderful music.”