BBC Two & iPlayer Announce New Season of Pilgrimage

BBC Two and iPlayer’s Pilgrimage: The Road to Holy Island (w.t.), the eighth installment of Pilgrimage, will take seven well-known personalities of different faiths and set them off on a trail across the landscapes of North East England.

“With a fantastic new cast, this series delivers a wonderful moment to explore life’s big questions, faith and culture, whilst exploring the spectacular landscape of Britain’s North East,” said Caroline Matthews, executive producer and CEO of CTVC, producer of the series. “As ever, stripped of their creature comforts, there is strong camaraderie, tears, joy and a fabulous amount of humor to get them through their epic journey!”

Traveling on foot and by bus, the celebrities are immersed in encounters with nature and the landscapes that helped inspire early Celtic Christianity.

Taking part in this physical and spiritual journey are practising Christian and leader of the dance troupe Diversity, Ashley Banjo; Spooks and Cold Feet actor Hermione Norris, who believes the divine can be found in all living things; atheist, TV personality Tasha Ghouri; stand-up comedian and observant Muslim, Hasan Al-Habib; radio presenter, Jayne Middlemiss who describes herself as spiritual; comedian, Ashley Blaker, now agnostic, was once a practising Orthodox Jew; and actor and self-proclaimed “a la carte” Catholic, Patsy Kensit.

“What better way to embrace different perspectives and outlooks than walking with people who can open our hearts and minds to new ways of seeing the world,” said Daisy Scalchi, BBC’s head of religion and ethics for television. “Pilgrimage is like no other show on TV, and I’m so excited to see a new group strap on their walking boots for what will be an inspiring journey through one of England’s most dramatic landscapes.”

Banjo said: “As a Christian, I wanted to do this pilgrimage, to continue my journey of discovery through discussion, by asking questions, and to be asked questions in the context of faith. But I’m also taking part in a really good hike! So the pilgrimage to me not only represents the chance to explore my faith and meet some new people in the context of it, but to unplug and go on the walk of a lifetime.

Norris commented: “Living a busy life, embarking on this pilgrimage allows me this rare opportunity to set aside time to walk, to question and to notice. For me, this is an uncommon gift.”

Kensit said: “I’m joining Pilgrimage at a time when I feel the need to slow down and really listen to myself, to others and to something beyond the noise of everyday life. I’ve spent much of my life moving forward, but this feels like a rare chance to pause and reflect. I’m not sure what I’ll find along the way, but I hope the journey will help me reconnect with what matters most and give me a deeper sense of perspective, gratitude and understanding – both of myself and the world around me.”

Ghouri added: “Although I’m not religious, I want to take part in Pilgrimage because I’m genuinely curious and eager to step into something unfamiliar with an open heart and an open mind. I’m looking forward to learning alongside the other pilgrims, each of us coming from completely different backgrounds and beliefs. For me, this is about growth, reflection, and understanding faith from the inside out, not through assumptions or what other people say. I also want to explore what spirituality might mean beyond religion, and to do that with others who are also open to questioning and evolving.”

Middlemiss said: “I have traveled across the world taking pilgrimage in far-flung places and have always wanted to return home and do the pilgrimage of my homeland. To go back and walk in the steps of ancestors, and to connect to not only my past but the past of my family. It was an opportunity I wanted to very much embrace.”

Blaker said: “I’ve been on quite the journey with my faith over the past few years, so I’m looking forward to having time to reflect and work out where I am now. I’m excited to see who I’ll be walking with and to hear their stories. I’m sure we’ll all learn a lot from each other.”

Al-Habib noted: “For a practising Muslim like me, this show is an incredible opportunity. If, on the Day of Judgement, Allah asks me why I didn’t perform the mandatory Islamic pilgrimage of Hajj, I can now say: “Sorry, I didn’t realize BBC Two’s Pilgrimage series eight was set in Northumberland.”