CNI -Easter Broadcasts
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Easter broadcasts ! CNI TV and Radio celebrates Easter with raft of religious programming In celebration of Easter, the BBC offers a host of religious programmes across TV and radio, with a line-up that will include drama, music, reflection and worship. Central to this year’s Easter offering on TV will be actor David Suchet’s extra special journey, retracing the footsteps taken by St Peter; a dramatization of the entire Gospel of John; and a one-off drama retelling of the biblical story of Noah and The Ark. These highlights will join the annual live Easter services from around the country, together with Pope Francis’ Easter Sunday Message and Blessing - Urbi et Orbi. Meanwhile on BBC radio, special Easter editions of key religious programmes will provide conversation, music, reflection, readings, hymns and special guests. At The Foot Of The Cross returns to BBC Radio 2 and Clare Balding welcomes the Most Rev John Sentamu, [email protected] Page !1 Easter broadcasts Archbishop of York, for a special edition of Good Morning Sunday. BBC Radio 3 will play host to a series of Live In Concerts and Easter Day Sunday Worship welcomes the Rt Rev Libby Lane, Bishop of Stockport - the Church of England’s first female Bishop - as she gives her first Easter sermon, live from Chester Cathedral. Aaqil Ahmed, BBC Head of Commissioning, Religion and Head of Religion & Ethics, says: “Easter is not just one of the most important moments in the Christian calendar, it is also for the BBC the best way of illustrating its commitment to programming in this area. From prime-time drama on BBC One, the complete dramatized telling of the Gospel of John on BBC Two to Easter hymns, anthems and conversation across BBC radio, this is an exciting mix of programming that shows the BBC at its best, mixing genres, working across channels and delivering for our audiences a diverse range of quality programming.” BBC One David Suchet: In The Footsteps of St Peter Following on from BBC One’s previous series, In the Footsteps of St Paul, David Suchet journeys through first century Galilee, Jerusalem, Turkey [email protected] Page !2 Easter broadcasts and Rome, this time in search of Jesus’ closest confidant and Apostle, St Peter. David’s quest: to discover how a lowly fisherman from the shores of Lake Galilee transforms into lead disciple, and eventually the figure which the Roman Catholic Church have seen for the last 2,000 years as the first Pope and Bishop of Rome. David seeks out the man behind the controversial figure of St Peter as he carves out his identity as both leader and often flawed believer, through the highs and lows of the earliest days of Christianity. The Ark The Ark - a one off drama for BBC One, starring David Threlfall (Noah), Joanne Whalley (Emmie), Nico Mirallegro (Kenan), Ashley Walters (God’s Angel), Emily Bevan (Salit), Michael Fox (Shem), Andrew Hawley (Japeth), Hannah Johm-Kamen (Nahlab) and Ian Smith (Ham). It is the retelling of the biblical story of Noah and The Ark. Noah, a farmer and family man, is instructed by an angel to build an ark in the middle of a desert in order to save both his family and the faithful from a devastating flood. A seemingly impossible task, especially when his sons refuse to believe him and help, Noah risks ridicule and humiliation [email protected] Page !3 Easter broadcasts from the degenerate townsfolk as well as his loving but exasperated family, in his quest to carry out his God-given task. The Ark is a timeless tale; a story of family and faith; about one man's belief and fixation with building the ark which will ultimately save his family and mankind. It is an obsession which leads to the fragmentation of his family, a test of their faith in their father and their father’s faith in God and everything he believes in. Songs of Praise On Easter Sunday (5 April), in recognition of the lamb as an enduring religious symbol and an announcement of Spring, David Grant introduces Songs of Praise from a farm in West Sussex where around 1,400 lambs are born every year. David is hoping to witness one of those births. Bordering Coombes Farm in Lancing is a 1,000- year-old church - and religion and farming come together for the traditional 'blessing of the lambs' ceremony. Also, the programme joins an open air baptism on the banks of the River Jordan. But this River Jordan is in Dorset, not that of Biblical fame. Live Easter Sunday - from Manchester Cathedral Live Easter Morning service from the magnificent [email protected] Page !4 Easter broadcasts setting of Manchester Cathedral. Uplifting hymns and inspiring music combine with traditional readings and prayers to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. The music will also include excerpts from Mozart's Coronation Mass. The service will be led by the Revd Canon Philip Barratt, Precentor of Manchester Cathedral with a sermon from the Bishop of Bolton, the Right Revd Chris Edmondson. Urbi et Orbi Pope Francis gives his Easter Sunday Message and Blessing, Urbi et Orbi, to the city of Rome and to the world. From the balcony on St Peter’s Basilica, the Pope will address a huge crowd in the square below, but his words will resonate far beyond. Mike Wooldridge sets the scene and provides live commentary. BBC Two The Gospel of John The Gospel of John takes the story of Jesus from John’s Gospel with its own unique characteristics. This three-part dramatization of the life of Jesus takes the actual Gospel text as its script, word for word, unedited. Narrated by leading British actor David Harewood (Homeland, Blood Diamond, Merchant of Venice) it is based on the latest theological, historical [email protected] Page !5 Easter broadcasts and archaeological research. With specially constructed sets in the extraordinarily authentic villages and countryside of rural Morocco, this re-enactment of The Gospel of John immerses the viewer in the world of first century Palestine. Easter From King's Music and readings for Holy Week and Easter from the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge. The world-famous Choir, directed by Stephen Cleobury, sing some of the most popular and poignant choral music of all time, including Crucifixus (Lotti), Wash Me Throughly (S.S. Wesley), Greater Love Hath No Man (Ireland), Surrexit Christus Hodie (Scheidt) and pieces by Duruflé, Mozart, W.H. Harris, Hadley and Tavener. Seasonal hymns include There Is A Green Hill Far Away, When I Survey The Wondrous Cross and Thine Be The Glory. The story of Jesus's death and resurrection is told in the well-loved words of the King James Bible, and reflected on in poems by Malcolm Guite, Vassar Miller and Wilfred Owen, all in the stunning setting of King's College Chapel. Radio 2 At The Foot of The Cross - Friday 3 April, 8.00-10.00pm Diane Louise Jordan introduces an evening of [email protected] Page !6 Easter broadcasts music and reflections for Good Friday from Central Hall, Westminster. The warm, rich voice of actor, Patrick Robinson (Casualty, The Bill) brings the events of the first Good Friday to life with readings and poems telling the story of Jesus’ last hours and also reflecting on the sacrifice made by those who died on the battlefields of World War I. The programme features music from the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by James Burton, who is joined by a chorus of singers from across London, BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year, Helena Paish, soul singer Louise Marshall and winner of The Voice 2014, Jermain Jackman. Their forces combine to provide an inspiring and poignant programme of music including well known hymns and spirituals, choral classics and pieces from popular British composers, culminating in a full performance of John Rutter’s Requiem. The Sunday Hour - Sunday 5 April, 6.00-7.00am Diane Louise Jordan wishes listeners a Happy Easter on The Sunday Hour with favourite Easter hymns, Gospel music and sacred sounds. She will be reflecting on the Easter Story in words and prayers as well as delivering some special Easter dedications and requests. [email protected] Page !7 Easter broadcasts Good Morning Sunday - Sunday 5 April, 7.00-9.00am In a special edition for Easter Sunday morning, Clare Balding welcomes the Most Rev John Sentamu, Archbishop of York to be her faith guest for conversation and his reflection for the morning. Easter Glory - Sunday 5 April, 8.00-9.00pm The stunning voices of the Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir are joined by top soloists, including Tracey Campbell, to tell the Easter story in their Gospel Oratorio “The Resurrection”. In a celebration of life and music they bring this age-old story into the 21st Century through favourite Gospel songs and spirituals recorded at BBC Maida Vale studios. Radio 3 Choral Evensong - Sunday 5 April, 3.00-4.00pm A special Easter Festal Evensong on Easter Sunday will come live from Ely Cathedral. The Introit is Jesus Christ is Risen (Trepte) and responses from Leighton. The Office Hymm will be The Lamb's high banquet we await (Ad Cenam Agni) and Anthem, Death be not proud (Francis Grier) first broadcast. [email protected] Page !8 Easter broadcasts Introit: Jesus Christ is risen (Trepte) Responses: Leighton Psalms 114, 118 (Garrett, South) First Lesson: Ezekiel 37 vv 1-4 Office Hymn: The Lamb's high banquet we await (Ad Cenam Agni) Canticles: Murrill in E Second Lesson: Luke 24 vv 13-35 Anthem: Death be not proud (Francis Grier) first broadcast Final Hymn: Jesus lives! thy terrors now (St Albinus) Festival Te Deum (Britten) Organ Voluntary: Résurrection (Dupré) Assistant Organist: Edmund Aldhouse Director of Music: Paul Trepte Radio 3 Live in Concert A series of Live in Concerts will come from King’s College Chapel, Cambridge throughout Easter.