BBC Unveils Exciting Faith Programming for Easter Season 2025

LONDON, U.K. — The BBC is set to celebrate Easter and other pivotal faith festivals with a diverse lineup of content across its networks this spring. The programming, which will be available on TV, iPlayer, radio, and BBC Sounds, is designed to share messages of hope and resurrection.

This year’s Easter programming includes live worship events such as “Easter Live Worship” from St. Mary Redcliffe Church in Bristol on BBC One and iPlayer, alongside the Easter Sunday Worship broadcast from Canterbury Cathedral on BBC Radio 4. The Right Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover, will deliver the Easter sermon during this service, emphasizing themes of renewal.

A new series titled “Gareth Malone’s Messiah” will showcase the renowned choirmaster as he prepares for a live performance of Handel’s celebrated oratorio at Cardiff’s Llandaff Cathedral. This initiative serves as a fundraiser for BBC Children in Need. Malone will audition eight novice singers, guiding them through the complexities of classical choral performance in just seven weeks.

The BBC’s popular series, “Songs of Praise,” will present three special episodes this Easter. These will feature themes such as “Women of the Easter Story,” which will be hosted by Rev. Kate Bottley, who will explore the significant roles women played during the events of Holy Week. Aled Jones will also guide viewers through a mix of hymns for Easter Sunday from St. George’s Roman Catholic Cathedral in Southwark.

Tim Pemberton, BBC Radio’s Head of Religion and Ethics, expressed the network’s commitment to fostering community reflection during this crucial time of year. “BBC Radio seeks to bring people together to hear remarkable stories and experience the power of music,” he said.

In addition to Easter-focused programming, the BBC will also air “Lent Talks” on BBC Radio 4, honoring the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed. These talks will involve reflections from notable theologians who will explore key lines from the Creed in relation to contemporary faith.

The programming highlights a broader series called “Faith and Hope” which spans several faiths and includes content from various BBC services in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, ensuring that the rich tapestry of religious observance is represented.

Daisy Scalchi, Head of Commissioning for Religion and Ethics at BBC Television, described the excitement surrounding this year’s offerings. “Whether audiences are religious or not, there is content here that will move, inspire, and delight,” she stated.

BBC Radio 3 will also feature a range of musical presentations, including a performance of Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion” led by internationally acclaimed conductor Sir Simon Rattle. This event will involve prestigious choirs and instrumentalists, promising to deliver an extraordinary musical experience.