Andrea Bocelli and Katherine Jenkins be among performers for the 50th anniversary celebrations for Sunday night TV show Songs of Praise. This will be the third of three broadcasts marking the anniversary.
Songs Of Praise, BBC One’s flagship Christian music programme, will mark its 50th anniversary this autumn with three very special programmes that will culminate in a spectacular celebration from London’s Alexandra Palace, where regular television broadcasting began. 7,000 people are to be filmed on 25 September and the programme will be shown in early October.
Presenters Aled Jones, Diane-Louise Jordan, Sally Magnusson and Pam Rhodes will also take part.
A 200-strong choir will accompany the solo artists.
The ensemble will include previous winners of the programme’s school choir of the year competition.
For the first anniversary programme, Fifty Years Ago, Songs Of Praise turns the clock back as Pam Rhodes returns to the Tabernacle Welsh Baptist Church to join the congregation as they sing the hymns chosen for that first broadcast. A children’s choir will also recreate the ever-popular All Things Bright And Beautiful and guest soloist Elin Manahan Thomas will perform the anthem originally sung by soprano Heather Harper. Former presenter Geoffrey Wheeler talks about his role and Sir Cliff Richard recalls life in the Sixties when Songs Of Praise was in its infancy.
For the second programme, Aled Jones introduces a special edition that features many of the magic moments from half a century of Songs Of Praise. Fifty Amazing Yearswill be a fascinating look at the most inspiring music, the most surprising places, the most extraordinary people and the most incredible stories of personal faith – a unique snapshot that illustrates why Songs Of Praise is a television institution that means so much to so many.
The inaugural Songs of Praise, on the first Sunday in October 1961, came from the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cardiff.
It has since been filmed in places of worship all over the UK as well as from locations including Moscow, Peking, The Falkland Islands and Australia.
It is the only peak-time religious programme on a free-to-air channel in Europe.
Fifty years on the programme, the longest running religious TV programme in the world, continues to showcase the very best in congregational hymn singing and inspirational music, featuring the very best choirs and soloists from across the UK and beyond.
Danny Cohen, Controller of BBC One said: “Songs Of Praise has reached an incredible milestone, and this is a great moment for the BBC to celebrate its contribution to broadcasting and the affection many viewers feel for the programme.”
Aaqil Ahmed, Head of BBC Religion and Ethics, and Commissioning Editor for Television said “Songs Of Praise is a broadcasting institution and is truly unique. For an incredible 50 years the programme has delighted and inspired generations and it continues to do so today. I hope that viewers will enjoy our special programmes to mark and celebrate half a century of broadcast history and join us to wish Songs Of Praise a very well deserved 50th anniversary.”
David Taviner, Series Editor, Songs Of Praise said: “It is good to look back and celebrate this significant milestone but we also want to look forward as Songs Of Praise continues to change with the times and reflect the rich variety of musical expressions of worship and faith. I like to think that Songs Of Praise is 50 years young.”