The acclaimed BBC Two series Pilgrimage is back for a new series this Spring, with seven well-known personalities following in the footsteps of the sixth-century Irish monk Saint Columba as they travel across the island of Ireland to Scotland.
For The Pilgrimage: The Road to the Scottish Isles, the BBC says the "celebrity pilgrims are interior designer and TV personality, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, who describes himself as a non-conforming pagan; England cricketing legend, Monty Panesar - a practising Sikh; actress, Louisa Clein, who is Jewish; TV personality Nick Hewer - an agnostic with Catholic roots; TV presenter and podcast host, social media influencer, Scarlett Moffatt - a Christian; comedian, Shazia Mirza - a Muslim; and Paralympian, Will Bayley - a lapsed Christian".
Teeing up the journey ahead, the broadcaster says: "Following ancient pilgrimages and heritage walking trails, the celebrity pilgrims begin their journey in the town of Donegal in the Republic of Ireland, then travel through Northern Ireland and over the sea by boat to western Scotland.
"From there, they head up towards the Highlands before exploring the Hebridean Isle of Lewis and Harris.
"They go to Stornaway and then to the Calanais Stones before arriving at their final destination, Iona, a tiny island in the Inner Hebrides and the site of Saint Columba's most revered monastery.
"Covering more than 1,600km, they visit places of worship, from pagan stones to an early Christian cave and a contemporary mosque and Sikh temple. This journey will test the pilgrims not just spiritually but physically too."
Daisy Scalchi, BBC Commissioning Editor, Religion & Ethics, added: "We are thrilled to see the wonderful Pilgrimage return for Spring 2022. This is an exceptional cast bringing a wide variety of perspectives to some of life's big questions, at a time when conversations around meaning and values are more important than ever."
