Churches prepare welcome for BBC's "honest and challenging" Passion

BBC1 has announced a major drama series on the last days of Jesus to be broadcast across Holy Week 2008.

Andrew Graystone, Director of the Churches' Media Council, encouraged the Christian community to welcome the BBC's Passion unreservedly. He has discussed the project extensively with the producer Nigel Stafford-Clark, and has seen extracts from the series, which is told from the point of view of Caiaphas, Pilate and the disciples.

"This is a straightforward account of the last few days of the life of Jesus, told with honesty and passion. Obviously it is a work of drama not theology. It wasn't conceived as an exercise in evangelism.

"But it springs directly from the story of the gospels. It promises to be the most honest and challenging account of Jesus seen on TV in many years. It will prompt believers and unbelievers alike to think about Jesus. We want to encourage and contribute to those discussions."

The Churches' Media Council has formed a group drawn from all the main Christian denominations and mission agencies to prepare for the series, which is likely to be seen by up to eight million viewers.

The group will provide briefing notes and suggestions for churches on how to use the series. They will also coordinate a panel of speakers who will be prepared to discuss the series in the national media.

"This Easter the whole country will be talking about Jesus," said Graystone. "Let's take a break from discussing the state of the church or the finer points of theology! Instead let's take our cue from this series and focus our discussions on the person of Jesus."