Skip to content

Pilgrimage: The Road to the Scottish Isles

Broadcaster

BBC TWO

Executive Producers

Caroline Matthews and Michele Kurland

Series Producers

Stephanie Harvie Campbell and Samuel Palmer

Series Directors

Andrew Devlin, Libby Overton and Ashok Prasad

Quotes

"Dashes of comedy, but the programme has a way of ambushing us with oddly moving moments too…What could be an awkward collision of showbiz egos proves thought-provoking. Where else could you eavesdrop on a conversation between Scarlett Moffatt and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen about the existence of God?"

Radio Times

"I was delighted to see Pilgrimage return to our screens …in a shouty world where nobody seems to listen to each other, this series is an absolute tonic – whether you’re religious or not…It makes me think that a pilgrimage might be a useful trip for all of us to take, whether for holy reasons or just to get some headspace."

Radio Times

"...the chemistry among the walkers is just right, with curiosity and compromise the orders of the day…the theological musings always feel personal and genuinely meant."

Radio Times

"Throwing a bunch of celebs together for an extended period of time is usually a recipe for disaster, especially if they are talking about religion. But as this series returns, it proves discussions about the different faiths can be thought provoking."

Radio Times

Seven well-known personalities with differing faiths and beliefs put on their backpacks and waterproofs and set out on foot, by road and sea, travelling over 1,600km to learn about a key figure in early British Christianity, St Columba: an Irish monk born 1,500 years ago who helped spread the faith from Ireland to Scotland.

With only 15 days to complete their pilgrimage, they begin their adventure in Donegal in the Republic of Ireland, St Columba’s birthplace. From here, they make their way to Northern Ireland, visiting Londonderry, also known as Derry, where Columba is patron saint. After crossing the North Channel to western Scotland, their pilgrimage takes them through stunning landscapes into the Highlands. They explore the Outer Hebrides before heading back south to reach their final destination, the tiny island of Iona and the site of Columba’s most famous monastic settlement.

Following ancient paths and heritage walking trails are interior designer and non-conforming pagan Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen; England cricketing legend and practising Sikh Monty Panesar; actor Louisa Clein, who is Jewish; TV personality and agnostic Nick Hewer; social media influencer and Christian Scarlett Moffatt; comedian and Muslim Shazia Mirza; and Paralympian and lapsed Christian Will Bayley. They will live as modern-day pilgrims.

The pilgrims will visit key places of worship and rural communities, but will this journey of a lifetime change the way they think about themselves and their beliefs?