Pilgrimage

Seven well-known personalities, with differing faiths and beliefs, meet in northern Portugal to tackle a modern-day Catholic pilgrimage. Known as the Northern Way, their destination is the famous sanctuary in the city of Fatima, one of the biggest Catholic pilgrimage destinations in the world. 

Travelling by foot, road and train are actor Su Pollard, who was raised in the Church of England; Jewish actress Rita Simons; Pentecostal born-again Christian Shane Lynch of Boyzone fame; reality TV star and influencer Vicky Pattison, who is agnostic; Bobby Seagull, a practising Catholic, maths whizz and TV personality; Nabil Abdulrashid, a comedian and practising Muslim; and Paralympian skier Millie Knight, who is non-practising Church of England.

Living as pilgrims, they begin their adventure in the border town of Valenca and over 14 days the celebrity pilgrims will follow the 364-kilometre path as it winds its way south through stunning landscapes, passing places of historical and cultural interest.

With less than a week to go before they join tens of thousands of people in Fatima for the annual celebration of the Miracle of the Sun, the pilgrims decide to speed up their journey. They climb the 570 steps to the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, try the centuries-old tradition of suckling pig in Mealhada, and visit the tomb of one of the country's most famous women, the queen and saint Isabel.

In the medieval city of Coimbra, the group split up. Millie, Su, Vickie, Shane and Bobby visit the St Theresa convent and meet a Carmelite nun who served one of the three shepherd children. Nabil finds a mosque for Friday prayers and invites Rita to join him. Keen to connect with her own Jewish culture, Rita seeks out an old synagogue in Tamar and asks Millie to join her.

After 14 days and 364 kilometres to reach the famous Sanctuary of Fatima. Over 70,000 people from around the world gather in the sanctuary to celebrate the reported sighting of the Virgin Mary over a hundred years ago.

Seven celebrities of differing faiths and beliefs experience an emotional journey on a pilgrimage in north Wales, a route linked by churches dedicated to early Celtic Christian saints.

Immersing themselves on this spiritual journey are wildlife presenter Michaela Strachan, who places her faith in the natural world; Spencer Matthews, a former Made in Chelsea reality star who was christened in the Church of England but is still searching for answers to life's big questions; Sonali Shah, a journalist and TV presenter who grew up in a Jain family; comedian Eshaan Akbar, a lapsed Muslim; Amanda Lovett, a practising Catholic who was catapulted into the public eye in the first series of Traitors; actor Tom Rosenthal of Friday Night Dinner fame, who is irreligious; and TV personality and former model Christine McGuinness, who is spiritual but doesn't practise one particular faith.

Travelling on foot and by bus, the seven pilgrims begin their adventure at Flint Castle on the bank of the Dee Estuary and follow the coast path to Greenfield Valley, the official start of the 220km Pilgrim's Way.

The pilgrims head into Eryri National Park as the pilgrim path leads the group to one of Wales's most famous natural wonders, Aber Falls.

They take a detour to the island of Anglesey, which is rich in pre-Christian history. The pilgrim path then goes right past Yr Wyddfa, or Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales, where the group rise to the challenge and attempt the summit. Along the way, they discuss grief, forgiveness and the overwhelming power of nature.

The pilgrims' final destination is Bardsey Island, the fabled ‘Island of 20,000 Saints'. Along the way, they see spectacular landscapes, visit holy sites and engage in fasting, ritual and meditation.