Ambitious new BBC Series Explores the Life and World of Jesus Christ

Will the BBC portray Jesus accurately?

By Jon Donnis

The BBC has commissioned a new four-part series exploring the life of Jesus Christ, aiming to reconstruct his world using historical research, archaeological evidence, and modern production techniques. The series is intended for BBC Television and BBC iPlayer, with a planned broadcast date in 2027.

On paper, the project is framed as a serious attempt to revisit one of history’s most influential figures with fresh academic and visual tools. It will draw on Gospel accounts alongside wider historical sources, placing Jesus within the political, religious and cultural tensions of his time. The production comes from Wonderhood Studios, a company known for large-scale documentary and factual storytelling.

But the announcement also arrives at a time when trust in the BBC is no longer as straightforward as it once was. Public confidence in the broadcaster has been repeatedly questioned in recent years, with debates around bias and editorial judgement continuing to follow many of its major factual projects. That backdrop is likely to shape how this series is received, regardless of its academic intent.

The central question for some viewers will not simply be how Jesus is portrayed, but how the BBC chooses to interpret him. Can a low trust publicly funded broadcaster still be trusted to handle such a culturally and religiously sensitive subject with full neutrality? Or will modern ideological woke framing, seep into the storytelling and shape the narrative in subtle ways?

At this stage, there are no answers, only expectations and suspicion in equal measure. The series has not yet aired, and its tone, framing and balance remain unknown. Whether it becomes a respected reassessment of a pivotal historical figure or another flashpoint in debates over media bias is something that will only become clear once it reaches screens.

Title: BBC Unveils Naturewatch as New Year-Round Wildlife Series

Image: Allan Roffey via BBC Press

By Jon Donnis

The BBC has announced Naturewatch, a new weekly video podcast set to launch this autumn on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, bringing audiences regular coverage of British wildlife throughout the year.

Designed to keep nature lovers connected with the UK's wildlife across every season, the new programme will deliver weekly updates on major nature stories, celebrate seasonal wildlife events, explore developments in the natural world and feature expert insight. Viewers and listeners can also expect reports on remarkable animal sightings from around the country.

Alongside each video episode, BBC Sounds will offer a dedicated audio-only question and answer programme. These bonus episodes will give audiences the opportunity to submit questions about wildlife and the natural world, with the hosts providing expert responses and discussion.

Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual, says: “Nature never stops - and neither should we. Every week, Naturewatch will give Springwatch fans - and all wildlife lovers - a new way to stay connected to the natural world, whether that’s on TV, iPlayer or Sounds. The BBC is committed to celebrating British nature across all our platforms, and we hope this new series will encourage audiences to fall in love with the natural world around them. By expanding the Watches brand we are making the BBC’s brilliant Natural History content even more accessible.”

Jonathan Kanagasooriam, Managing Editor, Podcast Strategy and Video, BBC Sounds, says: “Bringing Naturewatch to BBC Sounds is an exciting next step for one of the BBC’s most distinctive and valued nature brands. It gives us the opportunity to connect with audiences in the ways they increasingly want to watch and listen through our growing video podcast offer, while bringing people together around a shared love of the natural world. The bonus episodes on Sounds will create a rich, accessible space for nature fans to connect with the natural world, wherever they are.”

Jonny Keeling, Head of BBC Studios Natural History Unit says: 'People are passionate about British wildlife. We want to create a space for everyone to come together and share inspiring stories from the natural world in their area. This new podcast offers a chance to showcase extraordinary wildlife in an ever-changing seasonal landscape. We are thrilled to have this opportunity to build an even wider community of nature lovers.'

The new programme represents a significant expansion of the long-running Watches brand, offering continuous wildlife coverage rather than focusing on individual seasons. While further information regarding presenters, contributors and launch dates is still to be revealed, the BBC has confirmed additional announcements will be made in the coming months.

The broadcaster has also confirmed that, as part of its evolving commissioning strategy, Winterwatch will not be returning. Instead, Naturewatch will provide year-round coverage, including dedicated content throughout the winter months.

Meanwhile, fans of the flagship series can look forward to the return of Springwatch, which is scheduled to air for a three-week run in May 2027.

Banjo and Ro Return to Ulva as Grand Island Hotel Restoration Continues

Image: BBC

By Jon Donnis

The remarkable transformation of a derelict mansion on one of Scotland’s most remote islands is set to continue as Banjo Beale and his partner Ro return for a second series of Banjo and Ro’s Grand Island Hotel.

Following the success of the debut series, cameras will once again follow the couple as they continue their ambitious efforts to turn Ulva House into a boutique hotel destination. Produced by Hello Halo, the six-part series has been co-commissioned by BBC Scotland and BBC Factual Entertainment.

After relocating to the Isle of Ulva in 2025 with their dog Grampa, Banjo and Ro embraced the challenges that came with island life, limited resources and the enormous task of restoring an abandoned mansion. The new series picks up as work continues on the property, with the couple determined to push forward despite the pressures that come with such a demanding project.

Viewers can also expect some new additions to the household. Joining Banjo, Ro and Grampa is a Scottish Deerhound puppy named Cousin Jerry, while familiar faces from the local community and the team of handymen return to help keep the restoration moving.

Banjo says the new series raises the stakes even further. After exhausting their budget during the first stage of the project, he explains that creativity has become more important than ever. Alongside the ongoing work on Ulva House, the couple will be taking on even bigger plans while dealing with a growing collection of animals that includes puppies, peacocks and even a llama. He describes life on the island as unpredictable but says that is exactly what makes the experience so rewarding, promising plenty of hard work, humour and the occasional mishap along the way.

Ro offers a more cautious perspective on the latest chapter of their adventure. He jokes that most people would probably rest after renovating a crumbling mansion on a remote island, but Banjo instead decided the answer was more projects, more animals and even less money. According to Ro, every time completion feels close, Banjo appears with another ambitious idea, ensuring there is always another challenge waiting around the corner.

The series will also shine a light on the local characters who have become an important part of life on Ulva. Ro credits island ferryman Rhuri and neighbour Barry for helping keep both the project and Banjo grounded as the restoration continues.

The return of the series follows a strong response to its first outing. Banjo and Ro’s Grand Island Hotel proved particularly popular on BBC iPlayer, earning a place among the platform’s Top 10 BBC lifestyle titles of 2026. With the restoration still far from complete, the new series promises another look at the determination, creativity and community spirit required to bring the Grand Island Hotel vision to life.

Possession Teaser Released for Sky Limited Series

Image: Sky TV

By Jon Donnis

Sky has released a first look teaser for Possession, a five-part limited event series previously known as Inheritance. The supernatural thriller is created and written by Karla Crome and directed by Storm Saulter, and it brings together a cast led by Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jonny Lee Miller, Sheldon Shepherd and Bel Powley.

The story follows Claudia, played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw, an ambitious young bi-racial lawyer who travels to Jamaica to contest an inheritance claim brought by Cudjoe East, played by Sheldon Shepherd, against Oliver Connaught, played by Jonny Lee Miller, a wealthy white aristocrat. What begins as a legal dispute soon shifts when Claudia discovers the case is tied to Hope Hill, the Connaught family’s former plantation, a place that has long haunted her nightmares.

As the case develops, Claudia and Oliver are drawn deeper into the history of the estate, uncovering unsettling connections between the plantation’s brutal past and the injustices that continue to shape the present. The investigation forces both characters to confront truths that reach far beyond the courtroom.

Possession blends supernatural thriller elements with the atmosphere and energy of Jamaica, following Claudia’s journey into buried secrets and identity, while exploring how the past continues to shape the present in unexpected and disturbing ways.

Brenda Blethyn and Jessica Reynolds Return for Series Two of A Woman of Substance

Image: Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

Channel 4 has confirmed that Brenda Blethyn and Jessica Reynolds will return for a second series of A Woman of Substance, continuing the story of Emma Harte, the housemaid-turned-business mogul at the centre of the drama. The series is produced by The Forge Entertainment, part of Banijay UK, known for titles including National Treasure, The Buccaneers and Marriage.

Blethyn and Reynolds reprise their roles in the adaptation of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s bestselling novels, which follow Emma Harte’s rise as a determined and uncompromising figure across decades of personal and professional struggle. The first series proved a major success for Channel 4 streaming, becoming its most-watched drama in five years since It’s a Sin, with an average audience of three million per episode.

The first series concluded with a significant twist, as Emma’s granddaughter and chosen heir, Paula, revealed she had secretly married into the Fairley family. The decision left the future of Emma’s legacy uncertain and reopened old tensions that have long defined the Harte and Fairley rivalry.

The new series picks up as Emma emerges from the First World War and steps into the rapidly changing world of the 1920s. Her ambition to strengthen the Harte name remains relentless, alongside her ongoing drive to see the Fairley family held accountable. Her journey is complicated further by the presence of Paul McGill, described as a charismatic and difficult romantic force in her life, as well as a series of personal losses and betrayals that test her resilience.

Alongside the 1920s storyline, the series also continues in the 1970s, where an older Emma Harte faces a new battle to reclaim control of her life’s work from Jim Fairley. The narrative spans generations, reflecting both the personal cost of ambition and the enduring weight of legacy.

Channel 4 Announces Cast for Mog’s Bad Thing

Image: Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

Channel 4 has revealed the cast for Mog’s Bad Thing, a hand-drawn animated seasonal special from Lupus Films based on Judith Kerr’s classic picture book. The programme is set to air on Channel 4 this Christmas and continues the long-running screen life of the much-loved Mog stories.

Several familiar voices return to the world of Mog for this new adaptation. Adjoa Andoh returns as the Narrator, while Benedict Cumberbatch voices Mr Thomas and Claire Foy plays Mrs Thomas. Amelie Law returns as Debbie and Teddy Skelton returns as Nicky, continuing their roles from Mog’s Christmas.

The special also introduces a number of new cast members. John Thomson joins as Mr Bunce, Katherine Parkinson voices Mrs Ramsbottom, Mawaan Rizwan plays Ali, and Amelia Theodorou appears as Amy, adding to the ensemble for this festive instalment.

In Mog’s Bad Thing, the story follows Mog, the Thomas family’s tabby cat who is often in trouble despite her good intentions. During a garden cat show hosted by the family, Mog’s excitement leads her to do a “bad thing”, after which she hides away in the attic feeling sorry for herself and misses the beginning of the event. The story follows her journey as she tries to overcome her hiding place, make amends and find a way to help save the day.

The special is produced by Ruth Fielding and Camilla Deakin for Lupus Films, the studio behind Kensuke’s Kingdom and The Snowman and The Snowdog. It is written by Joanna Harrison and directed by Robin Shaw, who also worked on The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Mog’s Christmas. The production continues the adaptation of Judith Kerr’s celebrated Mog series, which has remained in print since 1970 and has sold over four million copies worldwide, translated into 24 languages.

The announcement follows the success of Channel 4’s BAFTA-nominated Mog’s Christmas, further extending the screen presence of Kerr’s enduring children’s character and her long-established place in British storytelling.

Katie Price: Nothing to Hide Trailer Released

Image: Sky TV

By Jon Donnis

The trailer has been released today for Katie Price: Nothing to Hide, offering a first look at the Sky Original four-part series from Louis Theroux’s BAFTA-winning Mindhouse, known for Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere and Lockerbie, alongside BAFTA and International Emmy-winning director Paddy Wivell.

The archive-led retrospective takes a documentary approach to Katie Price’s life, bringing together unseen footage and first-time, candid testimony from people closest to her. This includes family, friends, and both professional and personal relationships, as well as individuals who have been part of her world over the past three decades.

Since first appearing as her alter ego Jordan on Page 3 of The Sun in 1996, Katie Price has become one of the most photographed women of her generation. Her life has unfolded in the public eye through newspapers, magazines, reality television, and social media, covering marriages, motherhood, major commercial deals, scandal, cosmetic surgery, bankruptcy, and betrayal.

With new perspectives and previously unheard accounts, the series aims to provide fresh context to a life lived under constant public attention, moving beyond headlines to present a detailed portrait of one of Britain’s most recognisable celebrity figures.

The series is directed by Paddy Wivell, with Phelan Glen as series producer. Executive producers for Mindhouse are Arron Fellows and Emma Whitehead, with Maria Sharman serving as production executive. The series was commissioned for Sky by Hayley Reynolds, Head of Documentary Commissioning, and Kathryn Taylor, Commissioning Editor.

Katie Price: Nothing to Hide, a four-part Sky Original series, will be available on Sky and the streaming service NOW on 8 July.