To mark Good Friday, Melvyn Bragg sets out to unravel the many questions surrounding one of the Bible's most enigmatic and controversial figures: Mary Magdalene.

In the gospel accounts, Mary Magdalene plays a central role in the Easter story. She is there at the cross when Jesus is crucified and she is the key witness to the resurrection.

So why, despite no reference to it in the Bible, is Mary Magdalene remembered by so many primarily as the seductive prostitute whom Christ redeems?

Melvyn uncovers the real story behind Mary Magdalene's legendary status, from her vital role in the first centuries of Christianity to her portrayal in Jesus Christ Superstar and the Da Vinci Code. Show less