Original version

The BBC East region started on 1st May 1959 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One East.

BBC One East

The Nativity

Drama

Religion & Ethics

Drama revealing the human story beneath the classic biblical tale.

Drama revealing the human story beneath the classic biblical tale, from the courtship of Mary and Joseph in Nazareth to the birth of Jesus in a Bethlehem stable.

Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

BBC One HD

The BBC West region started on 1st September 1957 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One West.

BBC One West

The BBC South West region started on 20th April 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South West.

BBC One South West

The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

BBC One South

BBC One London

London

BBC One West Midlands

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands

BBC One North West

The BBC North East & Cumbria region started in 1959 (tbc) as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One North East & Cumbria.

BBC One North East & Cumbria

BBC One Yorkshire

BBC One Oxfordshire

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One South East

BBC One Cambridgeshire

BBC One Channel Islands

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

BBC One Wales

Wales

BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

BBC One Northern Ireland

The Nativity: Hour-Long Episodes

Ruth Kenley-Letts

Coky Giedroyc

Tony Jordan

Tatiana Maslany

Andrew Buchan

Neil Dudgeon

Peter Capaldi

John Lynch

Claudie Blakley

Gawn Grainger

Obi Abili

Jack Shepherd

Al Weaver

Ruth Negga

Howard Samuels

Ken Bones

Frances Barber

Art Malik

Vincent Regan

David Sterne

The Nativity: Hour-Long Episodes: Episode 1: Part One

Episode 1

Episode 1: Part One

Hour-Long Episodes

Part One

BBC One - The Nativity, Hour-Long Episodes, Part One

Mary counts her blessings when her parents arrange to marry her to a local carpenter.

Retelling of the classic biblical tale. Mary counts her blessings when her parents arrange to marry her to a local carpenter, Joseph. But events soon take an unusual turn.

In Nazareth, Mary counts her blessings when her parents arrange to marry her to a local carpenter, Joseph. He has a good heart, and she grows to love him as he struggles to build them a home under her mother's watchful eye. 

In Bethlehem, Thomas the shepherd struggles to pay his taxes while his wife lies ill. And out in the East, the Magi gather to discuss signs in the heavens that herald a great event.

Mary is visited by the Angel Gabriel, and she learns she will bear the son of God. Deeply troubled, and unable to tell Joseph of her dream, she travels to see her cousin Elisabeth, who is also mysteriously with child. 

Thomas the shepherd begs for more time to pay his taxes, but instead he has to watch as his animals are slaughtered before his eyes. 

Frustrated by the Magi Council's reluctance to investigate the celestial conjunction, Balthasar, Melchior and Gaspar resolve to set out on their own. They head west, towards Judaea.

BBC One

Omnibus versions of the drama revealing the human story beneath the classic biblical tale.

Omnibus editions of the drama revealing the human story beneath the classic biblical tale, from the courtship of Mary and Joseph in Nazareth to the birth of Jesus in a Bethlehem stable.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Nativity

Hour-Long Episodes

Episode 1: Part One

Contributors

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC One East

About BBC One