Pilgrimage: The Road to Istanbul

Editorial

BBC One

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

Pilgrimage

Documentaries

Factual: Travel

Religion & Ethics

Seven celebrities tackle a modern-day pilgrimage that promotes tolerance for all cultures.

Celebrities take a journey of a lifetime. They all have different faiths and beliefs - will stepping in ancient footsteps on a spiritual journey broaden minds?

The Road to Istanbul

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

BBC One Yorks & Lincs HD

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 HD

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

BBC One London HD

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands

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

BBC One Yorkshire

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

BBC One East

BBC One Oxfordshire

BBC One Cambridgeshire HD

BBC One London

London

BBC One Channel Islands HD

BBC One West

BBC One East HD

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

BBC One South HD

BBC One North West HD

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 South West HD

BBC One Yorkshire HD

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 HD

BBC One Cambridgeshire

BBC One West Midlands

BBC One South East HD

BBC One South

BBC One Oxfordshire HD

BBC One North East & Cumbria

BBC One North West

BBC One East Midlands HD

BBC One West Midlands HD

BBC One Channel Islands

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

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

Simulcast of BBC One Northern Ireland in high definition. From 24/10/2012

BBC One Northern Ireland HD

Simulcast of BBC One Scotland in high definition. From 14/01/2013

BBC One Scotland HD

BBC One Wales

Wales

Simulcast of BBC One Wales in high definition. From 29/01/2013

BBC One Wales HD

Lee Ingleby

Joaquim Badia

Matt Nicholson

Barbara Masullo

Ed Wright

Colm Martin

Caroline Matthews

Samuel Palmer

Harjeet Chhokar

CTVC

Brett Jamison

Pilgrimage: The Road to Istanbul: Episode 3

Episode 3

BBC Two - Pilgrimage, The Road to Istanbul, Episode 3

The celebrities’ pilgrim journey comes to an end in the historic city of Istanbul.

The celebrities set off on the final leg of their pilgrimage and arrive in Turkey, where they head for the magnificent Suleymaniye Mosque in the historic city of Istanbul.

In this last episode, the pilgrims are on the tenth day of their journey and still have 650km to travel to reach Istanbul. Today’s route takes them through more Bulgarian forest in the Rhodope Mountains. The going isn’t easy, and the 1,500m climb takes its toll on the pilgrims. Near the summit, the incline increases, and Edwina and Pauline take a rest, leaving Olympian Fatima to lead Mim, Dom, Amar and Adrian to the very top and a breathtaking view.

Now trekking in a remote part of the pilgrimage, accommodation is limited, and the group must fend for themselves. They set up camp for the night in a nearby field, but erecting tents soon becomes difficult as the sun sets on the pilgrims.

After another night’s sleep broken by the sounds of Dom’s snoring, the group pack up and head on to the small town of Batak. They visit the small orthodox church of St Nedelya, where around 5,000 people were massacred by Ottoman militia looking to suppress a local uprising in the 19th century. The visit shocks the pilgrims and instigates a discussion about conflict in the name of religion and the battle between good and evil.

The following morning, the pilgrims follow the Sultans Trail into their third and final country, Turkey. For Fatima, a Christian, the journey into Turkey is a poignant one as both her biological parents were Turkish. She has never visited before and hopes this pilgrimage will answer her questions around her identity.

With aching feet, the pilgrims arrive in Vize, a small town where a local lady has erected a wishing tree. She invites all pilgrims on the trail to tie a ribbon to the tree and make a wish. Having placed their wishes, Amar discusses the family pressures around his lack of faith with Dom, whilst Edwina shares Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year ritual, with Pauline, Mim and Fatima as the sun sets.

The next day, the pilgrims are back on the road with just over 40 kilometres left to reach Istanbul. They pass through the small town of Sazlibosna, where they are greeted by Fikri, a local man who has been welcoming pilgrims since the trail began ten years ago. After some refreshments, the pilgrims set off on the home straight.

It is not long before they get their first glance of the historic city of Istanbul - an experience that proves hugely emotive for Pauline.  Having rested, the pilgrims head into the city, and it is a chance for Fatima to explore what could have been her homeland. Wandering the streets with Mim, Fatima decides to visit a mosque. The visit proves to be a liberating experience and helps Fatima to understand what life could have been like if she had been brought up Muslim.

Meanwhile, the remaining pilgrims visit a cultural centre dedicated to Sufism - a mystical form of Islam where worshippers dress in traditional clothing, play music and chant in devotion to God. The group is met by Busra, who welcomes them and invites them to take part in the communal meal before prayers begin. After an extraordinary feast, the pilgrims join the service, which proves an enlightening experience for atheist Dom.

Over breakfast on their final day in Istanbul, Adrian shares his views on the purpose of pilgrimage, while Amar realises the power people get from religion. Before they leave the city, the group sets off to visit the Suleymaniye Mosque, where Suleiman the Magnificent, after whom the pilgrimage is named, was buried in 1566. But will the journey have changed the pilgrims, and what will they be taking back with them after nearly two weeks on this path of peace?

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Seven celebrities of differing beliefs tackle a 2,200-km pilgrimage across Eastern Europe.

Seven celebrities of differing faiths and beliefs don backpacks and walking boots to tackle a modern-day, 2,200-km pilgrimage across Eastern Europe to the historic city of Istanbul.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Pilgrimage

The Road to Istanbul

Episode 3

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

About BBC One