Jill Halfpenny’s Easter Journeys

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Jill Halfpenny exploresEaster traditions in her beloved Northumbria.

Actress Jill Halfpenny goes on a personal journey through the north east of England and the Scottish Borders to explore Easter traditions and meet the people who keep them alive.

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Jill Halfpenny

Brendan Hughes

Harry Bell

Joseph Briffa

Tern Television Productions Ltd

Jill Halfpenny’s Easter Journeys: Series 1: Episode 2

Episode 2

BBC One - Jill Halfpenny’s Easter Journeys, Series 1, Episode 2

Actress Jill Halfpenny travels across the North East on a journey of discovery at Easter.

Actress Jill Halfpenny goes in search of the Cuddy duck, learns about life in Anglo-Saxon Northumbria and discovers the inspiration behind the Angel of the North.

Actress Jill Halfpenny, one of the north east’s best-loved and most dedicated champions, continues her personal journey of discovery through the region, exploring how ancient Christian paths crisscrossed through this part of world, inspiring unique traditions and customs, many of which are still celebrated at Easter.

Jill returns to her hometown of Gateshead, visiting the world-famous Angel of the North and meeting its creator, Sir Antony Gormley, who talks to Jill about his own surprising thoughts on angels.

She also visits the Hearts of Oak pub in Peterlee, where Jill rediscovers a traditional game from her youth – egg jarping. The pub brought the tradition back to life and now hosts the official world championships every Easter.

Walking in the footsteps of the patron saint of Northumberland, St Cuthbert, Jill visits Coquet Island, home to a number of cuddy ducks, eider ducks named after St Cuthbert, who cared deeply about animals and nature. And at the Anglo-Saxon village at Jarrow Hall, she hears about how the Venerable Bede, who lived in the nearby monastery in the 8th century, is thought to have first identified the origins of the term Easter and recorded the calculation of when it should fall. 

She ends her journey at the magnificent cathedral in Durham, where the canon washes Jill’s feet and explains the thinking behind the tradition. Jill then joins gospel choir Voices of Virtue in a celebratory song.

Jill Halfpenny’s Easter Journeys: Series 1

BBC One

Jill Halfpenny explores Easter traditions in her beloved Northumbria.

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