CRITIC'S CHOICE - SUNDAY TV; Following the path of Jesus.
Son Of GodBBC1, 9.10pm
THE source of faith to millions, he was a small-town carpenter turned religious revolutionary who changed history.
Now, 2,000 years on, this landmark series reexamines the extraordinary life of the man who became known as Jesus of Nazareth, or Son of God.
Using stunning computer imagery to recreate the Biblical times in which Jesus lived, the programme offers the first ever TV recreations of Nazareth, Bethlehem and Jerusalem in the first century.
Presented by former Middle East correspondent Jeremy Bowen, the programme begins its journey with firm evidence that Jesus actually existed.
It explores the fables that surround his birth, and using astrological indications, reveals that the star of Bethlehem may actually have been the result of a rare planetary alignment.
Visiting Bethlehem and neighbouring Palestine towns, the programme examines evidence that Jesus may have been born in a cave, how the manger and his house would have looked, where the wise men got their gifts and what games Jesus would have played as a boy.
We follow his life as a child in Nazareth through to his baptism, and asks what impact a trip to Jerusalem at the age of 12 could have had on Jesus's later mission.
Jeremy spends a night alone in the desert to get a taste of Jesus's spell in the wilderness and to understand what drove him to launch an unarmed campaign that put him on a collision course with the authorities.
More used to dodging bullets than making religious television, Jeremy greatly enjoyed making the series, and in particular the night he spent in the desert.
He says: "I wanted to find out for myself why Jesus went into the desert.
"There is a sense of stillness, even loneliness here which is hard to find in the 21st century. But maybe it was rare as well 2000 years ago, rare enough for people to want to come here and be on their own to think."
Series producer Jean Claude Bragard is confident the programme will make us sit up and listen.
He says: "The series will challenge the preconceptions of people from all points of view - whether they are Christians, agnostics or atheists.
"Some of the new finds back up stories that were hitherto dismissed as legends, while other discoveries question long-standing assumptions."
Heartbeat
ITV, 8.20pm
THERE'S more dastardly goings on in the picturesque Yorkshire village this week, as a chess tournament in Aidensfield sees a genius Russian arriving to pit his wits against a brilliant young local called Alan Buxton.
The Russian and some of his party, however, have more than just chess on their minds, and the police soon find themselves involved in a case of a deflection which someone is determined to stop - whatever the cost.
Elsewhere, the police find themselves searching for an exceptionally devious burglar who is cleverly taking precious collections and items from under the noses of locals.
Meanwhile, Claude Greengrass (the much-missed Bill Maynard) has finally decided not to return to Aidensfield and his house goes up for sale.
David (David Lonsdale) and Vernon (Geoffrey Hughes) fear that they could become homeless.
When a series of prospective buyers are being put off the house it soon becomes obvious that Vernon - as usual - is up to no good.
Very soon Aidensfield has a new permanent resident - and Vernon isn't going to be too pleased about it.
Also starring Jason Durr, Fiona Dolman, Philip Franks, Mike Jordan and Billy Pearce.
The Dave Gorman Collection
BBC2, 10.45pm
COMEDIAN Dave Gorman has been travelling thousands of miles to meet people with one thing in common - they're all called Dave Gorman.
His off-beat exploits have so far introduced us to Dave Gorman the East Fife FC chairman, and Dave Gorman the South of France resident who wasn't in when they called round.
Tonight, Dave is delighted to discover a rich tapestry of fellow Dave Gormans in Dublin, a city where anything is possible. But he is faced with disaster when a trip to the Middle East doesn't quite go according to plan.
London's Burning
ITV, 9.20pm
IT'S tough for Blackwatch, as family commitments take priority this week.
After role-call Pearce addresses the team - tomorrow is baby Eve's christening and he expects them all to be on their best behaviour.
The pump ladder is called to a house where a little girl, Caitlin, is locked in the bathroom.
Hi-Ho gets into the bathroom and discovers that Caitlin has locked herself in because she doesn't want to go to a dancing competition.
Can he talk her round?
Back at the station, Coleman tells Recall and Adam that the police want to see them over their sighting of the arsonist at a recent warehouse fire.
Recall tells Adam that they must go to the police, but Adam is reluctant - which is not surprising since the arsonist is his cousin.
Divisional officer Griggs asks Hyper to write an article about being a gay firefighter for the Brigade magazine, but Hyper doesn't want to be defined by his sexuality, and feels hurt.
Meanwhile, the pump ladder is called out to the church where Eve's christening is to take place.
The roof has fallen in, and Pearce is in a state of shock to find the church destroyed - which means no christening and no reception.
Or does it?
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| Title Annotation: | Features |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland) |
| Date: | Mar 31, 2001 |
| Words: | 891 |
| Previous Article: | CRITIC'S CHOICE - MONDAY TV; Dr Rob tracks the beast down. |
| Next Article: | Porter is cleared of morgue snatch. |
| Parade donkey dies after collision. |
| SOUNDCHECK: FROM SUPERSTAR TO WEE DINGY BAR. |
| END OF THE WEEK. |