Church turns to web for Sunday services
Ant & Dec carry on Saturday night mayhem
ONLINE Rev Mark Dearnley records virtual service in St Albans
THE Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said the UK is “drawn between the need to keep life going” and “the necessary imposed isolation that we face” amid the pandemic.
Speaking during a recorded virtual Sunday service, broadcast across 39 local BBC radio stations yesterday, he said: “Good morning to all of you in this strange and difficult time in the life of our world.
“Today is Mothering Sunday, a day when traditionally, all went back to their mother church, to the place where they were nurtured, loved and formed into the ways of God.
“Nowadays, of course, we also often celebrate Mother’s Day, a day to thank those who have mothered us in all the ways that we needed to be cared for.
“It is usually a day of celebration, when we draw together with family and loved ones.
“And so this day is a strange one for those of us in the United Kingdom and indeed in most of the world, where we are drawn between our need to keep life going, to celebrate
JUSTIN WELBY ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
Rev Scott Holmer gives drive-through blessings relationships and kindness, and the fear and the necessary imposed isolation that we face.
“This is a day when we are not able to go and see those we love, or care for loved ones considered to be vulnerable.”
A vicar, meanwhile, accidentally set fire to his arm with a church candle while recording his first “virtual” service.
Simon Beach, 61, vicar of St Budeaux Parish Church in Plymouth, Devon, was not hurt during the mishap.
He was able to see the funny side and even posted the out-take online to raise the morale of parishioners.
In the video, he leans in to deliver the final part of his sermon before exclaiming calmly: “Oh dear, I’ve just caught fire.”
He said he had been teased by vicars, who joked about “being on fire for Jesus”. He added: “People have laughed and laughed, really. I just felt my arm getting a bit hot.”
Father Scott Holmer heard drive-through confessions by parishioners in a car park in Bowie, Maryland, America as he observed social distancing.
Jack Whitehall in action
ANT and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway enjoyed its biggest ever audience as families stayed home to watch TV over the weekend.
The Geordie duo had vowed to “put a smile on people’s faces” ahead of the show and they pulled in an average of 9.5 million viewers, peaking at 11.1 million, despite having no studio audience.
But it is also the last live show of the run as the boys are going into lockdown.
Dec said: “That is it, show is done. That is it for the lives. We will be back next week but it is on tape.”
The highlight was the End of the Show Show, with Olly Murs singing Dance With Me Tonight in the studio in front of dozens of videos of fans dancing along at home.
Insiders revealed the two final episodes of the series would go ahead using recorded items and “best bits”.
A source said: “This week’s show will be 60 minutes with pre-recorded links by Ant and Dec. It’ll include the final episode of mini-series Men in Brown and some of Ant and Dec’s favourite moments.
“The series finale on April 4 will be a 60-minute new special compilation show featuring some of SNT’s greatest moments from over the years with some new intros from the boys too.
“They have worked really hard to make sure the series can be completed in some form because they know people will want something to watch.”
The duo also launched a mental wellness campaign on screen on Saturday night amid the outbreak.
They have called on the nation to reach out to their loved ones as part of ITV’s Britain Get Talking campaign.
ITV have joined forces with YoungMinds and Mind to urge the public to support one another.
Ant said: “More of us will be apart or by ourselves than ever before. It’s going to be harder for some of us than it is for others.
“So if there’s someone you can’t be with right now, pick up the phone and show them that you care. “Reach out to the ones who need it most.” Other shows to benefit from people isolating at home including The Voice on ITV, which managed a peak of 5.4 million, its highest audience of the series, while on BBC1 the 10pm news got 4.5 million. Other ways to stay entertained on Saturday night included a live DJ set by fashion guru turned-DJ, Gok Wan. He launched House of Gok on Instagram, and told fans: “See you on the dance floor tonight at 8.30pm on instagram live!
Peak number of viewers tuning in to Saturday Night Takeaway
This day is a strange one for us in the United Kingdom