BEST OF THE REST
PILGRIMAGE: THE ROAD TO ISTANBUL
BBC2, 9PM
CELEBS becoming pilgrims might have sounded gimmicky at first, but three series in, and this has proved a surprisingly thought-provoking and absorbing series.
Seven famous faces will take on an ancient journey, living as simple pilgrims and this time following an ancient military route to the historic city of Istanbul.
The group includes journalist Adrian Chiles, former politician Edwina Currie, Olympian Fatima Whitbread, broadcaster Mim Shaikh, television presenter Amar Latif, comedian Dom Joly and actor Pauline Mclynn.
Their wildly differing religious views make for some interesting debates as well as varied experiences for them all.
“If you’re religious and it makes you happy then bully for you, brilliant, but just leave me out of it,” says Dom.
While Muslim Mim says: “I have undeniable belief in God. You can see God everywhere.”
They begin in Serbia’s capital Belgrade, with backpacks, walking boots and a fighting spirit.
But with 1,250km to cover, the future is an untrodden path of discovery.
CELEBRITY MURDER MYSTERY
CHANNEL 5, 9PM
SIX celebrities with a passion for crime turn detective in this enjoyable romp through a murder mystery weekend.
These weekends are a thoroughly British pastime, and since we can’t go on one ourselves for the foreseeable, let’s watch one play out.
Travelling back to the 1920s, with costumes and characters to suit, are the Rev Richard Coles, broadcasters Angela Rippon and John Sergeant, singers Sheila Ferguson and Keith Duffy and actress Su Pollard.
Dropped into the middle of their own murder mystery plot, they have four days to crack clues and find the killer as the body count rises.
It all starts with a will reading. Some noses are put out of joint and before long there’s a gunshot and a death.
“We’re all in a state of extraordinary shock,” says John.
With a great cast of entertainers taking part, this is a good laugh.
Tune in tomorrow for part two when the killer is revealed.