Channel 4 will screen the series of programmes on the Hajj
For the first time, the important religious and cultural spectacle of the Hajj will be comprehensively covered on British television as it unfolds, in a series of nightly films on Channel 4. Viewers will be able to experience the Hajj through the eyes of five pilgrims from the UK and overseas.
They will feature in two one-hour documentaries, at the commencement (Saturday 8th February, at 7pm) and conclusion (Saturday 15th February, 7pm) of the pilgrimage in a Channel 4 season, Hajj - the greatest trip on Earth.
The one-hour film, shown before the start of the Hajj, will help to explain and demystify Islam and introduce our cast of pilgrims.
Through the pilgrims' stories, we will explore the significance of the Hajj and what it means to be a good Muslim; what Islam brings to their lives and how their religious beliefs inform and influence the rest of their lives.
During the Hajj there will be 10-minute updates every evening from Monday 10th February to Friday 14th February at 7.50pm bringing viewers the very latest developments from Mecca, and show how the pilgrims are coping.
Each night Channel 4 will show the events of the preceding day of the Hajj, and explain all the major rites and sites.
Second-time pilgrim Serfraz Qayyum
Five very different pilgrims will be your eyes and ears on the ground, introducing the wonders and importance of the Hajj. A Channel 4 News team from ITN will follow the pilgrims every day to record what they are doing and how the Hajj is affecting them.
To achieve this unique coverage, several film crews will operate on a 24-hour schedule ensuring that all the key events are captured. Using one and two man teams with small, portable camera kits will ensure discretion and minimal disruption to the pilgrims.
The films will be edited overnight enabling the audience of Muslims and non-Muslims in Britain to follow the progress of the Hajj as it unfolds on Channel 4.
The daily films will culminate in a one-hour omnibus the following weekend, featuring more of the week's events and final interviews and filming with the pilgrims as they complete their Hajj and prepare to return home.
Find out more about the pilgrims Channel 4 will follow here and watch video.
Each day during the Hajj, this website will promote what is on air that night and after the programme you can also watch it online.
On Channel 4
