(Photo: BBC Archive)
In a groundbreaking move seventy years ago, the BBC introduced “Jesus of Nazareth,” a mini-series that marked the first televised depiction of Jesus’s life. This pioneering project set the stage for future religious programming on television.
Historical Context
The dawn of television began with the BBC’s first broadcast in 1936. Although initial ownership of TVs was limited, the number of sets surged around the time of the Queen’s Coronation in 1953. By 1954, the BBC envisioned an ambitious project: an eight-part series dramatizing Jesus’s life, with the final episode airing on Easter Sunday. Targeted at children, this series was a milestone in British television.
Production Details
Veteran children’s producer Joy Harington, alongside religious consultants Rev Robert C Walton and Rev Roy McKay, spent a year meticulously crafting the series. The narrative spanned Jesus’s life from adolescence to the Resurrection and was shot on location in Israel to ensure authenticity. Filming took place in iconic locales such as Galilee and Jerusalem, with live segments produced at Lime Grove Studio E. To resonate with contemporary audiences, the dialogue was modernized from the traditional King James Version.
Freda Lingstrom, head of Children’s Television, expressed the series’ mission in “Radio Times”: “Our aim is to awaken the interest of children in the origins of the most significant influence in their lives and help them to understand something of the background against which the Christian story was enacted.”
The Broadcast
The mini-series aired in 1956, with eight episodes shown every Sunday from February 12 to Easter Day, March 18. The episodes, from “Prologue: Preparing the Way” to “I Am Always with You,” chronicled the life of Jesus. The cast included notable actors such as Tom Fleming as Jesus and Barbara Lott as Mary Magdalene, among others.
Spotlight on Tom Fleming
Scottish actor Tom Fleming, son of a Baptist minister, took on the role of Jesus. Known for his commentary during Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953, Fleming’s portrayal was deeply influenced by his Christian faith. His career spanned various roles, including significant events like the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. Fleming was honored with an OBE in 1990 and the title of Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1998, before passing away in 2010 at the age of 82.
Companion Book
Accompanying the series, Joy Harington released a book through Brockhampton Press in 1956, later reprinted as a paperback by Hodder in 1963. It featured a foreword by BBC Director-General Sir Ian Jacob and received high praise from the Times Educational Supplement for its educational value.
Enduring Impact
Though intended for children, “Jesus of Nazareth” captivated viewers of all ages, achieving record audiences since the Coronation. It won the 1956 Guild of Television Producers and Directors award, a precursor to the BAFTA, and was re-aired during Holy Week in subsequent years. The series inspired further productions, including Harington’s “Paul of Tarsus” in 1960 and ITV’s 1977 mini-series of the same name. Today, the 1956 series is remembered as a pioneering effort that combined storytelling and faith, influencing religious programming for years to come.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
