Fern Britton Meets... - Episode Guide

Fern Britton launches a new series, talking to four high profile figures about how their beliefs have shaped their lives. She begins with a heart to heart with Dolly Parton. The Queen of Country Music has a devoted army of fans and her last concert in the UK packed out London's giant O2 arena.

But away from her flirtatious stage image, Dolly has a spirituality that underpins everything she does. "I don't claim to be anything. Let God judge me. I think God wants us to have fun."

Also in the four part series, Fern talks to former Prime Minister Tony Blair; Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu; and actor Sheila Hancock.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has spent a lifetime fighting injustice in South Africa and other parts of the world. It won him a Nobel Peace Prize. In this frank and moving interview for the lead up to Christmas, he tells Fern Britton he is not an optimist, but a prisoner of hope.

He also gives her a unique insight into his ideas about God; he says that he never doubted that this was an omnipotent God, but when he meets him, he will certainly ask, 'Why is it that you test us, couldn't you think of a better way?'.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair tells Fern why he thinks faith has an important part to play in the modern world. He talks about his own conversion to Catholicism, and why British people are so reserved about discussing their beliefs. He also reveals his hopes for the faith foundation he has set up to encourage people from different religions to work together.

Sheila Hancock tells Fern why becoming a Quaker has filled a spiritual gap in her life. She lost her mother and two husbands to cancer and, for a time, lost her faith too. But after the death of her second husband, John Thaw, she found comfort in writing about her experiences and authored two books which became bestsellers.

Fern Britton returns with a new four part series for Advent, meeting people whose faith has played a special part in their lives.

Fern's first guest is June Brown who rose to fame as the gossipy Dot Cotton - now Branning - on EastEnders. She's now one of the soap's best loved characters, who wears her religious beliefs on her sleeve. June's on-screen conviction is mirrored off-camera and, just like her TV character, it has helped her overcome personal tragedies.

Clarissa Dickson Wright was one half of the Two Fat Ladies TV cookery duo, but is a complete character in her own right. As well as creating in the kitchen, Clarissa is an author and a champion of countryside pursuits. But as Fern discovers, Clarissa is lucky to be alive after a battle with alcohol and a hedonistic lifestyle. Clarissa says her Christian faith helped her pull through the dark times.

Fern Britton travels to America to meet one of its best-known political figures, the Reverend Jesse Jackson. He is an outspoken civil rights campaigner, and has run for President twice. While Jackson's supporters say he paved the way for Barack Obama, others have accused him of being divisive. But there is no denying that he has lived up to his catchphrase for the oppressed: "I am somebody".

Fern Britton meets Sir Cliff Richard, who has sold over 200 million records worldwide, and who, at the age of 70, says retirement is still not in his vocabulary.

Despite spending more than 50 years in an industry noted for hell-raising, Sir Cliff is a committed Christian who merely enjoys a glass of wine from his own vineyard, and he talks to Fern about the effect his faith has had on his life.

In the first of a four-part series, Fern Britton talks to Ann Widdecombe, whose feisty public approach as a politician once earned her the title of 'Doris Karloff'. Ann transformed her image when she moved from the floor of the House of Commons to the shiny floor of Strictly Come Dancing. Her faith has gone through a dramatic change, too; she became a high-profile convert to Catholicism after she became disillusioned with liberal reforms in the Anglican Church. Throughout it all, she spoke her mind, and does so again to Fern Britton.

In the second in her series of Advent interviews, Fern Britton talks to the girl from the Welsh valleys who has become a global singing star. Katherine Jenkins speaks candidly about her upbringing, the loss of her father, her love of music and her extraordinary determination to succeed. She has sold millions of albums and found fame and fortune - but what role does her Christian faith play? Friends and family give their unique perspective, and Fern explores the values that guide the singer's life.

He started off singing in working men's clubs in the north of England and rose to international stardom, performing for presidents and royalty. But Russell Watson counts his blessings every day, because he has fought off one illness that threatened his career and two brain tumours that threatened his life. Fern Britton talks to the singer known simply as The Voice.

Fern Britton interviews actor Brian Blessed and discovers that behind the famously loud voice is a man fascinated by religion and especially Jesus. Brian discusses his teenage breakdown and a love of adventure that has taken him up Everest three times. Friends Stephen Fry and Virginia McKenna pay tribute to one of Britain's most flamboyant actors.

Alfie Boe, the opera singer who sang from the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, used to polish cars on a factory production line. Now he's internationally known and has performed on some of the world's most famous stages. Fern meets Alfie and finds out how he was once so hard up, he had to sleep on a park bench. As his friend Matt Lucas says: It's a very romantic story. Something of the Billy Elliot about it.

Known to some as Captain Jack Harkness, John Barrowman is an actor, a singer, a writer and an all-round showman who describes himself as an entertainer with a capital E.

Fern Britton meets the man with a dual personality, born in Scotland but brought up in the United States. Barrowman talks frankly about what drives him on - and the beliefs that underpin his life.

Frank Bruno talks to Fern Britton about his rise from schoolboy tough guy to world heavyweight boxing champion - and one of Britain's best-loved sportsmen. But his biggest fight has been against mental illness; Frank reveals how his faith as helped him with that battle, and how he always has a Bible by his bedside and calls God his best friend.

He's the boy from Donegal, Ireland, who's been called the housewives' favourite and the king of the middle of the road. But Daniel O'Donnell has a huge fan base and has sold ten million albums worldwide. Fern Britton talks to Daniel about his rise from hotel dishwasher to millionaire performer - and the importance of his Catholic faith, which almost made him give up the love of his life.

Dionne Warwick is a music legend.

She's counted Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and the Beatles amongst her fans. Now she's celebrating 50 years in showbusiness and still performing in her seventies.

Dionne talks to Fern about her career and life, including her trail-blazing battle against racism, the death of her cousin Whitney Houston and her enduring faith. "I thank God every day," she says.

Contributors include Barry Manilow, legendary composer Burt Bacharach and Mary Wilson of the Supremes.

In the first of this four-part series Fern Britton talks to Susan Boyle, who was catapulted overnight from being an unemployed, middle-aged spinster living alone in a council house in Scotland to global stardom.

Speculation about her fragile state of mind has cast a shadow on her journey to fame and fortune. Fern discovers how her strong Catholic faith has helped sustain her during the rocky times, and discovers something new and startling which explains why Susan is the person she is.

Fern Britton talks to the BBC's world affairs editor John Simpson about how his faith has sustained him for over 40 years of reporting on world-changing events from the frontline.

He has been punched in the stomach by a British prime minister, had a gun held to his head more than once and has been wounded by American friendly fire in Iraq. But when this hard-bitten foreign correspondent heads out into some of the world's most dangerous places it is to the psalms that he turns to draw courage.

Ken Dodd is about to celebrate his showbiz diamond jubilee. Over sixty years he's competed with the Beatles in the charts, had a record breaking run at the London Palladium and thanks to the diddymen, put his hometown of Knotty Ash on the map.

This veteran of variety nearly died at the age of two and believes that his survival is evidence that God has a purpose for him. Doddy, as he is affectionately known, talks to Fern Britton about his life, and how his faith has helped him through triumphs and trials of an incredible career spanning six decades.

Fern Britton meets 400m runner Christine Ohuruogu. With two world titles, Olympic gold, Olympic silver and a Commonwealth gold to her name, she is one of Britain's most successful female athletes. Fern discovers how Christine's fierce work ethic, close-knit family and faith has given her the drive to succeed even during the turbulent times in her career.

Donny Osmond looks back on 50 years in show business, from his first appearance on television aged five, through the highs and lows of being a teenybopper idol and the times when he questioned his Mormon faith.

Showbusiness legend Nicholas Parsons shares extraordinary anecdotes from his 70 years on radio, stage and screen, revealing how his parents stood between him and his acting career and how his faith was tested by his wartime experiences. With contributions from Just a Minute regulars Paul Merton and Jenny Éclair.

Britain's most decorated Paralympian, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, looks back on a golden sporting career, discusses her current role in the House of Lords and reflects on the part that faith has played in shaping her outlook on life.

Former Communards band member Richard Coles explores his extraordinary journey from 80s pop star to Church of England vicar, from his chart successes and days of drug taking excess to his role as parish priest of Finedon. Friends and colleagues including Ian Hislop, Chris Evans and Gogglebox's Reverend Kate Bottley all share their anecdotes.

Boyzone's Shane Lynch talks to Fern Britton about the highs and lows of life as a member of one of the most successful boy bands in history - the euphoria of performing on stage, the anguish at Stephen Gately's death and how he dabbled in the occult before a life-changing religious conversion.

Fern Britton meets European, Commonwealth, World and Olympic gold medallist Linford Christie. A failed drugs test marred the end of Linford's career, although he's always denied any wrongdoing. Today he is coach to some of the rising stars of Team GB. He chats to Fern about his life, career and faith.

Paddy Ashdown talks to Fern Britton about a career which has taken him from war zones to campaign trails, and about how growing up in Northern Ireland and his experiences of war have shaped his religious beliefs.

In the final episode of the series, Fern talks to one of Britain's best-known businesswomen, so-called first lady of football and Lord Sugar's right-hand woman in the boardroom - Karren Brady, Baroness Brady of Knightsbridge.

Karren is a Catholic and says the description that suits her best is working mother. In the concluding part of this Advent series, she talks to Fern about her remarkable career, life and faith.

Fern meets comedian, singer and Pointless presenter Alexander Armstrong, who talks candidly about the painful experience of being packed off to boarding school at the age of seven. He tells Fern that it was at boarding school that he was given the opportunity to develop his vocal talents and explains how this became the foundation of his Christian faith. He spills the beans on the hissy fit with comedy partner Ben Miller and reveals an obsession with llamas, and he and Fern have a stab at guessing Her Majesty the Queen's best Pointless subjects.

Fern Britton meets boxing legend and two-time world champion Nigel Benn. He charts his glittering career but also shares his more troubled personal journey. One that took him from a lifestyle of womanising and drug-taking, to the depths of despair and near suicide, before his conversion to Christianity ten years ago changed his life completely.

Fern Britton meets former Conservative Cabinet member Michael Gove, who played a prominent role in the Brexit campaign and then ran for the Tory party leadership, after withdrawing his support for former ally Boris Johnson. He talks about his career and his faith and the convictions that underpin his life.

Fern meets Rebecca Ferguson, the former teenage mum who became an X-Factor singing sensation. Rebecca reveals how her Christian faith got her through troubled times, both on the show that brought her overnight fame and in the years that followed. From being the victim of fraud to being left to bring up a child on her own, Rebecca says she is speaking out to help others.

Fern Britton meets American jazz singer-songwriter Gregory Porter, who has won two Grammy Awards and has a huge following. One of eight children raised in a single-parent family, Gregory's journey to stardom has been a long and sometimes difficult one. He reflects on his upbringing in small-town America, as well as how the influence of his mother, a pastor and powerful force for good, lives on in his music.

Fern Britton speaks to Paralympic athlete Stef Reid. Stef has won two silver medals at the Paralympics and a gold in the World Championships, and she also became a model on the catwalk at London Fashion Week.Stef thought she was going to die after a boating accident as a teenager led to the lower part of one leg being amputated, but she survived and committed her life to God - a faith which is still as strong today.

Fern Britton speaks to recording artist and actress Barbara Dickson. Barbara describes how, a folk singer by heart, she was restyled as a popstar, but has always been cautious about the shallowness of fame. Shereveals that at the height of her success she came close to breaking point, after suffering from exhaustion and anxiety. Barbara also talks about how her conversion to Catholicism helped her overcome many obstacles and how faith is a key part of her life.

Fern Britton meets the Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, chaplain to the speaker of the House of Commons, who is responsible for the spiritual welfare of MPs. Also a chaplain to the Queen, Rose reveals how she had to battle racism and sexism to get to the role she has today - at the centre of the British establishment.