Pilgrimage 2026 line-up: Meet the 7 famous pilgrims in the cast
Your essential guide to the line-up of Pilgrimage: The Road to Holy Island.
Platform: BBC Two and iPlayer
Launch date: Monday 5 April 2026
Last updated: Tuesday 31 March 2026
Pilgrimage returns for 2026 with a new group of contestants embarking on the popular reality series, this time on a journey to Holy Island (Lindisfarne).
The show sees seven well-known personalities of different faiths and beliefs set off on a spectacular trail across the beautiful landscapes of North East England.
The participants travel on foot and by bus, carrying their own backpacks and staying in a variety of basic accommodations as they explore the lives of early Celtic Christian saints.
Here’s a guide to the pilgrims taking part this season.
Pilgrimage: The Road to Holy Island line-up
- Ashley Banjo
- Hermione Norris
- Patsy Kensit
- Tasha Ghouri
- Jayne Middlemiss
- Ashley Blaker
- Hasan Al-Habib
Ashley Banjo
Age: 37
Job: Leader of the dance troupe Diversity
Instagram: @ashleybanjo
Ashley Banjo is a practising Christian and the leader of the dance troupe Diversity. He said of why he's taking part: “As a Christian I wanted to do this pilgrimage, to continue my journey of discovery through discussion, by asking questions, and to be asked questions in the context of faith. But I'm also taking part to have a really good hike!
“So the pilgrimage to me not only represents the chance to explore my faith and meet some new people in the context of it, but to unplug and go on the walk of a lifetime.”
Hermione Norris
Age: 58
Job: Actor (Spooks, Cold Feet)
Instagram: @hermione_norris
Hermione Norris believes the divine can be found in all living things. Speaking about appearing on the show, she said: "Living a busy life, embarking on this pilgrimage allows me this rare opportunity to set aside time to walk, to question and to notice. For me, this is an uncommon gift.”
Patsy Kensit
Age: 57
Job: Actor
Instagram: @patsykensit
Patsy Kensit describes herself as a self-proclaimed “a la carte” Catholic. She said: “I’m joining Pilgrimage at a time when I feel the need to slow down and really listen, to myself, to others and to something beyond the noise of everyday life. I’ve spent much of my life moving forward but this feels like a rare chance to pause and reflect.
“I’m not sure what I’ll find along the way but I hope the journey will help me reconnect with what matters most and give me a deeper sense of perspective, gratitude and understanding - both of myself and the world around me.”
Tasha Ghouri
Age: 27
Job: TV personality
Instagram: @tashaghouri
Tasha Ghouri is an atheist. Speaking about why she wants to take part in Pilgrimage, Ghouri said: “Although I’m not religious, I want to take part in Pilgrimage because I’m genuinely curious and eager to step into something unfamiliar with an open heart and an open mind. I’m looking forward to learning alongside the other pilgrims, each of us coming from completely different backgrounds and beliefs.
“For me, this is about growth, reflection, and understanding faith from the inside out, not through assumptions or what other people say. I also want to explore what spirituality might mean beyond religion, and to do that with others who are also open to questioning and evolving.”
Jayne Middlemiss
Age: 56
Job: Radio presenter
Instagram: @jaynemiddlemiss
Jayne Middlemiss describes herself as spiritual. She said of the new experience: “I have travelled across the world taking pilgrimage in far flung places and have always wanted to return home and do the pilgrimage of my homeland. To go back and walk in the steps of ancestors and to connect to not only my past but the past of my family. It was an opportunity I wanted to very much embrace.”
Ashley Blaker
Age: 51
Job: Comedian
Instagram: @theashleyblaker
Ashley Blaker was previously ultra-Orthodox but is now a non-practising Jew. He said of joining the show: “I've been on quite the journey with my faith over the past few years, so I’m looking forward to having time to reflect and work out where I am now. I’m excited to see who I’ll be walking with and to hear their stories. I’m sure we’ll all learn a lot from each other.”
Hasan Al-Habib
Age: 31
Job: Stand-up comedian
Instagram: @amusingarab
Hasan Al-Habib is an observant Muslim. Speaking of joining Pilgrimage, he said: “For a practising Muslim like me, this show is an incredible opportunity. If, on the Day of Judgement, Allah asks me why I didn't perform the mandatory Islamic Pilgrimage of Hajj, I can now say, ‘Sorry, I didn't realise BBC Two's Pilgrimage series 8 was set in Northumberland.’”
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Authors
Helen Daly is the Deputy Digital Editor for Radio Times, overseeing new initiatives and commercial projects for the brand. She was previously Deputy TV Editor at a national publication. She has a BA in English Literature and an MA in Media & Journalism from Newcastle University.
