Sky News to Follow Every Step of Britain's First Ever Papal State Visit and Stage Live Televised Debate

Last Updated on Tuesday, 14 September 2010 01:14 Tuesday, 14 September 2010 01:14

Sky News has announced details of its coverage of Pope Benedict XVI’s first state visit to Britain, which will be anchored by Sky News presenters Colin Brazier and Anna Botting.

Sky News will follow every step of the first papal visit to Britain for 28 years, from Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 September, with non-stop coverage of every key moment - on TV, on radio, online and on mobile.

During the course of the four day visit, Anna Botting and Colin Brazier will present live coverage from Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Birmingham. Sky correspondents will report live from locations across the UK, and a series of special packages will examine the key issues raised by the visit.

Chris Birkett, Executive Editor, Sky News said: “This will be the first papal visit to the UK in almost three decades and of great importance to millions across the world. Sky News will be providing the most comprehensive, detailed and insightful coverage of the visit, capturing every moment of the historic event.”

Sky News presenters will be joined by a range of experts and commentators, including former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe, a Catholic convert who was asked to be UK ambassador to the Vatican; Father Thomas Williams, a Catholic priest and professor of theology and ethics; and Sky News expert Alastair Bruce OBE.

On the eve of the visit, Sky News Political Editor Adam Boulton will chair a live televised debate: The Papal Visit: A Force for Good? Adam will be joined by some of the most outspoken voices from the UK and around the world including Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey; journalist and former Conservative MP, Matthew Parris, who describes himself as a “lapsed militant atheist”; Father Christopher Jamison, former Abbot of Worth Abbey; and Anne Widdecombe. Guests will discuss all the most controversial issues raised by the visit including; how the church has dealt with abuse within its ranks; its rejection of homosexuality; and the place of Catholicism in an increasingly secular Britain.

Throughout the visit, there will be further debate and insight from guests including Cherie Blair, singer Sinead O’Connor and human rights campaigner Bianca Jagger.

Sky News Online is hosting a dedicated papal microsite at www.skynews.com/pope with all the latest news stories, videos and a live blog. Webusers will be able to watch live streaming of the events and chat about them with their friends on Facebook. Users will also be able to debate the issues raised by the visit such as abortion, celibacy, and child abuse in a discussion area, and a video wall will show comment from prominent Catholics. An interactive map of the Pope’s route across the UK will showcase users’ tweets, pictures and videos from the events to capture a definitive social history of the visit, and an interactive timeline will provide details of all the Popes since the first century. Live content will also be streamed on the Sky News iPhone app.

Sky News Radio will be covering the Pope's visit for the IRN network of commercial radio stations and other radio clients. The historic event will be previewed with a series of packages from Monday 13 September and the team will provide reports and bulletins throughout the visit.

Sky News will broadcast live from all the main events:

Thursday 16 September:

Pope Benedict XVI arrives in Edinburgh where he will be received by Her Majesty The Queen at Holyrood House. Colin Brazier will present live.

Pope Benedict celebrates the first open-air mass of his visit to the UK in Bellahouston Park in Glasgow. Anna Botting will present live for TV and Richard Suchet for radio.

Friday 17 September

Pope Benedict XVI arrives in Twickenham, London, where there is a celebration of Catholic education including a service and speech to young people and religious leaders from different faiths. Colin Brazier will present live for TV and Richard Suchet for radio.

Later, Pope Benedict attends evening prayer at Westminster Abbey. Anna Botting will present live.

Saturday 18 September

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the second mass of his UK visit from Westminster Cathedral. Colin Brazier will present live.

Later, Pope Benedict attends an open air vigil for prayer, live from Hyde Park Central London. Anna Botting will present live.

Sunday 19 September

Pope Benedict XVI visits the West Midlands where he will celebrate the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman at a mass at Cofton Park in Birmingham. Colin Brazier will present live for TV and Joe Michalczuk for radio.