Channel 4 to screen 'Priest Idol'

Channel 4 will screen a new series which aims to boost a congregation in a parish with poor church attendance.
With the working title Priest Idol, the show will give a vicar 12 months to boost the church's turnout.

Backed by advisors, the vicar will be able to spend an undisclosed sum of money on anything he or she thinks will appeal to parishioners.

Being filmed in Wakefield, west Yorkshire, the three-part series is due to be broadcast at the end of 2005.

'Forward-looking'

"It will feature a parish whose church is on the verge of closing, attracting only eight or nine people each week," a Channel 4 spokesman said, "but it is quite a forward-looking area which is willing to risk a new approach."

The vicar at the centre of the series will not be selected via a Pop Idol-style talent contest, the spokesman said.

He added: "By the end of the year the vicar will have to convince the local bishop and archbishop that he or she is the person for the job."

The series is being made by independent production company Diverse.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/t...dio/3662074.stm


... okay

Oh dear... looks like the production company were running out of idea's!

how....lame......

Kinda treating religion like a joke Not that I mind (no offense)

That's almost as bad as that 'Trading Spouses' show.

lmfao

What has tv become...

yep, which has been ripped off the british 'wife swap' show

we have the *ahem* 'privilage" of having that trash on our television here in australia... great to be getting more american garbage shows

Unfortunately this one appears to be British

Just when you think reality TV can't stoop any lower...it can.

I love Trading Spouses, it's so funny especially when the kids start crying

GOsh they come up with the stupidest ideas. How are you.......what if......awe never mind......

Wow we sure do have some good tv shows on nowadays!

"Wife Swap" is coming this fall on CBS or ABC (one of those networks)

Priest idol would be more interesting if said priest was trapped in a house with 15 voluptuous goddesses of varying nationalities, all trying to seduce him.

Will Father James be able stay on the path of celibacy ?

wth... great, now people will have even more grounds to claim that the church is all about passing the plate, not saving souls.