Live Preston Passion tells story of Christ's crucifixion

A contemporary retelling of the last hours of the life of Jesus is being televised live from Preston.

The Preston Passion combines live performance, music and pre-recorded drama, broadcast live from the city centre at midday.

Fern Britton will host the event and introduce three short pre-recorded dramas, shown simultaneously on a big screen in Preston and on BBC One.

All three dramas have been filmed around the North West.

Documentaries will be themed around the Passion of Christ, with inspiration drawn from the real lives of Preston residents, now and in the past.

The three documentaries will culminate in a live extravaganza which is set to include thousands of residents.

The production is being directed by Mark Murphy who worked on Liverpool's 2008 Capital of Culture opening ceremony.

In addition to local choirs singing traditional Easter music, large-scale choreographed crowd movements across the city will create "human crosses".

There will also be contemporary dance pieces and traditional local brass band music.

To close Preston Passion's live programme of performance, Mobo award-winning singer Jamelia will be performing Candy Staton's gospel classic You Got The Love.

Britton described the performance as "very, very moving".

"There are so many different parts and all of us have been working on it individually, and then yesterday we saw it all come together and it's incredible."

""It's a spectacle to feast on."

The Preston Passion is on BBC One from 12:00 BST.