Manchester Passion

{{Short description|2006 British television special}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}

{{Use British English|date=April 2012}}

{{Infobox television

| image =

| caption =

| producer = Andy King-Dabbs & Stephen Powell{{cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/easter-marked-with-a-passion-1027013 |title=Easter marked with a passion |date=15 February 2007 |first=Dean |last=Kirby |work=Manchester Evening News}}

| writer = Andy King-Dabbs & Stephen Powell

| network = BBC Three

| creator = Andy King-Dabbs & Stephen Powell

| starring = Darren Morfitt

| presenter = Keith Allen

| first_aired = {{Start date|2006|04|14|df=yes}}

| last_aired =

| country = United Kingdom

| runtime = 60 minutes

}}

Manchester Passion is a British television special which was broadcast by BBC Three on 14 April 2006.{{cite news |date=15 April 2006

|title=Manchester re-enacts Crucifixion |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4908894.stm |work=BBC News}} Created and scripted by Andy King-Dabbs and Stephen Powell as a follow-up to BBC Classical Music's previous BBC Three special, Flashmob – The Opera, it was a contemporary retelling of the Passion of Jesus Christ set to British popular music, broadcast live from various locations in Manchester, England, culminating with the procession of a large, lighted cross to the main stage at Albert Square.{{cite news|title=Day that Jesus came to the Arndale Centre|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/apr/15/religion.arts|accessdate=12 February 2016|work=The Guardian}} The broadcast was presented and narrated by Keith Allen, and starred Darren Morfitt as Jesus. Denise Johnson played Mary, Tim Booth played Judas, and Nicholas Bailey played Peter. Music was provided by a 16-piece string orchestra and soloists on accordion, cello, and guitar.{{cite web|url=http://www.channelten.co.uk/gos/viewtopic.php?t=177&sid=|title=BBC THREE invites public to Manchester Passion|date=6 April 2006|publisher=Channel Ten|accessdate=3 February 2017}} The BBC Executive Producer was Sue Judd and the music arrangements were by Philip Sheppard.

While originally held as a one-off event, Dutch producer Jacco Doornbos created a localized version of the special known as The Passion, which was first broadcast in the Netherlands in 2011. The Passion has since been broadcast annually in different Dutch cities, and its format has also been exported to other countries, including Belgium, Germany and the United States.{{cite web|last1=Nelson|first1=Carrie|title=7 Facts about Fox's next live musical, The Passion|url=http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/1111165/things-to-know-about-fox-next-live-musical-performance-the-passion|website=SheKnows|accessdate=17 February 2016}}{{cite news|title=TV Top 25: The Passion en dan heel lang niets|url=http://www.metronieuws.nl/showbizz/2015/04/tv-top-25-the-passion-en-dan-heel-lang-niets|accessdate=12 February 2016|work=Metro|date=5 April 2015|language=Dutch}}{{Cite web |title="Die Passion" bei RTL: Für Alexander Klaws ist Jesus "die größte Rolle, die man spielen kann" |url=https://www.rtl.de/cms/die-passion-bei-rtl-fuer-alexander-klaws-ist-jesus-die-groesste-rolle-die-man-spielen-kann-4951939.html |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=rtl.de |date=13 April 2022 |language=de}}{{cite web|title=Fox To Air 'The Passion' Live Musical About Jesus Hosted By Tyler Perry|url=https://deadline.com/2015/12/the-passion-live-musical-jesus-tyler-perry-fox-1201667399/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=15 December 2015|accessdate=12 February 2016}} In 2020 there would be another British version, held in Cardiff.{{cite web| url = https://www.ukpassion.org/| title = The Passion UK {{!}} Easter 2021 {{!}} Cardiff, Wales}}