Fern Britton Meets... - Season 5

In the first of this four-part series Fern Britton talks to Susan Boyle, who was catapulted overnight from being an unemployed, middle-aged spinster living alone in a council house in Scotland to global stardom.

Speculation about her fragile state of mind has cast a shadow on her journey to fame and fortune. Fern discovers how her strong Catholic faith has helped sustain her during the rocky times, and discovers something new and startling which explains why Susan is the person she is.

Fern Britton talks to the BBC's world affairs editor John Simpson about how his faith has sustained him for over 40 years of reporting on world-changing events from the frontline.

He has been punched in the stomach by a British prime minister, had a gun held to his head more than once and has been wounded by American friendly fire in Iraq. But when this hard-bitten foreign correspondent heads out into some of the world's most dangerous places it is to the psalms that he turns to draw courage.

Ken Dodd is about to celebrate his showbiz diamond jubilee. Over sixty years he's competed with the Beatles in the charts, had a record breaking run at the London Palladium and thanks to the diddymen, put his hometown of Knotty Ash on the map.

This veteran of variety nearly died at the age of two and believes that his survival is evidence that God has a purpose for him. Doddy, as he is affectionately known, talks to Fern Britton about his life, and how his faith has helped him through triumphs and trials of an incredible career spanning six decades.

Fern Britton meets 400m runner Christine Ohuruogu. With two world titles, Olympic gold, Olympic silver and a Commonwealth gold to her name, she is one of Britain's most successful female athletes. Fern discovers how Christine's fierce work ethic, close-knit family and faith has given her the drive to succeed even during the turbulent times in her career.