Pilgrimage

Lee Ingleby (Narrator)

Born: January 20, 1976 in Burnley, Lancashire

Best Known For: Playing Martin Shaw's sidekick in Inspector George Gently.

Early-life: Born January 28, 1976, in Burnley. He was brought up in Brierfield, Lancashire and attended Edge End High School in Nelson - the same establishment that educated fellow actor John Simm. In fact, they had the same drama teacher who encouraged them both to take up acting professionally. Coincidentally, years later, Ingleby played Simm's father in a flashback sequence during Life on Mars. Ingleby's parents and sister appeared in amateur productions while he was growing up, and the acting bug bit him while appearing with the Burnley Youth Theatre.

Career: After studying at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), Ingleby landed his first regular role in 1997, playing Kevin Fitzpatrick in Soldier Soldier. Killer Net, Cadfael and Jonathan Creek followed, before he won the lead in the BBC's Nature Boy, alongside Paul McGann. He's rarely been out of work since, juggling stage and screen work. Other notable projects include Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Early Doors, The Street, Crooked House and, of course, Inspector George Gently. Recent projects include Being Human, Luther and an audio production of the Robin Hood legend, in which he played the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Quote: 'If someone's well-established, you always think ‘I won't know what to say to them because they're on a pedestal'. But actually, within 10 minutes, you forget who they are and what they've done before and they're just a bloke who enjoys working.'

Trivia: In 2015, Ingleby replaced Neil Morrissey as the voice of Bob the Builder.

Eshaan Akbar (Presenter)

Amanda Lovett (Presenter)

Spencer Matthews (Presenter)

Born: August 06, 1989 in London

Best Known For: Made in Chelsea.

Early-life: Spencer was born in London on August 6, 1989. He was educated at Eton and went on to work as a PR manager for a number of London clubs, including Movida, Amika and Boujis. He eventually moved into the world of stocks and shares to work as a broker.

Career: Matthews became known to the wider general public in 2011 when he was among the cast members of E4 reality show Made in Chelsea. He also appeared with other main cast members in the spin-off show Made in Chelsea: NYC.

Quote: 'I think I have every intention of settling down, I'm just not in a rush like many men of my age.'

Trivia: Matthews loves to skydive and snowboard. His parents own the Eden Rock Hotel in St Barths.

Christine McGuinness (Presenter)

Tom Rosenthal (Performer)

Born: January 14, 1988 in London

Best Known For: Friday Night Dinner.

Early-life: Thomas Alan Smith Rosenthal was born in London on January 14, 1988, the son of TV producer Christine Smith and sports presenter Jim Rosenthal.

Career: In 2011, Rosenthal began starring in Channel 4 comedy Friday Night Dinner alongside Simon Bird. His other TV credits include Plebs, Breathless and Broadchurch. When he is not acting, he is performing stand-up.

Quote: 'I still get petrified before I go on stage. I actually get worried if I'm not nervous beforehand.'

Trivia: Rosenthal supports Arsenal FC.

Sonali Shah (Presenter)

Born: July 26, 1980 in London

Best Known For: Newsround and various other presenting jobs.

Early-life: Born Sonali Gudka in London on July 26, 1980 to immigrant Indian parents. Sonali trained as a dancer for more than 10 years, studying Indian classical, Indian folk and Streetdance. Her parents run a pharmacy and she initially set her sights on a career in medicine.

Career: In 2002, Shah joined the BBC World Service as a producer and also presented World Business Report and The World Today. In the same year, she moved to BBC Radio 5 Live to produce Jeff Randall's Weekend Business. She then began reporting for Weekend Business and other shows, including Wake Up to Money. She made the move into TV as a relief presenter on Newsround and the move became permanent in 2006. She also reported for Sportsround. In 2010, Shah presented coverage of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. She has also reported on the Cricket World Cup, the Boat Race and Wimbledon. In 2014, Shah began presenting house-buying show Escape to the Country.

Quote: 'When I'm not working, I live in jeans and jumpers.'

Trivia: Shah supports Arsenal FC.

Michaela Strachan (Presenter)

Born: April 07, 1966 in Ewell, Surrey

Best Known For: The Really Wild Show.

Early-life: Born Michaela Evelyn Ann Strachan in Surrey on April 7, 1966. Her father was a building society manager who lost his job when she was in her teens - she claims the event has since shaped her approach to finance and has made her an avid saver. Strachan attended Claremont Fan Court School, Esher, a Christian Science school. Later, while at college, she briefly had jobs as an Avon lady and as a kissogram. After studying at ArtsEd London, Michaela performed in theatre before moving into children's TV.

Career: Strachan was a prominent personality on British Saturday morning TV in the 1980s thanks to such programmes as TV-am and Wide Awake Club with Timmy Mallett. In 1988 she hosted the pan-European show Boogie Box on the channel Music Box. In 1993, she joined the team of presenters of The Really Wild Show, and stayed with the series until its cancellation in 2006. Strachan starred as 'Her' in the music show The Hitman and Her alongside Pete Waterman. She has also featured in a small acting role in the BBC sitcom Game On. Since the 1990s, Strachan has been involved in a number of wildlife programmes, including Michaela's Wild Challenge, Springwatch and Autumnwatch. She is also a regular on the pantomime circuit. In January 2014, she was a contestant on ITV reality series Splash!

Quote: 'I once dreamt I was being chased by giant guinea pigs, who were skinning humans for coats. They caught me and I struck a deal, that I would help them capture people.'

Trivia: Strachan supports the World Vision charity. She lives in South Africa.

Azaan Akbar (Contributor)

Mohammed Akbar (Contributor)

Peter Brignall (Contributor)

Gigi Matthews (Contributor)

Theo Matthews (Contributor)

Eryl Parry (Contributor)

Sunandada Shah (Contributor)

Katie Williams (Contributor)

Caroline Matthews (Executive producer)

Tom Allright (Producer)

Ash Burnham (Producer)

Jemma Cox (Producer)

Robert McCourt (Producer)

Michele Kurland (Executive producer)

David Hill (Editor)

10:30 am - 11:30 am, Today on BBC One London (1)

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