BBC One today announces The Hajj (w/t), a two part series which follows the 2015 Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain as she embarks on an intensely personal and emotional journey following one of the world’s biggest pilgrimages, the Hajj.

With her characteristic empathy, wit and wisdom, Nadiya is the perfect person to share with viewers her experience of one of the world’s truly great human spectacles.

Every year, millions of pilgrims converge on Mecca for one of the world's largest single gathering of people. Any Muslim, who is fit and healthy and with the means to do so, is expected to make the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.

Nadiya, herself, previously completed the Hajj for the first time in 2013. Now, on her return to Mecca, she’ll be there to witness the Hajj, immersing herself in her own spiritual journey and meeting pilgrims to hear their stories.

The series follows Nadiya from her preparation in England, to her arrival and exploration of the exclusively Muslim city of Mecca, through the exhilarating, gruelling and spiritually uplifting five days of Hajj itself with its rites and mass movement of three million people. After Hajj she will go on to Medina to visit the Prophet’s Mosque and Muhammad’s tomb.

Nadiya Hussain says: “The Hajj is one of the most intense and emotional experiences you can undertake and I’m delighted to be sharing my journey with BBC One viewers. I’m really looking forward to showing first-hand exactly what it is like to be there and meeting some of the other pilgrims and hearing their stories as well as finding out more about the cultural and historical significance of this incredible event.”

Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual says: “I'm delighted that Nadiya has agreed to be BBC One's guide to this amazing spectacle. She'll be right in the heart of the Hajj in what promises to be an emotional and uplifting journey."

Nadiya will witness all that comes with the Hajj - the heat, the crush, the food, the need for constant water, the humour that comes from mass discomfort, the uplifting joy of those taking part as well as meeting some of the British pilgrims, many of whom have deeply personal reasons for travelling.

The Hajj (w/t) was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director, BBC Content and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual. It is being made by Top Hat TV where the Executive Producer is Darren Kemp.