BBC Pilgrimage Star Makes Heartbreaking Admission About Religious Shame
Award-winning comedian Hasan Al-Habib has delivered a poignant and deeply personal confession during filming for the BBC's popular series Pilgrimage: The Road to Holy Island, revealing he once felt profound shame about his Muslim faith and Iraqi heritage during his formative years.
Growing Up in a Post-9/11 World
In a candid segment from the show's eighth series, Hasan explained how his childhood was shaped by global events. "I was growing up post-9/11 during the Iraq War, and that's why, for a long time, I was kind of ashamed of being Iraqi," he shared. The comedian described how he actively tried to assimilate, stating, "I didn't like being seen as the face of this conflict, so I tried to be as white British as I possibly could."
Hasan discovered humor became his protective mechanism during this challenging period. "I realised that if you were funny, people liked you, and that was an invaluable currency for me at the time, because people didn't like me," he reflected. Now, however, he embraces his heritage professionally, acknowledging, "Being Iraqi now, career-wise, it has been a really good thing. It's definitely something I lean into now."
Celebrity Cast and Spiritual Journey
The new series features seven notable personalities undertaking this spiritual journey:
- Ashley Banjo - Britain's Got Talent champion and Dancing on Ice judge
- Ashley Blaker - Radio producer
- Hermione Norris - Cold Feet actress
- Jayne Middlemiss - Television and radio presenter
- Patsy Kensit - Actress and singer
- Tasha Ghouri - Love Island and Strictly Come Dancing star
- Hasan Al-Habib - Award-winning comedian
Hasan expressed enthusiasm for the program's deeper purpose, saying, "I'm really looking forward to the big questions and the searching questions that come as a part of doing this process. If you're a rational human being, you've got to wonder, what happens at the end of all this, or where did we come from?"
Tasha Ghouri's Emotional Mosque Experience
Another powerful moment occurred when Hasan accompanied Ashley Banjo and Tasha Ghouri to a mosque. Tasha described being profoundly moved by witnessing their prayers, telling co-star Hermione Norris, "I am never going to forget it, and I felt quite emotional just seeing them two just really embracing their religion."
She continued, "It was just powerful, and it made me realise we need to be more open-minded about religion and just not judge what people believe in, just because they believe in something different from what we may believe in."
Confronting Online Abuse and Ableism
Tasha also became tearful when discussing the online abuse she endured following her appearance on Love Island. The reality star, who has a cochlear implant, revealed, "I suffered with ableism while I was on a reality TV show. People use your disability as their point to hate somebody."
Despite the passage of time, the hurt remains fresh. "When people go on TikTok, making videos, literally taking the mick at how I spoke, it still gets to me now," she confessed. "It's literally three years ago, but it still gets to me. I think it's because I saw the impact it had on my family, my dad and mum had to see so many horrible comments about my disability."
Through her tears, Tasha added, "That's why now I have a stronger shield within me, really."
Spiritual Exploration and Broadcast Details
Hasan reflected on the unique opportunity the pilgrimage provides, describing it as "a blessing" to explore life's fundamental questions alongside others. The comedian, who admits to speaking limited Arabic and having visited Iraq only once, now finds strength in his heritage rather than shame.
Pilgrimage: The Road to Holy Island is currently available for streaming on BBC iPlayer, offering viewers an intimate look at these celebrities' spiritual journeys and personal revelations.
