Saint Peter is perhaps one of the most puzzling characters in history. For many people, he is the most important disciple and the "rock" of the Catholic church. But how did a simple Galilean fisherman become the first Pope? In DAVID SUCHET IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST. PETER, beloved actor David Suchet (Agatha Christie's Poirot) traces the footsteps of one of the most important figures in early Christianity, the man we know as St. Peter. In this major two-part documentary series produced for the BBC, Suchet travels from Peter's humble Galilean birthplace to the city of Jerusalem where a terrified Peter denies his beloved friend and teacher on the eve of the crucifixion. We encounter Peter's remarkable post-resurrection turnaround and learn about the vital role Peter played in keeping the early church from splintering. Then it's on to Rome where Suchet explores the question; how did a man of such humble origins become what many would call the first pope of the Roman Catholic Church? Along the way, Suchet seeks expertise and perspective from a variety of disciplines including Archaeologist Kate Raphael; Fr. Eugenio Alliata, Studium Biblicum Franciscanum; Orna Cohen, Chief Conservator, The Sea of Galilee Boat; Archaeologist Kurt Raveh, The Jesus Boat Project; Claire Pfann, University of the Holy Land; Karen Stern, Brooklyn College of the City of New York; Archaeologist Ronnie Reich, University of Haifa; Guy Steibel, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Archaeologist Shimon Gibson, University of the Holy Land, Jerusalem. Peter's character and what motivated him have always intrigued Suchet, himself a devout Christian. In this series, he'll uncover fragments of tradition and half whispered traces of Peter's life, revealing surprising new discoveries and theories about the man who shaped a faith that came to dominate western civilization. As Suchet states in the program's open: "Flawed, head strong, never fully understanding. A faithful friend yet a denier in the hour of need. Yet somehow, Peter pulled the Jesus movement back together when all seemed lost."
