Little has changed in more than 60 years of Songs of Praise, with it’s calming atmosphere helping to make it the longest-running religious television programme in the world.
And if you look carefully at back-to-back episodes of the show, you might spot two superfans who are in almost every congregation.
Trevor and Christine Ransome, a Cambridgeshire couple in their 80s, have travelled up and down the country and put thousands of kilometres on their car’s milometer to appear in dozens of recordings.
They have driven as far and wide as Glasgow and Penzance and have even sung in Crathie Kirk – a church regularly attended by the Royal Family when they are in Balmoral.
And the pair, who first met as teenagers at a church in Suffolk, were at their 91st programme on Wednesday night – not getting back to their home until 2am.
Trevor and Christine, who do not see themselves as superfans, used to follow Songs of Praise in their campervan – racking up huge numbers on their milometer.
While they have now ditched the motorhome for hotels, the pair are adamant they want to keep attending until they reach their 100th recording and beyond.
‘We started because we got married in the same month that the very first Songs of Praise recording aired in October 1961,’ Trevor told MailOnline.
‘We thought it would be fun and a great idea to try and attend Songs of Praise every year so that when the programme celebrates its 60th anniversary, we would be celebrating ours.
Trevor and Christine Ransome, a couple in their 80s, have travelled as far and wide as Glasgow and Penzance to appear in dozens of recordings
Christine and Trevor are seen in the congregation in one of the episodes of Songs of Praise
Pictured: Trevor and Christine are interviewed live on air back on 2021
‘Since then, we have gone on to achieve our 60th recording and just last night we were celebrating and singing the gospel in our 91st Songs of Praise appearance.’
‘We are now approaching our 100th and maybe we are age wise too. I think that is what Christine feels like when we crawl home at 2 in the morning!,’ Trevor joked.
Trevor and Christine now hold the record for the most Songs of Praise recordings attended – and are even on first name terms with the crew.
‘I think the production team are somewhat amused that we’re still attending Songs of Praise,’ Trevor, who used to work for a packaging company, said.
‘We are known by virtually all of the production team. They have become our friends.
‘They are polite, they are courteous and it is absolutely super watching them make a television program.’
‘But certainly, as far as we know, and according to those of the Songs of Praise team no one has ever attended as many Songs of Praise,’ he added.
‘I think they call us the superfans, or something like that.
‘We don’t regard ourselves as anything special, although we just love talking to people and also we love singing hymns.
‘And you know that’s really the main motivation, and it’s a wonderful way for us. And I will say this to you, because, as Christians, it’s a lovely way to express and sing our faith.’
Talking about all the places they have been too, Trevor said: ‘We used to travel around the country in a motorhome but we have got rid of that.
‘Now we stay in hotels if the recording is some distance from where we live in Cambridgeshire.
‘Last year were went down to Cornwall to a church in Heltsone and we also attended one in a church called Crathie Kirk which is almost Balmoral.
‘That gives you an idea of how far we travel – literally the length and breadth of the UK to try and attend every Songs of Praise recording we can.
‘We love the singing and the hymns. We love meeting people from all sorts of Christian traditions. We are also able to sing in some very nice places and beautiful cathedrals. Buildings of significant note that we wouldn’t normally be able to sing in.
Despite everything, Trevor and Christine maintain they are not superfans of the long-running religious television programme
The pair are known by virtually all of the production team who say they have become their friends
Trevor previously said that he and Christine often go backstage when they are on the show (pictured being interviewed live on air in 2021)
Pictured: The BBC Songs of Praise presenters at Westminster Abbey for the 60th anniversary programme in 2021
Trevor (pictured) and Christine got married in October 1961 – the same month that Songs of Praise first appeared on our television screens
It comes as eagle-eyed views wrote to the Mail, saying they had spotted the same couple on Songs of Praise every week but did not know who they were.
While some readers thought they were super-fans, others assumed due to their regular appearances they were members of the production crew.
Glenys Baron from Northampton said: ‘I watch Songs of Praise every week and I am amused at seeing the same man on many occasions.
‘Is he trying to get on as many Songs of Praise programmes as possible?? I am intrigued.’
David Winyard from Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire said: ‘My wife and I always watch the programme each week and often on the Sunday evening.
‘We enjoy the various presentations and people’s experiences in their lives and their journey of faith and we remember many of the hymns we have sung over many years.’
‘We feel sure that he must be a part of the programme production team,’ he added.
‘If so, or whatever the reason, please pass to him our admiration of his constant attendance at the many churches he must visit alongside the various presenters.’
Patricia Neill from Bangor, Northern Ireland said: ‘The same man appears regularly on Songs of Praise – pops up everywhere. I watch it each week and always look out for him.
‘I think I saw him interviewed some time ago and I’m sure he said he went to a Songs of Praise service on his wedding anniversary. It’s clear that he loves the hymns.’
The Ransomes attended their first Songs of Praise recording in Ealing, London, in 2008 and headed to Peckham two years later in 2010.
They quickly discovered a new hobby that combines singing and travel and since 2014 the pair have tried to go to every Songs of Praise recording.
Trevor and Christine were interviewed live on air in 2021- the year of their diamond wedding anniversary.
Trevor told the BBC: ‘I love the freedom, I love the joy with which everyone approaches it.
‘The choir is singing it, the congregation are up on their feet and I can’t help myself, you know? I’m joining in.’
Before retirement, Trevor worked for a packaging company and Christine was a shorthand typist.
Songs of Praise presenters Pam Rhodes, Aled Jones, Diane-Louise Jordan
Members of the Songs of Praise team sing in the new year on December 31, 2023
Aled Jones and Laura Wright during the Songs of Praise 60th anniversary special programme at Westminster Abbey in 2021
First aired in 1961, Songs of Praise is thought to be the world’s longest running religious TV programme.
The first show was broadcast from the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cardiff and since then it has been filmed in churches and cathedrals across the UK.
The programme was a regular feature in Sunday evening schedules before being switched to early afternoons in 2021.
Songs of Praise also played a key part in changing what could be broadcast on television.
Until the second half of the 20th century nothing was broadcast at all on Sundays between 6.15pm and 7.25pm.
The Church and the Government wanted to ensure the devout weren’t discouraged from attending evensong.
However, in 1958 the law was relaxed to allow religious programming only, paving the way for Songs Of Praise.