MARK GOODACRE is interviewed in Inspire Magazine about his work on the BBC'S The Passion. Excerpt:

Mark was asked by producer Nigel Stafford-Clark to draw up a historical background on the story in advance of the production. As Frank Deasy's script took shape and filming began he remained on hand to deliver expert advice when needed.

Mark argues that the drama couldn't be taken literally from the Gospels.

"If you try to stick too strictly to the Gospels you sacrifice drama. So I tried not to be a scholarly nerd. Otherwise you end up with a wooden, literalistic interpretation, not drama," he says.

Instead he directed the production to a wide range of sources, including Josephus, the Jewish historian who lived in the first century AD.

The aspects that Mark was most keen to see presented in a new light were the portrayals of Pilate, Mary Magdalene and, in particular, the High Priest Caiaphas.