Manor School pupils who will give their view of Christianity in the TV show Jesus 2000. From left, Chris Maltby, Tom Durham, Sarah Cunliffe. Front, Sophie Hunter, Jess Elsey Picture: Mike Tipping

Teenagers from a York school are to appear on a Sunday morning television programme about Jesus.

The weekly ITV programme will feature pupils and former students from Manor CE School in York talking about what Jesus means to them, 2,000 years after his birth.

Over the next few weeks the group, who were filmed in an English classroom, will feature in various discussions about their Christian beliefs.

Sarah Cunliffe, 15, who features in Sunday's programme, said: "They asked us what we believed in and I said I didn't believe in God but I had respect for people who did.

"I said I admired people who stood up for what they believe in."

They also spoke about how they imagined Jesus would react if he came back today. Chris Maltby, 16, said: "We generally agreed that he would find a lot of problems in the world today like crime and wars that really aren't necessary.

"I think it's up to us to change things that we can at the moment. If we can change things then it shouldn't really need Jesus to come back.

"I think Jesus is in heaven and he will come back some time."

Karen Gott, head of English and drama, said members of the group were among those who performed in Harrogate recently in the JC2000 arts festival - a festival to celebrate the anniversary of Jesus' birth.

The programme, called Jesus 2000, is being screened at 11am on Sundays.

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