Paul Calvert spoke to David Suchet about how he became a Christian, whether he misses Poirot or not and his desire to see peace between the Abrahamic faiths.

David Suchet and Paul Calvert

David Suchet was in Bethlehem last week. He was there meeting Imams and Christian Palestinians, hearing their stories for a new series he's working on for Audible Amazon. Paul Calvert was able to interview him in Manger Square.

Paul: What are you doing in the Holy Land?

David: We are on a trip. We started in England on a big series for Audible Amazon, on David Suchet's Questions Of Faith. The first one is Can There Be Peace? What we are doing is speaking to the three Abrahamic faiths. We are talking to the Christians, Muslims and Jews and getting their point of view, challenging and finding out where they stand.

Here in Bethlehem I have had the privilege of speaking to Imams, Christians and Christian Palestinians, to see if I can find out what the tensions are and what is unifying them. It seems to be that everybody is holding up this city as an example to the world of how Christians and Muslims really co-exist and get on.

Paul: Has it given you a heart for and understanding about the Palestinian people?

David Suchet with the Mayor of Bethlehem

David: I'm learning every day. This is a real journey for me. I'm not a theologian, I'm an actor and I'm talking to people and learning as I go.

The more I learn, the more desperate I feel in my heart. Although there is a possibility for peace and everybody is working together, it's these great big theological issues; literal translations of the Bible; possession of land etc., which is separating people. Yet we all come from the same Abrahamic root. It's sad.

Paul: You are here in Bethlehem and Bethlehem is where the Christian faith started. Has it been a spiritual experience being here?

David: It's lovely for me. This is not my first time. The very first time I came here was many years ago, when it was a very different place. That was in 1975.

It is a very special place for me as a Christian. You know the Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity, I go down into the cave and see the place where Christians believe that Jesus was born and it's very moving. It's grounding. I think every Christian needs to come to the Holy Land, because it is the fifth gospel.

Paul: You are going to Jerusalem next and speaking to Jewish people. What do you want to hear from them?

David: I want to hear their point of view. I want to hear their stance. I want to learn where they are coming from. I want to know what supports their beliefs. I want to speak to both liberals who believe it is possible to unite and get together and I want to speak to Zionists. I want to speak to all sorts of people, to give me a really good overview of the problem as it is. I want this to always relate to the three Abrahamic faiths.

If you listen to Jesus, the belief of what He says, is that we should all love one another.

Paul: Are you wanting to come across in a very balanced way, to understand the Palestinian side and the Israeli side?