(Feb. 21, 2015 - by Roger Reimer)  “Extreme makeover” reality TV shows that involve making dramatic changes—such as altering one’s personal appearance through plastic surgery or weight loss, or revamping a home—are as popular as ever.

Such shows highlight the aesthetic and emotional appeal of “before and after” transformation, turning the ordinary into something new and extraordinary. But it’s the prospect of a spiritual makeover that Whistling Frog Productions hopes will pique the attention of listeners across the U.K this Easter.

The Whistling Frog Productions team at Reach Beyond-UK produces clever, innovative radio programs that demonstrate the impact of the power of transformation, and thousands are taking notice—believers and nonbelievers alike.

“We believe the Lord has called us to make creative programming for secular stations,” says Colin Lowther, CEO of Reach Beyond-UK. “We occasionally receive a message from one of the stations to tell us that a person has contacted their website to say how much they enjoyed our program.”

Past experience shows that innovative radio programs, ranging from 30 seconds to 60 minutes in length, are attracting a growing audience, Lowther explained. “What we do know is that more than 80,000 listeners (most of them nonbelievers) heard the ‘Angel Show’ on 16 different stations across the U.K., and we prayed that God would reveal himself to them as they listened.”

The award-winning Christmas Eve special on angels, aired on the UKRD radio network in England in 2012 and in Ireland in 2014, answered questions such as these: What are angels? What do they do? What do they look like? Do people encounter them today?

Now the radio programming team is working on a five-minute “Easter Makeover” feature for Easter morning.

“At the heart of Easter is the message and promise of a richer and more lasting ‘transformation,’” Lowther noted. “By exploring the appeal and fascination of transformation in real life and on reality TV, interwoven skillfully with a low key discussion about Easter, this feature will seek to encourage listeners to consider the possibility and opportunity of this greater transformation afforded by the Christian faith.”

Among the ingredients will be expert and theological comments, personal stories of profound or dramatic change, music and something the creators call “vox pops,” made up of short interviews with people on the street.

Other bits of the program will share “expert” comments coming from a media practitioner with in-depth knowledge of reality TV and makeover shows and a theological communicator adept at relating faith to popular culture.

Personal testimonies from individuals for whom faith has brought powerful inner transformation—such as from someone with a background of drugs, prostitution and/or homelessness, or from someone from a more commonly experienced outlook like materialism and apathy—will continue the theme. Candid discussions and a selection of songs about change and transformation will complete the program.

To help fund the broadcast of this program, producer Bruce Gulland has undergone a bit of a transformation himself—not shaving for a month for so-called “Facial Hair February.” He took progress pictures every few days in different guises and locations

“Our material resources are not big, but our creative ideas are up there with the best,” Lowther said. “Of course, we credit God for giving us the creativity.”

Source: Reach Beyond