Filming has taken place in Calais for a special edition of Songs of Praise.

Pictures in newspaper reports show presenter Sally Magnusson outside a makeshift church made by migrants.

It is reported the programme will be aired this Sunday.

UKIP's Nigel Farage has labelled the programme overly political. He said: "[It's] an attempt by the BBC to try to influence the debate. I'm wholly opposed to it.

"It looks and feels like political activism to make us look at the migrant crisis differently."

Although a number of politicians have criticised the decision to film there, a number of high profile Christians have offered their support.

Revd Steve Chalke from Oasis who used to work on the show told Premier: "Songs of Praise is at its best and BBC religion is at its best when it engages with the real world. That was the founding charter of what the BBC was all about.

Gavin Shuker, the Labour MP for Luton South tweeted: "Well, the Jesus I know is the Jesus of the Migrant Camp."

Well, the Jesus I know is the Jesus of the Migrant Camp. pic.twitter.com/2tycUawf8u

— Gavin Shuker (@gavinshuker) August 10, 2015

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby has also backed the programme. On Twitter, he said: "The love of Christ is freely offered to all, celebrated everywhere, for everyone to know, well done #SongsOfPraise and @giles_fraser."

The love of Christ is freely offered to all, celebrated everywhere, for everyone to know, well done #SongsOfPraise and @giles_fraser

— Justin Welby ن (@JustinWelby) August 8, 2015

Listen to Revd Steve Chalke speaking to Premier's Marcus Jones here: