Saturday Live

Sharleen Spiteri was just 21 when she found herself and her band Texas at number 8 in the charts with I Don't Want A Lover. Almost 30 years later, she's still writing and recording - back with Texas since 2013 after a spell as a solo artist. Her new album Jump on Board is out now. Texas will play the Isle Of Wight Festival on Saturday 10th June and the UK tour kicks off on 11th September in Cardiff. So many 50th anniversaries this year, and not least among them the Summer of Love, when nearly 100,000 long haired layabouts (quote) travelled to San Francisco to change the world. Reviews are mixed, concerning their success, among them Nick Campion's. He's an academic specialising in the cultural history of astronomy and astrology (indeed he used to do the horoscopes in a daily paper) - and his book The New Age in the Modern West looks back to that fabled time. Well, she might not have made it quite to San Francisco, but Esta Charkham did it make it to Holborn and joined the cast of Zigger Zagger, the National Yo

Actor Dame Penelope Keith; interior designer Nicky Haslam; writer Alex Wheatle and conservationist Dr Amy Dickman join Aasmah Mir and the Revd Richard Coles.Dame Penelope Keith, best known for her television roles in the Good Life and To The Manor Born, celebrates village life in the Channel 4 series Hidden Villages and is currently on a quest to find Britain's Village of the Year.Interior designer and socialite Nicky Haslam is performing his cabaret show - featuring songs by Cole Porter, Kurt Weill and Irving Berlin - at the Pheasantry in London in May and June. His company has designed homes for Mick Jagger, Bryan Ferry, Rod Stewart, Ringo Starr, Charles Saatchi and Rupert Everett among others. Alex Wheatle is a writer of young adult fiction who won the Guardian's children's fiction prize in 2016. His latest book, Straight Outta Crongton, is the third instalment of his Crongton series of novels. Dr Amy Dickman is a conservation biologist with a particular interest in the maintenance of threatened wildlife p

Aasmah Mir and the Rev. Richard Coles are joined by the singer/songwriter Leo Sayer. Still touring 40 years after he reinvented the Pierrot for Top of the Pops, he discusses his popularity in south East Asia, playing the harmonica, and singing karaoke with businessmen. The former rugby player Martin Bayfield talks about on being the other side of the camera, and how his 6'10" frame led to the role of Hagrid's body double. Vlogger Lucy Earl's tips on grammar and pronunciation have been viewed by 12 million people worldwide. She reveals the most common mistakes. And adventurer Charley Boorman describes his recovery after a major motorbike accident. Esther Rantzen shares her Inheritance Tracks: Don't Put Your Daughter on the Stage Mrs Worthington by Noel Coward; and With a Little Help From My Friends performed by Wet Wet Wet.Leo Sayer is about to embark on a 25 date tour of the UK throughout May and June. English with Lucy is on Youtube Long Way Back by Charley Boorman is out now.Producer: Louise Corley Edit

Roy Hudd is a national treasure. He's been entertaining, acting and generally having fun on TV, the stage and wireless for many decades. Next month he'll be 81 years old and he's still working. Imelda May grew up in the Liberties, once the toughest slum in Dublin, where she learned the art of song and acquired a noble quiff, which made her the Rockabilly queen of the Dublin scene. Her breakthrough came on Jools Holland's 'Later' (she also supported his band on tour) and was snapped up by the likes of Bono and The Chieftains, who know a proper voice when they hear one. The quiff is no more, to mark a change of emphasis and tone, I guess, and her new album, Life Love Flesh Blood is produced by T Bone Burnett, does what it says on the tin. .New Zealander Stuart Barnes started working as a shepherd when he was just 11. He now spends his time travelling and running a Dog and Duck Show. He talks about his lifelong love of animals, developing his knowledge of animal behaviour and ways to communicate with dogsHard to

Comedian Milton Jones; musician Sam Sweeney; opera impresario Michael Volpe and curator Catherine Howell join Aasmah Mir and Kate Silverton.Milton Jones is a stand-up comedian, known by many as the king of the one-liners. A regular panellist on BBC Two's Mock the Week, he has a penchant for wild hair and colourful shirts and a gentle, self-deprecating wit. Later this year he embarks on a new tour, Milton Jones is Out There, taking a philosophical look at his life so far with what he calls his 'manifesto of nonsense'. Milton Jones is Out There 2017 tour begins in September at the Richmond Theatre.Michael Volpe is the general director and co-founder of Opera Holland Park. Brought up by a single mother on a London council estate, he attended the progressive Woolverstone Hall School in Suffolk which took inner city London boys, often from broken families, and gave them the opportunity to explore art and culture at an early age. Passionate about making opera accessible to everyone, Michael has directed a short fil

The actor and TV personality Christopher Biggins joins Aasmah Mir and the Rev. Richard Coles. Best known for his performances as Lukewarm in the BBC series of Porridge, Emperor Nero in I Claudius, and as Rev. Ossie Whitworth the wicked vicar in Poldark. He's one of the Great Dames of British Pantomime and was crowned 'King of the Jungle'. He talks about his career and latest work on the comedy album Wit & Whimsy.Horologist, Steven Fletcher, is the third generation of clockmakers in his family. He's worked on many important timepieces - some dating back to the 17th century, and the clocks at Chequers. Retired rugby flanker Maggie Alphonsi took 74 caps for England and 7 Six Nations titles during her international career. She discusses her career, her role in commentating and inspiring the next generation.JP Devlin meets Saturday Live listener Anne Watson. She tells the story of losing her sight, learning to ice stake and finding love.The comedian Russell Kane chooses his Inheritance Tracks: Can't Get Enough

Irish singing superstar Daniel O'Donnell made history in 2016 by becoming the first recording artist in the history of the UK album chart to have at least one new album every year since 1988 - an unprecedented 29-year run - surpassing the Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson and U2. He talks about growing up in Donegal and how he got into the music business.Samantha Renke is an actor with a disability and can be seen in the latest Maltesers advertisement. Sam has a genetic condition -osteogenesis imperfecta -that causes bones to break easily. It affects type I collagen in the body and is more commonly called brittle bone disease. Owing to multiple fractures, people with the condition usually have stunted growth. Sam won 'Best Lead Actress' in Little Devil, a multiple award-winning British indie film at the 2014 Los Angeles Diversity Film. Sam also works to raise disability awareness as she is currently campaigning with Channel 4, as well as the charity SCOPE.Simon Cooper is fly fisherman and conservationist. He's

The actress Jodie Prenger joins Aasmah Mir and the Rev. Richard Coles. Best known for winning the role of Nancy in the West End production of Oliver! She is now receiving rave reviews for her performance as Shirley Valentine in the 30th anniversary UK tour.JP Devlin meets Jess Turtle, who recalls how her own family history and upbringing in Cardiff has inspired the Museum of Homelessness."The First Woman of Black British Comedy", Angie Le Mar, describes how she toured doing stand up while raising her children, rebelled against her strict religious upbringing, and explains how a chocolate Labrador helped her during a low point in her life. Dr. Scott Miller is an Australian vet who has worked with animals since the age of seven. Passionate about wildlife and animal conservation, he has dealt with everything from fitting a gold tooth on a sloth bear in India to performing emergency CPR on a chipmunk.Social architect Zac Monro, talks about how he has led a "not so secret" double life, being twice-crowned air guit

Jimmy Osmond is only 53 - but has 50 years of showbiz under his belt. How does he do it?Maria MacLennan trained as jewellery designer but found her way, unexpectedly, into a very different (if related) field. She's now developed a career as a forensic jeweller, sent for to reunite owners with jewellery, but also, in the event of disasters like a plane crash, or a building collapse, to reunite owners with their identities when dental records or DNA may not be forthcoming. And to capture the stories that jewellery tells about owners, relationships, family histories. The choreographer was Dougie Squires, who in seven decades has worked with around ten thousand dancers, is best known for the Second Generation. Now Dougie's come out of retirement with seventy five of those dancers to celebrate Dame Vera Lynn's 100th Birthday. We sent JP Devlin, whose running man at Belfast's Sugar Sweet helped define the Northern Ireland of the early nineties, to meet Dougie during a break in the rehearsals.If you're like Aasmah a

The actor Paul Nicholas talks about his recent visit to The Real Marigold Hotel and his early career in the first rock musical Hair. 'Punk potter' Keith Brymer Jones describes how he made his first item, a pottery owl, when he was 11 years old, but reveals that he actually started out as a ballet dancer. Saturday Live listener and retired nurse, Maggie Jones, has an obsession for photography and ... the ordinary. She can be seen snapping doors and alleyways, or checking for initials on bollards... Brenna Hassett is a bio-archaeologist who digs up bones for living, but she started her career running a record shop in California. Sooty and Sweep have graced our TV screens since the 1950s firstly with Harry Corbett and then with his son Matthew. They're now in the hands of Richard Cadell. Richard, Sooty and Sweep recently came into the Saturday Live studio to meet JP. And Corinne Bailey Rae shares her Inheritance Tracks - Me and Mrs Jones performed by Billy Paul, and There's More To Life Than This, by Bjork.T

Lee Mack star of the long running BBC sit com Not Going Out, former stable boy and keen darts players joins the Rev Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir. Life-long petrolhead Bron Burrell on why she is racing from London to Portugal in an 1970s Austin Maxi. Saturday Live listener Philippa O'Sullivan who is preparing to take part in the only round the world yacht race for amateurs. Former Commonwealth champion Matthew Syed gives a table tennis masterclass live in the studio. Burlesque performer Iestyn Edwards shares his experiences of entertaining British Army personnel in some of the least hospitable places on earth.Plus 1980 pop punk singer Toyah Wilcox with a brace of Inheritance Tracks. Lee Mack is in The Miser at The Garrick Theatre, London from 10th March The Greatest - The Quest for Sporting Perfection by Matthew Syed is published by John Murray My Tutu Went AWOL by Iestyn Edwards is published as an e-book Producer: Steven Williams Editor: Eleanor Garland.

Rory Bremner joins Aasmah Mir and the Rev. Richard Coles, with his impressions of Trump and JP, among many others. He explains what he enjoys about the wordplay of translating operas and, as Scotland play today in the Six Nations, he recalls how his love of the game led to early impressions of sports commentators.As one fifth of The Saturdays Una Healy had success with 13 top ten hits. The singer/songwriter has now returned to the country/folk music roots of her Irish childhood.Inspired by the Thank You slot Saturday Live listener Corinna Dawson contacted the programme to tell us about her idea for the Living Eulogy Box.JP Devlin meets Ray Allen, creator of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, to find out how he came up with the comedy character Frank Spencer.Consumer historian Robert Opie is arguably the King of Collectors with half a million items. He is now celebrating 250 years of the jigsaw puzzle, with an exhibition.Film director Gurinder Chadha shares her Inheritance Tracks: O Janewalo Jayo Na from the 1957 film

Marti Pellow first hit the charts with Wet Wet Wet's Wishing I was Lucky in 1987. He's gone on to have a successful musical theatre career. With the forthcoming release of his solo album Mysterious, Marti joins Rev Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir and explains why soul and jazz have always inspired him.When Kerri Cameron lost her job working with horses- she unexpectedly found a new career as a motorcycle stuntwoman. She talks about her unexpected career change.Anna Bailey speaks to Saturday Live listener Annabel Dunstan, who got in contact, via the Royal Academy of Dance, to talk about how ballet has bought her closer to her mother who has dementia. Max Décharné talks about why he's fascinated by slang, and how many contemporary words are a lot older than you'd expect. Hypnotist and author Paul McKenna shares his Inheritance Tracks. Paul has chosen Dancing Queen by Abba and Us and Them by Pink Floyd.Comedian, actor and lover of magic Nick Mohammed explains how he's learnt to pick locks like an escapologist for h

Una Stubbs discusses her love of painting and her role playing Sherlock's landlady Mrs HudsonDinosaur expert and primatologist Ben Garrod on how his love of nature started.Bill Griffin founder of the Crowdwish website explains how he helps people fulfil their wishes and tries to set them on the path to happiness Listener and folk singer Ian W. Brown on the perils of sharing your name with someone famous. Plus singer Marti Webb shares her Inheritance TracksProducer: Steven Williams Editor: Anne Peacock.

Amanda Redman, best known for her role as DSI Sandra Pullman in BBC1's New Tricks, joins Rev Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir to discuss filming in Sri Lanka for a new TV medical drama, her early years in hospital following a scalding accident and why she set up The Artists' Theatre School.Andrew Martin has had a passion for night trains since childhood. He talks about his recent experiences recreating journeys across Europe.JP meets up with Saturday Live listeners who are related to cast members from Brief Encounter, to reunite them with Cyril Raymond's diaries. Dave Morris shares his passion for Shepherds' Huts and describes how he restored one that was featured in Far From the Madding Crowd.The gardener and designer, Joe Swift, explains how he came to gardening via a post punk band and a spell on a kibbutz, what it takes to win gold at the Chelsea Flower Show and the healing power of horticulture.Bill Turnbull chooses his Inheritance Tracks: 'Three Little Maids' from the Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan and 'Che

Martin Kemp didn't realise when he was shifting kit for big brother Gary's band Spandau Ballet, that his future lay not back stage but ON stage. Invited to play bass in the band which conquered the world, with wedges and pantaloons and bandanas, he met and married backing singer Shirley from Wham, morphed into an actor in the Krays and in Hollywood, did a decade playing everyone's favourite wicked cockney Steve Owen on EastEnders and is now able to pick and choose pretty much how to delight us, notwithstanding the life limiting effects of a brain tumour at the end of the nineties. Today Amanda Owen is a shepherdess on a hill farm in the Yorkshire Dales - in charge of 1,000 sheep, 9 children, 1 husband, a Sunday Mirror column and a Twitter account. But it was a chance encounter that led to her crazy, remote life.Dr Charles Eugster. He is not only as fit as a fiddle, a body-builder, and a multi-podiuming champ in rowing and athletics, he also won his last British championship at long jump last year AT THE AGE O

Mark Watson is an award winning comedian who has written six novels. He explains why in spite of his success, his dream job is still to be a football commentator. Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes make up The Shires, a British Country band. They discuss playing the Grand Ole Opry and how they both started out in choirs - one of them regularly singing for the Queen at Windsor Castle. Toby Capwell has loved knights and shining armour since childhood. He is an experienced jouster, curator of Arms and Armour at The Wallace Collection and the man who escorted the remains of Richard III to Leicester Cathedral.Parkour expert Charlotte Blake not only enjoys running, jumping and climbing her way across the urban landscape but also teaches the discipline to people with mental health problems. Plus the Inheritance Tracks of Tom Fletcher author and singer from McFly. Mark's tour 'I'm Not Here' finishes at the Old Vic on Feb 11th.Armour of the English Knight 1400-1450 by Tobias Capwell is published by Thomas Del Mar Ltd.The Sh

Actor and presenter Martin Clunes, best known for his roles in Men Behaving Badly and Doc Martin, joins Rev Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir to discuss discovering the islands of Australia, his love of animals and life on his farm.Gemma Todd is a mobile librarian who has just published her first novel, as GX Todd. She talks about getting her HGV licence and her love of Lego.JP Devlin meets listener Jean Rawson, 93, who describes how her family dog comforted her in a time of great need. Della O'Sullivan runs the Dulwich Wing Tsun Academy. She explains how she got into Chinese martial arts.Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain shares her Inheritance Tracks. She has chosen Blackbird by The Beatles and Michael Jackson's Black or White.DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles talks about his early music and sporting ambitions, love of cooking and passion for motorbikes. Martin Clunes: Islands of Australia continues on ITV at 8pm on Tuesday. Defender by GX Todd is out now. Nadiya Hussain's debut novel The Secret Lives of

Former Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls, joins Richard and Aasmah to discuss his surprise success on Strictly Come Dancing, passion for football, how he coped in public life with interiorised stammering and his life post politics "Gangnam style".27 year old magician Troy has performed both street magic and for high profile audiences from Harry Styles to HRH Prince Harry. He describes how he overcame a fear of heights to perform tricks on a highwire!JP meets Dr. Evadne Hinge (George Logan) - the surviving member of Hinge & Bracket, the comedy partnership that entertained the public in the guise of two elderly eccentric spinsters. Jane Asher is an 85 year old grandmother of 11, and the Queen of masters swimming. She recalls how she swam competitively in her twenties, but didn't pursue racing until later in life when she lost her husband, and has gone on to win in excess of 100 world records.Comedian Josie Long explains why she likes performing stand-up in people's living rooms, enjoys cold water swimming and her

Comedian Lucy Porter joins Aasmah Mir and Kate Silverton to discuss why she originally wanted to follow in the footsteps of Kate Adie, the pleasures and perils of setting up a Mums and Babies comedy club and the influential women in the early days of Hollywood slapstick films. Motivational writer and speaker Chris Barez-Brown will teach us how to switch off our inner auto pilots and become more creative in the New Year. Pyrotechnician Jon Culverhouse explains the secrets behind putting on an award-winning firework display.And Francesca Brown, who started out playing for Manchester City girls' team, but has since founded an all girls football academy, Goals4Girls. Plus Alan Carr shares his Inheritance Tracks and 13 year old Joey Alexander reveals the secret to becoming a world famous virtuoso pianist. Lucy Porter is taking part in the Bristol Slapstick Comedy festival from 18-22 Jan 2017. Wake Up! By Chris Barez-Brown is out now. Alanatomy, by Alan Carr is out now.Producer: Steven WilliamsEditor: Louise Corle