Saturday Live

With the Rev. Richard Coles and Aasmah MirMel Giedroyc is taking on her most serious acting role, playing an American mother dealing with the potentially troubling actions of her son, in the play Luce. Mel also discusses the importance of her name, her relationship with Sue Perkins and The Great British Bake Off.Chinese sportswoman Lijia Xu left her parents to become a full time sailor aged ten and in 2012 became an Olympic Gold medallist. She talks about her path to success- and the obstacles she had to overcome.Listener Richie Tattersall played the ukulele on Labi Siffre's It must be Love, chosen as one of David Troughton's Inheritance Tracks. Richie reveals that whilst he was an experienced session musician, he had never previously played the ukulele.As part of the Sport Relief weekend, reporter JP Devlin has been to Jamie's farm, which encourages children at risk of social and academic exclusion to re-engage and thrive.Singer Will Young shares his Inheritance Tracks: Taxman by The Beatles and Joan Armatra

Anita Dobson's acting career spans more than forty years. She found fame in the 1980s playing pub landlady Angie Watts in EastEnders. She has starred in television, film and theatre productions as diverse as Hamlet, Follies and London Road. She talks about her career and growing up in the East End.Alastair Humphreys is an adventurer who has cycled around the world and walked a lap of the M25. He pioneered the concept of micro-adventures (adventures close to home) but has now turned his attention to 'grand adventures'. He explains how adventures great or small are within everyone's grasp.Fifty years ago, a group of boys from the Kettering Grammar School Satellite Tracking Group discovered a new and undiscovered soviet space launch site. To celebrate, Leicester's National Space Centre is holding an exhibition. Mike Sinnett, a former pupil talks about the discovery and how it catapulted the boys into the media spotlight.Bookshop owner Stephen Foster has a licence to fill shelves. He has provided books for film s

Aasmah Mir and the Reverend Richard Coles are joined by Bafta award winning actor Rebecca Front to talk about being funny, playing dislikeable characters and claustrophobia.Chef and writer Allegra McEvedy has been cooking professionally for over 20 years, in London and the USA. She set up food chain LEON, is a Patron of the Fairtrade foundation, writes food columns and cookery books and last year was a judge on CBBC's Bafta winning Junior Bakeoff. She'll be cooking up something for Mothering Sunday (recipe below) and reflecting on her own mother who passed away when she was 17.Listener Henry Iddon contacted us about his term as artist in residence at Forton Services on the M6 in Lancashire. He joins us to share his love and fascination of this essential and iconic landmark.Listener Hannah Velten's brother Christian went missing in Africa 13 years ago whilst following in the footsteps of Mungo Park, the Scottish explorer. Wanting to keep his memory alive, Hannah started a blog where friends and family could sh

Marian Keyes joins the Rev. Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir. A columnist, blogger and bestselling author of a dozen novels, she has sold more than 33 million copies worldwide. She shares her passion for "the twitters", collecting drawer knobs, browsing in chemists and "beachouse banjo" - chalk painting old furniture. Gilding the recycled lily, mosaic maker Ed Chapman talks about his portraits which have turned sugar cubes into Alan Sugar, Welsh slate into Richard Burton and gravy stains into Andy Murray. Such inventive thrift will appeal to Jordon Cox, king of the couponeers, and the lad who flew to Sheffield via Berlin to save £8 on the train fare. His passion for couponing began after watching at TV programme. It was watching an inflight movie that inspired Adam Walker to give up his day job as a kettle and toaster salesman, to become the only Briton to have swum the Oceans Seven Challenge. He recalls inventing a new stroke after he torn his bicep, that led to a new career in coaching and teaching technique. J

The actor Laurence Fox is best known for playing DI James Hathaway in the ITV crime drama Lewis. He's now on the London stage playing a giant of history Charles de Gaulle in 'The Patriotic Traitor'. He is part of Britain's most famous acting dynasty that includes his father James, uncle Edward and cousin Emilia. He is now carving out a career in music and has just released his debut album. He joins Saturday Live to talk about his new role, his passion for music, and his love for the countryside.The zoologist Lucy Cooke grew up in the English countryside and was fascinated with nature from an early age. Her new TV series shows the length that people go to save orphaned animals. She joins Saturday Live to talk about her own passion for animals, in particular the weird and unloved ones.Listener Lorna Currie Thomopoulos is a collector of paper dolls. She describes her collection as historical, beautiful and cherished fragile object d'arts.Giles Abbott has just returned from a storytelling festival in India. He st

After playing tough guys in Layer Cake, Oliver Twist and Nil by Mouth, the part of thug Derek Branning in Eastenders seemed a natural choice for actor Jamie Foreman. But with comedy parts in Birds of a Feather and Pantomime under his belt he's now pushing his boundaries with an all singing all dancing role in Mrs Henderson Presents in the West End in London. Given his background as an East End gangster's son, his dramatic career seems even more surprising. He joins Richard and Aasmah on Saturday Live.Social psychologist Viren Swami has a passion for passion, having studied attraction for ten years. He'll be discussing dating formation, revealing relationship myths and advising how best to meet your match.They met at Birmingham University and despite not studying music they came together over their love of voice and formed an a Cappella group. The sons of Pitches went on to win Gareth Malone's naked choir competition, broadcast on BBC 2 at the end of last year, and now they are making a go at a professional ca

The singer-songwriter and actor Ronan Keating joins Aasmah Mir and the Rev. Richard Coles. Ronan has sold more than 45 million records worldwide as a solo artist, and alongside Boyzone. After a break to star to critical acclaim in the west end musical Once, and appear as a judge on Australian X-Factor, he has returned with a very personal album. He describes how he was inspired from newfound happiness following his recent marriage.James Hyman explains his obsession with collecting magazines: he currently has some 75,000 magazines dating back to 1910, the largest magazine collection in the world.When Nicole Tennant died from cystic fibrosis, her twin sister Melissa found the bucket list she had written and, in an effort to keep her memory alive, she has completed the wishes - from dancing in the rain, to climbing the steps of the Eiffel Tower and milking a cow.Saturday Live listener Wendy Arnold tells the story of a coincidence that happened on her 21st birthday - almost 50 years ago.Jason and Suzanne Matthews

Nicky Clarke, hairdresser to the stars, shares his style tips and tales of celebrity clients from Elizabeth Taylor to Princess Diana. In 1966 George Cohen helped England to victory in the World Cup. Now he's back with stories of glory and to highlight how sporting memories can help people with dementia. You will almost certainly have heard the voice of Tessa Niles, but you will probably not know her name. She has been backing singer to The Police, Robbie Williams, Tina Turner, Duran Duran, Mick Jagger and many more. She was on stage with David Bowie at Live Aid. She reveals what it is like to be at the edge of the limelight. Ben Bailey Smith is a rapper, a singer and an actor who has written a children's book called I Am Bear. And Canadian singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie shares her Inheritance Tracks: Edith Piaf - If You Love Me (Really Love Me) and Buffy Sainte-Marie - Carry It On.

The stand-up comedian, broadcaster and newspaper columnist grew up in Kent with his adopted parents. He's currently touring the country with his new stand up show. 'Who do I think I am?, which deals with his efforts to trace his birth mother. He discusses his experience of tracing his roots, and his endless fascination with British towns.Paula Zuccotti is an ethnographer, industrial designer and trends forecaster. She has been travelling the world charting a day in the life of people through their touched objects. She reveals how objects can tell stories of our lives.Anna Bailey meets Michael Nyman, the composer turned film-maker and photographer to talk about his love of the light.Graham Short is a micro engraver, who has depicted 'Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' along the sharp edge of a razor blade. He goes to extreme lengths both physical and mental to ensure he has a steady hand. He explains his love of producing art that is too small to be seen by the naked eye.Debbie Wiseman is a television and f

Reverend Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir are joined by Katy Brand.Comedian Katy Brand graced our screen in her Big Ass Show where we saw her parody pop culture. She danced like Beyonce for Sport Relief, has written her first novel Brenda Monk is Funny and her acting credits include Peep show and Nanny McPhee. Now she's a judge on the Costa book awards.Almost four years ago Clare Owen found a gold wedding ring with an inscription and date. Her desire to reunite the ring with it's owner led her to set up her own lost and found company, Lostbox. She joins us to talk about how she's since reunited animals, soft toys and even people and to sing the praises of much maligned social media.Levison Wood is an explorer who can currently be seen Walking the Himalayas in a Channel 4 documentary series. It's a distance of 1700 miles. He previously Walked the Nile. He joins Aasmah and Richard to share his experiences and explain why he is drawn to such expeditions.Dr Eugenia Cheng is on a mission to make maths accessible. She

The hypnotist and self-help author, Paul McKenna, has sold more than 10 million books worldwide. He describes his career, working with celebrity clients, and reveals his latest work on how to gain influence and charisma.Dr. Irving Finkel began collecting diaries as a hobby, before co-founding The Great Diary Project - a collection of more than 6,000 unpublished diaries. He explains the fascination and why he's on a mission to 'rescue' diaries.JP meets Bernie Clifton, star of Saturday night television in the 1970s and 1980s, to talk about the career, the ostrich and... The Voice.Sajeela Kershi was born in Pakistan but her parents moved to Germany and then to Britain. She ended up on stage as a comedian, drawing on her background, telling stories of disastrous attempts to sing the Pakistani national anthem and bringing pakoras to the harvest festival.Dr Mark Evans is the former RSPCA chief vet, an animal expert and natural history front man. He describes how he surgically removed the heart of a sperm whale and

Actress and author Pauline McLynn talks about her varied career which includes Mrs Doyle in Father Ted and Nasty Nick Cotton's ex-wife in EastEnders. She also discusses being attracted to playing baddies and explains why she's knitting for chickens.Hollywood trainer Dalton Wong has worked with Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence and got Kit Harington into shape for Game of Thrones. Dalton talks about why he made a career out of fitness.Listener Teresa Verney-Brookes who used her redundancy money to become a Punch and Judy performer 'Professor Queen Bee'.JP Devlin meets former politician Lembit Opik who reflects on the impact of losing his seat as MP for Montgomeryshire and why he's determined to live life in the present and take opportunities.Natalie Imbruglia shares her Inheritance Tracks: Close to you by The Carpenters and Nick Cave: Into My Arms.Sportswriter Tony Evans talks about the significance of football as he was growing up in Liverpool, his time in the band 'The Farm,' and how he came to journalism late,

Join Aasmah Mir and Suzy Klein for a live Boxing Day Saturday Live.Russell Grant has been synonymous with astrology ever since he interpreted the stars on breakfast TV in the 1980s. But if you remember his flamboyant outfits and presenting style, it wasn't hard to see where his real love lay. In 2011 he joined the cast of Strictly and it catapulted him back into the world of theatre, a passion which had started some years earlier at drama school. He joins Aasmah and Suzy to talk about his glittering career and his new project, an astrology themed colouring book.Bay City Rollers leader singer Les McKeown takes time out of their revival tour to tell us about how different it is now from their 1970's heyday. We'll check out if he's still wearing tartan.Chinelo Bally's passion for sewing was fuelled when she appeared on the BBC's Great British Sewing Bee programme in 2014. Despite only being in sewing for a couple of years and never having used a pattern, she was encouraged to make her passion her profession. Fou

Game show regular and former MP Gyles Brandreth discusses the wonders and curiosities of the English language. Great British Bake Off presenter Sue Perkins reveals how she overcame childhood shyness, how conducting music turned her adult life around, and where she hides smelly cheese.Veteran entertainer Bruce Forsyth shares his Inheritance Tracks and why he feels that Frank Sinatra followed his lead to New York, New York.Star Wars obsessive Jamie Stangroom searches for the iconic characters and actors that the current episode forgot - Greedo, Jar Jar, the man inside Jabba the Hut's tail. Where are they and can Jamie get them back into Star Wars? And which role did Michael Jackson want to play? We also hear from a professional Christmas tree decorator to the stars of football, music and film. He also does Bethlehem. And when Britain faced rationing after World War Two, Care parcels from America brightened up the lives and diets of many families. Decades later, we bring together a sender and a recipient.Word Pl

Michael Morpurgo joins Aasmah Mir and the Reverend Richard Coles. He describes how stories from his mother, and a decorated soldier from WWI, have inspired his latest novel; the importance of daydreaming and his reimagining of the Nativity. Helen Sharman became the first Briton in space in 1991. She recalls how that experience affected the rest of her life as we countdown the days to Tim Peake's launch. Tony talks about his experience of being homeless for nine months, before being helped by The Connection at St. Martins. We have tracked down last week's mystery muralist: Ron Brocklehurst tells us about his painting in listener Philip Farmer's house. The photographer Derek Ridgers on documenting British youth tribes - from punks to skinheads and new romantics. JP Devlin chats on the sofa with Steph and Dom from Gogglebox. And Hayley Mills shares her Inheritance Tracks. Blue Skies by Willie Nelson, and the theme from the soundtrack to the film Whistle Down the Wind.Horizon: Tim Peake Special: How to Be an Astr

It's listener week on Saturday Live with Reverend Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir.We've accepted Philip Farmer's invitation to come to his house in Wolverhampton. Philip, his wife Sarah and daughter Hannah discuss their city.BBC Formula 1 presenter Suzi Perry, recently nominated as one of the Wolverhampton's Famous Daughters, will be talking about her connection to the city, Wolverhampton Wanderers and working behind the scenes at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.Sharing their undiscovered claims to fame will be Bob Saunders the man who makes The Phantom of the Opera Masks. Roy Perry reveals himself as the man who mapped Guernsey and James Bond boat driver John Pleace talks about his experiences.Listener Rob Hawkins wanted to swap Inheritance Tracks for his Inheritance Snacks. He's chosen Spaghetti Carbonara and Liver, Bacon and Mushrooms on Toast.Gemma Cairney will be talking to local people including sculptor and medallist Ron Dutton. He's behind a 1999 £2 coin design, the plaque for Wolverhampton's Famous Sons and

Richard Coles and Aasmar Mir are joined by Caroline Quentin. She became a national treasure as the long suffering Dorothy on Men Behaving Badly, followed by lead roles in Jonathan Creek, Blue Murder and Life of Riley. She has presented documentary series on Cornwall and India, and Restoration Home. More recently she's performed at Bristol Old Vic and in the West End. She joins us ahead of a new BBC one drama Dickensian in which she stars as Mrs Bumble, where an assortment of Dickens' characters meet in a seasonal tale.Now the colder weather has finally come it seems a good time to talk about wood, more precisely, firewood. Lars Mytting has created a best seller with his book Norwegian Wood which details the art of chopping, stacking, drying and burning this ancient source of heat. He joins us to share his technical know how and cultural folklore.Listener Alistair Kean wrote to us about his experience of almost becoming a cosmonaught. He tell us how he has no regrets...Caroline Taggart is a word obsessive who

Griff Rhys Jones joins the Reverend Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir, to share tales about his long association with historic buildings, hosting quizzes in museums, his great Welsh adventures and dressing as a Dame. JP Devlin meets Paul Hendy and his family to find out about their passion for making bespoke pantomimes. Saturday Live listener Polly Wright describes finding a stash of letters between her grandmother and an Italian prisoner of war who worked on the family farm in Wales during WWII, and how she has used them to trace his family. Tracey Ford discusses the loss of her son, Andre, and the foundation she launched in his memory. The singer Beverley Knight talks about the influence of gospel and Memphis on her song writing, and her latest transition into Grizabella in CATS. And the Inheritance Tracks of Kellie Maloney. She chooses New York, New York by Frank Sinatra and Walk on the Wild Side by Lou Reed.Landmark - A History of Britain in 50 Buildings by Anna Keay and Caroline Stanford - Foreword by Griff R

Anne Reid joins Aasmah Mir and the Reverend Richard Coles. After becoming a household name as Coronation Street's Valerie Barlow, Anne's varied career has seen her seducing Daniel Craig in The Mother, and playing Celia in Last Tango in Halifax. Now Anne talks about fulfilling another ambition, by singing in her one women show.JP Devlin meets listener Jayne Moore who set up Greensted Hedgehog Rescue in Norfolk.Listener Andrew Morris talks about his science discussion group, which aims to show science is for everyone.Ros Hubbard gives us a glimpse into the world of casting. Ros's first big success came with The Commitments and she has gone on to discover stars including Orlando Bloom.Wildlife film-maker Gordon Buchanan has come face to face with many of the planet's biggest predators. He shares his Inheritance Tracks: DIVORCE sung by Tammy Wynette and Tusk by Fleetwood Mac.Listener Ade Clewlow explains why he traced scientist Sandor Görög, who was hidden by his father in a monastery in Hungary to avoid being ro

Crime writer Ian Rankin joined Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir.Saturday Live hosted a special auction, offering listeners the chance to bid for some amazing prize packages to raise money for BBC Children in Need. LINES ARE NOW CLOSED - PLEASE DO NOT CALL OR TRY TO BID.There was a Just a Minute VIP Experience, a Today Programme VIP Experience, a Saturday Live VIP Experience and The Infinite Monkey Cage VIP Experience.To tell us about what the lucky winners might experience, Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir were joined by Nicholas Parsons from Just a Minute, Mishal Husain from the Today programme and Robin Ince from The Infinite Monkey cage.They were also joined in the studio by Ian Rankin OBE, award-winning writer of crime fiction and the creator of the Scottish detective John Rebus who he has featured in 20 novels to date. His latest book is Even Dogs in the Wild.We also heard from the Ty Hafan centre near Cardiff, where young people shared their personal experiences of how they have benefitted from projects funded