Saturday Live

Radio 4's Saturday morning show brings you extraordinary stories and remarkable people.

Frenchman Fred Sirieix who's gone from front of house at the crème de la crème of London's restaurants, to fronting TV shows, to now writing a book on his love of Britain.We hear what sort of urge it was that took Shetland raised journalist Jen Stout over to Russia to study, then onto Ukraine to cover the war.Plus, screenwriter and playwright Jeff Young joins us to tell us why he quit his job as a filing clerk to hitchhike to Paris. Two-time Sunday Times bestselling author Candice Brathwaite shares with us her Inheritance Tracks. Presenters: Nikki Bedi & Huw Stephens Producer: Lowri Morgan

Culinary maestro Yotam Ottolenghi, the man who’s transformed the way we think about Middle Eastern flavours, vegetables, and the art of home cooking joins us to chat 'Comfort' food. We welcome Livi Deane, a model and beautician, who’s written a book about living with lifechanging impaired vision and a prosthetic eye, as a result of a rare form of eye cancer. And historian siblings David and Yinka Olusoga join us to discuss their new book 'Black History for Every Day of the Year' and will be share some of their own life story with us All that, plus we have the Inheritance Tracks of comedian, presenter, actor and creator of Keith Lemon, Leigh Francis. Presenters: Nikki Bedi and Huw Stephens Producer: Ben Mitchell

Who better to kick-off Saturday Live's return than the historian by day and superstar DJ by night Dan Jones, who chats all things Henry the fifth and lay down a few beats as well. From Ace to Grace, Warren Furman reveals how his life has drastically changed from being homeless, to becoming a Gladiator and now a fully-fledged man of the cloth. And the multi-award-winning folk musician Cara Dillon shares how her love of home and how telling stories through music has helped her connect to family members she never even met. All that, plus the Inheritance Tracks of musician, comedian and the lyricist who brought us Matilda the Musical – Tim Minchin. Presenters: Huw Stephens and Kiri Pritchard-McLean

Carol Kirkwood shares the secret behind not only being the UK's favourite weather presenter, but a bestselling author as well - and reveals where her lifelong love of fast cars comes from.The Antipodean singing-comedian Michelle Brasier reveals how she survived a house fire, grieved for the loss of her father and brother to cancer, befriended her scammer...and turned it all on it's head for comedic purposes.Clive and Jo Bailey, the married balloonists who have seen just about everything in their airborne basket, and Olympic torch balloons aside - there's a good chance they'll have been had a hand in pretty much any other hot-air balloon you'll have seen on screen. All that plus...as the Olympics get underway in Paris, we’ll get your blood pumping with the Inheritance Tracks of our double-gold medal-winning boxer Nicola Adams.Presenters: Nikki Bedi and Jon Kay Producer: Ben Mitchell

Welcome to the brightest and boldest of Saturday Lives as fashion-designer Dame Zandra Rhodes arrives. Perhaps as famous as the garments which have adorned the likes of Princess Diana and Freddie Mercury as she is for her neon-pink hair - She has now published her memoir through the prism of 50 of her most precious items.Matt Forde has, I think it’s safe to say, had a tough year health-wise, he’ll explain how he’s still able to see the funny side of life – and take inspiration from Taylor Swift as he heads back out on tour for the first time since his cancer treatment. Anyone who dreams of living on a deserted island needs to hear the story of Simon Parker. His island is in the Bristol Channel, it’s owned by the local council, and it used to be home to Vikings and cholera victims. Simon will tell us why he has chosen to call Flat Home “home”. All that, plus the Inheritance Tracks of the musical power couple, Carrie and David Grant. Presenters: Jon Kay and Kiri Pritchard-McLean Producer: Ben Mitchell

A multi tempo show for you today… In ‘allegro’, maverick music programmer, curator, and Head of Classical Music at the Southbank Centre Toks Dada is on a mission to change the face of classical music. We’ll give ‘andante’ to Joseph Cavalli-Price, a pianist and hugely accomplished tenor who embodies the profound power that music can have playing for patients in hospices. Could ‘plucking’ treasures from muddy riverbeds be ‘pizzicato’ or have we overstretched the music vocabulary? Veteran Mudlark Lara Maiklem shares her finds from the last 12 months on the show. And maybe a ‘crescendo’ or two in the Inheritance Tracks of comedian and podcaster Ed Gamble.Presenters: Nikki Bedi and Jon Kay Producer: Ben Mitchell

The author Joanne Harris, who describes herself as ‘test-driver of experimental dream machines who sometimes writes a bit’, grew up living above her grandparents sweetshop and celebrates the 25th anniversary of Chocolat this year.The multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter Jack Garratt shot to fame in 2016 and became one of the UK’s brightest new music stars, toured the world, before taking a step back from public life to protect his mental health. And the mighty comedic classicist Natalie Haynes, who continues to turn the ancient world on its head, championing women of the past, returns to the airwaves with the 10th series of her hit Radio 4 podcast Natalie Haynes Stands up for Classics.Plus the Inheritance Tracks of doctor turned bestselling author Adam Kay...and we promise they’re not going to hurt.Presenters: Nikki Bedi and Huw Stephens Producer: Ben Mitchell

Rob Rinder…barrister, broadcaster, occasional orchestra conductor, lover of Amazing Hotels, currently on our TVs travelling through Italy with Rylan - and now bestselling author with his latest novel The Suspect.Beer sommelier and one of the best brewers in the UK, Jaega Wise reveals how she went from pop star to hop star to judging at this years BBC Food and Farming Awards. And Martin Sixsmith, former BBC foreign correspondent, adviser to both the Labour government under Tony Blair and Armando Iannucci on The Thick of It! Now the author of two novels, famous for the non-fiction book that became the Oscar nominated film Philomena, and has just released a new work about the Dutch resistance during WWII.All that plus I’ve never had a dream come true until the day that Rachel Stevens chooses her Inheritance Tracks. Luckily, today is that day – the singer will be reaching for the stars to share them with us.

Writer Sebastian Faulks, recently described as ‘a state of the species novelist’, famous for his historical stories, he’s now taking us into the future exploring what it means to be human in new book The Seventh Son.The cautious traveller Sarah Brooks, reveals how her life was changed after a vodka fuelled evening in a dining car on the Trans-Siberian Railway.Punch-lines on the touchline...comedian and football podcaster Maisie Adam has torn herself away from the Euros coverage to join us and tell us about her new tour and her recent job appraisal.Plus the Inheritance Tracks of quizmaster extraordinaire Paul Sinha.Presenters: Nikki Bedi and Jon Kay Producer: Lowri Morgan

The Journalist and presenter Ashley John-Baptiste, who’s written a very moving memoir about growing up in care. The Lahore born poet Imtiaz Dharker will be appearing on the programme. We’ll be talking about what’s made her identify as a Scottish, Pakistani, Calvinist, Muslim who’s been adopted by India and Wales. Plus, landscape and garden designer Miria Harris who has used her own experience of a medical emergency to design a garden to help others with their recovery. All that plus the Inheritance Tracks of writer and presenter Danny Robins. Presenters: Jon Kay and Nikki Bedi. Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

Fashion designer, entrepreneur and Great British Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant has put his money where his seams are with his company Community Clothing and new book 'Less' urging us to stop buying so much rubbish and appreciate fewer, better things. We’re taking cheesy to another level with Razan Alsous who came to the UK as a refugee from Syria having lost almost everything. She has since settled in Yorkshire and is now an award-winning maker of squeaky cheese. And Frank Gardner, who twenty years ago was shot six times whilst reporting from Saudi Arabia, remarkably survived and is not only the BBC’s Security Correspondent, he’s also a bestselling novelist having released his latest book Invasion. All that plus the Inheritance Tracks of The Booker Prize winning Jamaican novelist Marlon James.Presenters: Nikki Bedi and Huw Stephens Producer: Ben Mitchell

We’re kicking off the festival season in style, and in the sun, with three very different books… but who’s authors have more in common than you may think. This week’s events haven’t stopped Mishal Husain making her way to us this weekend – for what will surely be the only down time she’ll have over the next 6 weeks. Mishal’s new memoir charts her families experiences through partition and the events which have allowed her to become one of the UK’s most trusted journalists. Stephen and Anita Mangan have promised not to steal each other's pocket money or put bubblegum in each other’s hair and behave for the next hour. The brother and sister writing duo have cracked the code for what it takes to work with your sibling having written 5 books together – but it was their debut work that allowed them to channel familial grief. The emperor of historical fiction, Conn Iggulden, has taken a break from playing his fiddle whilst ancient Rome burns to join us in the Hay-on-Wye countryside. But for someone who has made a

The bestselling, prolific screenwriter and author of the Hawthorne series Anthony Horowitz… whose creative achievements may be further admired and perhaps understood when he reveals what he’s overcome with the relationship with his father.Possessed with a similar drive, Capt. Preet Chandi is with us, now the fastest woman to cross Antarctica she shares the passion that drives her to keep breaking world records! And BAFTA winning actor Kimberley Nixon, famous for her roles in Fresh Meat and Cranford, but has found new fame thanks to the silly jokes she shares to open up the conversation about her perinatal OCD.All that, plus the Inheritance Tracks from one of the minds behind League of Gentleman and Inside Number 9, Reece Shearsmith. Presenters: Nikki Bedi and Huw Stephens Producer Ben MitchellIf you've been affected by any of the topics discussed in this programme you can find links and information to organisations who can help on the BBC Action Line: www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Mary Beard unearths some of the fascinating little-known stories that helped build the Roman Empire in her new series of Being Roman, and reveals how a cake is responsible for making her Britain’s best-known classicist. From the senate and the people of Rome to the Sherlock Holmes of Tudor England – star of the new Shardlake series, Arthur Hughes joins us. Born with a rare condition affecting his right arm, Arthur was the first disabled actor to swap his kingdom for a horse and portray Richard III at the Royal Shakespeare Company. How a story of star-crossed lovers helped bring together two friends thanks to a collection of lost letters written more than 80 years ago. Dawn Donkin and Theresa Moon are with us. All that, plus the podcasting power-couple responsible for their son Jack...Michael and Hilary Whitehall share their Inheritance Tracks. Presenters: Huw Stephens and Kiri Pritchard-McLean Producer: Ben Mitchell

The Titan of Tartan Noir, crime writer Val McDermid, who grew up playing in the ruins of Macduff's castle, shines a new light on Lady Macbeth in her new book, and tells us show she became addicted to video games.Nicola Nuttall has written a beautiful memoir about helping her daughter Laura make the most of her final days living with brain cancer…Laura had an extraordinary bucket list to complete in the last 12 months of her life; from going on Safari and flying a helicopter to meeting Michelle Obama and Malala Yousafzai.In the run up to her first world title fight, Olympic gold-medal-winning boxer Lauren Price reveals the powerful story behind her nickname ‘the lucky one’. All that, plus we have the Inheritance Tracks of former Made in Chelsea star turned entrepreneur, presenter, podcaster and so much more - Jamie Laing. Presenters: Nikki Bedi and Huw Stephens Producer: Ben Mitchell

Birmingham’s unofficial global ambassador, Steven Knight, who did as much for flat caps as he did for Brum by creating Peaky Blinders and he’s now taking us back to the West Midlands of the 1980’s with his latest TV series This Town. Catherine Coldstream had a bohemian upbringing in London, lived in Paris and fell in love with "unsuitable propositions in dark polo necks" and then, spent twelve years cloistered, as a Carmelite nun.The social and domestic historian Ruth Goodman, famous for her hit TV series taking us back to Tudor, Victorian and Edwardian times, is currently revealing the curious history of our homes in her new podcast; from wallpaper to fridges and washing up.And this week’s Inheritance Tracks see the ultra-marathon running, American football obsessive, and fellow radio presenter Vernon Kay share with us the music that’s shaped his life. Presenters: Nikki Bedi and Huw Stephens Producer: Ben Mitchell

Racing driver Nic Hamilton is the first disabled athlete to compete in the British Touring Car Championship. Born with cerebral palsy and told he would always need to use a wheelchair, he certainly embodies his self-given title of ‘limit defier’ and shares how he proved everyone wrong in his new book 'Now That I Have Your Attention'.Victoria McCloud, the recently retired first trans woman judge in the UK, left because she felt she risked making the judiciary political, but her first interests weren't the law...instead she came to the profession via psychiatry, space, and an obsession with old computers. We have not one but two world class puppeteers on the show in Josh Elwell and Eliot Gibbins. Both can operate Daleks and have a Tardis full of stories to share - as well as some special guest appearances from some of their creations. All that plus another double act choosing their Inheritance Tracks in comedians and real-life couple Marcus Brigstocke and Rachel Parris. And if you’ve been affected by anything w

The broadcaster, marathon runner, and proud parent to her life saving stoma Audrey, Adele Roberts reveals how she overcame cancer wrote a book and danced on ice.Writer and comedian Ben Elton whose new stand-up tour highlights his trademark incisive social commentary by exploring authentic stupidity. David Duke went from sleeping rough and living in hostels to playing football in the Homeless World Cup and founding the Street Soccer Scotland charity helping thousands of other homeless people through the power of football. All that, plus we have the Inheritance Tracks of chef, restaurateur and podcaster Angela Hartnett.And if you’ve been affected by anything we’ve spoken about today details of organisations offering information and support with addiction are available on the BBC Action Line: www.bbc.co.uk/actionlinePresenters: Nikki Bedi and Huw Stephens Producer: Ben Mitchell

The irrepressible Tom Shakespeare shares how the boy nicknamed 'The Blob' at school went on to become a bioethicist, disability rights advocate, and now a debut novelist. Kate Silverton has swapped the newsroom for the therapists couch having retrained as a child counsellor. She has also become a bestselling author and her latest book maintains that there's still no such thing as being naughty.Did you struggle at maths with school? Having been diagnosed with dyslexia and dyscalculia as a child Rebecca Ginger did too. She has recently given up a successful career in the tv industry to create her own method of making learning maths fun after seeing her daughter struggle with the subject herself.All that, plus we have the Inheritance Tracks of comedian, presenter and latest Taskmaster contestant, John Robins.Presenters: Nikki Bedi and Huw Stephens Producer: Ben Mitchell