Saturday Live

In this engaging discussion, actor Russell Tovey shares his passion for contemporary art and insights from his acting journey, while humanitarian Sally Becker recounts her harrowing work rescuing children from war zones. Extreme motorcyclist Vanessa Rock discusses her inspiring recovery from a life-altering crash and how racing has become a path for mental healing. The conversation also touches on the emotional challenges of aid work and the unique power of puppetry in storytelling, promising an emotional and thought-provoking experience.

Chris McCausland, funny, clever, excellent dancer, widely loved. The list goes on. His new autobiography "Keeping Laughing" charts his life and career across a twenty-five-year journey where he lost his sight but found moments of happiness and laughter along the way.Douglas Roberston, survived being cast adrift in the pacific ocean for 38 days after a killer whale. Just a teenager at the time, he reveals the extremes he had to go to extremes to survive.Another tackler of apparently insurmountable obstacles is Mila Stanzani a record-holding obstacle course racer hear to give us an insight into one of the newest sports at the next Olympics.All that plus, an award-winning pigeon fancier and the Inheritance Tracks of New Zealand’s former Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern.Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

We’re in the company of Ben Miller, comedian, actor, writer and some time student of physics...here to tell us how Father Christmas can in fact deliver a gift to every child in just one night with his new book "The Night I Met Father Christmas".Someone who has had an early Christmas present already is Lucy Steeds, who this week was crowned the winner of the Waterstones Book of the Year. She reveals the process of how her debut book, "The Artist", has become so successful - and how he channels her synaesthesia. Grace Vella spent her childhood dreaming of becoming a professional footballer, she almost made it playing for Liverpool and Man City, but didn’t quite make the grade, so made football her business instead and has founded the women's sports brand Miss Kick.All that, plus Hollie McRae, daughter of iconic rally driver Colin McCrae, tells us how she has become determined to keep rally driving in the family - and we have the shared Inheritance Tracks of Chris and Xand van Tulleken.Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

Michael Sheen is an actor, director and Welshman who describes his vision and impact of the Welsh National Theatre, exploring how the stage can reflect and shape national identity, and what can be learned from football scouts to find the next generation of talent.Convicted fraudster Alex Wood reveals how he went from a would be child prodigy violinist to defrauding millions of pounds out of people. Now, he is a fraud hunter looking for personal redemption whilst helping the police and presenting Scam Secrets on Radio 4.Jenny Häbry is a three time world champion and first female armoured MMA champion, she lifts the curtain on the world of armoured mixed martial arts, revealing the grit, discipline, and determination it takes to rise to the level of world champion.Also, Emma Youell joins us live from Norfolk with her metal detector in hand - will she find anything? Plus we have the Inheritance Tracks of Jason Donovan.Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producers: Lowri Morgan, Ribika Moktan and Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Colin Paterson

On a wet and windy Saturday Live, Hollie Cook joins us to discuss a career that has seen her music streamed millions of times online, as well what it's like to be raised by a Sex Pistol - her dad, Paul Cook is with us too, still drumming up a storm half a century after it all started.The almost indecently talented Jasmine Mitchell - completing a degree in medicine while finding time to win Bake Off by a country mile.Extreme cleaner Ben Giles started out cleaning windows, and moved into cleaning crime scenes and all manner of unspeakable things. Also today we talk to the award-winning TikToker championing the humble bus and we have the Inheritance Tracks of Barbra Streisand obsessive…Richard E Grant. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Lowri Morgan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

The acclaimed illustrator and children’s author Oliver Jeffers discuses the power of fatherhood in both his life and work, from his father's visionary education beliefs during The Troubles, to how his own role as a father feeds into his work - his new book is "I'm Very Busy".Eleanor Thatcher, is a fifth generation cider maker, and the first woman in the family to join the senior leadership of Thatchers, she reveals the wise words that have been passed down the family tree. Lesley Pearse is a prolific storyteller who has written multiple Sunday Times Bestsellers, but her own story is just as gripping as any told in her many well-loved novels.We’ll also be talking to George and Joshua Kohler, the father and son duo setting records by cycling around the world together.Also, another father and son team come together to share their Inheritance Tracks, Peter and Dan Snow.Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Lowri Morgan Assistant Producer: Josie Hardy Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Ben Mitchell

Ken Follett has sold 200 million books around the world, in more than 80 countries and into 30 different languages. He made his breakthrough with spy thrillers before working his way back through time, and now we find him telling the story of the building of Stonehenge in his latest book, "Circle of Days".The Macabees musician Felix White wanted to be a footballer, didn’t we all, until it became clear to him aged seven that he wasn’t good enough... so he turned to Football Manager by post. Football became his refuge when his mother became ill with MS, and his part memoir, part football and social history book, "Whatever Will Be Will Be" frames that life story of love and loss around the successive rounds of last year's FA Cup.Sarah Nicolls is a skilled pianist and innovator who has become one of the few people to reinvent the piano, turning it quite literally on its head to create the vertical piano, which is not only being played using the keys but also the strings from within and the wood surround.Also, an orchestra of noise from a parade of classic cars lined up on his front drive along Pall Mall.Plus, the Inheritance Tracks of the comedian and author Miranda Hart.Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Lowri Morgan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

Sir David Suchet has reignited his little grey cells to traverse the world, following in the footsteps of the great Agatha Christie in a new book and television series "Travels with Agatha Christie".Tony Foster is also a keen traveller, as an adventure artist he has ventured deep into the world’s wildernesses, painting 17,000ft up Mount Everest and in the very heart of the Grand Canyon.Stacey McNeil is someone else who finds inspiration from nature and expresses it through her art - after being unable to find a card to send a friend struggling with their mental health...so made one herself and now her Fox Under the Moon business has sold cards and books into over 25 countries.Also, a couple of dragons fighting it out in the streets of Glastonbury for the pagan Samhain festival. Plus, the Inheritance Tracks of the broadcaster, author and Faithful...Clare Balding.Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Lowri Morgan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

Peter James is one of the UK's bestselling authors who's Detective Grace series now hosts Queen Camila in a staring role, by Royal request, in his latest novel "The Hawk is Dead". But this isn't his first familial involvement with the Royal family, as his mother was the official glovemaker to Queen Elizabeth II.Jim Ashworth-Beaumont was a former army veteran and skilled prosthetics expert - until one day a dramatic crash with a lorry, whilst out cycling, left him needing his own expertise.Elizabeth Ashdown is one of only 4 remaining passementerie artists in the UK – a trade that creates elaborate decorative trimmings, such as tassels and trim for the clothing of Kings and furnishings of stately homes.Also, someone else who is keeping ancient heritage skills alive is Russell Parker who comes to us LIVE from the Cotswold Hedgelaying championships to tell us all about the craft.All that...plus the Inheritance Tracks of Philippa Gregory.Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Lowri Morgan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Colin Patterson

It’s often said that one pretty sure route to happiness is to find something you love doing, and then make a career out of doing it, and seems to be exactly what Susie Dent has managed to do with her lifelong fascination with words. In her new book "The Roots We Share" Susie spreads her love of language. Fekky grew up in Lewisham, and used music as his escape from a life of gangs and violence. But during lockdown he, like many of us, found his green fingers and has since upped sticks and moved to the countryside to set-up his own farm, charting his experiences on his YouTube channel "Hood2Farm". Richard Sharp began an urban wine collective after a holiday in France to a vineyard opened his eye to the power of community projects. Grapes from allotments, balconies, public gardens all across London are harvested and brought together to create a single unique wine.Also, three time World Champion Plougher, John Hill, joins us LIVE from the British National Championships.Plus the Inheritance Tracks of Joanna Lumley.Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell