Saturday Live

The Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen, Dr Joseph Jebelli on the power of doing nothing, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time author Mark Haddon.

Today's programme features a couple of very nice movers. There’s Anton de Beke, fresh from the first night of the Strictly Tour to recount a life of dance and showbiz.Lizzy Yarnold is used to moving at a rather more ferocious speed as our most successful winter Olympian.Picking up on the sweet smell of success, Michael O’Shaugnassey is an expert in scents and uses them to access prisoners memories.Also today, a man considered so dull that he’s won an award for it, and the Inheritance Tracks of Claire Foy.Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

This week's programme is fashioned out of clay and stone, against a background of beautiful birdsong. Our potter is the king of clay himself, Keith Brymer Jones, the big, friendly, funny, tearful face of The Great Pottery Throw Down.Our stonemason, Jennie Regan, was taught her craft with the help of the King, and has returned the favour by carving some stone for him.The birdsong will be supplied by Sean Ronayne who has managed to record the sound of all but two of Ireland’s 200 native bird species.All that, plus, the winner of surely the UK’s most gruelling race - 268-miles of mid-winter madness along the Pennine Way - and we’ve the Inheritance Tracks of Mark Heap. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Gareth Nelson Davies

Jake Humphrey is a High Performance broadcaster - he's spoken openly about his mental health and what drives him, and in his podcast and new book he uncovers what makes the likes of Sir Chris Hoy and Sarina Wiegman tick.Madelaine Thomas has excelled in not one but two fields. Firstly as a dominatrix and then as a tech entrepreneur helping others protect their privacy.Dr Uy Hoang, also has two strings to his bow. As an eminent epidemiologist he maps the path of diseases. As an enthusiast for waterways he’s single-handedly photographing thousands of miles of tow paths for Google. Never mind streetview...this is canalview. Also today, the surfer waiting to hear if she’s bagged the world record for riding a bigger wave than any other woman ever - and the Inheritance Tracks of the catsuit wearing, falsetto singing, rockstar Justin Hawkins. Presenter: Adrian Charles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

Josh Widdicombe is about to take his stand up show on the road around the country and his latest new podcast series; Dr Helen Sharman talks about the time she became Britain’s first astronaut, and Finlay Wilson a Yoga teacher and author discusses all things yoga in all sorts of glorious Scottish settings. Plus Emily Watson the actor with an astonishing list of theatre, film and television credits to her name, and an array of awards and nominations to match chooses her Inheritance Tracks. Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Colin Paterson

On this Christmas special edition of Saturday Live, we take a deep-dive into the world of board games.Marcia Lewis’s has board games in her blood - her father was the creator of Cluedo.Neil Scanllan holds not one, not two, but four world records for his remarkable collection of Monopoly sets.Dr Harshan Lamabadusuriya, doctor by day, scrabble assassin by night, has had the best season of his life becoming the UK champion for the second time. Also today, BBC Inside Science presenter Tom Whipple, shares with us the tips and tricks for winning some of Christmas’s classic family games - and the Mammoth star Mike Bubbins adds a sprinkling of 70’s Christmas nostalgia to proceedings.Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

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