

Saturday Live
BBC Radio 4
Radio 4's Saturday morning show brings you extraordinary stories and remarkable people.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 3, 2022 • 1h 25min
Craig David
Craig David joins Julia Bradbury and Richard Coles. The singer-songwriter found fame age 18 with ‘Rewind’ and over the next 22 years dealt with the highs and lows of fame. Craig talks about his career, overcoming obstacles and rediscovering his good vibes.Kwesia aka City Girl in Nature grew up in Deptford, an inner city area of London. Growing up Kwesia dealt with violence and trauma but an opportunity to go to the Peruvian Amazon rainforest changed her life and she now works to share her love and passion for the outdoors.Sandy Nairne was deputy director of London’s Tate Gallery back in 1994 when he was woken in the early hours to be told that two Turner paintings, on loan from the Tate, had been stolen in Frankfurt. They were worth £30 million. He became the person responsible for tracking them down, which would take eight and a half years. Jamie Oliver shares his Inheritance Tracks: (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay by Otis Redding and Only To Be With You by Roachford.Susannah Constantine made her name as a stylist in What Not To Wear. She talks about her life, from being an 80s IT girl to the impact of her mother’s illness, and her own alcoholism.Craig David's new album 22 is out now and his book What’s Your Vibe is out on the 6th October.
Kwesia features in a new podcast called Waterland's from The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.
Catching the Art Thieves is on the BBC iPlayer now.
One by Jamie Oliver is out now
Ready for Absolutely Nothing by Susannah Constantine is out now. Producer: Claire Bartleet

Sep 24, 2022 • 1h 25min
Melanie C
Melanie C joins Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles. The musician, actor and now memoirist talks about how the seeds for Sporty Spice were planted in her childhood, reveals what it was like to be part of the Spice Girls, and the personal struggles behind the success. Pastor Mick Fleming was once a dangerous, violent drug user and dealer but he transformed his life in his 40s and now provides comfort and support for those in need.Opera singer Rebecca Bottone is the daughter of two acclaimed opera singers. She grew up backstage at some of the most prestigious performance spaces in the world. But as her career was taking off she experienced two traumatic pregnancies and was told at one point that she would never walk again.Rylan Clark shares his Inheritance Tracks: Forget Me Nots by Patrice Rushen and Pure Shores by All Saints.Theo Fennell is a world-famous jewellery designer who’s often described as The King of Bling. He talks about the importance of optimism and his love of condiments.Who I Am: My Story by Melanie C is out now.
Blown Away: From Drug Dealer to Life Bringer by Pastor Mick Fleming is out now.
Rebecca Bottone's Gilbert and Sullivan tour runs from Saturday 1st October until Sunday 13th November, starting in Stoke-on-Trent and ending in Richmond.
Ten – The Decade that Changed My Future by Rylan is out on 29th September
I Fear For this Boy: Some Chapters of Accidents by Theo Fennell is out now.Producer: Claire Bartleet

Sep 20, 2022 • 1h 28min
Dan Gillespie Sells
Dan Gillespie Sells joins Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Richard Coles. The lead singer with The Feeling, who also composed the music for Everybody's Talking About Jamie, met his fellow band members at the BRIT School aged 16 and they’ve been collaborating ever since. Their latest album is Loss Hope Love, containing the single On the Edge, and they are touring next month. Susan Cousins was abandoned as a baby in India. After being adopted she grew up predominantly in the UK but experienced difficulties, which she is now addressing as an adult through her work.Patrick van der Vorst always wanted to work in the art world. He succeeded, and even gained funding for his company on Dragons' Den. But he’s changed career and is now a trainee priest. Karen Carney shares her Inheritance Tracks: Say You'll Be There by the Spice Girls and Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond.Lucy Edwards lost her sight suddenly at the age of 17. She made a video called “Blind Girl Does Her Own Make-Up”, ditched her plans to be a lawyer, did a journalism apprenticeship and took up social media on a mission to represent sight loss. Now she has a popular TikTok account with 1.8 million followers, a haircare sponsorship, and was the first person with sight loss to present on BBC Radio 1.Producer: Claire Bartleet

Sep 10, 2022 • 1h 10min
Tributes to the Queen
Richard Coles and Nikki Bedi host stories and tributes to the Queen.

Sep 3, 2022 • 1h 26min
Carlo Rovelli
Nikki Bedi and Adil Ray are joined by scientist and best selling writer Carlo Rovelli to discuss life outside of black holes and quantum mechanics and why he’s been dubbed the world’s most inspirational physics teacher.At the age of 24, Georgina Hurst was severely injured in an car accident caused by her then boyfriend’s dangerous driving. She was given a less than one per cent chance of survival. Determined to defy the odds, today she is gearing up to celebrate 25 years since the accident with a pole dancing performance. She tells her story.Nabil Ayres is the son of a white Jewish former ballerina and the famous black jazz musician Roy Ayers. Prior to his conception, his mother had arranged with his father that he would not have any parental input. Nabil grew up to be a music entrepreneur and a writer, and despite living in the same city has he never bumped into his father. He joins us.Olia Hercules is a Ukrainian cookery writer based in the UK. This year she has witnessed from afar the plight of her family and friends in Ukraine. She co founded the Cook for Ukraine movement and has become an activist on social media. She joins us.Writer Roddy Doyle chooses his Inheritance Tracks: River Stay 'Way From My Door - Paul Robeson and Boys From the Betterland - Fontaines D.C.
and we have your thank you!Producer: Corinna Jones

Aug 27, 2022 • 1h 24min
Deborah Moggach
Deborah Moggach joins Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles. The novelist and screenwriter talks about relationships, why it’s never too late to have adventures and the forthcoming play based on her novel These Foolish Things. The first adaptation resulted in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel film.Listener Nick Bunker was listening to Saturday Live a few weeks ago when the writer Lesley Pearse told us how she’d been reunited with the son she’d given up for adoption. He was moved to write to us – as he was adopted as a baby in 1963. Fast forward 54 years later, he received an email and discovered he had a whole family in Australia where they’d emigrated as Ten Pound Poms!From a working class upbringing in post-war Sheffield to creating some of the most famous songs and bands of all time – The Human League and Heaven 17 – Martyn Ware has been at the forefront of music for decades. Jules Buckley shares his Inheritance Tracks: Sweet Soul Music by Arthur Conley and Music for 18 Musicians by Steve Reich.Samantha Renke is an actress, broadcaster and disability campaigner. She was born with brittle bone condition and uses her own experiences to advise and empower people, to overcome difficulties in their own lives.The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel opens at Richmond Theatre on Monday 5th September 2022, and is then touring until Sat 3 June, ending in Festival Theatre, Edinburgh.
Electronically Yours: Vol 1 by Martyn Ware is out now.
You Are the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread by Samantha Renke is out now.Producer: Claire Bartleet

Aug 20, 2022 • 1h 24min
Val McDermid
Val McDermid joins Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles. The award-winning crime writer was inspired to write after reading Agatha Christie as a child. After attending Oxford University, Val started her career as a journalist and has drawn on these experiences in her latest thriller 1989. Kristin Mcilquham’s father suffered from a serious brain injury (three aneurysms) when she was child which changed her dad’s personality. Now an actor, she is performing her one-woman show Headcase about the impact this had on her life growing up, on her family and on her dad.Eileen Fitzgerald befriended The Rolling Stones as a teenager and exchanged letters with the fledgling rockers. Years later she sold the correspondence to help pay for her PhD.Trumpeter Alison Balsom shares her Inheritance Tracks: JS Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 by Trevor Pinnock with The English Concert and Con Alma by Dizzy Gillespie.Nihal Arthanayake started out as a recording artist before becoming an award-winning broadcaster. He talks about life growing up and why in his new book Let's Talk he's encouraging everyone to have better conversations.Producer: Claire Bartleet

Aug 13, 2022 • 1h 24min
Dave Gorman
Dave Gorman joins Nikki Bedi and Adil Ray ahead of his latest tour. The comedian gave up a bright future in maths to become a stand-up. He first found fame asking Are You Dave Gorman and, aided by a powerpoint, has been on a mission to prove Modern Life Is Goodish. He’s also recently become a crossword setter.Sanjar Qiam is a master kite-maker from Kabul. To mark the anniversary of the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, Sanjar is launching a kite-flying festival across the UK to celebrate Afghan culture and bring people together.Helen Linsell hated ballet lessons as a child but has spent her entire career encouraging others to dance. As the artistic director of Dance United Yorkshire, Helen works on dance projects with disadvantaged community groups, watching people grow in confidence through the power of movement. This dance-powered boost is something that Helen knows first-hand, from her own journey from shy and struggling adolescent to confident and courageous adult. Kate Nash shares her Inheritance Tracks: Delirium Tremens by Christy Moore and Stay Wild by Shuga.Writer Susie Boyt has published seven novels to date and her memoir My Judy Garland Life was also adapted for the stage. Susie talks about why fiction was important to her from a young age, and how her mother inspired her latest work Loved and Missed.The Fly With Me festival is happening at various locations on Saturday 20 August 2022. For more information go to goodchance.org.uk/flywithmeProducer: Claire Bartleet

Aug 6, 2022 • 1h 24min
James Purefoy
Actor James Purefoy joins Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles to talk about Fisherman's Friends One and All. From Mark Antony in Rome to The Black Prince in A Knight's Tale, James talks about his long and wide-ranging career.The Singh Twins are visual artists whose colourful and acclaimed work draws on traditional Indian techniques, Western medieval illuminated manuscripts and contemporary Western culture. They talk about their close bond and identifying as 'twindividuals'.Adeline Vining found a vintage Dior dress belonging to her grandmother in a suitcase in the attic. When she posted a TikTok of herself wearing the dress, she went viral. Fashion historians got involved, suggesting the dress was made by Christian Dior himself, and estimating its worth at £35,000. The discovery also helped Adeline uncover the story of her grandmother's life. Lesley Pearse has been a bestselling novelist for many years, and has lived an extraordinary life. After spending time in an orphanage, she found herself working as a bunny girl in Soho in her teens. When she became pregnant she was forced to give her son up for adoption. Years later she has reconnected with her son, and discovered the huge family she never knew she had. Also we have the Inheritance Tracks of producer and DJ Paul Oakenfold, who chooses Elvis Presley's Rubberneckin' and Marvin Gaye's What's Going On. Fisherman's Friends: One and All is in cinemas from 19th August.
The Singh Twins' exhibition ‘Slaves of Fashion’ is on at FirstSite in Colchester until 11th September.
Lesley Pearse's latest novel Deception is available now. Producer: Tim Bano

Jul 30, 2022 • 1h 25min
Doon Mackichan
Doon Mackichan joins Nikki Bedi and Rev Richard Coles. The actor, writer and comedian – and double Emmy winner - talks about her latest comedy role set in a suburban street in Glasgow, how she did impressions to avoid the school bullies and her love of wild swimming.Loree Draude is one of the first women to fly combat jets in the U.S. Navy. She switched to start-ups in Silicon Valley, rediscovered her love of theatre and now has a one-woman show.Matt Rowland Hill grew up the son of a minister in an evangelical Christian church in South Wales, then lost his faith in his late teens and began his search for salvation elsewhere, turning to books and then to alcohol and drugs.Carol Kirkwood shares her Inheritance Tracks – Surfin’ USA by The Beach Boys and Love Will Keep Us Alive by The Eagles.Mike Gayle was the first man to win Romantic Fiction’s top award and was an Agony Uncle for girls’ teen magazine Bliss before becoming a novelist.Two Doors Down is BBC Two on Tuesday nights at 10pm, and all five series are available to watch on the BBC iplayer.
Loree Draude’s show, I Feel the Need runs from 4th to 27th August at the Assembly Rooms - Powder Room in Edinburgh.
Matt Rowland Hill’s memoir, Original Sins is published by Chatto & Windus.
Mike Gayle’s book, The Museum of Ordinary People is published by Hodder & Stoughton. Producer: Annette Wells
Editor: Richard Hooper