Saturday Live

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

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

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

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

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

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

Robert Peston joins Nikki Bedi and Peter Curran. Whilst keeping very busy as ITV News' Political Editor, Robert Peston has written his debut novel. He talks about the memories it triggered, career highlights and passions outside work.Listener Gerry Wright got in touch to talk about the significance of sailing for her family, and a particularly poignant bedside trip with her mother.Ben Aldridge used to suffer from severe anxiety until he used the ancient Greek philosophy of stoicism to get outside his comfort zone – challenges he set himself included running a marathon in his garden and climbing Everest on his stairs during lockdown. Noma Dumezweni shares her Inheritance Tracks: Pata Pata by Miriam Makeba and O-o-h Child by Five Stairsteps. Michael Spicer is best known as the cynical and world-weary political advisor character in ‘The Room Next Door’ sketches. Michael spent decades writing in his spare time whilst doing unfulfilling jobs to pay the bills, leading to a double life when he got internet fame.The Whistleblower by Robert Peston is out now. How To Control The Uncontrollable by Ben Aldridge is out now. Noma Dumezweni is in A Doll’s House, Part 2 which runs at London’s Donmar Warehouse until the 6 August. Michael Spicer's Edinburgh show The Room Next Door runs from the 19th to the 28th of August at Assembly George Square Studios - Studio One. Producer: Claire Bartleet

Nikki Bedi and Adil Ray are joined by Delia Smith CH CBE, first known for teaching cookery skills on TV and in her books in a no-nonsense style. 50 years worth of recipes later, she is now sharing her thoughts on spirituality. Liv Thorne wanted a baby, but she was single. Instead of hanging around waiting for Mr Right, she took things into her own hands and bought some sperm, having her son in 2018. Keen to reduce stigma surrounding such choices, she documented her experience and found that revisiting her past, in particular the loss of both her parents when she was a teen, helped her understand why she had struggled maintaining a relationship. She joins us.A passion for Grime has fuelled Roony “risky” Keefe’s career, first making documentaries about the subject and then music videos for Skepta amongst others, picking up praise from Drake on the way. He also works as a London cabbie, doing the infamous “knowledge” in less than the requisite 4 years. He joins us.We also have Ed Patrick - NHS doctor by day, comedian by night and author wherever he can find the time. He uses comedy to help find balance in his life as an anaesthetist. We have the Inheritance Tracks of actor James Buckley who chooses God Only Knows by the Beach Boys and Time For Heroes by The Libertines and your thank you.Producer: Corinna Jones

Eddie Hearn joins Nikki Bedi and Rev. Richard Coles. One of the biggest boxing promoters in the world, Eddie represents some of the biggest names in the sport, including Anthony Joshua and Katie Taylor. He talks about what drives him to succeed and the biggest challenges he’s faced.This weekend is the Llangollen Eisteddfod, an international music and dance festival in North Wales, which has been running since 1949. In 1956, when she was 15, Myron Lloyd entered the Welsh singing competition in a traditional costume and had her photograph taken. She thought nothing of it, until a few years later, when she discovered she’d become famous all over Wales, and beyond.Hip Hop educator Breis grew up in London and Lagos. Music helped him readjust after moving countries. Rather than entering the corporate world after gaining a maths degree, Breis has continued to pursue his passions, creating music and publishing books, including Diary of a Creative Mind.Louis Theroux chooses his Inheritance Tracks: Janie Jones by The Clash and Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy) by Al Green.Harpreet Chandi MBE, also known as ‘Polar Preet,’ talks about creating history by becoming the first woman of colour to complete an unsupported solo expedition to the South Pole.Derek Chisora and Kubrat Pulev are meeting for a second time for a boxing rematch at The O2 on Saturday 9 July 2022. Theroux the Keyhole by Louis Theroux is out now.Producer: Claire Bartleet Editor: Richard Hooper

Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles meet Baroness Floella Benjamin - who became a household name in the mid 70s and 80s as the host of Playschool. She came to the UK as part of the Windrush generation from Trinidad and as well as TV presenting, she is a successful actor, writer and producer, a working peer and advocate for the welfare and education of Children, she is also a Dame and an OBE.We also have Aled Haydn Jones - the current head of radio 1 - who has spoken out about his rollercoaster journey to be a Dad, via a surrogate.Vashti Bunyan was an aspiring pop musician in the late 60s when she walked away from potential fame, and took a horse and cart to Scotland. Years later she searched online to realise she had a cult following. She joins us.Daniel Biddle was the most seriously injured survivor of the 7/7 terror attacks in London in 2015. He tells us of his journey since, physically back to the site of the attack, but also in developing opportunities for disabled people in the workplace.For her Inheritance Tracks, crime writer Karin Slaughter chooses You May be Right by Billy Joel and We Got the Beat by the Go-Gos, and we have your Thank you.Producer: Corinna Jones