Saturday Live

Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles are joined by Vicky McClure, star of Line of Duty and This Is England. Her latest role is in a new drama on bomb disposal, keeping us on the edge of our sofas. We also have Helen Naylor who grew up believing that her mother had a chronic health condition that made her so exhausted she had to spend most of her time in bed. After her mother's death she found her diaries which told a different story. Listener Liz Ashworth emailed us about her mission to keeping traditional Scottish food alive: she wrote cook books for bairns and joins us ahead of Burns night on Tuesday! We also have Osman Yousefzada, the son of Pakistani-Afghan migrants who settled in Birmingham. As a child, he was able to inhabit his mother’s world where women gathered behind a curtain to sew and talk, separated from the men. Osman has became an artist himself, designing clothes for Beyonce and Lady Gaga. Sir Kenneth Branagh gives us his inheritance tracks - he chooses Cyprus Avenue by Van Morrison and Rio by Michael Nesmith. and we have your Thank you.Producer: Corinna Jones

Author and podcaster Giovanna Fletcher trained as an actor, but with several bestselling novels under her belt and her hit podcast Happy Mum Happy Baby featuring guests stars such as the Duchess of Cambridge, she has had little time to take to the stage in recent years. Now she stars in the West End in Danny Robins's terrifying new play 2.22 A Ghost Story at London's Gielgud Theatre.During lockdown, Femi Fadugba's debut novel, which combines his expertise in quantum physics with a thrilling time travel story set in Peckham, became a bestseller and was quickly snapped up by Netflix for a film adaptation. Ben Norris combines his skills as a poet, actor and playwright in The Choir of Man, a new feelgood show in the West End, which uses hits by the likes of Sia and and Guns'n'Roses to celebrate the power of community.After an incredible story from listener Helen Kirkham on last week's show about the devastating accident that almost took her life, we reunite Helen with someone very special.Darling Buds of May, Matilda and Call the Midwife actor Pam Ferris chooses her Inheritance Tracks: You Are My Heart's Delight by Richard Tauber and Bonde by Ali Farka Toure with Ry Cooder.And we have a Thank You from Topsy Kennedy.Producer: Tim Bano

Nikki Bedi and Rev Richard Coles are joined by actor Ralf Little who first appeared on our screens as the awkward Antony in the Royle Family, went on to star in Two Pints and a packet of crisps, and now Death in Paradise. Legendary football manager Brian Clough took our guest Craig Bromfield under his wing as a troubled youngster but their relationship ended when Craig betrayed Brian and never saw him again. Craig has written about his experience to make sense of what he did and why he did it. Helen Kirkham is a Saturday Live listener who had a road accident as a teen and later trained to be a nurse. She attended a lecture by the doctor who saved her life. Sports reporter Emma John who is a cricket fan, a bluegrass fiddler and singledom advocate. Andy Summers, guitarist with The Police, chooses his Inheritance Tracks: Manha de Carnaval from the film Black Orpheus by Luiz Bonfa and West Coast Blues by Wes Montgomery and your thank you.Producer: Corinna Jones

Sarah Parish joins Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles. Best known for her work in Mistresses, W1A , Broadchurch and Bancroft, Sarah talks about her career, including her latest project which is a crime thriller, and the charity she co-founded with her husband in memory of their first daughter.Supriya Nagarajan explains why she gave up a successful banking career to become a musician.Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton talks about being homeless as a teenager and how it inspired her career, she's the chief fire officer at West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.Matt Goss shares his Inheritance Tracks: Your Song by Elton John and Piano Man by Billy Joel.Aldo Kane has been inside an active volcano more than once and met his wife in one too. The former Royal Marines sniper talks about his life and experiences.Sarah Parish can be seen in Stay Close, which is available on Netflix from the 31st December. Supriya Nagarajan: Mapping the Music is at The Hepworth Wakefield on 19th February. The Heat of The Moment by Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton is out now. The Beautiful Unknown by Matt Goss is out in spring 2022. Lessons From the Edge by Aldo Kane is out now.Producer: Claire Bartleet Editor: Richard Hooper

In this festive edition of Saturday Live, Richard Coles and Nikki Bedi are joined by the actor Mark Strong, who has made a name playing villains in some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters, including Sherlock Holmes, Shazam and Cruella. He drops by to talk about darkly comic medical drama Temple. Comedian Fatiha El-Ghorri discusses her journey from homelessness to being one of the most exciting stand up comedians in the country. We hear about your new Christmas traditions, from socially distanced carol concerts to Christmas day curries. Plus we hear the Inheritance Tracks of 'what I call' national treasure Patricia Hodge.Producer: Tim Bano

Comedian, writer and entertainer Julian Clary joins Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles to talk about the lure of the pantomime and how his love of dogs has changed his life.Maria Sodahl, who received a likely-terminal cancer diagnosis just before Christmas nine years ago, on how she has turned her experience into the film Hope.Nathan Evans, the former postman who went viral on Tik Tok with his rendition of the sea shanty, Wellerman. And food historian Annie Gray will be taking us on a trip through time, from the familiarity of plum pudding and mince pies to the extravagance of boar's head and brawn. Plus, singer/songwriter Josh Groban chooses his Inheritance tracks: ‘S Wonderful by Tony Bennett (with Diana Krall) and Move on from Sunday in the Park with George sung by Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin.And your Thank you, this week from Isobel Sheppard.Producer: Annette Wells

Nikki Bedi and Mobeen Azhar are joined by Brian May, musician and astrophysicist, who played guitar on Buckingham Palace, and with the rock band Queen and is fascinated by stereoscopy AKA 3D. Also we have: journalist and broadcaster Camilla Tominey on her experiences growing up with her mother who had alcoholism. Johanna Basford joins us, she worked for years as a commercial illustrator – her work can be found on wallpaper, beer cans and even as tattoos – she had the idea of creating adult colouring books. Her books have since sold 21 million copies and been translated into 28 languages. and Bear Grylls whose latest project is to encourage adventure. Plus, comedian Mel Giedroyc chooses her Inheritance tracks: Hit me with your rhythm stick by Ian Dury and the Blockheads, and Sit in your lap by Kate Bush. And your Thank you.Producer: Corinna Jones

Joanna Lumley talks to Nikki Bedi and Shaun Keaveny about her career highlights and why her latest work is celebrating the Queen. Comedian Slim spent 15 years as a bus driver before being encouraged by a friend to try stand-up. 28 years later Slim has toured the world, won awards for his work and recently had a solo show at the London Palladium. Ben and Danielle Marsh tell the story of how their family shot to fame after they started sharing their music on social media during lockdown. Seth Lakeman shares his Inheritance Tracks: Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan and Beeswing by Richard Thompson. Queen of Clean Lynsey Crombie will talk about why cleaning became so important to her, and how a chance phone call gained her public prominence.A Queen For All Seasons: A Celebration of Queen Elizabeth II on her Platinum Jubilee by Joanna Lumley is out now. Slim is at the O2 Arena with Mo Gillian + Friends on Wednesday 8th December. The Marsh Family's Bring Us A Candle/ Mack the Knife single is out now. The 15-Minute Clean: The Quickest Way to a Sparkling Home by Lynsey Crombie is out now. Seth Lakeman's latest studio album Make Your Mark is out now and he is touring the UK now.

Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles are joined by Monica Galetti: chef, judge on Masterchef and chef proprietor of her own restaurant, judge on the BBC programme MasterChef: The Professionals since 2009 and has presenter of Amazing Hotels... In the studio we have Raymond Antrobus, one of the most exciting and acclaimed poets working today whose journey includes discovering he was deaf aged 6 and finding his passion for writing. Royd Tolkien’s brother Mike was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease aged 37 and very sadly died a couple of years later. Before his death, he told Royd about a bucket list he'd written for Royd to do, which included some pranks and stunts and took Royd on an emotional and physical journey. In January 2020, listener and mum of four Wendy Searle left her office job and reached the South Pole after a 42 day journey alone, dragging all her kit and food with her on a a Pulk (sled). She became only the 7th woman in the world to complete the journey. She did the journey to show that anything is possible… and now plans to go again next winter…. We also have the Inheritance Tracks of Jack Dee who chooses Downtown by Petula Clarke and Really Free by John Otway and Wild Willy Barratt and your Thank you.Producer is Corinna Jones

Guy Garvey joins Richard Coles and Nikki Bedi. The singer and 6 Music presenter has been making music with elbow for over three decades. He talks about the band’s achievements and the inspiration behind his lyrics.Kate London toured the UK with her own theatre company, but was inspired to become a Met Police Officer and these experiences have led to her becoming a crime writer.Jet Suit inventor Richard Browning has been called the real life Iron Man. He talks about his work, taking the plunge to pursue his passion, and what it's like to fly.Hannah Cockroft MBE shares her Inheritance Tracks: You To Me Are Everything by The Real Thing and The Scientist by Coldplay.Paul Whitehouse made his award-winning mark on comedy in shows such as The Fast Show and is now starring in Only Fools and Horses The Musical, which he co-wrote. Paul talks about taking a much loved sitcom to the stage, health and going fishing with Bob Mortimer.Elbow’s latest album Flying Dream 1 is out now. Guy Garvey’s Finest Hour on 6 Music from 2pm on Sunday. The Tower, adapted from Kate London's debut novel, is available to watch on the ITV Hub. Taking on Gravity: A Guide to Inventing the Impossible from the Man Who Learned to Fly is out now Only Fools and Horses The Musical is booking until 26 February 2022Producer: Claire Bartleet Editor: Alice Feinstein