Saturday Live

With Aasmah Mir and guest presenter Konnie Huq are trumpeter Alison Balsom OBE, cycling blogger Jools Walker, self taught Fungi expert Geoff Dann and Joanne Barton who went from teenage alcoholism to becoming a doctor in A&E.Alison Balsom is having a break from travelling the world playing virtuoso trumpet in a new role as Artistic Director of the Cheltenham Music Festival;Jools Walker is a cycling blogger whose passion for two wheels has proved so infectious she has been able to blog full time; Geoff Dann's childhood in the North Downs inspired a life long interest in foraging, particularly for fungi. Self taught, he's survived to pass on some of his knowledge to us;Joanne Barton started drinking as a teenager after she experienced problems at home. Drug use followed, and she dropped out of school. In her late teens she managed to change her path and got a job which led to working in the care sector and inspired her to return to education and now she is an A&E doctor. JP meets listener Roger Wilson-Hinds who sings the praises of his Dad this Father's day weekend.We have the inheritance tracks of Quadrophenia actor Phil Daniels who chose Nature's Way by Spirit and I'm One by the Who.Producer: Corinna Jones Editor: Eleanor Garland.

Guests include actor and stand up comedian Richard Blackwood, Little Britain star Matt Lucas, fashion commentator and football obsessive Simon Doonan, and American Football player Phoebe Schecter.Richard Blackwood talks about his early rise to fame and bankruptcy, before playing the donkey in Shrek the Musical and moving on to straight acting roles.Matt Lucas, began his career as a giant baby playing the drums and went on to success with Little Britain wearing a fat suits for the character of Bubbles De Vere. He describes his passion for musicals and for Arsenal FC.Simon Doonan loves football and fashion in equal measure. He is the Creative Ambassador for Barney's New York. He's dressed the White House for Christmas under the Obama administration. And he's a Reading FC fan who has flown from New York to see them play. Phoebe Schecter plays for and Captains Great Britain's Women's American Football team. She led them to the final of the 2015 European Championships, where they won silver, and she was the first British woman to coach in the NFL when she worked with Buffalo Bills. And Jo Wood shares her Inheritance Tracks - Pata Pata by Miriam Makeba, and Stray Cat Blues by The Rolling Stones.Presented by Aasmah Mir and Rev. Richard Coles.Produced by Louise Corley Edited by Eleanor Garland.

With Rev. Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir,David Coulthard talks about his Formula 1 career and life after racing. Listener Kate got in touch to tell us how writing helped her on the way to recovery from anorexia. JP Devlin meets song and dance man Movin' Melvin Brown; Whitney Brown explains how she went from being an academic in America to dry stone walling in Wales. Opera star Willard White shares his Inheritance Tracks: Smile by Nat King Cole and Bach's Prelude No. 1. Adnan Sarwar is a former British soldier who has just returned to Iraq to explore how the country has changed. David Coulthard's The Winning Formula: Leadership, Strategy and Motivation the F1 Way is out now. Movin' Melvin Brown is performing his show Chuck Berry Lives and running the workshop Dancing with the Star - Movin with Melvin at the Brighton Fringe till the 3rd June. Whitney Brown's Between Stone and Sky: Memoirs of a Walker is out now. Part one of Adnan Sarwar's documentary Journey in the Danger Zone: Iraq goes out on BBC Two on Sunday, 3rd June, at 8pm. Willard White is performing in Don Giovanni at the Royal Opera House in London from 29th June until 17th July. Producer: Claire Bartleet Editor: Eleanor Garland.

With Rev. Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir,John Torode on MasterChef and how travel has inspired his cooking, Simon Mayo shares his Inheritance Tracks, Milad Shadrooh reveals how he became The Singing Dentist, psychologist Janina Scarlet on how superheroes changed her life and enabled her to help others. Mandy Coppin breaks off from organising the largest number of light aircraft to fly the River Tyne, plus JP Devlin meets listener and Tetbury WoolSack Racer Lucy Collins. John Torode's book Sydney To Seoul: Recipes from my travels in Australia and the Far East is out on the 31st May. Fly The Tyne is happening from around 1.30pm on 26th May. The Tetbury WoolSack Races is on Bank Holiday Monday. Simon Mayo chose The Nightmare Song 'Love unrequited robs me of my rest' from Iolanthe by Gilbert and Sullivan and Graceland by Paul Simon. Janina Scarlet's book Therapy Quest is out now.Producer: Claire Bartleet Editor: Eleanor Garland.

The adventurer and explorer Benedict Allen joins Konnie Huq and the Rev. Richard Coles. He explains why he returned to Papua New Guinea to visit a community he'd befriended 30 years earlier, why he doesn't take modern technology with him, but does travel with postcards of The Queen. As Manchester United prepare to meet Chelsea in the Cup Final later today, JP Devlin is in conversation with its former number seven - Eric Cantona. Rugby coach Ben Ryan describes how he took the Fijian Sevens to Olympic Gold in Rio 2016 and was made a Chief by a grateful nation. And it was a romantic game of two halves for Helen Bellany, so taken with the painter John Bellany she married him not once but twice. Listener Carol Worwood shares her Thank You story from the Royal Wedding Day in 1981. Tim Eagling describes his family's morning - taking part in an immersive scare event in a disused shopping mall. And the poet Imtiaz Dharker reveals her Inheritance Tracks - Babu Samjho Ishare from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, sung by Kishore Kumar; and Heroes by David Bowie.Benedict Allen is touring from June 2018 with the Ultimate Explorer Tour. My Notebook by Eric Cantona is out now. The Restless Wave, My Two Lives with John Bellany, by Helen Bellany. Luck is the Hook by Imtiaz Dharker. Sevens Heaven by Ben Ryan is published on 31st May.Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Eleanor Garland.

With Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson for parents, Eliza Carthy was unlikely to do anything else, but her enthusiasm, research and skill in arranging, writing and performing along with 2 Mercury Music Prize nominations has enabled her to fly the flag for folk music in England. She'll be playing live in the studio to Aasmah Mir and Shaun Keaveny and talking about her latest album with her mother.Radio 4 Listener and architect Toby Carr has set himself the challenge of sea kayaking to all the locations in the shipping forecast. We ask him how, why and what has led him to such a complicated challenge!We're also joined by Martyn Waites, ex actor and stand-up comedian, now a crime-writer who has written under his own name and also the female pseudonym of Tania Carver. Susannah Walker is a design historian who has written a book about her mother's hoarding, the extent of which was discovered after her death. She joins us to talk about the significance of 'things' and the stories behind them.JP Devlin meets Brian Blessed and talks mainly about his beard.Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden chooses his Inheritance Tracks: Child in Time by Deep Purple and Fire by The Crazy World of Arthur BrownNorma Waterson and Eliza Carthy's album is called Anchor Martyn Waites' book The Old Religion is out on 14th June Brian Blessed's book is called The Panther In My Kitchen: My Wild Life With Animals Susannah Walker's book is Life of Stuff.

Aasmah Mir and Rev. Richard Coles are joined by poet Pam Ayres, who talks about her passion on hedgehogs, her time in the WRAF and the everyday events that have inspired her more recent poems. Liz O'Riordan is a breast cancer surgeon, who has had breast cancer herself. She describes how this experience has changed her bedside manner and inspired her 'Jar of Joy'.JP Devlin meets Saturday Live listener, foundling Peter Lindley, who recalls his search for identity.The fireman and fire investigation officer, Paul Osborne, is partnered with Sherlock, a five year old a Cocker Spaniel with a nose for sniffing out ignitable liquids.Leee John, Singer/songwriter with the group Imagination on his falsetto, his new single Police and Thieves, and his documentary to go with it, which reflects his strong sense of community and the area he grew up in in north London. The actor, Stephen McGann, shares his Inheritance Tracks. He chooses (I've Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo by Glenn Miller and Within You and Without You by The Beatles.The Last Hedgehog by Pam Ayres, is out now. Sherlock The Fire Brigade Dog by Paul Osborne, is out now. Police and Thieves by Imagination feat. Leee John from the Retropia album. Peter Lindley has written the story of his search for his identity in 'Please Look After Billy'Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Eleanor Garland.

Sir Tim Rice talks to Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles about bringing the musical Chess back to the West End. He also reflects on his career, love of cricket and performing himself.Listener Talitha MacKenzie got in touch and is appearing on the programme to talk about her love of historical costumes and dance.Robyn Hollingworth left her life in London and returned home to rural South Wales when her dad was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. She's just published the frank diary she kept from this time.Spinal Tap's Derek Smalls (the alter ego of Harry Shearer) talks to JP Devlin.Gail Porter shares her Inheritance Tracks. She has chosen Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd and When Doves Cry by Prince.Cook and food writer Diana Henry talks about how her recipes and menus have been influenced by her childhood, travels and experiences. Chess is at the London Coliseum until Saturday 2nd June.My Mad Dad: The Diary of an Unravelling Mind by Robyn Hollingworth is out nowDerek Smalls' album Smalls Change is out now.How To Eat a Peach by Diana Henry is out now.

Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles are joined by history obsessive Dr Lucy Worsley, whose mission is to make history accessible: she writes books for adults and children, she presents TV documentaries, often dressing up as historical characters to further tell their tales, and she is also Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces. Her latest book is about Jane Austen, who, Lucy says, was one of the most important Georgians.Brian Conley might be best known as the host of his eponymous show, but he's played lead roles in musicals such as Me and My Girl, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Hairspray, Oliver!, The Music Man, Barnum and Jolson for which he was nominated for a prestigious Laurence Olivier Award. He's presented the Royal Variety Performance on eight occasions and appeared on TV shows such as The Grimleys and Time after Time and recorded three albums. He joins us in the middle of his latest tour: 'Still the Greatest Entertainer in His Price Range'.Elizabeth Noble is a writer of fiction who mourns the demise of the letter. She has kept letters from parents, lovers, and children and finds them not only treasures in themselves but also with content even more revealing years later. Listener Neil Rushton contacted us about a hobby of his - ice water swimming, which he does in a club run by Pauline Barker, who is the UK Country Ambassador for the International Ice Swimming Association. She joins us to talk about swimming in zero temperatures.JP Devlin goes to Sheffield in search of the Record collector store for Record Store Day. Samuel West chooses his Inheritance Tracks - Dory Previn's Play it again Sam and Matt Bianco's Get out of your lazy bed.'Jane Austen at Home' and 'Lady Mary', are both by Lucy Worsley Brian Conley's show 'Still the Greatest Entertainer in his Price Range' is touring the UK until June Brian Conley's new TV series starts 16th April on Channel 4 'Buy it now' Elizabeth Noble's latest novel is 'Letters to Iris'.

Presented by Aasmah Mir and the Rev. Richard Coles.Andy Hamilton earned his comedy stripes at Cambridge, in the university's Light Entertainment Society, and has written and performed for a number of radio and television programmes from I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue and Drop the Dead Donkey, to QI, to Old Harry's Game, and the award winning Outnumbered. He discusses how he manages change. Delia El-Hosayny recalls her 30 years as a bouncer, during which time such was stabbed, shot at and delivered a baby in a nightclub toilet.Saturday Live listener John Simmons shares his family story. His parents temporarily 'adopted', Jesus, a child refugee from the Spanish Civil War. John later researched the story of the 4,000 children who came to the UK from Spain and found out what happened to Jesus and his sister when they returned home.JP Devlin meets Ricky Valance - the 1960s star from a Welsh mining community who had a No.1 hit with the song Tell Laura I Love Her.Historian Dr. Laura King describes her latest work around objects and testimony from families and various communities in Leeds, which has culminated in the exhibition Remembrance. And Robert Peston chooses his Inheritance Tracks: Beethoven's Opus 131, and Still Crazy After All These Years by Paul Simon.Andy Hamilton's tour Change Management runs from 21 May - 10 June. Spanish Crossings by John Simmons, is out now in paperback. Remembrance runs at the Abbey House museum in Leeds until December 2018. Robert Peston's book WTF is published by Hodder.