Saturday Live

The actor and producer Greg Wise is brother of Clare Wise, who died of cancer in 2016. Greg has co-written a book about how he and Clare dealt with her illness - the appointments, the hair loss, the chemo, the showers... and the cat, Grably. Jess French is a zoologist, naturalist and entomologist and presents CBeebies Minibeast Adventure with Jess. Her passion for scorpions and tarantulas began while helping her dad with his exotic invertebrate-breeding business and often acted as animal handler when he supplied them for TV shows. Jess Robinson came from a musical family and trained as a classical singer. She explains how she got waylaid by impressions and vocal gymnastics, and ran away to join the circus. She has since performed at the Edinburgh Festival and reached the semi-final of Britain's Got Talent. Spencer Conway, English teacher, decided at forty-two to abandon The Canterbury Tales and make his own epic pilgrimage to Africa, which he circumnavigated on a motorbike. He has done the same in South America, a journey from which he's just returned. He talks about crashing in the salt flats in Bolivia and being stung by a killer wasp. Joanna Trollope chooses her Inheritance Tracks La Mer by Charles Trenet and Mythical Kings and Iguanas by Dory Previn.Not That Kind of Love, by Clare & Greg Wise is published on 22 February. Minibeasts with Jess French is published on 8 March. Jess Robinson's tour Here Come The Girls starts in Glasgow on 1 March and culminates on 29 April in Birmingham. Joanna Trollope's latest novel An Unsuitable Match is published on 22 February.

Dame Evelyn Glennie tells presenters Aasmah Mir and Rev Richard Coles about her mission to find new ways to help people really listen. She blazed a trail as the world's first professional solo percussionist, having become profoundly deaf at the age of 12. When she's not touring internationally, there's little she likes better than getting out her trusty metal detector and going searching for buried treasure.Max Beesley was no stranger to showbiz glamour even before he became a TV star, having played drums onstage with Robbie Williams, Stevie Wonder and The Jam. But he was inspired by Robert De Niro to make the switch to acting. He's starred in series like Suits and Hotel Babylon, and is back on screen playing the rugged Harry Sharrow in the second series of Jamestown - which has been described as a Jacobean western.Jordanian-Irish singer songwriter Keeva explains how she copes with anxiety and depression while putting her life into song and performing on stage. She also pulls pints in a bar, and draws artistic inspiration from her customers' personal dramas. Have a listen to see if you recognise yourself. Storyteller Matt Hopwood shares love stories he gathered while walking from Lindisfarne in Northumberland to Callanish on the Isle of Lewis. During his 500 mile journey across Scotland, Matt relied on the kindness of strangers for food and shelter. His mission was to listen, and the tales he heard of love for partner, friend, family and place are collected in his book, A Human Love Story - Journeys to the Heart.We also hear Martin McCutcheon's Inheritance Tracks, and take a icy dip with some chilly open water swimmers at Bardowie.Presenters: Aasmah Mir & Rev Richard Coles Producer: Paul Waters.

Aasmah Mir and the Rev. Richard Coles are joined by the actress Jenny Agutter who plays Sister Julienne in Call the Midwife. She recalls her time living in Hollywood and reveals her passion for rap. Before being called to the bar, Tony Kent was a heavyweight amateur boxer. As a criminal defence lawyer he's defended high profile clients including Anthony Joshua. He has now written his first novel - Killer Intent. JP Devlin meets Madeleine Neave to discover why she set up the Antique Breadboard Museum at her home in Putney, London. Adam Golightly, best known for his column The Widower of the Parish, describes how he's sewed ribbons on to ballet slippers, taken up stained glass window making and his introduction to internet dating. Mehreen Baig is a former teacher and now a blogger and reporter who appeared in the reality show Muslims Like Us. And Suzi Quatro chooses her Inheritance Tracks: God Bless the Child by Billie Holliday and Try and Little Tenderness by Otis Reading.Call the Midwife is on BBC One on Sundays at 8pm. Killer Intent by Tony Kent is out now. Being Adam Golightly - One Man's bumpy voyage to the other side of grief, is published on 8 February. Mehreen Baig: Islam, Women and Me is on BBC1 on Tuesday at 10.45.

Jo Wood's first foray into the public eye was as a popular newspaper's "Face of 1972" aged 17. After 5 years working as a model she met Ronnie Wood and spent the next 30 years living the whirlwind rock and roll lifestyle of the Rolling Stones until her marriage came to an abrupt end. She has since reinvented herself, promoting an organic lifestyle and her passion for interiors and fashion. She joins Aasmah and Richard in the studio.We also have Mollie Hughes, a climber who became the youngest woman in the world to scale both the north and south sides of Mount Everest. Marcellus Baz won BBC Sport Unsung Hero award 2016 for his work in breaking the cycle of crime via boxing at his school in Nottingham. And actor Jim Carter, best known for playing butler Carson in Downton Abbey. He's interviewing other actors in a series at the Tricycle Theatre.We have the Inheritance Tracks of legendary DJ Tony Blackburn, who chooses Reet Petite by Jackie Wilson and I'm Still Waiting by Diana RossAnd for Holocaust Memorial Day, JP meets listener Veronica who talks about a special piece of clothing she has that belonged to the Grandmother she never met.Producer: Corinna Jones Editor: Eleanor Garland.

Broadcaster and author Dan Snow is the history guy - from first appearing on our screens with the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein, with dad Peter to numerous other documentaries including the Rise of the Royal Navy, Battlefield Britain series and a documentary about his great great grandfather, former Prime Minister, Lloyd George. Alan Fell is Head of Props at the Royal Shakespeare Company - from severed heads to an armoured tank - creating weird stuff is part of the fun of his job. Louise Groves lost her parents and brother before she was sixteen and was placed in a foster family. She found the experience so positive, she became a foster parent herself and has fostered 48 children. Cookery writer Sumayya Usmani was a lawyer before following her true passion for food and is now an authority on Pakistani cuisine. She presents BBC Scotland's Kitchen Cafe. JP meets Saturday Live listener, Mike Farquhar, tells of a childhood event that he believes changed his life. Actor Josette Simon shares her Inheritance Tracks - Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles and You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me by Gladys Knight and the Pips. Mountain Berries and Desert Spice by Sumayya Usmani is published by Frances Lincoln. Josette Simon stars in Antony and Cleopatra at the Barbican in London until 20th January 2018. Dan Snow has recently launched new history channel, History Hit TV. Alan Fell is currently working on productions of The Duchess of Malfi, MacBeth, The Fantastic Follies of Mrs Rich and a First Encounters Schools project of Julius Caesar at the RSC, Stratford- upon Avon,.

Aasmah Mir and Suzy Klein are joined by the commentator and former England Rugby hooker, Brian Moore, who talks about his career, recent health scare and passion for opera and wine. 18 year old Liv Cooke is the current Football Freestyle World Champion. She describes how sitting at home with an injury led her to the sport. The actress, Julie Hesmondhalgh, recalls her childhood in Accrington, playing the first transgender role in a soap, and her love of campervans. JP meets Saturday Live listener, Pat Ellison Reed, to find out why her mum taught her Jujitsu. GP and TV doctor, Rangan Chatterjee, gives common-sense tips for a healthier lifestyle; describes how he almost missed his own child's illness and the joy he finds by playing in a band. Feargal Sharkey shares his Inheritance Tracks - Brown Eyed Handsome Man performed by Buddy Holly and Aceperience by Hardfloor.Brian Moore will be commentating on the Six Nations Championship, which runs from 3 February - 17 March. Julie Hesmondhalgh is appearing in the play The Almighty Sometimes at the Manchester Royal Exchange from 9-24 February. The 4 Pillar Plan, How to Relax, Eat, Move and Sleep by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, is out now. Liv Cooke is taking part in The World Freestyle Football Championships on 22 February in Tokyo.

Actor Phil Daniels joins Aasmah and Richard in the studio. Since his first big role aged 19 as the lead in cult The Who film Quadrophenia, he hasn't stopped working in film, theatre or TV including Eastenders; Chicken Run; Les Miserables; Shakespeare; and the voice in Blur's Park Life. Now actor Phil Daniels is putting his versatility to good use in a new production of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Stefanie Reid is a five-time world record holder, reigning world champion in long jump, and triple Paralympic medallist in the long jump and 200m sprint. She'll be talking about her journey and the future. Fashion historian author and vintage clothes expert Amber Butchart joins us to talk about the significance of clothes in our lives, as explored in her new show 'A Stitch in Time', which fuses biography, art and the history of fashion to explore the lives of historical figures through the clothes they wore. A couple of years ago, after hearing a talk by a colleague, listener and teacher Helen Brace decided to set herself a new year challenge, but instead of choosing something to give up, she wanted to add something to her life. Last year she decided to walk a 1000 miles, raise a 1000 pounds for charity and read 1000 pages for pleasure each month. What has she challenged herself to this year?Texas singer and songwriter Sharleen Spiteri chooses her inheritance tracks. She chooses Rock the Casbah by The Clash and These Boots are Made for Walking by Nancy Sinatra.Our reporter Anna Bailey meets Cyril and his barber Peter.Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde opens on 14 February at Rose Theatre Kingston and then tours the country A Stitch in Time with Amber Butchart is on BBC4 on Wednesday evenings from 3rd January Barber Shop Chronicles runs at the National Theatre until 9th JanuaryProducer: Corinna Jones Editor: Eleanor Garland.

The poet Lemn Sissay, lexicographer Susie Dent and conservationist Ian Redmond join the Reverend Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir.Lemn Sissay is a poet and broadcaster who has written extensively about his childhood in care. His new collection of poetry Gold from the Stone is published by Canongate Books.Susie Dent is a lexicographer who is the resident word expert in Dictionary Corner on Countdown and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Her book Dent's Modern Tribes - The Secret Languages of Britain is published by John Murray Publishers.Ian Redmond is a wildlife biologist and conservationist, renowned for his work with great apes and elephants, who worked closely with the late Dr Dian Fossey, JP Devlin meets singer Barry Manilow and singer and activist Mavis Staples shares her inheritance tracks - Will the Circle Be Unbroken by the Staple Singers and What's Going On by Marvin Gaye.Producer: Paula McGinley Editor: Eleanor Garland.

Aasmah Mir and the Rev. Richard Coles are joined by the lyricist and musician Chris Difford who, along with Glenn Tilbrook, co-founded Squeeze - with hits such as 'Cool For Cats' and 'Up The Junction'. He talks about his life from early years in south London to playing Madison Square Garden, battling addiction and receiving two Ivor Novello Awards. Dr. Rachel Clarke describes the atmosphere on the hospital ward during the festive season, and the humanity shown by patients and staff alike. Anna Bailey meets Brendan O'Carroll aka Mrs Brown, one of the most popular sitcom characters on our screens today, to find out about the man behind the cardigan and the curlers. Gwenda Gofton recalls her varied Christmases as an evacuee during the war, working as nurse where she turned the ward into a jungle/rainforest, to life as a vicar's wife and opening her doors to strangers. John Lloyd is the creator and founding producer of The News Quiz, Spitting Image, Not the Nine O'Clock News, Blackadder & QI - billed as "the world's most impossible quiz". He provides obscure facts and explains why what we think we know, may be only partially true. Peggy Seeger shares her Inheritance Tracks - Goodnight Irene performed by Leadbelly and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face performed by Roberta Flack.Some Fantastic Place - My Life In and Out of Squeeze by Chris Difford is out now, and he'll be on an acoustic book tour in the Spring of 2018. Your Life in My Hands by Dr. Rachel Clarke. Mrs Brown's Boys is on BBC One on Christmas Day and New Year's Day at 10pm. John Lloyd's 1,423 QI Facts To Bowl You Over is out now. Peggy Seeger's The First Time Ever - songs and a memoir- are out now.Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Eleanor Garland.

Hit singer songwriter James Blunt joins Aasmah Mir and Shaun Keaveny to talk hits, the army and acerbic tweets.Actor Abubakar Salim is the new lead in Assassin's Creed, a video game. We ask him why he wanted to act in a game, how it compares to other roles and how his martial arts study helped the role.We have explosive ordinance disposal expert turned reality TV Love Islander Camilla Thurlow. Listener Clare Rixon has run a marathon every month in 2017, set up a virtual running challenge and runs for her psychological well being.And ahead of the Strictly final we have the Inheritance Tracks of last year's winner, Ore Oduba who chooses Pride by U2 and One Last Time by Ariana Grande.James Blunt's lastest album is The Afterlove Producer: Corinna Jones Editor: Eleanor Garland.