Saturday Live

Martin Fry is a singer/songwriter who came to prominence in the early 1980s as lead singer of the band ABC. Their debut album, the Lexicon of Love, was a UK number one. Thirty four years on, he has released a sequel to reflect how his perspective on life and love has changed; and he explains why he now chooses to perform with an orchestra. The conductor Paul MacAlindin recalls how a newspaper advert: 'Iraqi teen seeks Maestro' led to him becoming the musical director of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq. Saturday Live listener Leslye Stansfield describes being reunited with her long lost bicycle and why its value is so sentimental. JP Devlin visits Matthew Sweet to take a look around his home and discover what it reveals about him. Jason Kingsley OBE, is a games developer and Royal Armouries Trustee, but in his spare time he is a practising knight. He discusses his passion for riding warhorses and jousting in a reproduction 15th century Milanese harness. And Billy Ocean shares his Inheritance Tracks - No Woman, No Cry, Bob Marley and A Change Is Gonna Come, Sam Cooke.The Lexicon of Love II is out now. ABC will be performing an autumn tour with the Southbank Sinfonia Orchestra, conducted by Anne Dudley. Upbeat - The Story of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq will be Book of The Week on Radio 4 from 15 August. Here you are: The Best of Billy Ocean is out now, and he has a Spring Tour in 2017.

Dancer and choreographer Wayne Sleep talks about life as a dancer, his love of the stars and shares his unusual new hobby. Gary Fildes is a bricklayer turned astronomer, and founder of the Kielder Observatory in Northumberland. Listener Andrew Townsend talks about how his life changed after taking up running when he was 55. Reporter JP Devlin will be hearing all about how to train cats with Sarah Ellis, a Feline Behaviour Specialist. Writer and Producer Tony Garnett shares his Inheritance Tracks - he's chosen Tea for Two and Beautiful Boy by John Lennon.With the Rev Richard Coles and Suzy KleinProducer: Claire Bartleet Editor: Karen Dalziel.

Saturday Live's summer road trip begins in South Shields, at the Westovian Theatre, with Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles.As preparations for the maritime themed summer parade get underway, actor and presenter Denise Welch talks about why the North East will always be home, the return of TV series Boy Meets Girl and keeping her Geordie accent.Olympian Brendan Foster talks about his athletic career and his inspiration for founding the Great North Run.Leading the summer parade in South Shields is listener Ray Spencer, who is also the Executive Director of the Customs House arts centre. Ray will be revealing his maritime themed costume and sharing his love of pantomimes.JP Devlin reveals what happened when he followed up a listener email and went to the reunion of the Double Decker Club, who set off on a holiday across Europe in the summer of 1964, on a red double decker bus purchased from London Transport.Graham Young has been celebrating the British chippy for the Birmingham Mail since 2005. He talks about how he became a chip reviewer and what makes the perfect take-away.Mike, Chris, Steve and Ken from the English folk group The Wilson Family will be performing live and talking about the regional influences that inspire them.Chris Rea shares his Inheritance Tracks. He has chosen My Father, sung by Nina Simone and So What by Miles Davis.Producer: Claire Bartleet Editor: Karen Dalziel.

The Saturday Live Summer Road Trip pulls into its final stop in Cromer, Norfolk where Reverend Richard Coles and Kate Silverton broadcast live from the Pavilion Theatre at the end of Cromer Pier. They are joined by Lesley Garrett, one of Britain's most popular sopranos, actor and writer Charlie Higson who found fame with the Fast Show, the double bass playing beatboxer Bellatrix and Steve Ignorant, lead singer of seminal punk band Crass, who became a Norfolk lifeboat man and part time Punch and Judy performer. Richard and Kate discover why the pier became a uniquely British institution from the man who has visited every single pier in the UK, Chris Foote Wood. Hollywood actor Ethan Hawke shares the music he treasures and the music he would like to pass on to future generations in his Inheritance Tracks. Plus Sir Michael Savory who has amassed Britain's largest private collection of tanks at Muckleburgh and Saturday Live reporter JP Devlin gives members of the audience a chance to say Thank You to the people they never got the chance to thank for a good deed done. Producer: Steven WilliamsEditor: Karen Dalziel.

This week the Saturday Live road trip continues to Morecambe in Lancashire, where the Catch The Wind Kite Festival is taking place this weekend, with beautiful views across Morecambe Bay and plenty of fresh sea air. The programme comes live from The Platform, where Aasmah Mir and the Reverend Richard Coles celebrate the great day out, nostalgia, kites and space. Morecambe-born designer Wayne Hemingway recalls his childhood in the resort, and tells us why Morecambe's seafront provides the perfect backdrop to his Vintage by the Sea Festival, attracting crowds of up to 40,000. With a spectacular display of kites across the bay, Dave Holt describes his life-long passion for making and flying soft kites, purely inflated by the wind. Cedric Robinson MBE has been on the notoriously dangerous sands all his life. As Queen's Guide for more than 50 years, he walks up to 500 people across at a time, walking the equivalent of twice round the world in the process!The writer and comedian, Helen Keen's first stand up show It Is Rocket Science has won awards and been picked up by Radio 4 for three critically acclaimed series. She describes why her subject matter tends towards the unusual and esoteric, when her fascination for rockets began and why she's so enthusiastic about space. The world's fastest one man band, Peter Moser, provides the music. He demonstrates his kit with bells and whistles on, and explains its appeal and relevance today.JP meets the actress Margaret James, for a Brief Encounter. Hunter Davies shares his Inheritance Tracks - Georgy Girl by The Seekers and And I Love Her, by the Beatles; and there are live Thank Yous from the audience.Helen Keen will be appearing at the bluedot Festival at Jodrell Bank, from 22-24 July. The Co-op's Got Bananas, by Hunter Davies, is out now. Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Karen Dalziel.

The next stop on the Saturday Live summer road trip is the beautiful seaside town of Tenby in Pembrokeshire. It's the Long Course Weekend and Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles will be celebrating extreme sports, adrenaline and music, live from Wales.Wrexham lad Tim Vincent first hit our screens as the youngest ever male Blue Peter presenter, which saw him flying a fighter jet, running the New York Marathon and carrying a large tree around with 3 other paras. He's spent the last 11 years as the roving reporter on NBC's flagship entertainment programme, Access Hollywood. American country singer Stella Parton will be with us to talk about her new album 'Mountain Songbird: A Sister's Tribute' - a collection of re-recorded songs previously made famous by her sister, Dolly Parton. A mix of orienteering, mountaineering and swimming with tombstoning thrown in, the extreme sport of coasteering is said to originate in Pembrokeshire. Local guide Ollie Davies talks about his passion for this exhilarating pastime. As a scientist, adventurer and educator, Huw James is well versed in adrenaline. He uses his enthusiasm for extreme sports to teach science, in between keeping the night sky dark in the Brecon Beacons. O DUO are that rare thing - a duo of percussionists. After training at the Royal College of Music an Edinburgh festival novelty act has led to 15 years of percussive duets. Owen Gunnel and Oliver Cox join us on Saturday Live before their gig at the Gower festival.JP meets local hero and "Mr Tenby", Laurie Dale, and we'll have thank yous live from our studio audience.And the Inheritance Tracks of TV Weather presenter Sian Lloyd who chooses Can Walter by Meic Stevens and Something Inside So Strong by Labi Siffre.Producer: Corinna Jones Editor: Karen Dalziel.

Richard Madeley is one of the most recognizable faces on British TV, part of a successful husband and wife presenting team that lasted over 20 years. He has written four books - one about his relationship with his father, the latest called 'The Night Book' which is published this month.Living statues. You see them now in Trafalgar Sq. and at the seaside, wherever tourists gather, standing dead still, or sometimes even appearing to hover, for hours for the amusement of the crowds. One (at least) is a regular listener to the programme, Eve Blakemore, and she's with us now, and she's dressed magnificently... Steve Rich loved football and played at amateur level until a car accident and a ruptured knee in his twenties ended all that. Twenty years later, he's back on the pitch, but at his own pace - playing walking football. Gina Yashere has been a stand up and TV star in the UK for several years now, with appearances on iconic TV shows such as Live at the Apollo & Mock the Week, as well as creating & performing popular comedic characters on The Lenny Henry Show. She broke onto the American comedy scene with her appearances on Last Comic Standing (NBC), where she made it to the final 10, and then never went home.Playwright David Hare shares his Inheritance Tracks. He has chosen 'Oh What a Lovely War (Joan Littlewood Stage Show) & Simple Twist of Fate (by Bob Dylan) Sung by Diana Krall)Richard Madeley's new book The Night Book is Published by Simon & Schuster 30 June 2016 | Paperback Producer: Maire Devine Editor: Karen Dalziel.

Rick Astley rolls into the studio to talk to Aasmah Mir and Rev Richard Coles about his comeback album, what it's like to be at the top of the charts the second time round and why he drives to as many different concerts as possible even if they are abroad. Police Sergeant Colin Taylor reveals the trials of policing one of Britain's most remote communities on the Scilly Isles.Professional clown Dan Lees discusses his experiences of performing for children in refugee camps as part of the Clown Without Borders ensemble and why he thinks clowns are the most misunderstood of theatrical performers. Lido lover and Saturday Live listener Sarah Thelwall on why she is planning to swim in every open air pool in the UK. Plus British Skeleton Bob competitor Amy Williams shares the music that inspired her Olympic gold medal success.Producer: Steven WilliamsEditor: Karen Dalziel.

Actor Freddie Fox discusses his roles and current performance in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Referee Mary Harmer shares her journey in football officiating. Tim Simpson talks about creating unusual food items like a jelly Buckingham Palace. Record producer John Schroeder shares stories of working with music legends. Hairdresser Nicky Clarke reveals his inheritance tracks.

This week on Saturday Live - Aasmah Mir and Kate Silverton speak to wildlife presenter Michaela Strachan about her long and varied career, train enthusiast David Brewer, the man who has photographed every railway station in the UK, Rachel Mariner on swapping the courtroom to write for the stage and Mark Simpson, Young Musician of the Year in 2006 and is a nominee in the South Bank Sky Arts Awards for The Immortal, his new work for orchestra and chorus. Plus Juliet Stevenson shares her Inheritance TracksProducer: Maire Devine Editor: Karen Dalziel.