Saturday Live

With the Rev. Richard Coles and Aasmah MirMel Giedroyc is taking on her most serious acting role, playing an American mother dealing with the potentially troubling actions of her son, in the play Luce. Mel also discusses the importance of her name, her relationship with Sue Perkins and The Great British Bake Off.Chinese sportswoman Lijia Xu left her parents to become a full time sailor aged ten and in 2012 became an Olympic Gold medallist. She talks about her path to success- and the obstacles she had to overcome.Listener Richie Tattersall played the ukulele on Labi Siffre's It must be Love, chosen as one of David Troughton's Inheritance Tracks. Richie reveals that whilst he was an experienced session musician, he had never previously played the ukulele.As part of the Sport Relief weekend, reporter JP Devlin has been to Jamie's farm, which encourages children at risk of social and academic exclusion to re-engage and thrive.Singer Will Young shares his Inheritance Tracks: Taxman by The Beatles and Joan Armatrading- Love and Affection.The financial crash in 2008 meant Dinah Jefferies was unable to complete her plan of retiring in Spain. To make money she turned to writing and is now a best-selling author.Luce runs at the Southwark Playhouse in London until the 2nd April. Golden Lily by Lijia Xu is out now. Will Young's latest album 85% Proof is out now. The Silk Merchant's Daughter by Dinah Jefferies is out now.Producer: Claire Bartleet Editor: Karen Dalziel.

Anita Dobson's acting career spans more than forty years. She found fame in the 1980s playing pub landlady Angie Watts in EastEnders. She has starred in television, film and theatre productions as diverse as Hamlet, Follies and London Road. She talks about her career and growing up in the East End.Alastair Humphreys is an adventurer who has cycled around the world and walked a lap of the M25. He pioneered the concept of micro-adventures (adventures close to home) but has now turned his attention to 'grand adventures'. He explains how adventures great or small are within everyone's grasp.Fifty years ago, a group of boys from the Kettering Grammar School Satellite Tracking Group discovered a new and undiscovered soviet space launch site. To celebrate, Leicester's National Space Centre is holding an exhibition. Mike Sinnett, a former pupil talks about the discovery and how it catapulted the boys into the media spotlight.Bookshop owner Stephen Foster has a licence to fill shelves. He has provided books for film sets such as James Bond's 'Spectre' and 'Skyfall', 'The Danish Girl' and 'Mr Holmes'. He talks about his love for old and rare books and explains how he chooses the books to fit the character's personality.The inheritance tracks of the actress Rachael Stirling who chose Bob Dylan's 'Lay Lady Lay' and Ella Fitzgerald's 'Too Darn Hot'.Kate Recordon has been finding out about how the interaction with our dogs can be life-changing.Anita Dobson is in conversation at St James theatre, London on 20th March at 3pm. Alastair Humphreys book 'Grand Adventures' is out now. Rachael Stirling stars in 'The Winter's Tale' at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, London.Producer: Dianne McGregor Editor: Karen Dalziel.

Aasmah Mir and the Reverend Richard Coles are joined by Bafta award winning actor Rebecca Front to talk about being funny, playing dislikeable characters and claustrophobia.Chef and writer Allegra McEvedy has been cooking professionally for over 20 years, in London and the USA. She set up food chain LEON, is a Patron of the Fairtrade foundation, writes food columns and cookery books and last year was a judge on CBBC's Bafta winning Junior Bakeoff. She'll be cooking up something for Mothering Sunday (recipe below) and reflecting on her own mother who passed away when she was 17.Listener Henry Iddon contacted us about his term as artist in residence at Forton Services on the M6 in Lancashire. He joins us to share his love and fascination of this essential and iconic landmark.Listener Hannah Velten's brother Christian went missing in Africa 13 years ago whilst following in the footsteps of Mungo Park, the Scottish explorer. Wanting to keep his memory alive, Hannah started a blog where friends and family could share their memories. This inspired her to set up a company to record memories for people. She'll tell her story to Richard and Aasmah.We'll hear the inheritance tracks of The Archers actor David Troughton who chose Elgar's variations on an original theme, opus 36, the enigma Nimrod and It must be Love by Labi Siffre.We hear your Thankyous, and JP meets a couple who met over mutual admiration for Ipswich Town Football Club.Producer: Corinna Jones Editor: Karen Dalziel.

Marian Keyes joins the Rev. Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir. A columnist, blogger and bestselling author of a dozen novels, she has sold more than 33 million copies worldwide. She shares her passion for "the twitters", collecting drawer knobs, browsing in chemists and "beachouse banjo" - chalk painting old furniture. Gilding the recycled lily, mosaic maker Ed Chapman talks about his portraits which have turned sugar cubes into Alan Sugar, Welsh slate into Richard Burton and gravy stains into Andy Murray. Such inventive thrift will appeal to Jordon Cox, king of the couponeers, and the lad who flew to Sheffield via Berlin to save £8 on the train fare. His passion for couponing began after watching at TV programme. It was watching an inflight movie that inspired Adam Walker to give up his day job as a kettle and toaster salesman, to become the only Briton to have swum the Oceans Seven Challenge. He recalls inventing a new stroke after he torn his bicep, that led to a new career in coaching and teaching technique. JP meets Saturday Live listener, Margaret Amey, to explore her collection of 700 teapots. And the singer Tony Christie's shares his Inheritance Tracks: Come Back To Me, performed by Sammy Davis Jnr, featuring Buddy Rich Live at The Sands; and The Folks Who Live on the Hill, sung by Peggy Lee.Making It Up As I Go Along, by Marian Keyes. The David Beckham mosaic is on show at Phillips Auctioneers in Mayfair. Man -V- Ocean by Adam Walker is out now. Tony Christie's 'The Great Irish Songbook' is out now on Wrasse Records,Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Karen Dalziel.

The actor Laurence Fox is best known for playing DI James Hathaway in the ITV crime drama Lewis. He's now on the London stage playing a giant of history Charles de Gaulle in 'The Patriotic Traitor'. He is part of Britain's most famous acting dynasty that includes his father James, uncle Edward and cousin Emilia. He is now carving out a career in music and has just released his debut album. He joins Saturday Live to talk about his new role, his passion for music, and his love for the countryside.The zoologist Lucy Cooke grew up in the English countryside and was fascinated with nature from an early age. Her new TV series shows the length that people go to save orphaned animals. She joins Saturday Live to talk about her own passion for animals, in particular the weird and unloved ones.Listener Lorna Currie Thomopoulos is a collector of paper dolls. She describes her collection as historical, beautiful and cherished fragile object d'arts.Giles Abbott has just returned from a storytelling festival in India. He started storytelling after vision loss at the age of twenty-five. He talks about his love for traditional stories.Levi Roots shares his Inheritance Tracks: Say a Little Prayer by Aretha Franklin and To Zion by Lauryn Hill.Wendy Hilling shares her experience of living with her full time carer Teddy the golden retriever.Laurence Fox stars in 'The Patriotic Traitor' at Park theatre London 'Nature's Miracle Orphans' presented by Lucy Cooke and Patrick Aryee is on BBC 1. Next episode Sunday 28th February. 'My Life in His Paws' by Wendy Hilling is published on 25 February.Producer: Dianne McGregor Editor: Karen Dalziel.

After playing tough guys in Layer Cake, Oliver Twist and Nil by Mouth, the part of thug Derek Branning in Eastenders seemed a natural choice for actor Jamie Foreman. But with comedy parts in Birds of a Feather and Pantomime under his belt he's now pushing his boundaries with an all singing all dancing role in Mrs Henderson Presents in the West End in London. Given his background as an East End gangster's son, his dramatic career seems even more surprising. He joins Richard and Aasmah on Saturday Live.Social psychologist Viren Swami has a passion for passion, having studied attraction for ten years. He'll be discussing dating formation, revealing relationship myths and advising how best to meet your match.They met at Birmingham University and despite not studying music they came together over their love of voice and formed an a Cappella group. The sons of Pitches went on to win Gareth Malone's naked choir competition, broadcast on BBC 2 at the end of last year, and now they are making a go at a professional career. 5 out of 6 of them join us on Saturday to talk about their passion for voice and to demonstrate it's versatility, and they'll be serenading us with an alternative love song.Ruth Goodman is a social historian who is passionate about how people lived in the past, so much so that she spends much of her free time taking part in enactments. Her latest book is about her favourite era, and entitled How to be a Tudor.We hear from listeners Paul and Helen who fell in love over the harp, and your Thank yous.Comedian, writer and actor Chris Addison chooses his inheritance tracks. He inherited Mozart's Serenade for 13 Wind Instruments ('Gran Partita') and will pass on Waiting For The Great Leap Forwards by Billy Bragg (from 'Worker's Playtime')Jamie Foreman stars in Mrs Henderson Presents at the Noel Coward Theatre in London Viren Swami's book is Attraction Explained published by Routledge How to be a Tudor is by Ruth Goodman published by Penguin The Sons of Pitches tour starts in May 2016 - details via link to their website below Chris Addison stars in The Royal Opera's new production of Emmanuel Chabrier's L'Étoile which runs 1-24 February 2016.Producer: Corinna Jones Editor: Karen Dalziel.

The singer-songwriter and actor Ronan Keating joins Aasmah Mir and the Rev. Richard Coles. Ronan has sold more than 45 million records worldwide as a solo artist, and alongside Boyzone. After a break to star to critical acclaim in the west end musical Once, and appear as a judge on Australian X-Factor, he has returned with a very personal album. He describes how he was inspired from newfound happiness following his recent marriage.James Hyman explains his obsession with collecting magazines: he currently has some 75,000 magazines dating back to 1910, the largest magazine collection in the world.When Nicole Tennant died from cystic fibrosis, her twin sister Melissa found the bucket list she had written and, in an effort to keep her memory alive, she has completed the wishes - from dancing in the rain, to climbing the steps of the Eiffel Tower and milking a cow.Saturday Live listener Wendy Arnold tells the story of a coincidence that happened on her 21st birthday - almost 50 years ago.Jason and Suzanne Matthews - a former CIA spy and his spy wife - reveal how they served together for 33 years as a 'tandem couple'.And Phil Tufnell shares his Inheritance Tracks: Soul Limbo by Booker T and the MGs and Can't Take My Eyes Off You performed by Gloria Gaynor.Ronan Keating's album Time of My Life and single Let Me Love You are out on 12 February. My Sister's Wishes by Melissa Tennant, is published on 11 February. Palace of Treason By Jason Matthews. Where Am I? By Phil Tufnell is out now.

Nicky Clarke, hairdresser to the stars, shares his style tips and tales of celebrity clients from Elizabeth Taylor to Princess Diana. In 1966 George Cohen helped England to victory in the World Cup. Now he's back with stories of glory and to highlight how sporting memories can help people with dementia. You will almost certainly have heard the voice of Tessa Niles, but you will probably not know her name. She has been backing singer to The Police, Robbie Williams, Tina Turner, Duran Duran, Mick Jagger and many more. She was on stage with David Bowie at Live Aid. She reveals what it is like to be at the edge of the limelight. Ben Bailey Smith is a rapper, a singer and an actor who has written a children's book called I Am Bear. And Canadian singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie shares her Inheritance Tracks: Edith Piaf - If You Love Me (Really Love Me) and Buffy Sainte-Marie - Carry It On.

The stand-up comedian, broadcaster and newspaper columnist grew up in Kent with his adopted parents. He's currently touring the country with his new stand up show. 'Who do I think I am?, which deals with his efforts to trace his birth mother. He discusses his experience of tracing his roots, and his endless fascination with British towns.Paula Zuccotti is an ethnographer, industrial designer and trends forecaster. She has been travelling the world charting a day in the life of people through their touched objects. She reveals how objects can tell stories of our lives.Anna Bailey meets Michael Nyman, the composer turned film-maker and photographer to talk about his love of the light.Graham Short is a micro engraver, who has depicted 'Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' along the sharp edge of a razor blade. He goes to extreme lengths both physical and mental to ensure he has a steady hand. He explains his love of producing art that is too small to be seen by the naked eye.Debbie Wiseman is a television and film composer. She has written the score for BBC 1's Dickensian series. She explains how she composed the themes for some of the most popular Dickens characters. She also reveals her theme tune to accompany Richard and JP.And M C Beaton shares her inheritance tracks - (There'll be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover by Vera Lynn and The Rowan Tree by Kenneth McKellar.Mark Steel's 'Who Do I think I am? tour runs until 3rd June Every Thing We Touch - A 24 Hour Inventory of Our Lives by Paula Zuccotti is published by Viking Dishing the Dirt by M C Beaton is published by Constable Dickensian (Original Television soundtrack) is released on 26th FebruaryProducer: Dianne McGregor Editor: Karen Dalziel.

Reverend Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir are joined by Katy Brand.Comedian Katy Brand graced our screen in her Big Ass Show where we saw her parody pop culture. She danced like Beyonce for Sport Relief, has written her first novel Brenda Monk is Funny and her acting credits include Peep show and Nanny McPhee. Now she's a judge on the Costa book awards.Almost four years ago Clare Owen found a gold wedding ring with an inscription and date. Her desire to reunite the ring with it's owner led her to set up her own lost and found company, Lostbox. She joins us to talk about how she's since reunited animals, soft toys and even people and to sing the praises of much maligned social media.Levison Wood is an explorer who can currently be seen Walking the Himalayas in a Channel 4 documentary series. It's a distance of 1700 miles. He previously Walked the Nile. He joins Aasmah and Richard to share his experiences and explain why he is drawn to such expeditions.Dr Eugenia Cheng is on a mission to make maths accessible. She does online maths tutorials, teaches maths to arts students and advises primary school teachers and she's even written a book about it in relation to baking: How to Bake Pi. She'll be talking about her passion for maths, music and infinity.Wombles composer Mike Batt tells us his Inheritance Tracks. Her chooses the 1st movement of Schubert's 9th Symphony (The Great C major) and Little Red Rooster performed by Howling Wolf, written by Willy DixonJP takes a look in the diary of listener Barbara Bindley and we have your thankyous.Levison Wood's book Walking the Himalayas is out now, and the fourth and fifth parts of the series air on Channel 4, 8pm Sundays and the whole series can be viewed on All 4.Producer: Corinna Jones Editor: Karen Dalziel.