On the biggest gardening weekend of the year garden designer and tv presenter Diarmuid Gavin joins Aasmah Mir and Suzy Klein to spill the beans on the highs and lows of taking part in the Chelsea Flower Show, the inspiration behind some of his wackier gardens and the excesses of his overnight propulsion to tv heart throb. Also, York based chocolatier Sophie Jewett will be teaching us how to #bbcgetcreative with chocolate and helping the studio guests decorate their very own Easter Eggs. Writer J...
Apr 04, 2015•1 hr 25 min
The actor and singer, Jason Donovan, joins Richard Coles and Suzy Klein. He talks about his life and a career that has seen him move from Neighbours' soapstar to chart pop idol, jungle survivor to Strictly finalist. In musical theatre he's starred as Joseph and Frank N Furter, and now plays Lionel Logue, the speech therapist to a stammering George VI, in a touring production of The King's Speech. The Pulitzer Prize winning photo-journalist Lynsey Addario on her life behind the camera. Saturday L...
Mar 28, 2015•1 hr 25 min
Presenter and health expert, Dr Christian Jessen, joins Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles. Well known for programmes such as ''Embarrassing Bodies' and 'Supersize Vs Superskinny', Dr Christian also works closely with health charities to educate people in health matters. Most important to him is to raise medical awareness amongst hard to reach groups. Actor Hugh Maynard, currently playing the role of John in the West End's Miss Saigon, has dealt with abandonment and rejection most of his life after be...
Mar 21, 2015•1 hr 25 min
The wildlife cameraman and presenter, Gordon Buchanan, joins Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles. He's spent his life getting close to wild animals - following black bears in Minnesota, travelling to the remote Canadian Arctic to film wolves and coming face to face with a 1000 lb polar bear! Saturday Live listener, Chrissi Kelly, talks about Anosmia: the impact losing her smell has had on her life, the smells that she misses most and how she spends her Saturdays 'smell training'. JP Devlin hears storie...
Mar 14, 2015•1 hr 25 min
With Red Nose day fast approaching Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir are joined by tv presenter and property expert Kirstie Allsopp to talk taking part in the Comic Relief Danceathon, our enduring affection for tv property programmes and her problem dog Dandy. Just as well canine behaviourist Rob Alleyne is on hand. As well as being a dog trainer, Rob worked as an animal welfare officer for a local authority for 16 years and tried to start a fast snail breeding programme. He believes that there is no...
Mar 07, 2015•1 hr 25 min
Radio DJ Scott Mills joins Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles to talk about being a DJ and how he was the uncoolest kid in the playground. Recently Scott took part in Strictly Come Dancing where he was famously not very good. Mike Farley tried his hand at acting and stand-up comedy before a friend spotted that he looked a bit like Henry VIII and got him involved in re-enactments - and the rest is history. Eleven years later he's appeared as Henry VIII in schools, TV ad campaigns and at corporate event...
Feb 28, 2015•1 hr 25 min
Ruby Wax joins Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir to talk about how she brings her knowledge of neuroscience, spiked with comedy, to her one woman show. David Reynolds explains how his grandfather's letters, and enthralling childhood stories of the Wild West, inspired him to embark on a road trip along Highway 83 from Canada to the Mexican border. He describes some of the local characters he met, the three different types of cowboys that still exist today and why he thinks Sacagawea should be on US ba...
Feb 21, 2015•1 hr 25 min
TV presenter Rachel Khoo and bestselling author of The Little Paris Kitchen joins Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles to talk about her new personal cookbook. Kitchen Notebook sees Rachel move on from French cooking to give us a collection of recipes from her around the world travels. Alan Radbourne was about to graduate from University when he found a pound coin on the floor. He had a thought- could he could turn a quid into a salary after he graduated? Two days after his final exam he bought a bottle...
Feb 14, 2015•1 hr 25 min
The actress, script-writer and producer Ruth Jones joins Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles. Known for her role as 'Nessa Jenkins' in the BBC's award-winning sitcom Gavin and Stacey, she's now back on our screens in the comedy drama series Stella. Trend forecaster James Wallman describes why we have more stuff than we could ever need. It's cluttering up our homes and making us feel 'stuffocated'. He explains why, rather than a buy a new watch or another pair of shoes, we should invest in shared experi...
Feb 07, 2015•1 hr 25 min
Omid Djalili, the British-Iranian stand-up comedian and actor, joins Richard Coles and Suzy Klein to talk his relationship with Iran, comic sensitivities and that dive off the 10m board in Splash!. Also on the programme, a former international hostage and police negotiator Richard Mullender who now works advising business in 'engagement'. He tells us what makes him the Lewis Hamilton of expert listening. Tanya Mai Johnston came to Northern Ireland as part of Operation Babylift, the mercy mission...
Jan 31, 2015•1 hr 25 min
"Restoration Man" and Amazing Spaces presenter George Clarke joins Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles to talk about leaving school at sixteen without any qualifications and his passion for bringing buildings back to life. Find out how a present from his Granddad set him on the road to becoming an architect. Sherika Sherard quit University to get a job. But it took her almost a year to get work and in that time she busked around London to earn some money. Now the song she wrote 'Give Me A Job' has gone...
Jan 24, 2015•1 hr 25 min
Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles are joined by Olympic Gold medallist Sally Gunnell. Now an ambassador for Sport England, she discusses how she keeps fit, her role in her local community in Sussex and how her sons now outrun her! Saturday Live listener Alice Munro contacted the programme to tell us about the community in Wirksworth, Derbyshire and why it's a special place to live. Matt Barlow accepted her invitation to visit. Matthew Engel describes his three year journey exploring England afresh by...
Jan 17, 2015•1 hr 25 min
Artistic Director and acclaimed comedian, Viv Groskop joins Aasmah Mir and Suzy Klein to talk about the 'caw' of stand-up comedy and what it's like making tea for famous authors at the Bath Literature Festival. Ten years ago Paul Sinton-Hewitt was fired and then had a bad fall when training for a half marathon which ruptured his stomach. Not knowing what to do with himself and determined not to give up running, he set up a club with the aim of running 5k at 9 o'clock on a Saturday morning. 13 pe...
Jan 10, 2015•1 hr 25 min
Chef, restaurateur and Masterchef judge Marcus Wareing joins Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles. Actor, presenter and reality TV star Alison Hammond talks celebrity, 'Strictly' and allotments. We hear the extraordinary story of the woman who fell in love with her sperm donor. Aminah Hart's daughter was born two years ago following IVF using an anonymous donor, but she tracked down the donor and is now engaged to dad Scott Anderson. Michael Parker reveals how best to sell yourself. He shares lessons le...
Jan 03, 2015•1 hr 25 min
Anton du Beke of Strictly Come Dancing joins Aasmah Mir and Suzy Klein. Anton has been with Strictly from the beginning, having famously partnered Ann Widdecombe, Nancy Dell'Olio, and most recently Judy Murray. As he is about to go on tour with his dance partner, Erin Boag, he explains how he became involved in ballroom dancing and why his favourite dance is the Foxtrot. The poet Mr. Gee shares seasonal poems. The award winning broadcaster Stephanie Hirst, formerly Simon Hirst, describes her lif...
Dec 27, 2014•1 hr 25 min
Journalist Jon Snow joins Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles to discuss 25 years of being the face of Channel 4 News. Also on the programme, Luke Simon was living in Thailand when the 2004 Tsunami struck. He lost his brother when the low lying island of Ko Phi Phi was subsumed by sea water. He tells us how life has moved on, about the power of sibling relationships and the charity he set up in his brother's name. The Oscar-winning song Let It Go (from the animated film Frozen) has captivated millions ...
Dec 20, 2014•1 hr 25 min
The BBC's Formula 1 presenter, Suzi Perry, joins Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir to discuss life on the road, her passion for speed, her rock and roll childhood and time spent working backstage at her local theatre. Ben Collins, ex-"The Stig" from the BBC's Top Gear, takes Richard on a circuit of Rockingham Racetrack. With more than 30 years' experience Mark Thompson shares his passion for "amateur astronomy", gives simple steps on how you can get started without spending a fortune and explains wha...
Dec 13, 2014•1 hr 25 min
The choreographer Matthew Bourne and X Factor 2013 winner Sam Bailey join Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles. We meet the friends of Malala Yousafzai who were shot by the Taliban in Pakistan two years ago and are now studying in rural Wales. They will be reunited with Malala this week as she receives the Nobel Peace Prize. Tim Wootton was told he wouldn't live long enough to finish school because of a genetic disease. Now in his 40s he explains what impact that's had on his outlook on life, and what o...
Dec 06, 2014•1 hr 25 min
In a special programme for Saturday Live's Listener Week, wildlife presenter Steve Backshall joins Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles to talk intricate animal communities, how he earned his nickname 'manure boy' and whether his sequined onesie is to be retired forever. Also with us are listener Simon Digby who got in touch about a series of stories about things he got up to when he was young that he never told his mother. David Heydecker told us that he usually spends his Saturday mornings listening t...
Nov 29, 2014•1 hr 25 min
Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles are joined by vocal coach, singer and television presenter, Carrie Grant. Best known for her role as the vocal coach on the hit talent show, Fame Academy, she has also worked on Pop Idol and The One Show, where she conducted 500 viewers in the life-affirming "virtual choir". Rebecca Root explains how she helps transsexual and transgendered people, like herself, to discover their voice. The first photographer to capture on film the incomparable Kate Bush - we hear fro...
Nov 22, 2014•1 hr 25 min
Ade Adepitan - the Paralympian, actor and TV presenter - joins Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles. As does magician Megan Knowles-Bacon, the first ever female secretary of the Magic Circle, and ghost-writer of resignation letters Matt Potter. JP Devlin wants your stories of resignations, sackings and grand exits (email saturdaylive@bbc.co.uk). BBC Radio 1 presenter Gemma Cairney goes chess boxing. And Dexter Fletcher selects his Inheritance Tracks - 'Round Midnight' by Dexter Gordon and 'Sunshine on L...
Nov 15, 2014•1 hr 25 min
Mezzo-Soprano Katherine Jenkins joined Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir. Saturday Live hosted a special auction, offering listeners the chance to bid for some amazing prize packages to raise money for BBC Children in Need. LINES ARE NOW CLOSED - PLEASE DO NOT CALL OR TRY TO BID. Jonathan Agnew described the Test Match Special package; Felicity Finch aka Ruth Archer talked about the VIP Archers experience; Alan Smith described life behind the scenes at R4 presentation and Richard, Aasmah and JP Devli...
Nov 08, 2014•1 hr 25 min
The comedian Shappi Khorsandi joins Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles to talk new shows, shyness and single motherhood. Emmanuel Jal shares his story and some of his music. At just six years old he was recruited to fight in Sudan's civil war and lost more than five years to the conflict. Now the self-described 'peace soldier' says his only weapon is music. Lutz Pfannenstiel is the only person to have played professional football on six continents. The goalkeeper tells us about his time at 25 differen...
Nov 01, 2014•1 hr 25 min
Actor Tom Hollander joins Suzy Klein and Jay Rayner to talk Rev, Dylan Thomas and his attempts at DIY. JP Devlin raises a pint to Dylan Thomas on the centenary of his birth at one of Thomas's old London drinking haunts. Carole Stone has been described as Britain's most connected woman. She reveals her networking secrets and tells us why she doesn't make her connections through social media. He may have had to look up who 'Brad Pitt' was, but that didn't stop D-Day veteran Peter 'Cosy' Comfort fr...
Oct 25, 2014•1 hr 25 min
Presented by Suzy Klein and Richard Coles. International rock star Bryan Adams talks about his career as a photographer with the likes of his musical hero Ray Charles and his latest project with wounded soldiers. Change and transformation, too, for Lee Spencer. An Afghanistan and Iraq veteran, he describes how he lost a leg - not on the battlefield but while being a good Samaritan on a British motorway. Turner prize winning artist Martin Creed talks about trousers with JP Devlin. Maths teacher t...
Oct 18, 2014•1 hr 25 min
Alison Lapper joins Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles. For two years a 12 foot statue of her naked and pregnant body was on display in Trafalgar Square in London and since 2000 - the year her son was born - she has been followed by the BBC TV series 'Child of Our Time'. Despite being born with no arms she is a professional artist. Martha Collison, the Great British Bake Off's youngest ever contestant, takes a break from her A Levels to tell us about her eight weeks on the show and what the future may...
Oct 11, 2014•1 hr 25 min
Presented by Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir. Kanya King MBE is the founder and CEO of the MOBO Awards, Europe's leading urban music brand, which has played a major role in bringing black music and culture to the mainstream. Now in its 19th year, it reaches in excess of 400 million viewers. Kanya reveals how she started it from a makeshift office in her bedroom, and by re-mortgaging her home. George The Poet describes his dizzying itinerary from Uganda to the Albert Hall via Stonebridge Park, and K...
Oct 04, 2014•1 hr 25 min
Actor and songwriter Gary Kemp joins Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles to talk about 'Soul Boys of the Western World', a film documenting the rise, fall and return of 80's band Spandau Ballet. Hilary Bradt is the founder of the Bradt travel guides. To mark 40 years in the business she shares some of her more irresponsible travel stories. Jimmy G is one of Russia's biggest pop stars but unheard of anywhere else. He talks about what it's like to switch between being mobbed and totally unrecognised. Vir...
Sep 27, 2014•1 hr 25 min
Richard Coles and Suzy Klein and a live audience at the 2014 Abergavenny Food Festival, with doyenne of the wine world Jancis Robinson, Jay Rayner from Radio 4's Kitchen Cabinet, tree hunter Rob McBride and beekeeper Scott Davies who gave world leaders a taste of honey at the recent NATO summit in Newport. The Today programme's John Humphrys tucks into some Welsh treats with JP Devlin, BBC Introducing star Kizzy Crawford performs and musician and broadcaster Cerys Matthews shares her Inheritance...
Sep 20, 2014•1 hr 21 min
Presented by Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir is at the Invictus Games. The award winning crime writer Val McDermid has written 28 novels, selling more than 10 million copies worldwide. She joins Richard to talk about her passion for football, her musical aspirations and where she finds inspiration for her novels. Former Royal Marine and medallist Andy Grant lost his right leg in Afghanistan in 2009. He describes how vital sport has been to his rehabilitation and the amazing feeling of winning Gold ...
Sep 13, 2014•1 hr 25 min
