Former England football player and manager Kevin Keegan made his professional debut fifty years ago. He talks to Aasmah Mir and the Rev. Richard Coles about how a nun was his first mentor, the way Bill Shankly changed his life and seizing opportunities off the pitch. Christel Dee is a Dr Who fan - also known as a Whovian - whose life and career has been shaped by the show. British Olympian Archer Patrick Huston got in touch to tell us about the woman who inspired him to take up the sport. Fashio...
Oct 06, 2018•1 hr 25 min
She can dance, she can sing, she can ice skate and act in gritty London based soap EastEnders: all round showbiz star Bonnie Langford joins us to talk about her show business career spanning 5 decades and her return to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane where it all began aged 7. Aged 15 George Green was a talented footballer and signed by Everton. Money and success at such a young age led him to drug and alcohol abuse, and 4 years later he was let go. He joins us to tell his story of pulling himself ...
Sep 29, 2018•1 hr 25 min
Coming live from Stirling, Coast presenter and archaeologist Neil Oliver talks about his love of the British Isles; writer, musician and journalist Doug Johnstone takes time out from Stirling's Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival. Comedian and You-Tuber Bachala Mbunzama, better known as Bash the Entertainer, talks about his journey from the Congo to Glasgow. Orkney folk musicians Fara will be performing. Ken Bruce shares his Inheritance Tracks. He has chosen I’ve Got You Under M...
Sep 22, 2018•1 hr 21 min
Legendary keyboard player Rick Wakeman is known for his huge contribution to prog rock with the band Yes, his own innovative compositions, his flamboyant caped stage presence and his numerous piano arrangements. Bea Priestley is a 22 year-old wrestler in the ever growing woman’s wrestling scene. Bea got back into wrestling after brain surgery when she was 18 and now tours the UK and Japan. Eric Monkman and Bobby Seagull bonded over quizzing. They both found themselves internet sensations after a...
Sep 18, 2018•1 hr 26 min
Conversation from comedian Susan Calman, Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones aka The Black Farmer and about Simon's Cat. Naga Munchetty shares her Inheritance Tracks. Presented by Aasmah Mir and the Rev. Richard Coles. Comedian and actress Susan Calman explains why she gave up a successful career in corporate law for stand-up, she shares her memories of Strictly Come Dancing and reveals her love of cats. Simon Tofield, creator of Simon's Cat, recalls how the animation went viral. Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, best...
Sep 08, 2018•1 hr 21 min
Maggie Aderin-Pocock on her love of the moon and Nigerian heritage; Ali Payne tweeted to try and find the inscribed copy of Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist given to her by her late husband. She continues her search on Saturday Live. Celebrating 30 years of marriage, The Alarm's Mike and Jules Peters discuss working together and dealing with individual cancer diagnoses. Rehana Popal is the first practising female Afghan at the Bar. Coming to the UK as a refugee when she was five, Rehana talks about ...
Sep 01, 2018•1 hr 25 min
Singer songwriter Jim Kerr of Simple Minds talks about his love of walking in deserts and mountains, sustaining friendships over decades and his pop career. Atoosa Sepehr shares recipes from her cook book Persian Kitchen - authentic recipes and fabulous flavours from Iran - and talks about growing up in Iran & Italy. Nigerian crime fiction writer Leye Adenle reveals how "sunshine noir" authors are fighting back against the dominance of Nordic Noir. Gold medal-winning wheelchair dance duo Pau...
Aug 25, 2018•1 hr 25 min
We're live from the YMCA Theatre in Scarborough with Sir Michael Parkinson, folk legend Martin Carthy, surfer Tori Gower and Jennifer Dunne on the exhibition the Ancient Seas of the Yorkshire Coast. With Inheritance Tracks from Kiki Dee. Sir Michael Parkinson talks about his early life in Yorkshire, happy memories of holidays in Scarborough, his passion for cricket and forthcoming tour - An Evening With Sir Michael Parkinson. Jennifer Dunne is Collections Manager, Scarborough Museums Trust. She ...
Aug 18, 2018•1 hr 22 min
Composer Mark-Anthony Turnage, Kim Wilde's inheritance tracks, Bryony Gordon on staying sober and running, the Urban birder David Lindo and Thames plastic picking cyclist Dhruv Boruah join Rev Richard Coles and Suzy Klein. Mark-Anthony Turnage is one of the most admired and widely-performed composers of his generation whose operas include Anna Nicole and Coraline. He'll be talking about why he likes to mix pop culture into classical and provoke a response from his audiences. Former corporate guy...
Aug 11, 2018•1 hr 25 min
Shaun Keaveny and Sonali Shah are joined by Rylan Clark-Neal who found fame as a contestant on the X-Factor in 2012. He subsequently won Celebrity Big Brother in 2013 and is now a presenter on programmes including This Morning and Big Brother's Bit on the Side. Paralympian David Smith won gold at Rio in 2016. He explains what it takes to be a Boccia champion. Mary Ellis discovered scything and has since been successful in competitions and is keen to share her knowledge. Dale Vince is a green ind...
Aug 04, 2018•1 hr 25 min
Conversation from the actor Stephen Mangan, pop-up beach organiser Scott Barton, nanotechnologist Dr. Michelle Dickinson, and The Madonna of Bolton - Matt Cain. With Orla Kiely's Inheritance Tracks. Presented by Aasmah Mir and the Rev. Richard Coles. The actor Stephen Mangan talks about his hair, his 52 cousins and his new Channel 4 series Hang Ups! in which he plays a therapist, who has his own therapist. Sean Randell shares his story of Thanks, to the couple who fostered him before he was adop...
Jul 28, 2018•1 hr 25 min
Mark Gatiss talks about return of The League of Gentlemen, his passion for painting, and why he's drawn to the artist John Minton. Joining him are history teacher and performance poet Jaspreet Kaur, Francoise Malby-Anthony, who runs a game reserve which she set up with her late husband 'Elephant Whisperer' Laurence Anthony; and thriller and Batman writer Gregg Hurwitz. Robert Winston is Chairman of the Genesis Research Trust, which campaigns to improve IVF and increase funding for research into ...
Jul 21, 2018•1 hr 25 min
Conversation from the Journalist Robert Peston, stand up comedian Darren Harriott, teacher Vanessa Tissington, Wimbledon obsessive Ben Chatfield and Butterfly Ambassador, Kate Bradbury. With Chris Difford's Inheritance Tracks. Presented by Konnie Huq and the Rev. Richard Coles. Robert Peston talks about his late father, his family's social mobility and his passion for organising speakers in schools. Teacher, Vanessa Tissington, recalls the year she spent turning around the secondary school in St...
Jul 07, 2018•1 hr 25 min
Aasmah Mir and the Rev Richard Coles host and perform with opera star Bryn Terfel. He's appearing in the title role in Falstaff at the Royal Opera House. Edwina "IronGran" Brocklesby, tells how she took up marathons, triathlons and Iron Man racing in her 50s. She's still going strong at 75 and wants to spread the message that exercise helps physical and mental health whatever your age. BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner talks about his latest thriller, Ultimatum, set in Iran. Rai Rafiq tel...
Jun 30, 2018•1 hr 25 min
Aasmah Mir and Shaun Keaveny with athlete and presenter Kriss Akabusi, singer Kim Appleby, writer Steven Camden, teacher Abed Ahmed and author Ben Okri. Sporting legend Kriss Akabusi still holds the British record for the 400m Hurdles. He gets philosophical about the different sides to his personality, discusses school sports participation and reflects on his career. Abed Ahmed is a teacher with a stammer at the same school he attended as a student. He runs stammer support sessions in his school...
Jun 23, 2018•1 hr 25 min
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...
Jun 16, 2018•1 hr 25 min
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 ...
Jun 09, 2018•1 hr 25 min
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 Br...
Jun 02, 2018•1 hr 29 min
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 ...
May 26, 2018•1 hr 25 min
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 Oly...
May 19, 2018•1 hr 25 min
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 loc...
May 12, 2018•1 hr 25 min
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 investigati...
May 05, 2018•1 hr 26 min
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 t...
Apr 28, 2018•1 hr 25 min
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 pla...
Apr 21, 2018•1 hr 25 min
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 ...
Apr 14, 2018•1 hr 25 min
Alesha Dixon tells us about her career as singer, songwriter, author and Britain's Got Talent judge. Christian Donlan describes living with multiple sclerosis. Rev Andrew Rawding served as a British soldier in Coalisland, County Tyrone and has since returned there as rector. Hannah Wright recalls her childhood behind prison walls. Inheritance Tracks - John Gordon Sinclair chooses I Love You Because by Jim Reeves and the title track from Aladdin Sane by David Bowie. Lightning Girl by Alesha Dixon...
Apr 07, 2018•1 hr 25 min
Aasmah Mir and Suzy Klein talk to stand-up comedian Arthur Smith about his new act examining his father Syd's experiences in World War Two and as a police constable. Syd fought in north Africa, was in an Italian POW camp, was forced to work in mines in Germany and ended up in Colditz, where he was liberated by the US army. Nell Gifford rejected an academic career to run away to the circus. She loved it so much she founded her own. As Giffords Circus gears up for the summer season, Nell takes us ...
Mar 31, 2018•1 hr 25 min
Alexandra Burke reveals the life events that have inspired the songs on her new album. Raynor Winn was made bankrupt and lost her home, just as her husband was diagnosed with a terminal illness. They embarked on the journey of their lifetime - to walk the South West Coast Path, the 630-mile. sea-swept trail from Somerset to Dorset, via Devon and Cornwall. She discusses the impact of this on their outlook on life and ideas of home. The archaeologist and historian, Jules Hudson, describes his fasc...
Mar 24, 2018•1 hr 25 min
Kim Wilde joins presenters Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles. She sold ten million albums, and after retiring, having a family and then a successful gardening career, has returned to the stage. She has a new album out and is about to embark on her first UK tour for 30 years. We also have Helen Tse who is a lawyer, writer and restaurateur whose book about her family story, Sweet Mandarin - also the name of her restaurant - has been turned into a play about to open at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manc...
Mar 17, 2018•1 hr 25 min
Richard Coles and Suzy Klein are joined by presenter and author Katie Piper. In 2008, she survived a horrific acid attack that left her blind in one eye and required more than 200 operations. Putting the attack behind her, she launched the Katie Piper Foundation in 2009 to aid people who'd suffered similar burns and scarring. She is set to travel the country with a new Tour: What's In My Head. British ski champion turned Olympic commentator and Ski Sunday presenter Chemmy Alcott joins us to talk...
Mar 10, 2018•1 hr 25 min
