Claire Sweeney joins Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles. The actress, singer, dancer and TV presenter Claire Sweeney made her professional singing debut age 14 and her varied career includes playing Lindsey Corkhill in Brookside and performing alongside Patrick Swayze in the West End. Rory O’Grady turned detective to document the final journey of his older brother and the passengers who died alongside him in a mid-air collision over Italy in 1958. Rory talks about the significance of finding family me...
Jan 29, 2022•1 hr 25 min
Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles are joined by Vicky McClure, star of Line of Duty and This Is England. Her latest role is in a new drama on bomb disposal, keeping us on the edge of our sofas. We also have Helen Naylor who grew up believing that her mother had a chronic health condition that made her so exhausted she had to spend most of her time in bed. After her mother's death she found her diaries which told a different story. Listener Liz Ashworth emailed us about her mission to keeping traditio...
Jan 22, 2022•1 hr 25 min
Author and podcaster Giovanna Fletcher trained as an actor, but with several bestselling novels under her belt and her hit podcast Happy Mum Happy Baby featuring guests stars such as the Duchess of Cambridge, she has had little time to take to the stage in recent years. Now she stars in the West End in Danny Robins's terrifying new play 2.22 A Ghost Story at London's Gielgud Theatre. During lockdown, Femi Fadugba's debut novel, which combines his expertise in quantum physics with a thrilling tim...
Jan 15, 2022•1 hr 25 min
Nikki Bedi and Rev Richard Coles are joined by actor Ralf Little who first appeared on our screens as the awkward Antony in the Royle Family, went on to star in Two Pints and a packet of crisps, and now Death in Paradise. Legendary football manager Brian Clough took our guest Craig Bromfield under his wing as a troubled youngster but their relationship ended when Craig betrayed Brian and never saw him again. Craig has written about his experience to make sense of what he did and why he did it. H...
Jan 08, 2022•1 hr 25 min
Sarah Parish joins Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles. Best known for her work in Mistresses, W1A , Broadchurch and Bancroft, Sarah talks about her career, including her latest project which is a crime thriller, and the charity she co-founded with her husband in memory of their first daughter. Supriya Nagarajan explains why she gave up a successful banking career to become a musician. Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton talks about being homeless as a teenager and how it inspired her career, she's the chief fire ...
Jan 01, 2022•1 hr 24 min
In this festive edition of Saturday Live, Richard Coles and Nikki Bedi are joined by the actor Mark Strong, who has made a name playing villains in some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters, including Sherlock Holmes, Shazam and Cruella. He drops by to talk about darkly comic medical drama Temple. Comedian Fatiha El-Ghorri discusses her journey from homelessness to being one of the most exciting stand up comedians in the country. We hear about your new Christmas traditions, from socially distance...
Dec 25, 2021•56 min
Comedian, writer and entertainer Julian Clary joins Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles to talk about the lure of the pantomime and how his love of dogs has changed his life. Maria Sodahl, who received a likely-terminal cancer diagnosis just before Christmas nine years ago, on how she has turned her experience into the film Hope. Nathan Evans, the former postman who went viral on Tik Tok with his rendition of the sea shanty, Wellerman. And food historian Annie Gray will be taking us on a trip through t...
Dec 18, 2021•1 hr 23 min
Nikki Bedi and Mobeen Azhar are joined by Brian May, musician and astrophysicist, who played guitar on Buckingham Palace, and with the rock band Queen and is fascinated by stereoscopy AKA 3D. Also we have: journalist and broadcaster Camilla Tominey on her experiences growing up with her mother who had alcoholism. Johanna Basford joins us, she worked for years as a commercial illustrator – her work can be found on wallpaper, beer cans and even as tattoos – she had the idea of creating adult colou...
Dec 11, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Joanna Lumley talks to Nikki Bedi and Shaun Keaveny about her career highlights and why her latest work is celebrating the Queen. Comedian Slim spent 15 years as a bus driver before being encouraged by a friend to try stand-up. 28 years later Slim has toured the world, won awards for his work and recently had a solo show at the London Palladium. Ben and Danielle Marsh tell the story of how their family shot to fame after they started sharing their music on social media during lockdown. Seth Lake...
Dec 04, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles are joined by Monica Galetti: chef, judge on Masterchef and chef proprietor of her own restaurant, judge on the BBC programme MasterChef: The Professionals since 2009 and has presenter of Amazing Hotels... In the studio we have Raymond Antrobus, one of the most exciting and acclaimed poets working today whose journey includes discovering he was deaf aged 6 and finding his passion for writing. Royd Tolkien’s brother Mike was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease aged 3...
Nov 27, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Guy Garvey joins Richard Coles and Nikki Bedi. The singer and 6 Music presenter has been making music with elbow for over three decades. He talks about the band’s achievements and the inspiration behind his lyrics. Kate London toured the UK with her own theatre company, but was inspired to become a Met Police Officer and these experiences have led to her becoming a crime writer. Jet Suit inventor Richard Browning has been called the real life Iron Man. He talks about his work, taking the plunge ...
Nov 20, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Richard Coles and Nikki Bedi are joined by Evanna Lynch who was a Harry Potter superfan who developed anorexia aged 11. Whilst having treatment, her beloved Harry Potter books provided an escape, particularly the dreamy, independent character of Luna Lovegood in the fifth book. When the film came around amazingly she won the role, and Evanna played Luna for the remaining four films. She joins us. A few years ago, Hamza Yassin went on holiday to a remote Scottish peninsula. He never left. He is n...
Nov 13, 2021•1 hr 23 min
Jimmy Carr joins Richard Coles and Nikki Bedi. After deciding to pursue a comedy career in his mid-twenties Jimmy has now toured the world as a stand up and is a household name thanks to programmes such as Channel 4’s 8 out of 10 Cats. Jimmy talks about the power of laughter and how it's transformed his life. Natalie Cumming tells the incredible story of her family's violin. Dr Richard Shepherd has been a forensic pathologist for over 30 years and has been involved in the investigation of over 2...
Nov 06, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Daisy May Cooper, the comedy actor and writer joins Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles to talk about how her life growing up in rural Gloucestershire inspired the BBC Three mockumentary-style, This Country. Thomas Leeds also joins us. He was left with no memories of his childhood after a car accident, until an iconic 80s song suddenly unlocked memories that had been lost for years. When Jacob Mitchell aka MC Grammar, a teacher from north London, posted a video of himself rapping The Gruffalo to his fo...
Oct 30, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles are joined by award winning comedian and lover of all things random, Ross Noble, who has 16 nationwide comedy tours under his belt, is a regular panellist on comedy shows and currently to be seen on iplayer on The Apprentice Australia. Paralympian sprinter Libby Clegg has won nine major gold medals, including two at the at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio for the 100m and 200m and she is the first blind contestant on Dancing On Ice. She joins us. Listener Georgia Nai...
Oct 23, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Tom Daley joins Richard Coles and Nikki Bedi. Tom fulfilled his Olympic dream this year, becoming the most decorated British diver of all time. He talks about the challenges he’s faced, the lessons learnt, passion for knitting and his proudest achievement so far. Listener Alexis Roxburgh shares his paragliding stories. Anne-Marie is a West End child star turned multi-platinum-selling artist and The Voice coach, who also found time to be a karate World Champion. But despite success, the singer st...
Oct 16, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles are joined by Sir Lenny Henry: comedian, actor, writer, fund raiser, he’s graced our stage and screen for almost 50 years and now he’s put his talents to writing for the next generation. Arthur Timothy is an architect turned artist whose work is inspired by photographs from the past and his own memories. He describes his paintings as love letters to his family. He joins us. We have Paula Sutton who worked in fashion magazines for years before she decided to showcase ...
Oct 09, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Matt Baker joins Richard Coles and Nikki Bedi. Matt's career has taken him from Blue Peter to The One Show and Countryfile. He’s recently returned to live on his family farm and feels growing up with nature helped in all aspects of his life. Listener Jo Bradshaw is an office worked turned adventurer - who leads expeditions and was attempting to summit Everest during the earthquake of 2015. Khadijah Mellah became the first British Muslim woman to win a horse race in the UK. Age 18 she won the Mag...
Oct 02, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Richard Coles and Nikki Bedi are joined by Henry Holland - who started his career in teen magazines but became a fashion hit in 2008 after his slogan T shirts were worn by designers Giles Deacon and Gareth Pugh at London Fashion Week, his fashion business closed last year but he has since released a hugely successful ceramics collection and is now designing rugs. There is also Ramla Ali, the first Somali boxer in history to compete at the Olympic Games, Molly Schiller who completed a Masters stu...
Sep 25, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Paul Merson was one of English football’s brightest stars in the 1990s. He was capped for England 21 times and scored 99 goals for Arsenal before transferring to Middlesborough for the then highest fee ever paid by a first division team. But throughout his career, Paul waged a very public battle with addictions to alcohol, drugs and gambling, as depicted in his new memoir Hooked. He talks to Richard Coles and Nikki Bedi. Jamie Laing grew up in Oxfordshire and Knightsbridge, attending prestigious...
Sep 18, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Annie Nightingale joins Nikki Bedi and Suzy Klein to talk about her 50 years in broadcasting, including being the first female DJ on Radio 1 and how her love of new music has led to her being the station's longest-serving broadcaster. Annie also explains why she owes a debt to The Beatles. Ranger Jonathan Ford explains how his love of birds took him to live in Papa Westray, one of the smallest islands in Orkney. Chef Poppy O’Toole lost her job and was inspired by her siblings to make PoppyCooks ...
Sep 11, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Mo Gilligan, host of his own Bafta winning Friday night TV show, judge on the Masked singer, a comedian with sell out tours behind him, but only 5 years ago he was working the shop floor in retail, he joins us to talk about his journey into primetime. Gavanndra Hodge's childhood was chaotic as both her parents had addiction problems, then tragedy struck and her little sister died. She reflects on loss and trauma. Simon Amstell is a writer, director and stand up comedian who first came to promine...
Sep 04, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles are joined by Bananarama – Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward - who tell us about surviving forty years in the music industry with hits including Venus, Robert De Niro’s Waiting and Cool Summer. James Ketchell has circum-navigated the world by gyrocopter, as well as single-handedly rowing the Atlantic, climbing Everest, and cycling across the world. Listener Mary Monro on retracing her father’s footsteps across China and the route he took after escaping from a Japanese p...
Aug 28, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Actress and author Celia Imrie joins Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles to discuss her debut non-fiction novel, set against the backdrop of the sinking of the Titanic. Celia explains her family connections to the legendary ship and talks about her love of travel and career highlights. Listener Nick Wharton got in touch about his adventures in climbing, and being reunited with his estranged father. Tom Chapman is an award-winning barber who experienced a personal tragedy that led him to create The Lion...
Aug 21, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles are joined by Harry Enfield, who’ll be telling us how he went from part-time milkman to BAFTA award-winning comedian, actor, writer and director, creating characters such as Tim Nice-But-Dim, Smashie and Nicey and Kevin the Teenager and how now he's playing the Prince of Wales. Catriona Rennison, who has just started as a junior doctor despite being discouraged from following a career in medicine after being treated for anorexia as a teenager. James McNicholas, is a ...
Aug 14, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles are joined by Tim Vine, a comedian who eschewes the observational / confessional style, and celebrates joke telling and puns, his latest tour combines his love of music with comedy. Listener Fiona Maher grew up hearing that she had a half-brother that she’d never met. After 40 years, she finally found him. She joins us to tell us what it’s like to have a new family. Phil Manzanera has played in some of the biggest stadiums in the world as the guitarist of Roxy Music....
Aug 07, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Ellie Taylor joins Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles. The comedian, writer and The Mash Report newsreader talks about her path to stand-up, real life inspiration, and ruining her life in the best way possible. Listener Tom Edwards has had a successful broadcasting career but he hit rock bottom and ended up homeless. He talks about his road to recovery, and how he was helped by a well-known comedian. Mevan Babakar's family fled Iraq in 1991 and she spent her childhood moving from country to country. S...
Jul 31, 2021•1 hr 27 min
Nikki Bedi and Shaun Keaveny are joined by Christian O’Connell, presenter of the Breakfast Show on Gold FM in Melbourne, Australia. He tells us why he left his number one show on Absolute Radio, with three million listeners, to move to the other side of the world and take on the toughest radio market there is. Listener Lisa Jones on the World War Two dog tag she found in her garden and what she discovered when she went in search of the owner. Paula Craig was a detective in the Metropolitan Polic...
Jul 24, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Jack Savoretti joins Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles to talk about his heritage, how his mum inspired him to get into music, and why for his seventh studio album, Europiana, Jack has reached back into his memories of childhood holidays spent on the beaches of north west Italy. Listener and musician Elaine Bryant contacted us to tell us about a very lucky escape she had back in 1984. She was 17, a harpist from Dublin, on a tour of North America and Canada, when they got caught in a snowstorm in the ...
Jul 17, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Matt Haig is an award-winning author of fiction for both adults and children and his memoir of depression and anxiety Reasons to Stay Alive became a runaway bestseller. He joins Richard Coles and Nikki Bedi to discuss the inspiration for his latest non-fiction work The Comfort Book. Bexy Cameron was born into the Children of God cult and moved around the world with the notorious group. She escaped at fifteen but later felt compelled to document religious sects in order to better understand her c...
Jul 10, 2021•1 hr 25 min
