Saturday Live

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 infertility and baby loss. He shares his Inheritance Tracks ahead of the 40th anniversary of the first IVF baby. He has chosen the second movement from Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Edouard van Remoortel and the opening of J S Bach's Christmas Oratorio, recorded by the Choir of Trinity College Cambridge and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, conducted by Stephen Layton. Reporter JP Devlin has been out to speak to the people of Hadfield, the filming

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 Helena. Darren Harriott is a security guard turned stand up comedian. He describes how he became involved in a gang, before being saved by drama. Ben Chatfield first queued for Wimbledon in 1984 and went on to queue there regularly for 30 years. He talks about the sense of camaraderie and why he became known as 'Barrier Boy'. Kate Bradbury is the Garden Ambassador for Butterflies Conservation, a gardener and writer. She explains her passion for wildlife and how the regenerative power of nature helped her duri

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 tells how she came from Zanzibar as a child, to become co-host of one of the UK's most respected podcasts - Mostly Lit. And to mark the start of Wimbledon fortnight, Judy Murray shares the track she inherited and the song she'll pass on to the next generation in Inheritance Tracks. Also: Edwina Brocklesby's grandmother - Nan - cooked for Winston and Clementine Churchill at No 10 Downing Street during World War Two. Her mousseline pudding was almost the death of her and Britain's wartime leader during the Blitz. We w

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. He's also been nominated for a New Teacher of the Year award.JP Devlin has been to Ascot to speak to people as they head to the racesKim Appleby had hits including Respectable and Showing Out as a member of pop duo Mel and Kim, with her sister who sadly died at the height of their fame in 1990. Kim has gone on to chair the contemporary panel of the Ivor Novello Awards and has recently returned to the stage. She also shares her experiences of having a childhood stammer with Abed.Writer and performer Steven Camden, also

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 time; Geoff Dann's childhood in the North Downs inspired a life long interest in foraging, particularly for fungi. Self taught, he's survived to pass on some of his knowledge to us;Joanne Barton started drinking as a teenager after she experienced problems at home. Drug use followed, and she dropped out of school. In her late teens she managed to change her path and got a job which led to working in the care sector and inspired her to return to education and now she is an A&E doctor. JP meets listener Roger Wilson-H

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 Bubbles De Vere. He describes his passion for musicals and for Arsenal FC.Simon Doonan loves football and fashion in equal measure. He is the Creative Ambassador for Barney's New York. He's dressed the White House for Christmas under the Obama administration. And he's a Reading FC fan who has flown from New York to see them play. Phoebe Schecter plays for and Captains Great Britain's Women's American Football team. She led them to the final of the 2015 European Championships, where they won silver, and she was the first

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 British soldier who has just returned to Iraq to explore how the country has changed. David Coulthard's The Winning Formula: Leadership, Strategy and Motivation the F1 Way is out now. Movin' Melvin Brown is performing his show Chuck Berry Lives and running the workshop Dancing with the Star - Movin with Melvin at the Brighton Fringe till the 3rd June. Whitney Brown's Between Stone and Sky: Memoirs of a Walker is out now. Part one of Adnan Sarwar's documentary Journey in the Danger Zone: Iraq goes out on BBC Two on Sunday,

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 To Seoul: Recipes from my travels in Australia and the Far East is out on the 31st May. Fly The Tyne is happening from around 1.30pm on 26th May. The Tetbury WoolSack Races is on Bank Holiday Monday. Simon Mayo chose The Nightmare Song 'Love unrequited robs me of my rest' from Iolanthe by Gilbert and Sullivan and Graceland by Paul Simon. Janina Scarlet's book Therapy Quest is out now.Producer: Claire Bartleet Editor: Eleanor Garland.

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 Olympic Gold in Rio 2016 and was made a Chief by a grateful nation. And it was a romantic game of two halves for Helen Bellany, so taken with the painter John Bellany she married him not once but twice. Listener Carol Worwood shares her Thank You story from the Royal Wedding Day in 1981. Tim Eagling describes his family's morning - taking part in an immersive scare event in a disused shopping mall. And the poet Imtiaz Dharker reveals her Inheritance Tracks - Babu Samjho Ishare from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, sung by Kishore

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 locations in the shipping forecast. We ask him how, why and what has led him to such a complicated challenge!We're also joined by Martyn Waites, ex actor and stand-up comedian, now a crime-writer who has written under his own name and also the female pseudonym of Tania Carver. Susannah Walker is a design historian who has written a book about her mother's hoarding, the extent of which was discovered after her death. She joins us to talk about the significance of 'things' and the stories behind them.JP Devlin meets Brian Bl

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 investigation officer, Paul Osborne, is partnered with Sherlock, a five year old a Cocker Spaniel with a nose for sniffing out ignitable liquids.Leee John, Singer/songwriter with the group Imagination on his falsetto, his new single Police and Thieves, and his documentary to go with it, which reflects his strong sense of community and the area he grew up in in north London. The actor, Stephen McGann, shares his Inheritance Tracks. He chooses (I've Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo by Glenn Miller and Within You and Without You by The Beatles

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 this time.Spinal Tap's Derek Smalls (the alter ego of Harry Shearer) talks to JP Devlin.Gail Porter shares her Inheritance Tracks. She has chosen Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd and When Doves Cry by Prince.Cook and food writer Diana Henry talks about how her recipes and menus have been influenced by her childhood, travels and experiences. Chess is at the London Coliseum until Saturday 2nd June.My Mad Dad: The Diary of an Unravelling Mind by Robyn Hollingworth is out nowDerek Smalls' album Smalls Change is out now.How To

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 played lead roles in musicals such as Me and My Girl, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Hairspray, Oliver!, The Music Man, Barnum and Jolson for which he was nominated for a prestigious Laurence Olivier Award. He's presented the Royal Variety Performance on eight occasions and appeared on TV shows such as The Grimleys and Time after Time and recorded three albums. He joins us in the middle of his latest tour: 'Still the Greatest Entertainer in His Price Range'.Elizabeth Noble is a writer of fiction who mourns the demise of the lett

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 a baby in a nightclub toilet.Saturday Live listener John Simmons shares his family story. His parents temporarily 'adopted', Jesus, a child refugee from the Spanish Civil War. John later researched the story of the 4,000 children who came to the UK from Spain and found out what happened to Jesus and his sister when they returned home.JP Devlin meets Ricky Valance - the 1960s star from a Welsh mining community who had a No.1 hit with the song Tell Laura I Love Her.Historian Dr. Laura King describes her latest work around

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 is published by Scholastic. The Unmapped Mind by Christian Donlan is published by Viking. Outside Time: A Personal History of Prison Farming by Dr Hannah Wright is published by Placewise.

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 behind the scenes and into the ring.Opera star Brindley Sherratt was born into a Salvation Army family in Lancashire. He originally wanted to be a trumpet player, but his bass voice was too good to ignore. He wants the rest of the world to appreciate how good singing can be for your physical and mental health.Shepherds Holly & Hannah Jackson don't come from an agricultural family, but their love of nature led them to start a sheep farm in Cumbria. They had to strap on their skies to rescue sheep stranded in the rece

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 fascination with walled gardens. Saturday Live listener Darren Townsend-Handscomb grew up as the child of a Deaf parent. He went on to become a sign language interpreter, which has taken him to some rather unusual situations, including signing at an exorcism for a Deaf poltergeist. He's about to travel to the Gambia to train sign language interpreters.David Morrissey shares his Inheritance Tracks: She's Leaving Home by The Beatles and Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) by Baz Luhrmann.The Truth Is by Alexandra Burke is ou

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 Manchester. Lutalo Muhammad is a British taekwondo athlete who represented Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal, and the 2016 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal. He won the Gold medal in the -87 kg class at the 2012 European Taekwondo Championships.John Connell is a writer and a farmer. Farming has been in his family for generations but he never intended to follow in his father's footsteps. He followed the academic route, going to study in Australia, becoming a documentary maker and then t

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 Olympics, injury and motherhood.Listener Clive England always knew he was adopted, but until last October he wasn't sure who his birth family were. After some careful research, he tracked down them down and spent two weeks travelling across America to meet with them. Cross stitch traditionally conjures up images of neat samplers, pretty cottages and cute puppy dogs until you look on social media and see the diverse range of attitudes, taste and subversion going on in the genre. Unofficial cross stitch spokesperson, Mr

The conductor, Charles Hazlewood, believes in making music inclusive, from projects fusing five Grime MC's with the BBC Concert Orchestra to founding the world's first paraorchestra, inspired by his daughter Eliza. He presents a two-part series on BBC Four - Tones, Drones and Arpeggios: The Magic of Minimalism.Lulah Ellender has written Elisabeth's Lists. Part memoir, part family history, part exploration of a life through lists, inspired by Elisabeth, the grandmother she never knew. Cassidy Little is a former ballet dancer and Royal Marine Commando, who lost his lower right leg in an explosion in Afghanistan in 2011. He has since won 'The People's Strictly' in 2015; and is about to star in the play Soldier On which opens at the Playground Theatre in London on 13 March. Today is the seventh annual World Pasty Championships. Vanessa Farr from Bristol, won the Cornish Pasty Amateur section last year. She explains what makes a winning pasty.The novelist and broadcaster Fern Britton talks about her recent health