Saturday Live

BBC Radio 4
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Join Adrian Chiles for a Saturday morning full of remarkable people with extraordinary stories.

  1. 22 HRS AGO

    Nigel Kennedy, Grief, Red Nose Day and the Inheritance Tracks of Adam Fleming

    On Saturday Live this week, a virtuoso violinist, a singer with a powerful story of motherhood, love and grief, and the woman who made her fortune working out how we shop. Adrian spends the hour in great company with Nigel Kennedy, Jess Mills and the hugely influential Edwina Dunn OBE. Also today, we'll be hearing from a somewhat out of breath Greg James, pedalling his way from Weymouth to Edinburgh for Comic Relief. And we are treated to a special performance by Nigel and his band - Alec Dankworth on double bass and Peter Adams on the cello. This week's Inheritance Tracks comes from Adam Fleming. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Lowri Morgan Assistant Producer: Alice McKee Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley (The live performance in this programme has been shortened for music rights reasons).

    55 min

  2. MAR 7

    Steve Rosenberg, Cut Flowers, Cancer Care, and the Inheritance Tracks of Mike Wozniak

    We’re in the company of an eminent foreign correspondent, a no less eminent expert in the field of flowers, and the woman who’s built the most beautiful spaces for cancer care. Our journalist is our man in Moscow - our last man in Moscow, really - Steve Rosenberg. Bringing colour, fragrance and joy to our studio is the queen of cut flowers, Sarah Raven. And we’ll all be scattering rose petals at the feet of Dame Laura Lee for all her work leading the cancer support charity Maggies. All that, plus the Inheritance Tracks of the comedian Mike Wozniak. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producers: Lowri Morgan and Alice McKee Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Ed Prendeville

    56 min

  3. FEB 28

    Maggie Aderin, Shipwreck Hunting, Sea Shanties, and the Inheritance Tracks of Andy Zaltzman

    On Saturday Live this week we’ll be looking up, down and all over the place. Dame Maggie Aderin, space scientist, will have us looking to the skies in wonder before David Mearns, shipwreck hunter, takes us down into the ocean deep as we marvel at his life’s work - and a man never short of a sense of wonder is writer, actor, comedian, sailor and lover of alpacas...Griff Rhys Jones. Also today, we’ll rise from the depths to the surface for some sea shantying from The Longest Johns - and we’ll be getting the Inheritance Tracks of Andy Zaltzman. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producers: Lowri Morgan and Alice McKee Researcher: Angharad Butler Editor: Glyn Tansley (The live music performed in this programme has been shortened for music rights reasons)

    55 min

  4. FEB 21

    Jack Thorne, Hostage Negotiation, Family History, and the Inheritance Tracks of Marian Keyes

    Today we’re in the company of a billionaire, a hostage negotiator and the most sought after screenwriter in the business. The screenwriter in question is Jack Thorne who’s now turned his considerable talent to a brilliant TV adaptation of Lord of the Flies. Nicky Perfect says hostage negotiation is all about empathy, and less about talking than listening. And we’ll be all ears as she tells us what we can all learn from the techniques police negotiators use. And we’ll certainly be paying close attention to what Welsh born billionaire Michael Moritz has to say to us, about his own story, and his telling of the story of his family which is fascinating, harrowing and inspiring in equal measure. Also today the firefighter who spends his spare time being a Viking - and the Inheritance Tracks of Marian Keyes. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producers: Catherine Powell, Ribika Moktan, Imy Harper Researchers: Angharad Butler, Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

    57 min

  5. FEB 14

    Mark Steel, Nun at NASA, Funeral Cosmetics, and the Inheritance Tracks of Matt Edmonsdon

    Today we have a comedian, a nun and an undertaker’s beautician. Mark Steel says that when there’s a crisis afoot, while everyone else is panicking the comedians in the room are busy finding the funny side. This Mark’s done, with a book about what he calls his adventures in cancerland. The remarkable Sister Libby Osgood, worked for NASA before she became a nun. Quite the career path that. And Jayne Lownds - who brought her expertise as a high-street beautician into the family funeral business. Also today the annual pancake race still being run more than 550 years after it started - and the Inheritance Tracks of Radio 1 DJ and boardgame designer Matt Edmondson. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Gareth Nelson-Davies

    56 min

  6. FEB 7

    Alexander Armstrong, Cold Cases, Small Prophets and the Inheritance Tracks of Riz Ahmed

    Alexander Armstrong on life as a writer, Professor Patricia Wiltshire explains the role of a forensic botanist, Mackenzie Crook unveils the secrets behind his latest show.

    57 min

  7. JAN 31

    Amanda Owen, Curious Incidents, Brain Rest, and the Inheritance Tracks of Mika.

    We have a writer, a shepherdess, and a man in favour of doing more of nothing. Our writer wrote one of the biggest books of the last 25 years. The Curious Incident of a Dog in the Night-time has brought joy to millions of children, and adults. And now Mark Haddon’s written a memoir just as memorable. Our Shepherdess is almost certainly the only Shepherdess you can name. The Yorkshire Shepherdess herself, Amanda Owen, whose new tv series suggests her love of her farming life burns as brightly as ever. And the man who wants us to give our brains a break is a neuroscientist who’s applied his considerable brain to the importance of giving all our tormented minds a bit more downtime. Dr Joseph Jebelli has a fascinating story to tell. Also, we’ll be asking how many clowns can you fit into a church as we speak to the clown organising the 80th anniversary Joseph Grimaldi Service - and we’ll be enjoying the Inheritance Tracks of Mika. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Colin Patterson

    57 min

  8. JAN 24

    Anton du Beke, Winter Olympics, Remembering Smells, and the Inheritance Tracks of Claire Foy

    Today's programme features a couple of very nice movers. There’s Anton de Beke, fresh from the first night of the Strictly Tour to recount a life of dance and showbiz. Lizzy Yarnold is used to moving at a rather more ferocious speed as our most successful winter Olympian. Picking up on the sweet smell of success, Michael O’Shaugnassey is an expert in scents and uses them to access prisoners memories. Also today, a man considered so dull that he’s won an award for it, and the Inheritance Tracks of Claire Foy. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

    56 min
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Hosts & Guests

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Join Adrian Chiles for a Saturday morning full of remarkable people with extraordinary stories.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2008 - 2026
  • Episodes
    792
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    Saturday Live

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