Saturday Live

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

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Josh Widdicombe, Helen Sharman and the Inheritance Tracks of Emily Watson

    Josh Widdicombe is about to take his stand up show on the road around the country and his latest new podcast series; Dr Helen Sharman talks about the time she became Britain’s first astronaut, and Finlay Wilson a Yoga teacher and author discusses all things yoga in all sorts of glorious Scottish settings. Plus Emily Watson the actor with an astonishing list of theatre, film and television credits to her name, and an array of awards and nominations to match chooses her Inheritance Tracks. Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Colin Paterson

    57 min

  2. 20/12/2025

    A Christmas Games Special

    On this Christmas special edition of Saturday Live, we take a deep-dive into the world of board games. Marcia Lewis’s has board games in her blood - her father was the creator of Cluedo. Neil Scanllan holds not one, not two, but four world records for his remarkable collection of Monopoly sets. Dr Harshan Lamabadusuriya, doctor by day, scrabble assassin by night, has had the best season of his life becoming the UK champion for the second time. Also today, BBC Inside Science presenter Tom Whipple, shares with us the tips and tricks for winning some of Christmas’s classic family games - and the Mammoth star Mike Bubbins adds a sprinkling of 70’s Christmas nostalgia to proceedings. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

    57 min

  3. 13/12/2025

    Russell Tovey, Desert Racing, Puppeteering, and the Inheritance Tracks of Paul Bettany

    The actor and art lover Russell Tovey - who’s not only on a mission to spread his love of art far and wide… but is humanity's best hope in the War between Land and Sea. There’s no hint of CGI in the warzones Sally Becker’s been to - the recipient of a Lifetime achievement award at this year’s Pride of Britain, she’s made it her life’s work to help children in some of the most unimaginable situations. And Vanessa Ruck - who spent seven years recovering from a life-changing car accident… only to then learn to ride a motorbike and race it in extreme endurance events. All that plus, a man who makes a living with his hand, head, and indeed his entire body inside some of the most iconic puppets on stage - and the Inheritance Tracks of the actor Paul Bettany. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

    57 min

  4. 06/12/2025

    Chris McCausland, Shipwrecks, Pigeon Fancying, and the Inheritance Tracks of Jacinda Ardern

    Chris McCausland, funny, clever, excellent dancer, widely loved. The list goes on. His new autobiography "Keeping Laughing" charts his life and career across a twenty-five-year journey where he lost his sight but found moments of happiness and laughter along the way. Douglas Roberston, survived being cast adrift in the pacific ocean for 38 days after a killer whale. Just a teenager at the time, he reveals the extremes he had to go to extremes to survive. Another tackler of apparently insurmountable obstacles is Mila Stanzani a record-holding obstacle course racer hear to give us an insight into one of the newest sports at the next Olympics. All that plus, an award-winning pigeon fancier and the Inheritance Tracks of New Zealand’s former Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

    56 min

  5. 29/11/2025

    Ben Miller, Synaesthesia, Women's Football, and the Inheritance Tracks of Chris and Xand van Tulleken

    We’re in the company of Ben Miller, comedian, actor, writer and some time student of physics...here to tell us how Father Christmas can in fact deliver a gift to every child in just one night with his new book "The Night I Met Father Christmas". Someone who has had an early Christmas present already is Lucy Steeds, who this week was crowned the winner of the Waterstones Book of the Year. She reveals the process of how her debut book, "The Artist", has become so successful - and how he channels her synaesthesia. Grace Vella spent her childhood dreaming of becoming a professional footballer, she almost made it playing for Liverpool and Man City, but didn’t quite make the grade, so made football her business instead and has founded the women's sports brand Miss Kick. All that, plus Hollie McRae, daughter of iconic rally driver Colin McCrae, tells us how she has become determined to keep rally driving in the family - and we have the shared Inheritance Tracks of Chris and Xand van Tulleken. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

    57 min

  6. 22/11/2025

    Michael Sheen, Scam Safe, Medieval Combat Sports, and the Inheritance Tracks of Jason Donovan

    Michael Sheen is an actor, director and Welshman who describes his vision and impact of the Welsh National Theatre, exploring how the stage can reflect and shape national identity, and what can be learned from football scouts to find the next generation of talent. Convicted fraudster Alex Wood reveals how he went from a would be child prodigy violinist to defrauding millions of pounds out of people. Now, he is a fraud hunter looking for personal redemption whilst helping the police and presenting Scam Secrets on Radio 4. Jenny Häbry is a three time world champion and first female armoured MMA champion, she lifts the curtain on the world of armoured mixed martial arts, revealing the grit, discipline, and determination it takes to rise to the level of world champion. Also, Emma Youell joins us live from Norfolk with her metal detector in hand - will she find anything? Plus we have the Inheritance Tracks of Jason Donovan. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producers: Lowri Morgan, Ribika Moktan and Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Colin Paterson

    57 min

  7. 15/11/2025

    Paul and Hollie Cook, Baking, Extreme Cleaning, and the Inheritance Tracks of Richard E Grant

    On a wet and windy Saturday Live, Hollie Cook joins us to discuss a career that has seen her music streamed millions of times online, as well what it's like to be raised by a Sex Pistol - her dad, Paul Cook is with us too, still drumming up a storm half a century after it all started. The almost indecently talented Jasmine Mitchell - completing a degree in medicine while finding time to win Bake Off by a country mile. Extreme cleaner Ben Giles started out cleaning windows, and moved into cleaning crime scenes and all manner of unspeakable things. Also today we talk to the award-winning TikToker championing the humble bus and we have the Inheritance Tracks of Barbra Streisand obsessive…Richard E Grant. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Lowri Morgan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

    57 min

  8. 08/11/2025

    Oliver Jeffers, Fatherhood, The House of Thatchers, and Peter and Dan Snow's shared Inheritance Tracks

    The acclaimed illustrator and children’s author Oliver Jeffers discuses the power of fatherhood in both his life and work, from his father's visionary education beliefs during The Troubles, to how his own role as a father feeds into his work - his new book is "I'm Very Busy". Eleanor Thatcher, is a fifth generation cider maker, and the first woman in the family to join the senior leadership of Thatchers, she reveals the wise words that have been passed down the family tree. Lesley Pearse is a prolific storyteller who has written multiple Sunday Times Bestsellers, but her own story is just as gripping as any told in her many well-loved novels. We’ll also be talking to George and Joshua Kohler, the father and son duo setting records by cycling around the world together. Also, another father and son team come together to share their Inheritance Tracks, Peter and Dan Snow. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Lowri Morgan Assistant Producer: Josie Hardy Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Ben Mitchell

    56 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.3
out of 5
233 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
    782
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    Saturday Live

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