Saturday Live

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

  1. 4D AGO

    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

  2. NOV 1

    Ken Follett, The FA Cup, Piano Reinvention, and Miranda Hart's Inheritance Tracks

    Ken Follett has sold 200 million books around the world, in more than 80 countries and into 30 different languages. He made his breakthrough with spy thrillers before working his way back through time, and now we find him telling the story of the building of Stonehenge in his latest book, "Circle of Days". The Macabees musician Felix White wanted to be a footballer, didn’t we all, until it became clear to him aged seven that he wasn’t good enough... so he turned to Football Manager by post. Football became his refuge when his mother became ill with MS, and his part memoir, part football and social history book, "Whatever Will Be Will Be" frames that life story of love and loss around the successive rounds of last year's FA Cup. Sarah Nicolls is a skilled pianist and innovator who has become one of the few people to reinvent the piano, turning it quite literally on its head to create the vertical piano, which is not only being played using the keys but also the strings from within and the wood surround. Also, an orchestra of noise from a parade of classic cars lined up on his front drive along Pall Mall. Plus, the Inheritance Tracks of the comedian and author Miranda Hart. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Lowri Morgan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

    56 min

  3. OCT 25

    David Suchet, Greetings Cards, Artistic Exploration, and Clare Balding's Inheritance Tracks

    Sir David Suchet has reignited his little grey cells to traverse the world, following in the footsteps of the great Agatha Christie in a new book and television series "Travels with Agatha Christie". Tony Foster is also a keen traveller, as an adventure artist he has ventured deep into the world’s wildernesses, painting 17,000ft up Mount Everest and in the very heart of the Grand Canyon. Stacey McNeil is someone else who finds inspiration from nature and expresses it through her art - after being unable to find a card to send a friend struggling with their mental health...so made one herself and now her Fox Under the Moon business has sold cards and books into over 25 countries. Also, a couple of dragons fighting it out in the streets of Glastonbury for the pagan Samhain festival. Plus, the Inheritance Tracks of the broadcaster, author and Faithful...Clare Balding. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Lowri Morgan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

    57 min

  4. OCT 18

    Peter James, Hedgelaying, Prosthetics, and Philippa Gregory's Inheritance Tracks

    Peter James is one of the UK's bestselling authors who's Detective Grace series now hosts Queen Camila in a staring role, by Royal request, in his latest novel "The Hawk is Dead". But this isn't his first familial involvement with the Royal family, as his mother was the official glovemaker to Queen Elizabeth II. Jim Ashworth-Beaumont was a former army veteran and skilled prosthetics expert - until one day a dramatic crash with a lorry, whilst out cycling, left him needing his own expertise. Elizabeth Ashdown is one of only 4 remaining passementerie artists in the UK – a trade that creates elaborate decorative trimmings, such as tassels and trim for the clothing of Kings and furnishings of stately homes. Also, someone else who is keeping ancient heritage skills alive is Russell Parker who comes to us LIVE from the Cotswold Hedgelaying championships to tell us all about the craft. All that...plus the Inheritance Tracks of Philippa Gregory. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Lowri Morgan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Colin Patterson

    57 min

  5. OCT 11

    Susie Dent, Winemaking, Speed Ploughing and Joanna Lumley's Inheritance Tracks

    It’s often said that one pretty sure route to happiness is to find something you love doing, and then make a career out of doing it, and seems to be exactly what Susie Dent has managed to do with her lifelong fascination with words. In her new book "The Roots We Share" Susie spreads her love of language. Fekky grew up in Lewisham, and used music as his escape from a life of gangs and violence. But during lockdown he, like many of us, found his green fingers and has since upped sticks and moved to the countryside to set-up his own farm, charting his experiences on his YouTube channel "Hood2Farm". Richard Sharp began an urban wine collective after a holiday in France to a vineyard opened his eye to the power of community projects. Grapes from allotments, balconies, public gardens all across London are harvested and brought together to create a single unique wine. Also, three time World Champion Plougher, John Hill, joins us LIVE from the British National Championships. Plus the Inheritance Tracks of Joanna Lumley. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell

    56 min

  6. OCT 4

    Priscilla Presley, Ann Cleeves, Panning for Gold, and Davina McCall's Inheritance Tracks

    Priscilla Presley met Elvis in Germany aged 14, moving with him to Graceland at 17 before their marriage, but despite the glamour surrounding their lives, Priscilla’s experience was marked by emotional complexity. In her new memoir, 'Softly as I Leave You', she reveals how she felt she was “living his life”. Ann Cleeves has written 37 novels, garnering huge critical acclaim. Her work’s been translated into more than 20 languages, including television, with adaptations of her work yielding ITV’s Vera and the BBC’s Shetland. Her latest 'The Killing Stones' sees the return of DCI Jimmy Perez. Vincent Thurkettle gave up a secure job with the Forestry Commission to pursue a life of gold prospecting at age 40 after he calculated his life expectancy was much less than he hoped. He is now best known for discovering Britain’s largest gold nugget, 97g, about the size of a small chicken egg in a shipwreck off the coast of Anglesey. Also, Ursula Martin, the woman who decided to walk her way past cancer. 10 years and 10,000 miles on, she’s still walking. Plus the inheritance tracks of Davina McCall. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell

    57 min

  7. SEP 27

    Mary Portas, Finding Happiness, Rebuilding a Life, and Joanna Page's Inheritance Tracks

    Mary Portas revolutionised the art of window dressing during her time at Harvey Nichols when, still in her 20's, she rose beyond the all male leadership team to bring the brand into the 21st Century and grab headlines for their displays. In her new memoir "I Shop, Therefore I Am" she lets us see through the shop window to reveal the untold stories behind the success. Dr Grace Spence Green had been dreaming about becoming a paediatrician ever since she was seven years-old. But after a freak incident at a shopping centre she thought that future had been lost. Her breath-taking story is inspirational. Adam Lind walked from Birmingham to London to prove that the kindness of strangers still exists. His interest in community living and searching for happiness came from a trip to India and is continued on the 2,000 miles of the UK waterways on his canal boat. All that plus a thank you to the French family who found a missing niece, a the revved up reverend pushing his pedal to the metal in Belgium, and the Inheritance Tracks of Joanna Page. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell

    57 min

  8. SEP 20

    Lulu, Palestinian Cooking, a Water Sommelier, and Mark Kermode's Inheritance Tracks

    We all know Lulu for her breakout hit Shout, voicing the theme tune to James Bond's The Man With a Golden Gun, and winning Eurovision in an unprecedented 4-way tie. But, in her new memoir If You Only Knew, she reveals how her childhood in Glasgow was marked by trauma, her father was an alcoholic and mother never fully came to terms with being given away as a baby. Sami Tamimi first arrived in London from Palestine, in 1997, as a wide-eyed chef in his twenties looking to shake up the Arabic food scene in London. He soon met and befriended Israeli chef Yotam Ottolenghi and despite the obvious differences from their homelands they became the best of friends and together redefined middle-eastern cooking in the UK. But despite having co-written dozens of cookbooks - Boustany, is the first he has written solo. After hitting rock bottom following his divorce, then fashion product developer Doran Binder, bought a struggling pub. Little did he know that underneath was exceptionally high quality water. He has not only bottled it, but has become the UK's first water sommelier. All that, plus the woman soaring her way through grief in a hot air balloon, a thank you for a quite remarkable act of kindness, and the Inheritance Tracks of film critic, writer and broadcaster, Mark Kermode. Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell

    56 min
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4.6
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2008 - 2025
  • Episodes
    775
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2025
  • Show Website
    Saturday Live

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