Saturday Live

Joining Adrian Chiles on Radio 4's Saturday morning programme today are:

Ashley Jensen's acting roots were formed in the town of Annan, Scotland. She went from the theatres in the Highlands to landing roles in worldwide television hits such as Extras, Ugly Betty and After Life. Now back on Scottish soil , she’s starring in the hit BBC Television detective-drama series Shetland.

Singer-songwriter Jack Savoretti was born in London with Italian and Polish-German grandparents. Jack went onto study in Switzerland and after years of relentless touring and writing, he has turned his personal stories of identity, family and belonging into chart topping albums and tours.

And comedian Andy Zaltzman has two muses - statistics and satire. A cricket statistician on the BBC’s Test Match Special and a keen observer of politics and current affairs in his role as chair of The News Quiz on BBC Radio 4. He’s now returning to the stage in his stand-up shows aiming to make sense of the global news stories and events of the year.

Also, we'll hear the Inheritance Tracks of veteran NASA astronaut Don Thomas.

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

Adrian Chiles presents BBC Radio 4's Saturday Live. His guests this week are:

Gregory Porter grew up in Bakersfield, California and found inspiration in southern gospel music. It led the singer-songwriter from small jazz clubs to worldwide success with million selling albums and Grammy Awards.

Dame Julia Slingo is a climate scientist from Kenilworth, Warwickshire who has been at the forefront of extreme weather and climate matters since the 1970s. The UK’s first female professor of Meteorology and a former Chief Scientist at the Met Office, are just some of her achievements during a career that has spanned over five decades.

And actor-comedian Omid Djalili grew up in London with Iranian parents before he went onto study English and Theatre studies at Ulster University in the mid-1980s. He’s gone on to become a well known stand-up and his acting talents cover many television and Hollywood films.

Plus the Inheritance Tracks of singer Sam Ryder.

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

Joining Adrian Chiles on this week’s programme:

Bill Bailey studied English at University in London before he transformed his fascination with music, performance and ideas into a successful career on stage and screen. He’ll be discussing his new musical-comedy tour Vaudevillean.

Actor, Director and Producer Chris Addison initially pursued stand-up comedy. He’s gone on to turn his talents behind the camera in hit television series in the UK and America. He’ll be discussing his new BBC television series, Tall Tales and Murder.

Penny Mallory spent her formative years in Kent, before finding herself homeless and living on the streets in London during her teenage years. Inspired by watching sport on BBC Grandstand at the age of six, she went on to enter the high-risk and adrenaline-fuelled world of professional rally driving.

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

Baroness Floella Benjamin hardly needs an introduction, but her career started in a bank before becoming a trailblazer in children’s television. Now Baroness Benjamin, she continues to speak in public life on matters across the media and diversity.

Sir Tony Robinson had a stint in children’s television too before he was catapulted into fame acting as Baldrick - with his cunning plans in the Blackadder series. Now a best-selling writer and documentary maker, he has spent more than two decades bringing the country’s archaeological hidden history to life.

And plant hunter Tom Hart Dyke’s quest to further his understanding of orchids led him to the Panamanian jungle on an expedition that went dangerously wrong. Kidnapped and held in captivity for nine months, he returned to the safety of his garden estate in the Kent countryside where he continues to cultivate his worldly discoveries.

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

Joining Adrian Chiles this week on the programme are:

Nick Park, filmmaker, animator and author will be talking about his latest book about the life of Gromit - the beloved character from the adventures of Wallace & Gromit.

Next Wednesday will mark sixty years since the disaster at the Welsh village of Aberfan. On 21 October 1966 a mountain of coal waste slid down into a school and houses resulting in 144 people - including 116 children - losing their lives. Janett Bickley was eight years old and attended the school on that day, she tells us her life story.

And Dr Xand Van Tulleken grew up alongside his identical twin brother with a passion to become a doctor. He has gone on to have a stellar career in broadcasting and continues to navigate our understanding of health and medicine matters.

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

Adrian Chiles is joined by three guests who have made a success in business, music and broadcasting.

The musician Tinie Tempah has in recent years flexed his talents across the industries of fashion and property. But music remains at the top of his priorities with a new album - The Night's Not Dead - and a UK/European tour, more than sixteen years since finding global success in the industry.

Entrepreneur Sara Davies was a student at university when she launched an idea for the crafting industry that went on to become a multi-million pound international business. Sata has a new book out called Crafting for All Occasions.

And Choirmaster Gareth Malone found personal confidence through singing and choirs before helping other people find their voice through the power of collective song. He is about to go on a tour called Sing-A-Long-A-Gareth: At The Movies, during the autumn and winter.

Plus, we'll hear the Inheritance Tracks choices from actor and writer Nigel Planer.

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

Adrian Chiles is in the company of a talented trio on today's programme:

Charlie Higson, writer, actor and comedian has enjoyed great success in television, not least with The Fast Show. And as a novelist the writer of the much admired young James Bond series has now published his first work featuring the grown up 007.

Billy Monger holds the world record at Ironman as a double amputee, this after going back to motor racing following the calamitous crash which changed his life at the age of 17. Now he has an eye on the 2028 Paralympic Games.

And Rebecca Coxon’s life was changed after curiosity about her family history led to a DNA test with results she never saw.

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

When it comes to bringing history to life on television Lucy Worsley is queen of the realm; she’s written a personal history of the Queens and Kings whose lives she’s almost lived through her work.

Clare Balding’s one of the most respected and well-loved broadcasters in the business, bringing the biggest sporting and ceremonial events into our homes, as well as writing a series of best selling books, her latest being a first novel for adults.

Dr Liz O’Riordan has at least two crowning achievements to her name. Firstly, qualifying as a doctor and becoming a breast surgeon. Secondly, negotiating the trauma of having breast cancer herself and finding a new path after she had to leave her career in surgery behind.

Plus we will hear the Inheritance Tracks of the comedian Lucy Porter.

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

On the programme this week are Caitlin Moran, Eric Idle and Rob Brydon.

Caitlin’s here to talk about - how to be hopeful in a world gone mad.

For more than half a century Eric Idle’s refuge from the mad world of comedy, music, film and fame has been a little place in Provence. And his latest book is a love letter to it.

And Rob Brydon is in a happy place having found hope, peace and contentment in his work, not least in writing about his cat.

Also, we have a listener on the Isle of Wight offers thanks to the young man who pulled him out of trouble when a swim went very wrong one day last month.

Plus, we have the Inheritance Tracks of the Professor of Physics and broadcaster Jim Al-Khalili.

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

Adrian Chiles presents Radio 4's Saturday morning programme full of remarkable people with extraordinary stories.

Academically we’re in very good shape today.

Dr Kevin Fong has degrees in medicine, astrophysics, aerospace engineering and he’s a fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists. Kevin has spent his working life in high-risk, high-performance teams and he's written a new book called Minute Six which charts his experiences.

Professor Alice Roberts warmed up for her degree in medicine with a BSc in Anatomy and went on to get a PhD in palaeopathology.

And while Alexis Sayle might not be quite so well endowed in the degree department he is considered the godfather of alternative comedy, which is something of which we’re all very much in awe.

Plus we have Inheritance Tracks from the actress Sian Brooke.

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies