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
Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell
Researcher: Jesse Edwards
Editor: Glyn Tansley

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
Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan
Researcher: Jesse Edwards
Editor: Glyn Tansley

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.

Plus we’ll hear the Inheritance Tracks of the musician Sheryl Crow.
Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies
Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan
Researcher: Jesse Edwards
Editor: Andrea Kennedy

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
Studio Producer: Catherine Powell
Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan
Researcher: Jesse Edwards
Editor: Andrea Kennedy

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
Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan and Catherine Powell
Researcher: Jesse Edwards
Editor: Andrea Kennedy