Saturday Live

Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Discussion & Talk

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: Families & Relationships

Radio 4's Saturday morning show brings you extraordinary stories and remarkable people.

BBC Radio 4 FM

Saturday Live: Bob Harris

Bob Harris Country

Bob Harris

BBC Radio 4 - Saturday Live, Bob Harris

Marathon swimmer Alice Dearing and the Inheritance Tracks of Fay Ripley.

Bob Harris celebrates 50 years broadcasting, Marathon swimmer Alice Dearing on lockdown, Mark Lane's extraordinary journey into garden design and Fay Ripley's Inheritance Tracks.

Richard Coles and Michelle Ackerley are joined by Bob Harris.  He has been whispering on our airwaves for 50 years: starting at Radio 1 and going to TV’s Whistle Test, Radio Luxembourg, Radio 2, BBC 6 Music, numerous local radio stations, back to Radios 1, 2 and 6 Music…  all the time touring with musicians, interviewing them and listening to them – his passion for introducing music to the masses earning him numerous awards, and an OBE.  

We'll also speak to Alice Dearing.  She is one of the most successful young British swimmers in Britain, usually found competing in open water marathon events around Europe, but for much of lockdown she has not been able to swim. This meant she had time to focus on her activism, promoting access to swimming for black people and busting myths about swimming.

When she was a child, SL listener Janet Haite’s grandmother would unroll her stockings to show off her tattoos which covered most of her body. Janet’s grandparents were pioneers in the tattooing world and her grandfather, George Burchett, not only inked soldiers going off to fight in the First and Second World Wars but also European royalty.  She'll share her memories.

And we'll have Mark Lane in the studio.  Mark had a serious car accident which left him in considerable pain and unable to continue in his PR career.  Getting out into the garden led him to pursue horticulture qualifications and to a successful and rewarding second career as a garden designer and the first presenter on Gardener’s World in a wheelchair.

Fay Ripley chooses her Inheritance Tracks:  Streisand/ Garland, Happy days are here again/ Get Happy and Nicky Mulvey, Fever to the Form.
And we have your thank you.

Producer: Corinna Jones
Editor: Eleanor Garland

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Saturday Live

Bob Harris

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4