Inheritance Tracks

The comedian and writer chooses the music track that she has inherited from her mother and the track she would like to pass on to her children. Inherited: These Foolish Things by Nat King Cole Pass On: Everything Is Everything by Lauryn Hill This episode of Inheritance Tracks featured on Radio 4's Saturday Live on 26 September 2026. Lucy's new book, 'Middle Aged Women' is out now. Picture credit:...

The Professor of Physics and broadcaster Jim Al-Khalili chooses two tracks that have inspired him. A familiar voice on BBC Radio 4, with programmes such as The Life Scientific, Jim's musical choices begin with a track that takes him back to his teeange years in Iraq. Inherited track: Father and Son by Cat Stevens Pass on: Lovin’ You by Minnie Riperton Jim's book, On Time: The Physics That Makes th...

This edition of Inheritance Tracks are the choices of the actress Sian Brooke. Sian features as one of the police officers in the Belfast based and BAFTA winning television drama, Blue Lights on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Inherited track: Dance Little Sister by Sananda Maitreya Pass on: Zorbing by Stornoway Producer: Lowri Morgan (picture credit:David Reiss)

Carlos was Karen Carney’s professional dancing partner on Strictly Come Dancing in 2025 and together they lifted the glitterball trophy. On the eve of the new series he shares the music tracks that have inspired his dancing and moments in his life. Inherited track: Barbra Streisand - The Way We Were Pass on: Judy Garland - Over The Rainbow Producer: Jesse Edwards

The actor Adrian Lester has had hearts a flutter from Stratford-upon-Avon to London in his latest role as Cyrano De Bergerac. The Birmingham born Hustle star's first experience of performing was in the choir at St Chad's Cathedral, before going onto win the Laurence-Olivier-Award for 'Best Actor in a Musical', for his performance in Stephen Sondheim's musical 'Company'. So with singing in his bloo...

TV personality, chef and restaurateur behind Mowgli Street Food restaurants on the tracks that have shaped her. Inherited: ABBA - The Day Before You Came Pass on: Leonard Cohen - Dance With Me to the End of Love Producer: Lowri Morgan Researcher: Jesse Edwards

The Singer-Songwriter on the tracks that have inspired her work and life. Inherited: Tracks of My Tears by Smokey Robinson Pass on: Sara by Fleetwood Mac Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

The best selling crime author on the tracks that have inspired him. Inherited: Have Mercy on the Criminal by Elton John Pass on: He Stopped Loving Her Today by George Jones

The Inheritance Tracks are the choice of the much-loved broadcaster Lorraine Kelly as featured in BBC Radio 4's Saturday Live on 20 June 2026. Inherited: Jupiter from The Planet Suite by Holst Pass on: Starman by David Bowie Producer: Anna Bailey (Picture credit: Nicky Johnston)

Nat Sciver-Brunt is the captain of England's Women Cricket Team and one of the world’s leading all-round cricketers In June 2026, Nat is presently engaged in trying to lead the side to triumph in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026. With proven leadership at the highest level, she’s found the time to share with us her Inheritance Tracks. Inherited: Robbie Williams - Angels Pass On: Extreme - More T...

The screenwriter and television producer Russell T Davies. From being best known to being the show-runner for the reboot of Dr Who, he’s looked at life in London during the 1980s with the series It’s A Sin and his latest TV drama is set in contemporary Manchester. His Inheritance Tracks are inspired by his family and a lost loved one. Inherited: Oh What A Beautiful Morning by Howard Keel Pass On:...

The journalist and broadcaster Katie Razzall is the BBC’s culture and media editor - and co-host of The Media Show. She was formerly Newsnight’s UK editor and correspondent for Channel 4 News - but has long harboured a dream of being a WWII French resistance member. Her Inheritance Tracks are incredibly moving… Inherited: Petite Fleur by Sidney Bechet Passing on: Long Time Coming by Delays Produce...

Dame Prue Leith has written more than a dozen cookery books, seven novels, and her new memoir - "Being Old...and learning to love it!" - she explores the trials and taboos of growing older. She's no stranger to a kitchen disco with her roles on the Great British Menu and Bake Off - but has always been too afraid to sing. That is until an appearance on ITV's hit show, The Masked Singer. Let's see i...

This week’s Inheritance Tracks come from stage and screen actor, Jason Watkins. Jason has been in brilliant in TV productions as various as the Crown, W1A and the The Lost Honour of Christopher Jeffries for which he won a BAFTA. Inherited: Al Bowlly - Love is the Sweetest Thing Pass on: Human League – Together in Electric Dreams Producer: Ribika Moktan

This week’s Inheritance Tracks come from Presenter and Journalist, Nick Robinson. Nick is the BBC’s and ITV former political editor and he started as a presenter on Today (Radio 4) in November 2015. Here are the two tracks most dear to him: Inherited: The Carpet Crawlers by Genesis taken from the album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Pass On: Beethoven's Fidelio quartet - Mir ist so wunderbar Prod...

The Inheritance Tracks featured on this week's Saturday Live with Adrian Chiles, come from the skincare entrepreneur Liz Earle whose eponymous beauty brand has been going strong for more than thirty years. Liz has no fewer than 35 books to her name and her latest, How to Age, is out now. Inherited: These Boots Are Made for Walking by Nancy Sinatra Passing on: One Love by David Guetta featuring Est...

Our Inheritance Tracks this week come from the singer-songwriter Laura Mvula. From hits such as Green Garden, to Sing To The Moon, and to live stage performances at the BBC Promos, Laura’s music is a mix of jazz, classical and Rhythm and Blues. Growing up in Birmingham, Laura went on to study composition at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, before releasing her Mercury Prize-nominated debut albu...

From Shameless to X-Men, Atonement and His Dark Materials…James McAvoy seems to have mastered his craft in-front of the camera - so has decided to try his hand at calling the shots. His directorial debut, California Schemin', sees two chaps from Dundee in Scotland pretend to be American rappers to land a record deal. A story that sounds stranger than fiction - but is true. So now seemed like the p...

Our Inheritance Tracks this week come from the actor Noah Wyle. From ER to The Pitt, Noah’s career on screen echoes that of his mother who worked as a nurse. But music was always a familial pastime. Inherited: We Belong Together by Rickie Lee Jones Passing on: Peter and the Wolf composed by Sergei Prokofiev and performed by the New York Philharmonic Producers: Anna Bailey and Ben Mitchell

This edition of Inheritance Tracks come from an actress with a strong claim for national treasure status – Lesley Joseph. With a career spanning over sixty years, she has entertained us as on the small screen in the likes of Birds of a Feather and on stage as Mother Superior in the Sister Act musical. Inherited: Marche Militaire composed by Franz Schubert and performed by the Philharmonic Wind Orc...

Our inheritance tracks this week come from Lisa Kudrow, no less. The Emmy Award-winning star from Friends returns to our screens in the latest series of The Comeback. As Phoebe Buffay her attempts at music-making were famously harrowing – but her Inheritance Tracks, predictably enough, are a real joy. Inherited: Downtown by Petula Clark Passing on: Wonderful Baby by Don McLean Producers: Ben Mitch...

Dr Sian Williams is a chartered counselling psychologist working in the NHS. Sian presented BBC Breakfast for over a decade, as well as Saturday Live between 2012 and 2014. Radio 4 listeners will know her from her series Life Changing which returns in April. Her book on living well with anxiety called ‘The Power of Anxiety: How to Ride the Worry Wave’ is out now. Inherited: Calon Lan by Cerys Matt...

Adam Fleming is a familiar voice and face to many across the BBC. He is now the presenter on the daily news podcast, Newscast and also hosts AntiSocial on BBC Radio 4. Adam spends much of his time explaining the twists and turns of politics to the public. But, away from the world of breaking news, music has played its own part in his life. Inherited: Jump by Girls Aloud Passed on: Vivaldi, The Fou...

Mike Wozniak is a comedian and writer who is perhaps best known for Man Down and as co-host of Junior Taskmaster. Along with his trusted trademark moustache he is returning to the comedy circuit with his new tour The Bench. But it was a childhood of bad violin and faking it with a guitar that sparked his love of music. Inherited: Minor Swing by Django Reinhardt and Quintette du Hot Club de France...

When the cricket loving comedian Andy Zaltzman is not dotting balls and crossing fours off the Test Match Special stats sheet he can be found hosting The News Quiz on Radio 4 and on stage with his new stand-up tour Zaltgeist. But it was his father's love of blues that sparked his love of music...and bad trumpet playing. Inherited: Got My Mojo Working by Muddy Waters Passing on: My Very Best by The...