Wolverhampton will be in the spotlight this weekend when Radio 4's popular Saturday Live show broadcasts live from a listener's house in the city.

Type=image;ImageID=8505;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Reverend Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir;TitleClass=strong;

Type=image;ImageID=8506;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Philip Farmer has invited Saturday Live to broadcast this weekend;TitleClass=strong;

It's Listener Week on Saturday Live, and producers accepted an invitation from Philip Farmer to come to the city. Presenters the Reverend Richard Coles and Aasmah Mir will be broadcasting live from his front room and hearing why he wanted them to come to Wolverhampton.

Also on the programme, BBC Formula 1 presenter Suzi Perry, recently nominated as one of the city's Famous Daughters, will be talking about growing up in Wolverhampton and working behind the scenes at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, while reporter Gemma Cairney will be talking to local people including sculptor and medallist Ron Dutton, the man behind a 1999 £2 coin design whose portrait is about to be unveiled at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

Magnum photographer Martin Parr talks about his 4 year project documenting life in the Black Country while Gwen Sanchirico, founder of the Sacre Brew brewery, discusses her journey from New York to Wolverhampton and Sham Sharma explains how locals helped him rebuild his business after the 2011 riots and why he's now running a fusion café.

Philip said: "I'm really excited that Saturday Live are coming along this weekend. We will make them welcome and show them some good Wolverhampton hospitality.

"On their programme they said they were having a Listeners Week in December and were looking for people to tell them about their towns or cities.

"After all the bad press about Wolverhampton being a miserable place to live, I sent off an email highlighting all the good things going on in the city and it has taken off from there."

Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: "I am delighted that Philip invited Radio 4 and Saturday Live to come to our great city for Saturday's programme. It's a chance for us to show off what's wonderful about Wolverhampton - and what talented people we have here."

Saturday Live is on Radio 4 from 9am to 10.30am on Saturday (5 December, 2015). Radio 4 is available on 92-95FM, 198LW and on digital radio and digital television.

Listeners are encouraged to Tweet the show using the hashtag #bbcsaturdaylive, and they will be able to listen again via the Saturday Live website after this weekend's broadcast at Type=links;Linkid=6721;Title=BBC Radio 4 Saturday Live;Target=_blank;.

  • released: Thursday 3 December, 2015