If you haven’t ever listened to the ‘Saturday Live’ broadcast on BBC Radio 4, then you really do need to improve your radio-input outputs.
‘Saturday Live’ is presented by one of the UK’s most famous and big-hearted vicars Reverend Richard Coles. It has an audience of 2.5 million and it broadcasts a refreshing mix of both serious and light-hearted discussion, with interesting guest interviews.
Recently, the show decided to feature an interview with me, in relation to my research and books about Robert Reschid Stanley, the ‘Hidden Victorian Muslim’ and my great x3 grandfather.
Now, I like to think of myself as a your not easily-intimidated, friendly sort of lass. So, just before we were on air, I ignored my perilous, subconscious mutterings of ‘Holy Crap – 2.5 million people. Don’t bloody go and swear. Or mortally offend anyone with your political, religious or social views.’
Thankfully though, even though the other guests included the very famous Ben Fogle, Ade Adepityan and Liz Knight, we were all teamed up on Zoom before and during the broadcast. This helped with the chill-out atmosphere as the other guests were all doing very casual Saturday morning stuff (Ade was eating cereal at his desk, Ben was gadding about in his garden.)
Since the programme was aired, my family have been inundated with wonderful, encouraging feedback from listeners, most of whom had never heard of Robert Reschid. Of those who were already familiar with this story, many said that they were impressed with Richard’s line of questioning and expressed the hope that a more in-depth interview might occur in the future on Radio 4. One of the most original comments that I received was “Can’t we have the imaginary Robert Reschid as a guest on Desert Island Discs. Like – ‘Dead People Do Desert Island Discs’ or something?”
Thankfully, I might be a serious researcher when it comes to Robert Reschid’s life, but I’m not too up-myself not to think that this could indeed, be a very amusing, spin-off series.
If you would like to hear the interview – https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09dz8sk: