Woman's Hour

Ten Men, A Year of Casual Sex is a new book from the author Kitty Ruskin. It follows a year of her life when she attempts to embody Samantha from Sex and the City and enjoy all the advantages of being young, free and single. As she details 10 men in 10 chapters, the stories range from sexy and funny to at times deeply confronting and violent, including rape. Kitty joins Krupa Padhy to discuss.Today, the government has accepted an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill they say could be a big step forward for rape victims. The amendment will help ensure extra protection for victims’ counselling notes, by raising the threshold that needs to be met for the police to ask for them. It’s something that charities like Rape Crisis and the End Violence Against Women Coalition have been campaigning for. Joining Krupa is Baroness Gabby Bertin, the Conservative peer who tabled the amendment.According to new research, people who are 65 think that old age begins just before you turn 75. However, 74-year-olds think old age starts at 77. Women think old age starts later than men do. So when are you 'old' and what does 'old' mean? Krupa speaks to Steph Daniels who re-joined her local hockey team at 75, after a 40-year gap, and has just started managing a band again.ARFID stands for Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. Commonly underdiagnosed as picky eating, we’ll hear how the eating disorder manifests in children and what it’s like for parents. Krupa speaks to a mother, Lisa Hale, whose son has the condition and Professor Sandeep Ranote, Clinical Spokesperson for the eating disorders charity BEAT.An adaption of Muriel Spark’s novel The Girls of Slender Means is currently on at The Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh. Set in the summer of 1945, it follows the adventures of a group of young women who are caught between hope and unhappiness. As each girl grapples with what happened in the war, they begin to imagine what lies ahead of them in peacetime. Actress and writer Gabriel Quigley tells Krupa how she felt adapting the words of one of the greatest British novelists.

The Kenyan distance runner Peres Jepchirchir won yesterday’s elite women's London Marathon, breaking the women’s only record with her time of 2:16:16. She beat the previous record set in 2017 of 2:17:01. This was the fastest time in a race without male pace makers. More than 50,000 people ran and some gave themselves an even bigger challenge than just running the course. Laura Bird from St Ives in Cambridgeshire ran with a fridge strapped to her back - aiming to earn a place in the Guinness Book of Records. Peres and Laura both join Krupa Padhy.Rhianon Bragg spoke to Woman’s Hour back in February about her concerns for her safety regarding the imminent release of her ex-boyfriend from prison, despite the fact that a Parole Board ruled a few months earlier that such a move would not be safe. In February 2020, Gareth Wynn Jones was given an extended determinate sentence of 4.5 years in prison, with an extended licence period of five years for the crimes of stalking, false imprisonment, making threats to kill and possession of a firearm. Now two months since his release and coinciding with National Stalking Awareness Week, we hear from Rhianon and also Emily Lingley Clark of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, has just been released. We thought it was a great excuse to look at the female poets, past and present, who could be considered ‘tortured’… Or is it more of a male trope? Classicist and author of Devine Might, Natalie Haynes, and Irish Indian poet Nikita Gill discuss.A BBC investigation has traced how a deadly form of synthetic drugs have been getting into the UK from China - and exposed the role of major social media platforms. Nitazenes, which are illegal in the UK, have been linked to more than 100 deaths in England and Wales since June 2023. We hear from Claire Rocha, whose son died after taking drugs unknowingly laced with Nitazene, and Caroline Copeland, a senior lecturer in toxicology and pharmacology at King’s College London.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Kirsty Starkey Studio Manager: Emma Harth

Over the past few weeks, Woman’s Hour has been telling the stories of young people, staff and parents involved in SHiFT in Greater Manchester. SHiFT is a new approach to helping young people at risk of getting into serious trouble and it is all about relationships. Skilled professionals called ‘guides’ work with teenagers for an 18-month period and they just keep showing up. Our reporter Jo Morris went out and about with the team and spoke to teenagers and a mum about the impact of this new approach.In this special podcast episode, our presenter Nuala McGovern guides you through the stories you might have missed.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Reporter: Jo Morris Producer: Erin Riley

This week, Ruth Wilson explains why she’s running this year’s London Marathon for an Alzheimer’s research, following in the footsteps of her father who ran the first London Marathon in 1981.Tuesday was the deadline to register to vote in the local elections on May 2nd. The most recent data suggest that 4.3 million young people in England aren’t currently registered. We hear from Sharon Gaffka, who’s supporting the Give an X campaign, that's calling on young people to get involved. A survey by the youth led charity My Life My Say also says that fewer than 1 in 6 of young women trust politicians and more than four in 10 believe their vote won’t make a difference in an election. We also hear from Rosie Campbell, Professor of Politics and Director of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London, to explain the trends behind the latest data.Social media platform Meta disabled Soul Sisters Pakistan for 43 hours earlier this month due to an intellectual property violation. Soul Sisters Pakistan was set up 11 years ago by the entrepreneur and activist Kanwal Ahmed as a support system for women to discuss topics considered taboo in Pakistani society, such as sex and divorce. In the past, the group has been accused by some of promoting divorce and 'wild' behaviour. With over 300,000 members, who dub themselves soulies, In 1927 journalist Sophie Treadwell attended the sensational trial of Ruth Snyder, a New York woman accused murdering her husband. Ruth was found guilty, along with her accomplice lover Henry Judd Gray, and both were executed by electric chair in January 1928. Those events inspired Sophie Treadwell to write the play Machinal, which premiered on Broadway later that year. A recent production has just transferred from the Theatre Royal Bath to the Old Vic in London and its star, Rosie Sheehy, along with US academic Dr Jessie Ramey join Jessica to discuss the case of Ruth Snyder and why Machinal still resonates with audiences today.Professor Netta Weinstein of the University of Reading, is the co-author of a new book, Solitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone and joins us to discuss the benefits of solitude.Jing Lusi stars as DC Hana Li in ITV’s new thriller Red Eye, set on a plane flying between London and Beijing. She joins Jessica Creighton to talk about what it’s like to play a lead role for the first time, and how important it is to see British East Asian women as the main progatonistPresenter Anita Rani Producer Annette Wells

Nearly a quarter of five-to-seven-year-olds now have their own smartphone according to OFCOM. Social media use also rose in the same age group over the last year with nearly two in five using the messaging service WhatsApp, despite its minimum age of 13. The communications regulator in its annual study of children's relationship with technology warned parental enforcement of rules 'appeared to be diminishing'. It also said the figures should be a 'wake up call' for the industry to do more to protect children. Anita Rani is joined by Daisy Greenwell, co-founder of a campaigning organisation Smartphone Free Childhood.Earlier this week Reverend Grace Thomas posted a photo on social media of a male passenger having chosen to sit next to her on a practically empty bus. The attached message read, 'Please don't do this… it immediately puts me on edge. I can't be alone in this, surely.' It turns out she wasn’t; her post has attracted more than 10 million views, 150,000 likes and hundreds of comments that include women with similar experiences. Reverend Grace joins Anita along with Michael Conroy, founder of Men At Work, who trains professionals that work with boys and young men.On average, we spend one-third of our waking life alone. Anita talks to psychologist Netta Weinstein, Professor of Psychology at the University of Reading, who has co-written a new book called Solitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone. Whether you love it or try to avoid it, she explains the benefits of being alone and gives us some tips on how to be better at it. The final episode of the 18th series of The Apprentice aired last night. After a battle that saw boutique gyms go head-to-head with a pie delivery service, Lord Alan Sugar decided to invest two hundred and fifty thousand pounds into a luxury gym business run by Rachel Woolford. Anita speaks to the entrepreneur about her victory.This weekend it’s the 100 year anniversary of the death of Marie Corelli, the promoter of Shakespeare’s house and a bestselling novelist in her own right; she outsold HG Wells and Arthur Conan Doyle, publishing 25 books which were devoured in their millions by English readers, Americans and those in the colonies. Anoushka Lester, an academic at the University of Roehampton talks to Anita about Marie Corelli.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Donald MacDonald

Ruth Wilson explains why she’s running this year’s London marathon for an Alzheimer’s charity, following in the footsteps of her Father who ran the first London marathon in 1981. During the Women's Rugby Six Nations, the Welsh Rugby Union is using a new technique to assess the impact a player's periods can have when they suffer a concussion. It's the first time data on concussion and periods has been gathered collectively and the hope is it'll help players adapt their training if necessary. Jo Perkins, Head Physio of the Welsh women's squad explains the research. ITV's Kate Garraway has taken to social media to express her frustration at her local council still sending post to her late husband, Derek. What can you do to make post-death administration simpler and less distressing? Jessica is joined by founder and CEO of the Good Grief Trust, Linda Magistris, to give advice. Ashley Storrie is the star and co-creator of a brand new BBC comedy series called Dinosaur. It centres around Nina, whose sister has just announced she’s getting married to someone she’s known for six weeks. Ashley joins Jessica to talk about why it was important to her to play an autistic woman, as she is autistic herself, and how writing the series is her dream job.And can sewing improve your mental health? Following Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s interview on Woman’s Hour about how sewing helped her while she was imprisoned, Jessica Crighton hears from other keen sewers about the impact it’s had on their lives.Presenter: Jessica Creighton Producer: Olivia Skinner

Nat Sciver-Brunt is the first English woman to be honored as Wisden's leading cricketer in the world. She joins Jesscia Creighton to discuss the accolade and her career in the sport. Smacking children should be made illegal in England and Northern Ireland, say the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Striking a child is already illegal in Scotland and Wales, and in many other countries around the world. Dr Rowena Christmas, Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, talks about the ban in Wales, which she was instrumental in bringing in, and which has been in place for the last two years.A self-described hypochrondriac, the author Caroline Crampton's new book A Body of Glass is a personal memoir and history of this elusive conditon. Beginning in the age of Hippocrates she joins Jessica to discuss the gendered history of this outdated term and her realtionship with it. The actor Sian Brooke returns as Grace Ellis for the second series of Blue Lights on BBC One. She joins Jessica to talk about the role, and what she's learnt from diving into the world of policing in Belfast. Social media platform Meta disabled Soul Sisters Pakistan for 43 hours earlier this month due to an intellectual property violation. Soul Sisters Pakistan was set up 11 years ago by the entrepreneur and activist Kanwal Ahmed as a support system for women to discuss topics considered taboo in Pakistani society, such as sex and divorce. In the past, the group has been accused by some of promoting divorce and 'wild' behavior. With over 300,000 members, who dub themselves soulies, she joins Jessica to discuss.Presenter: Jessica Creighton Producer: Dianne McGregor

Deborah Snyder has produced some of the biggest blockbusters and action franchises in the last decade including Wonder Woman, 300 and Watchmen. Her newest work, Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver arrives on Netflix this week. It's the second instalment of the Rebel Moon series, a space opera set in a fictional galaxy with a female protagonist. Deborah produced it alongside her husband and long-term creative collaborator, director Zack Snyder. She joins Jessica Creighton live in the studio.A proposed new UK tournament for women's tennis at The Queen's Club in London is facing a set-back. They need to convince the men's professional tennis circuit that they won't damage the grass for the men's tournament at the same club the following week. The week-long women's event would be staged for the first time in 2025, and would replace Eastbourne as the only Women's Tennis Association 500 event, taking place in the UK in the run-up to Wimbledon. Jess speaks to tennis broadcaster Catherine Whitaker to discuss.Today is the deadline to register to vote in the local elections on May 2nd. The most recent data suggest that 4.3 million young people in England aren’t currently registered. Jessica speaks to Sharon Gaffka, who’s supporting the Give an X campaign, calling on young people to get involved. A survey by the youth led charity My Life My Say also says that fewer than 1 in 6 of young women trust politicians and more than four in 10 believe their vote won’t make a difference in an election. Also joining Jessica is Rosie Campbell, Professor of Politics and Director of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London, to explain the trends behind the latest data.In 1927 journalist Sophie Treadwell attended the sensational trial of Ruth Snyder, a New York woman accused murdering her husband. Ruth was found guilty, along with her accomplice lover Henry Judd Gray, and both were executed by electric chair in January 1928. Those events inspired Sophie Treadwell to write the play Machinal, which premiered on Broadway later that year. A recent production has just transferred from the Theatre Royal Bath to the Old Vic in London and its star, Rosie Sheehy, along with US academic Dr Jessie Ramey join Jessica to discuss the case of Ruth Snyder and why Machinal still resonates with audiences today.

Australian police investigating the fatal stabbing of six people at the crowded shopping centre in Bondi Junction, Sydney say they're looking into whether the attacker deliberately targeted women. Joel Cauchi killed five women - and a male security guard who tried to intervene - before he was shot dead by police. Eight of the twelve injured who went to hospital, including a baby, are also female. To find out more Jessica Creighton is joined by BBC Australia correspondent Katy Watson based in Sydney.Jing Lusi stars as DC Hana Li in ITV’s new thriller Red Eye, set on a plane flying between London and Beijing. She joins Jessica Creighton to talk about what it’s like to play a lead role for the first time, and how important it is to see British East Asian women as the main progatonist.Ten years ago 276 Nigerian school girls were abducted by the Islamist group Boko Haram from their school in Chibok, a town in the north-east of Nigeria. A decade later, dozens of the girls are still missing and kidnappings are once again on the rise in Nigeria. Jessica is joined from Lagos by BBC Africa Senior reporter Yemisi Adegoke.2024 marks the centenary of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. First written by British feminists, it was adopted by the League of Nations in 1924. Today we know it as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Dr Emily Baughan, Senior Lecturer in Modern History at the University of Sheffield explains the role women played in its creation. Plus, Danielle Scott, Assistant Vice Principal at Green Gates Academy, explains how the rights are still being used in schools today.A real life experience of a mugging in New York inspired Imogen Wade to write a poem which has just won the National Poetry Competition, coming first out of 19000 entries. She joins Jessica to share her poem and, as a counsellor, to explain how the act of writing helped her to process the experience.Presenter: Jessica Creighton Producer: Louise Corley Studio Engineer: Donald MacDonald

This week, it was announced that 883 actors, writers, comedians and creatives had signed an open letter in support of Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, the star in a new production of Romeo & Juliet, due to run in London's West End next month. The open letter came after a statement was published by the Jamie Lloyd Company, "Following the announcement of our Romeo & Juliet cast, there has been a barrage of deplorable racial abuse online directed towards a member of our company..." It was co-authored by actor Susan Wokoma who told us about the open letter.We hear from the new head of British Vogue Chioma Nnadi, a London born, fashion journalist, podcaster and the first black woman to lead the title.We hear the stories of women living in a women’s refuge in London.Do you remember our segment on female psychopaths? We hear from one woman who has been officially diagnosed with the condition, M.E Thomas.The pioneering feminist, journalist and activist Gloria Steinem made a name for herself in the 1960s and 70s through her journalism, which included going undercover at the New York Playboy Club to expose exploitative working conditions. She co-founded the Women's Action Alliance and in 1972 she co-founded Ms Magazine, putting conversations about gender equality, reproductive rights and social justice in the spotlight, and bringing the issues of the women's rights movement into the mainstream. Gloria has just celebrated her 90th birthday and tells us about the current state of reproductive rights in the US, the importance of community and hosting her own women's talking circle.Could we be happier and more successful if we acted like toddlers? Dr Hasan Merali, Paediatric emergency medicine physician, Associate Professor at McMaster University and author of Sleep Well, Take Risks, Squish the Peas, tells us what we can learn about self-improvement from toddlers.And we have music from the singer songwriter Rebecca Ferguson.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed

Irish author Marian Keyes writes funny, clever novels about life including: Rachel’s Holiday, Anybody out There, Grown Ups, Angels. She covers issues such as addiction, break-ups, baby loss, anxiety, depression and love, with women at the heart. We all make mistakes, but when do we stop making the same one over and over again? This is the question at the heart of Marian’s latest novel: My Favourite Mistake. She joins Anita Rani to discuss that, mistakes, perimenopause and ‘feathery strokers’.In a landmark case, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Switzerland was violating the human rights of its citizens by inadequate action on climate change. A group of more than 2,000 older Swiss women launched the case nine years ago, calling for better protection of women's health from the effects of climate change. The Court's ruling is binding and can trickle down to influence the law in 46 countries in Europe. Anita talks to one of the senior women who brought the case, Elisabeth Stern, and the group's lawyer, Jessica Simor. Almost 30 years ago, Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman were stabbed to death in Los Angeles. The prime suspect was OJ Simpson, Nicole’s ex-husband and a well-known NFL player turned actor. What followed remains one of the most famous murder trials in history, televised and watched by millions. He was acquitted of the murders of Nicole and Ron. He did plead no contest to charges of ‘spousal battery’ – what we now call domestic violence. And he was later found liable for the deaths in a separate civil case. OJ Simpson died on Wednesday at the age of 76. To talk about the impact his trial had on the perception of violence against women in the US is Sarah Baxter, Director of the Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting and former Deputy Editor of The Sunday Times. This week, it was announced that 883 actors, writers, comedians and creatives had signed an open letter in support of Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, the star in a new production of Romeo & Juliet, due to run in London's West End next month. The open letter came after a statement was published by the Jamie Lloyd Company, "Following the announcement of our Romeo & Juliet cast, there has been a barrage of deplorable racial abuse online directed towards a member of our company..." It was co-authored by actors Susan Wokoma and writer Somalia Nonyé Seaton and Susan joins Anita to talk about the issues.On 6 April 1999, Mamma Mia! opened in the West End. As the show celebrates its 25th anniversary, Woman's Hour celebrates the music of one of the most popular and successful musicals of all time. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Duncan Hannant

The pioneering feminist, journalist and activist Gloria Steinem made a name for herself in the 1960s and 70s through her journalism, which included going undercover at the New York Playboy Club to expose exploitative working conditions. She co-founded the Women's Action Alliance and in 1972 she co-founded Ms Magazine, putting conversations about gender equality, reproductive rights and social justice in the spotlight, and bringing the issues of the women's rights movement into the mainstream. Gloria has just celebrated her 90th birthday and joins Emma Barnett to talk about the current state of reproductive rights in the US, the importance of community and hosting her own women's talking circle.Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe spent six years being held by the Iranian regime after visiting her family there in 2016. When she was finally released, she chose to speak first to Woman's Hour, in May 2022. Nazanin shared then what life was like in Iran's most notorious prison, how she survived being away from her daughter and her view on - as she put it - being used a political pawn between Iran and Britain. She returns to Woman's Hour for Emma's last programme, to talk about what she's been doing since she came home.From the X Factor to Lady Sings the Blues, Rebecca Ferguson has become one of the UK’s most successful soul vocalists, renowned for her unique, crisp, husky vocals. Her hit albums include Heaven, Freedom and Superwoman. She has duetted with Lionel Ritchie, Andrea Bocelli and Christina Aguilera, and collaborated with John Legend and Nile Rodgers. Rebecca has also become a notable campaigner for change. Last year she was one of the main contributors to the government's Misogyny in Music report and played an integral part in the introduction of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority to protect women. She performs live in the studio, and talks to Emma about her work.

The long awaited Cass Review, published on Wednesday by paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass, calls for gender services for young people to match the standards of other NHS care. Emma Barnett is joined by the former BBC journalist Hannah Barnes, now Associate Editor at The New Statesman and author of Time To Think - the inside story of the collapse of the Tavistock's gender service in children. Alison Owen is the powerhouse British film producer behind the new biopic of Amy Winehouse, Back to Black, released this Friday. In it, the actor Marisa Abela recreates many of Amy’s iconic performances, recordings and her most famous paparazzi moments. Alison joins Emma to discuss why she wanted to make the film, which comes out almost 13 years after Amy’s death.Childlessness not out of choice is a difficult subject to discuss. Those who have experienced it are usually left to grieve and heal alone. Those who have friends and family members wrestling with infertility don’t even know how to talk about it. A new book with 22 personal stories about involuntary childlessness hopes to offer a support group for almost-parents. Emma Barnett talks to the author of ‘No One Talks About This Stuff’ Kat Brown and one of the contributors Rageshri Dhairyawan about their experiences.Do you remember our segment on female psychopaths? We’ll hear from one woman who has been officially diagnosed with the condition. M.E Thomas speaks to Emma about living with psychopathy. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Emma Pearce

Emma Barnett talks to the new head of British Vogue Chioma Nnadi, a London born, fashion journalist, podcaster and the first black woman to lead the title. Forensic psychologist Jillian Peterson and legal expert Tim Carey on the sentencing of Jennifer and James Crumbley, the parents convicted of manslaughter after their 15-year-old son brought a gun to school in Michigan and killed four of his classmates. We hear the stories of women living in a women’s refuge in London. And the latest on the stabbing of a Bradford mum at the weekend.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Phil Lander

Dame Andrea Jenkyns MP has become the first woman to publicly speak about being a victim to the suspected Westminster honeytrap scam. What does the scam mean for politics? And what do we mean by honeytrap? Former deputy chief whip Anne Milton joins Emma Barnett to discuss, along with political correspondent at The Sun, Noa Hoffman.During the late 90s and the early 2000s, belly button piercings were everywhere. They were made popular by celebrities like Naomi Campbell, Britney Spears and Beyoncé. The trend slowly faded away in the 2010s, but with 90s and Y2K fashion back in style - so is the belly button piercing. Fashion Director at The Sunday Times, Karen Dacre, got one the first time around, and Dr Helge Gillmeister, Reader of Psychology at the University of Essex, has studied the appeal of the belly button piercing. They join Emma to discuss naval piercings. Could we be happier and more successful if we acted like toddlers? Dr Hasan Merali, Paediatric emergency medicine physician, Associate Professor at McMaster University and author of Sleep Well, Take Risks, Squish the Peas, tells Emma what we can learn about self-improvement from toddlers.The WTA Finals this year will be held in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia. The decision has drawn criticism from female tennis legends such as Martina Navratilova, because of the state of women’s rights in the country, but others including Billie Jean King support the move. What is life like for women in Saudia Arabia today? And why has the WTA chosen them to host the finals? Emma speaks to sports journalist Molly McElwee and Professor at the LSE Middle East Centre, Madawi Al-Rasheed. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lottie Garton

An employment tribunal has ruled that describing an expectant mother as 'emotional' at work was discrimination. Described as a David and Goliath case, Nicola Hinds, who had been an account manager at Mitie, a FTSE 250 company, represented herself. The judge upheld her claims of pregnancy discrimination and constructive dismissal saying she was 'inexcusably' ignored by her boss and portrayed as 'hormonal'. She is now in line to receive compensation.A new documentary film, Girls State, spotlights the girls hoping they will become the first female President of the United States. It follows a real-life mock government programme attended by teenage girls in Missouri. The American Legion, who run the programmes, hold separate programmes for boys and girls in all fifty states in the US. Emma is joined by the film-maker Amanda McBain and Emily Worthmore, one of the girls who stands for Governor, the highest position in the mock government.It’s almost the end of Ramadan 2024 – the month of fasting observed by Muslims all over the world. But what’s it like to be a modern woman, potentially on your period, and still going through Ramadan? We hear from Mehreen Baig from the podcast Not Even Water and Hodo Ibrahim, co-host of The Oversharers podcast, on the challenges and advantages of being a Muslim woman in Ramadan.A new play at the Hampstead Theatre – The Divine Mrs S - explores the life of Sarah Siddons, who was the first truly respected female actor in theatre, achieving a huge level of celebrity at the end of the 18th century. April De Angelis’ backstage comedy explores the origins of celebrity culture and portrays Siddons, played by Rachael Stirling, as a pioneer in command of her own image and craft. We hear from April and Rachael about what inspired them to bring Siddons back to life.And we have music and chat with one of Country Music’s biggest female stars, Carly Pearce, who went from working at Dollywood aged 16 to becoming a Grammy and three-time Country Music Association winner.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed

Ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Rwanda genocide on Sunday, April 7th, BBC journalist Victoria Uwonkunda returns to the counry for the first time after fleeing the genocide as a child in 1994, to find out how the country, and its people, are healing.Lots of our favourite pop - or rock - stars have had iconic looks to go along with their music. Suzi Ronson is the woman behind a hairstyle many of us will recognise - the red spiky hair of Ziggy Stardust, a character and onstage persona created by David Bowie. Her new memoir, Me and Mr Jones: My Life with David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars, talks about her time with the band during the 70s and meeting her late husband, guitarist Mick Ronson.It’s almost the end of Ramadan 2024 – the month of fasting observed by Muslims all over the world. But what’s it like to be a modern woman, potentially on your period, and still going through Ramadan? Anita speaks with Mehreen Baig from the podcast Not Even Water and Hodo Ibrahim, co-host of The Oversharers podcast, on the challenges and advantages of being a Muslim woman in Ramadan.You'll likely see the price of getting your nails done go up as of Monday, on what's being called the National Nail Tech Price Increase Day. While you might be paying around £40 to get your nails done, your nail technician would only take home around £7 an hour, once you take away the costs of things like tools and products. Amy Guy is the founder of Nail Tech Org and Rochelle Anthony owns her own salon, and they talk about what the price rise means to them.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Cecelia Armstrong

An employment tribunal has ruled that describing an expectant mother as 'emotional' at work was discrimination. Described as a David and Goliath case, Nicola Hinds, who had been an account manager at Mitie, a FTSE 250 company, represented herself. The judge upheld her claims of pregnancy discrimination and constructive dismissal saying she was 'inexcusably' ignored by her boss and portrayed as 'hormonal'. She is now in line to receive compensation. Nicola joins Emma Barnett.82% of social workers are women, and they are fed up of seeing themselves portrayed as baddies on screen. Social Work England says they end up depicted in dramas as dragging children away from their families. Reporter Melanie Abbott talks to social worker in training Ceira Walsh about the impact on her. And Sarah Blackmore from Social Work England and screenwriter Emma Reeves, responsible for Elaine the Pain in the Tracy Beaker series, discuss with Emma Barnett what changes could be made.Emma speaks to Dame Prue Leith, the chef, author and TV personality, who took part in her first ever catwalk this week at the age of 84. She wore clothes designed by the brand Vin and Omi, who've collaborated with the King to use plants grown in his garden to make their sustainable clothes. What are femcels? The female version of incels, or involuntary celibates. are the subject of a new Channel 4 documentary, Emma speaks to Dr Jilly Kay from Loughborough University to hear more about research into this group and what their online activity looks like.

In the run-up to local elections in England and Wales, the Local Government Alliance have called for the law to change around publicising local councillors' home addresses. This is after some councillors are warning that a recent upsurge of abuse and threats is forcing large numbers of women to quit their roles in local government. Emma Barnett speaks to viral lockdown star Jackie Weaver about being a woman in local government. Judith Suminwa Tuluka has been appointed the first ever female prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo. A former planning minister, she’s relatively unknown – so what does this mean for the DRC, and the women who live there? Emma finds out more about the new prime minister with BBC Monitoring’s Beverley Ochieng and the co-founder of a DRC NGO, Anny Modi.How did 77 women from the same Cambridge college end up working at Bletchley Park during the war? Dr Sally Waugh, an alumna of women-only Newnham College, has uncovered a previously unknown contingent of female codebreakers and other staff who were recruited to conduct top secret work as undergraduates. Emma speaks to her to find out more.A new documentary film, Girls State, spotlights the girls hoping they will become the first female President of the United States. It follows a real-life mock government programme attended by teenage girls in Missouri. The American Legion, who run the programmes, hold separate programmes for boys and girls in all fifty states in the US. Emma is joined by the film-maker Amanda McBain and Emily Worthmore, one of the girls who stands for Governor, the highest position in the mock government.Games writer and author Holly Gramazio’s debut novel explores a world where an endless supply of husbands emerges from the attic. But when you can change husbands as easily as a lightbulb, how do you know when to stick with the one you’ve got? Holly joins Emma, live in the Woman’s Hour studio. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lottie Garton

Scotland's new hate crime law came in to effect yesterday. The Act creates a crime of "stirring up hatred" relating to age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or being intersex. To discuss the concerns some women have Emma Barnett is joined by Susan Smith, co-director of the group For Women Scotland, and The Times journalist John Boothman.A new play at the Hampstead Theatre – The Divine Mrs S - explores the life of Sarah Siddons, who was the first truly respected female actor in theatre, achieving a huge level of celebrity at the end of the 18th century. April De Angelis’ backstage comedy explores the origins of celebrity culture and portrays Siddons, played by Rachael Stirling, as a pioneer in command of her own image and craft. Emma talks to April and Rachael about what inspired them to bring Siddons back to life. Why have women with children long struggled to be taken seriously as artists? Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood looks at the joys and heartaches, mess, myths and mishaps of motherhood through over 60 artists and 100 artworks. Art critic Hettie Judah who curated the exhibition and artist and senior lecturer at the Royal College of Art Hermione Wiltshire who has two pieces of work displayed in it join Emma. In January 2023, Eleanor Williams was found guilty of perverting the course of justice after inflicting injuries on herself and then posting pictures of them claiming they were a result of rape and grooming. Why would she lie? That’s the subject of a new podcast, Unreliable Witness, which looks into what happened before, during and after the accusations made by Eleanor. Sky News Specialist Producer Liz Lane joins Emma to talk about the new discoveries about the story she made while looking into what happened.

From Beyoncé's new country album to Shania headlining Glastonbury, country music is reaching new heights of popularity. Who are the women leading the charge, who are the icons who inspired them, and how many barriers are still left to be broken?We speak to one of its biggest female stars, Carly Pearce, who went from working at Dollywood aged 16 to becoming a Grammy and three-time Country Music Association winner.We explore the sexism still facing women in the industry as female singers remain dramatically underrepresented on US country radio, charts and awards. We also discuss the growth of the genre in the UK, why it's inspired countless films and TV shows, and its history and icons from Dolly Parton and Linda Martell to Patsy Cline.We're joined by Marissa Moss, author of Her Country; Beverly Keel, co-founder of Change The Conversation; Alex Hannaby, Head of UK at Big Machine; Simeon Hammond Dallas, singer-songwriter; Helen Brown, arts journalist; Professor Francesca Royster, author of Black Country Music; Nicole Taylor, screenwriter; and Zoe Hodges, music journalist.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucy Wai Editor: Louise Corley

Model turned TV personality Katie Price joins Clare McDonnell to talk about her views on young women getting cosmetic surgery, after having several procedures herself.It’s 60 years since the first Biba shop opened and the Fashion and Textile Museum in London have just launched a new exhibition: The Biba Story - 1964-1975. On until September, it explores how the fashion phenomenon blossomed to become the world’s first lifestyle label. Nuala McGovern speaks to its founder, Barbara Hulanicki, and the curator of the exhibition, Martin Pel.Australian politician Georgie Purcell is the youngest woman in the parliament of the state of Victoria. From posting TikToks about animal rights, politics, and beer, to archiving her life achievements with tattoos and sharing photos of herself pole dancing – she is definitely not your average politician. She’s also been a target of almost constant sexist attacks and abuse, which on occasions made her fear for her life. Georgie talks to Nuala about why she's still determined to get more women into politics.Described as a grim portrayal of human nature, Mothers’ Instinct is a film about the darker side of maternal love. Academy Award-winning actresses Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway play best friends raising sons of the same age in the same neighbourhood. The psychological thriller follows their apparently picture-perfect life in Sixties suburbia. The two friends in real life join Nuala to discuss.TM Payne, or Tina, spent the last two decades working in the criminal justice system, specialising in domestic abuse. She’s now turned her hand to writing and is set to publish her first crime novel on the 1 April. She talks about her years in policing and her new-found passion for fiction.And MOBO Award-winning singer and songwriter, Zara McFarlane, one of the UK's leading jazz vocalists. She will be appearing at this year’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Emma Harth

Model turned TV personality Katie Price joins Clare McDonnell to talk about her views on young women getting cosmetic surgery, after having several procedures herself.Today marks ten years since the first marriages of lesbian couples in England & Wales. We speak to women impacted by this change in law, and what being able to marry in a same-sex couple - rather than have a civil partnership - meant to them, a decade ago. All week we’ve been looking at a new way of supporting young people at risk of getting into trouble. Our reporter Jo Morris has been meeting them, their parents and some of the SHiFT ‘Guides’ at a practice in Greater Manchester . Today Jo meets the youngest of them, Robyn. She’s only 27 and came to SHiFT after working in a school. She wanted to be able to do more for the children in her charge and has very personal reasons for feeling a connection with young people who need help. TM Payne, or Tina, spent the last 2 decades working in the criminal justice system, specialising in domestic abuse. She’s now turned her hand to writing and is set to publish her first crime novel on the 1st of April. She talks about her years in policing and her new-found passion for fiction.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Kirsty Starkey Studio Engineer: Emma Harth

Nearly one in five teachers working in England has been hit by a pupil, according to a new BBC commissioned survey of 9,000 teachers. The survey, gathered between February and March this year, also found that 15% of secondary school teachers say they have experienced sexual harassment from a pupil when working at a school. The teacher workforce is predominantly female, 76% of teachers are women. Nuala McGovern is joined by Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of teacher’s union NASUWT. It’s 60 years since the first Biba shop opened and the Fashion and Textile Museum in London have just opened a new exhibition: The Biba Story - 1964-1975. On until the 8 September, it explores how the fashion phenomenon blossomed to become the world’s first lifestyle label. Nuala speaks to its founder - Barbara Hulanicki - and the curator of the exhibition - Martin Pel. Australian politician Georgie Purcell is the youngest woman in the parliament of the state of Victoria. She’s also a former stripper who holds degrees in law, and communications and politics. From posting TikToks about animal rights, politics, and beer, to archiving her life achievements with tattoos and sharing photos of herself pole dancing – she is definitely not your average politician. She’s also been a target of almost constant sexist attacks and abuse, which on occasions made her fear for her life. Georgie talks to Nuala about why she's still determined to get more women into politics. In the fourth part of our series, Breaking The Cycle, a boy who was groomed and trafficked by a gang tells his story. He was kicking a football with a mate when a man in a flash car pulled up and befriended them. Soon that 14-year-old was going missing from home and selling drugs from a 'trap' house in a seaside town far away. He describes how isolated and frightened he felt and the sheer relief when it was all over. His 'guide' from a new practice called SHiFT has helped him to understand what happened and how to stay out of trouble. Our reporter Jo Morris met them. Today marks 30 years since the beginning of BBC Radio 5 Live. Once having a reputation for being ‘bloke radio’, many well loved and respected female broadcasters including Naga Munchetty and Rachel Burden have taken over the airways. Nuala hears from presenter and broadcaster Eleanor Oldroyd, who has been at the station from the very beginning, to discuss what has changed for female broadcasters and women’s sport. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Claire Fox

The leader of the Taliban has declared on state television that women who commit adultery will be stoned to death. Nuala McGovern speaks to the former deputy speaker of the Afghan Parliament, Fawzia Koofi. We look at the legacy of children's TV executive Kay Benbow, hailed as “Queen of the Beebies”, who has died with historian Dr Emily Baughan and producer Anne Wood.Our reporter Jo Morris talks to the mum of a young man who got into serious trouble with drugs in the third in our series Breaking The Cycle about SHiFT a new approach to helping young people at risk of going off the rails. A new report by the Institute for Public Policy Research warns of an AI "jobs apocalypse" which will have the greatest impact on women and young people. We talk to Carsten Jung from the IPPR and to AI Expert Prof. Gina Neff.And live music from Zara McFarlane who's appearing at this year’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Steve Greenwood

Killed Women is a group formed of relatives of women who were murdered in domestic abuse situations. They are campaigning to get the minimum sentence for domestic homicide raised, so it’s the same as if the victim was killed on the street. Julie Devey, a member of Killed Women whose daughter Poppy was stabbed to death in bed, joins Nuala McGovern alongside Clare Ward KC, who led last year’s independent review into Domestic Homicide Sentencing. When and if a woman chooses to have children is becoming one of the defining issues of our time. It's an issue of great concern to Emmanuel Macron, the President of France - where there were 1.8 births for every woman last year. He's announced plans to incentivise people to have more children including reforming parental leave and free fertility checks for everyone at the age of 25. To discuss this Nuala is joined by Stefania Marassa, Associate Professor of Economics at Cergy Paris University and Sarah Harper, Professor of Gerontology at the University of Oxford.Last week, a chain of pharmacies in Sweden banned the sale of anti-aging skincare products to customers under 15. The measures come amid a growing trend of young girls’ interest in high-end skincare products, after seeing them used by influencers on YouTube and TikTok. Nuala speaks to Monika Magnusson, The CEO of Apotek Hjärtat, the company which introduced the age restriction, and Abby Robbins, a mother from the UK, who has first-hand experience of this trend. In the second part of our series Breaking The Cycle the SHiFT guide Eva has received a crisis call from one of the young people she works with. Though she's worried about him she's pleased that he reached out, it shows he is beginning to trust her. Jo Morris reports from SHiFT in Greater Manchester. It's a new approach to supporting teenagers at risk of getting into serious trouble. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lottie Garton

Described as a grim portrayal of human nature, Mothers’ Instinct is a film about the darker side of maternal love. Academy Award-winning actresses Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway play best friends raising sons of the same age in the same neighbourhood. The psychological thriller follows their apparently picture-perfect life in Sixties suburbia. The two friends in real life join Nuala McGovern to discuss.A new BBC study of elite British sportswomen shows that many are training and chasing medals for Great Britain while earning surprisingly low wages. The 143 female athletes who responded were above the age of 16, and were competing for their country in senior sport or at top club level. Some women had considered giving up sport, because of the cost of living now. Nuala is joined by Becky Grey, BBC Sport journalist who has been working on this study.In the first in a new series, Breaking The Cycle, following the work of the SHiFT team in Greater Manchester. Set up to help young people at risk of getting into serious trouble the approach is all about relationships. A 'Guide' works with a child and their family for at least 18 months and just keeps showing up. Our reporter Jo Morris went out and about with the team over the first year of the practice. Today, Sally Dicken from SHiFT paints a picture of the young people they are trying to help and explains the problems SHiFT has been set up to tackle.These Letters End In Tears follows the story of two girls, Bessem and Fatima, as we learn the price they pay for falling in love. In Cameroon, where the book is based, same-sex relationships are punishable by law. The author, Musih Tedji Xaviere, has made a huge personal sacrifice bringing this story to life, and joins Nuala in the studio.Reporter: Jo Morris

Dame Laura Kenny, Britain's most decorated female Olympian, talks to Emma Barnett about her sporting career, motherhood and her decision to quit cycling.Friday’s Woman’s Hour came live from Doncaster which came bottom of one league table for opportunities for women entrepreneurs in the UK last year, according to the website money.co.uk which analysed data from the Office for National Statistics. So we wanted to find out why. Anita was joined by BBC Radio Sheffield’s Paulette Edwards to speak to local entrepreneurs across the city. We hear from Rachel Stockey, Head of Entrepreneurial Skills at the Entrepreneurship Institute at King’s College, London as well as Amy Furniss who set up a business selling dried flowers in 2020 during the Covid lockdown.On 27 February, Emma Barnett spoke to Zoe Clark-Coates, who runs the baby loss and bereavement charity The Mariposa Trust, about her campaign for baby loss certificates. They were introduced in England in February for parents who’ve lost a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy. Emma shares her own story and also speaks to a woman who’s decided it’s not for her, and another who applied straight away and has now received four baby loss certificates.The new film Silver Haze is based on recollections of real events in actor Vicky Knight’s childhood, including when she survived an arson attacked aged just eight. Vicky talks to Emma about blending her real childhood experiences with the narrative of the film, and why she wanted to tell her story.Have you ever had a nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right? A gut reaction or a tingly spidey-like sense that tells you something is off? Author of Emotional Labour, Rose Hackman joins Emma to explain why we need to stop calling it 'women’s intuition'.John Lennon told them that ‘girls don’t play guitar’, but these four girls from 1960s Liverpool were determined to prove him wrong. Mary, Sylvia, Valerie and Pamela formed Britain's first female rock'n'roll band The Liverbirds, and went on to tour stadiums across Europe, record two hit albums and play with the Kinks, Rolling Stones and Chuck Berry – all in the space of five years. Emma talks to the two surviving members of the band about their incredible story.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Hanna Ward Studio Manager: Emma Harth

Woman’s Hour is joined by BBC Radio Sheffield in Doncaster for a special live panel show to find out how to be a successful female entrepreneur.Woman’s Hour presenter Anita Rani and BBC Sheffield presenter Paulette Edwards talk to local business women and experts about how to start and sustain a thriving business. They investigate how the stubborn barriers of funding, childcare and confidence are still holding women back and explore the interventions needed to bring about lasting change, so more women and girls can choose to turn their great ideas into successful and lasting businesses. On the panel are: Amy Furniss, a nurse from Doncaster who turned entrepreneur with a dried flowers business; Akeela Mohammed, who sold her two nurseries in Doncaster and now wants to open a Desi café; Rachel Stockey, Head of Entrepreneurial Skills at the Entrepreneurship Institute, who empowers women to make waves by practising her Seven Skills of Entrepreneurial Mindset; Christine Hockley, Managing Director of Funds at the British Business Bank in Sheffield, who is one of a small number of the country’s female investors; and Emma Jones, who in 2005 set up Enterprise Nation, which aims to provide expert advice and support for small businesses. Presenters: Anita Rani and Paulette Edwards Producer: Rebecca Myatt SM: Phil Booth

A long-awaited report on how women born in the 1950s were affected by increases to their retirement age - the so-called WASPI women, which stands for women against state pension inequality - has been published today. It recommends compensation and says the Department for Work and Pensions failed to adequately inform the women affected. Emma Barnett hears from Steve Webb, former pensions minister from 2010 to 2015, when changes to pension ages were accelerated, and to Frances Neil, a WASPI coordinator in Essex.Dr Jen Gunter is a gynaecologist and author based in California, with a huge global following, known for calling out products marketed to women which claim to address their neglected health issues but have no evidence base and could be harmful. In her latest book, simply called Blood, she tackles the menstrual cycle and myths ancient and modern associated with it. Jen joins Emma in studio.John Lennon told them that ‘girls don’t play guitar’, but these four girls from 1960s Liverpool were determined to prove him wrong. Mary, Sylvia, Valerie and Pamela formed Britain's first female rock'n'roll band The Liverbirds, and went on to tour stadiums across Europe, record two hit albums and play with the Kinks, Rolling Stones and Chuck Berry – all in the space of five years. Emma talks to the two surviving members of the band about their incredible story.Figures out today show that 4.3 million children in the UK are living in poverty. Emma speaks to Sara Ogilvie, Policy Director at Child Poverty Action Group and to Jo, a lone parent living in Greater Manchester with a 14-year-old son and on a low income.

On 27 February, Emma Barnett spoke to Zoe Clark-Coates, who runs the baby loss and bereavement charity The Mariposa Trust, about her campaign for baby loss certificates. They were introduced in England in February for parents who’ve lost a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy. Emma shares her own story and also speaks to a woman who’s decided it’s not for her, and another who applied straight away and has now received four baby loss certificates. Have you ever had a nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right? A gut reaction or a tingly spidey-like sense that tells you something is off? Author of Emotional Labour, Rose Hackman joins Emma to explain why we need to stop calling it 'women’s intuition'. Carolynne Hunter cares for her 14-year-old daughter who has severe cerebral palsy. She spoke out about her rising household costs back in 2022 and Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet paid her energy bill. Carolynne joins Emma to give an update on her life since then. It's been announced that a breast cancer drug - Pembrolizumab, sold under the brand name Keytruda - could help thousands more women than previously thought. Emma finds out more from Dr Liz O'Riordan, retired breast surgeon who has had breast cancer herself, twice.Presented by Emma Barnett Producer Louise Corley Studio Engineer: Phil Lander

The Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves is today delivering a speech in which she’ll promise to ‘reform the Treasury’. If Labour were to win the next General Election, she would be the first female Chancellor the UK has seen. But what would her economic plans mean for women? And how do they compare to the current government’s? Economic Adviser Vicky Pryce and Journalist Lucy Fisher join Emma Barnett to discuss. Bestselling novelist Lesley Pearse has written 31 books and sold over 10 million copies worldwide. But she didn’t start writing until her mid-30s, and it would be another 13 years before her first novel was published. Now Lesley has written an autobiography of her extraordinary life – from a difficult childhood to making shepherd’s pie for David Bowie. She joins Emma to tell her story. Denmark is set to become the latest country to extend military conscription to women. This comes as Russia has warned the war there could spin out of control and expand geographically. What’s it like for women living in the Nordic countries, three of whom have now introduced female conscription? Emma speaks to The Guardian’s Nordic Correspondent Miranda Bryant and Nora Tangseth from the Organisation of Representatives of the Norwegian Conscripts who is in the Norwegian Army.The new film Silver Haze is based on recollections of real events in actor Vicky Knight’s childhood, including when she survived an arson attacked aged just eight. Vicky talks to Emma about blending her real childhood experiences with the narrative of the film, and why she wanted to tell her story. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lottie Garton

Dame Laura Kenny, Britain's most decorated female Olympian, talks to Emma Barnett about her sporting career, motherhood and her decision to quit cycling.Are we staying in more since the pandemic? We talk to Kate Nicholls OBE, CEO of UK Hospitality, and Ellen Scott, Acting Digital Content Director at Stylist Magazine. Our pornography series continues with 'Elaine', a woman in her late 60s who's worried about her husband's porn use. Followed by a discussion about the effect habitual porn use has on our brains with Dr Paula Hall, a Sexual & Relationship Psychotherapist, and Professor Valarie Voon, Neuropsychiatrist and Neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge.Actor Imogen Poots is starring in a new film about the English heiress turned IRA bomber and art thief Rose Dugdale called Baltimore. Imogen tells Emma about her approach to the role. After today’s programme aired, the news broke that Rose Dugdale has died aged 83.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Andy Garner

Cara Dillon won the All Ireland singing trophy aged only 14 and has gone on to receive countless awards and accolades including Album Of The Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. She has worked for Disney – singing the title song to the animated movie Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue, and topped the charts with dance remixes. She joins Emma to discuss her book and a new album – Coming Home – in which she brings storytelling, poetry, and song, offering personal memories and stories inspired by her native Co. Derry, and exploring themes of family, identity and home.The government in South Korea has said the country’s birth rate has fallen to a record low, despite it having spent billions on initiatives to encourage women to have more children. It dropped to 0.72 in 2023 - and for a population to hold steady, that number should be 2.1. Why are women in the country deciding not to have children? BBC journalist Yuna Ku in Seoul explains.We continue our series looking at how porn in shaping our sex and relationships today by speaking to Dr Fiona Vera-Gray. She says that when we think about porn we still mostly think about men, men as the producers and the consumers and women as the product. Her new book, Women On Porn, details the experiences of one hundred women and their views on porn and she joins Emma in the studio.For the first time, four mums are speaking out about what it was like to be at the centre of a conspiracy that went viral, even reaching the USA. Accused: The Hampstead Paedophile Hoax is a new documentary that looks at what happened to them. Director Emily Turner and mum ‘Anna’ (not her real name) join Emma Barnett to talk about why they wanted to speak out and share this story.The Women's Six Nations begins later this month. Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy are taking part as well as England who are looking to build on the glory of 2023, when they sealed the grand slam in front of nearly 60,000 spectators at Twickenham, a record crowd for a women’s game. We'll continue to cover the Six Nations as it gets underway but to kick us off Emma is joined by England Rugby player Meg Jones.In recent years, maximalism has been all the rage in the interior design world. Patterns on patterns and riotous colours. But what are the pros and cons of adding personality to your home? Pottery artist, Mary Rose Young and Kate Sandhu, interiors influencer and founder of Kate Sandhu Renovation, join Emma to discuss.

As part of our ongoing series on pornography and how it’s shaping our relationships, we’ve heard from many of our female listeners whose attitudes and feelings towards porn vary greatly. Men are still the major consumers and producers of porn, so today we hear from some of them. Clare McDonnell is joined by the Times journalist Sean Russell, a man in his 30s, and two listeners: Jake, who is in his 40s, and also Gabriel, who is in his 60s. The three share how porn has shaped their sex and relationships.Do you keep a diary? Why and who for? Is it for yourself or for potential readers in the future? And does it allow you to express emotions that have no other outlet? These are just some of the themes explored in Secret Voices: A Year of Women's Diaries, which has been billed as the first comprehensive anthology of solely female diarists. Compiled by the historical biographer Sarah Gristwood, it features entries from over the past four centuries, from the likes of Florence Nightingale, Beatrix Potter, Audre Lorde and Emma Thompson.The government in South Korea has said the country’s birth rate has fallen to a record low, despite it having spent billions on initiatives to encourage women to have more children. It dropped to 0.72 in 2023 - and for a population to hold steady, that number should be 2.1. Why are women in the country deciding not to have children? BBC journalist Yuna Ku in Seoul explains.Have you ever asked yourself: “Does my bum look big in this?" According to major UK clothes retailer, this question is no longer a bad thing. In fact, we should be aiming for it. They’ve taken big knickers to a whole other level, launching a new form of shapewear with bum padding, adding extra volume and curvature to your derriere. Anna Murphy is the Times’ Fashion Director. She’s tried out a similar model and explains her reaction.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Kirsty Starkey Studio Manager: Duncan Hannant

Folk singer Cara Dillon joins Emma Barnett to discuss her book and a new album – Coming Home – which explores themes of family, identity and home. Host of the UK’s first ever maths summit, mathmetician Anne-Marie Imafidon talks about hosting the UK's first ever maths summit and the importance of the subject for business.Seven out of 10 candidates who've been selected to stand for the Conservative Party at the next election are men, according to new data gleaned by the journalist Michael Crick. We speak to him and the Charlotte Carew Pole, the Director of Women2Win, which aims to get more women into politics.Journalist Monique Clesca on the latest situation in Haiti, where powerful gangs have killed thousands and are using rape to "instil fear" Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Engineer: Gayl Gordon

A new law will be introduced in the House of Commons at lunchtime today to clear the names of the hundreds of sub-postmasters wrongly convicted for theft and false accounting. To discuss what this means Emma Barnett is joined by Jo Hamilton, a former post sub-master who was wrongly charged with stealing £36,000 from the Hampshire village post office she ran and BBC Economics Correspondent Andy Verity. A fertility clinic in London has recently had its license suspended over what are being called “significant concerns” about the unit. Homerton Fertility Centre says there had been three separate incidents that highlighted errors in some freezing processes - meaning some people’s embryos were lost. Emma Barnett talks to the Telegraph’s Health Editor Laura Donnelly and Dr Ippokratis Sarris from King’s Fertility.We continue our series looking at how porn in shaping our sex and relationships today by speaking to Dr Fiona Vera-Gray. She says that when we think about porn we still mostly think about men, men as the producers and the consumers and women as the product. Her new book, Women On Porn, details the experiences of one hundred women and their views on porn and she joins Emma in the studio. A new ground-breaking wildlife series is launching this week. National Geographic’s ‘Queens’ focuses on female-led animal societies, and shows their lives away from the usual male fights and hunts. The seven-part series was produced by a women-led team and narrated by the actress Angela Bassett. Emma talks to the series co-executive producer and writer Chloe Sarosh. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Emma Pearce Studio Manager: Emma Harth

A group of mums called Mothers' Manifesto are on day three of a five-day hunger strike in front of Parliament. They’re trying to draw attention to food insecurity and the plight of mums who have to go without food to ensure their children can eat. Today they’re meeting MPs to campaign for universal free school meals. Organiser Emma Hopkins tells Emma Barnett what they’ll be asking for.A former dancer has brought a legal case against her performing arts school alleging verbal and emotional abuse in the form of body shaming, along with allegations that the school had failed in its duty of care to her as a pupil. Last month, the case was settled out of court, and she received a pay-out, although the school did not admit liability. Her lawyer believes this successful claim is the first time a dancer has taken a dance school to court over body shaming. The woman and her lawyer speak to Emma about what happened. The woman has a court order in place to keep her anonymous, so we are not naming her. In recent years, maximalism has been all the rage in the interior design world. Patterns on patterns and riotous colours. But what are the pros and cons of adding personality to your home? Pottery artist, Mary Rose Young and Kate Sandhu, interiors influencer and founder of Kate Sandhu Renovation, join Emma to discuss.Charlotte Wood’s latest novel, Stone Yard Devotional, is set in a small convent hidden in the stark plains of the Australian outback. The main character is a middle-aged woman who takes refuge with the nuns as she grieves the loss of her parents. Charlotte joins Emma to talk about the inspiration for this book and what happened when, as she was writing it, she and her two sisters were all diagnosed with breast cancer. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lottie Garton

For the first time, four mums are speaking out about what it was like to be at the centre of a conspiracy that went viral, even reaching the USA. Accused: The Hampstead Paedophile Hoax is a new documentary that looks at what happened to them. Director Emily Turner and mum ‘Anna’ (not her real name) join Emma Barnett to talk about why they wanted to speak out and share this story. The photograph gracing the front pages this morning of the Princess of Wales with her children, reportedly taken by Prince William - was the first image of Kate to be released by Kensington Palace since her planned abdominal surgery in January. Photo agencies, including Reuters and Associated Press, have retracted the photo over concerns it has been "manipulated". Emma speaks to Alexandra Shulman - Former Editor of British Vogue and journalist - who knows Catherine, the Princess of Wales - from having advised her about designers for her wedding dress through to their work together when she placed her on the front cover of British Vogue's centerary issue. Catherine, the Princess of Wales later released a statement apologising "for any confusion" the photograph caused. It continued: "Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing". In 1929 Jennie Lee, a miner’s daughter from Scotland, became a socialist MP at the age of only 24 – at a time when she wasn’t even legally old enough to vote. Married to the Welsh Labour politician Aneurin “Nye” Bevan, founder of the NHS, his life and their relationship is currently on stage at the National Theatre in London in a new play called Nye. Actor Sharon Small, who plays the woman considered by many a pioneer for women in politics, is in the Woman’s Hour studio. She and Emma are joined by historian, Lyndsey Jenkins, lecturer in modern history at Oxford University.The Women's Six Nations begins later this month. Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy are taking part as well as England who are looking to build on the glory of 2023, when they sealed the grand slam in front of nearly 60,000 spectators at Twickenham, a record crowd for a women’s game. We'll continue to cover the Six Nations as it gets underway but to kick us off Emma is joined by England Rugby player Meg Jones.Presented by Emma Barnett Producer: Louise Corley Studio Engingeer: Donald MacDonald

The South London singer-songwriter Raye joins Emma Barnett following her record-breaking six wins at the Brit awards last weekend. Raye tells us about her grandma Agatha who joined her on stage after winning Best Album for My 21st Century Blues. She also talks about being a woman in the music industry and the strength she has found from fellow female musician Charli XCX.A new documentary, Copa 71, follows the trailblazing women who headed to Mexico for an unofficial Women's World Cup in 1971. Woman's football had been banned in many countries including the UK for 50 years. Unperturbed 6 teams gathered and played in front of crowds of 100,000 fans. One of those players, Chris Lockwood joins Anita Rani alongside co-director of the film Rachel Ramsay.On the 3rd March 2021, Sarah Everard was murdered by Wayne Couzens, an off-duty police officer. The incident sparked national outrage and a surge in fighting violence against women and girls. Three years on, how much has changed? Emma Barnett speaks to the Detective Inspector who interviewed Wayne Couzens, Nick Harvey.Imelda May talks about her new documentary Lily and Lolly: The Forgotten Yeats Sisters, on Sky Arts. Elizabeth and Susan Yeats (also known as Lolly and Lily) founded a women-only arts and crafts guild to promote women’s economic and cultural independence. Overshadowed by their famous brothers, W.B Yeats and Jack Butler Yeats…until now.The author Liz Jensen’s son Raphael was a wildlife biologist, an environmental activist, and a prominent member of Extinction Rebellion. In 2020, at the age of 25, he unexpectedly collapsed and died due to an unknown heart condition. Liz speaks to Emma about her new memoir, Your Wild and Previous Life, about her process of grief, hope and rebellion.

A new documentary, Copa 71, follows the trailblazing women who headed to Mexico for an unofficial Women's World Cup in 1971. Woman's football had been banned in many countries including the UK for 50 years. Unperturbed 6 teams gathered and played in front of crowds of 100,000 fans. One of those players, Chris Lockwood joins Anita Rani alongside co-director of the film Rachel Ramsay.On International Woman's Day Maidenhead MP and former Prime Minister Theresa May has announced she is standing down at the next election, telling the Maidenhead Advertiser she has taken the “difficult decision” after 27 years representing the constituency. She becomes the 63rd Tory MP — and the most senior — to announce that they will not be standing again in 2024. She says that causes such as tackling modern slavery were taking an "increasing amount" of her time - as a reason for her stepping down now. We hear from David Lee - deputy editor for the Maidenhead Advertiser who broke the story and assistant editor at the Spectator Isabel Hardman.What’s it like being the first, directly elected female Mayor of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone? Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr talks about her career in politics and a new BBC Africa documentary which follows her run up to elections. New research suggests that female psychopaths could be up to 5 times more common that we previously thought. So what are the main differences between men and women when it comes to psychopathy? How do you deal with a woman who fits the bill? And what could the wider impacts of this study be in terms of our court systems and other societal sectors? We hear from Dr Clive Boddy, an Associate Professor of corporate psychology at the University of Anglia Ruskin who’s conducted this research. And Estelle Moore, clinical and forensic psychologist and chair of the London Psychological Professions Network. The Radio 1 presenter and singer Mollie King joins Anita to discuss her Red Nose Day challenge for Comic Relief – a 500km cycle across England, setting off from London and crossing the finish line in Hull, the hometown of her late father. She explains it’s the first time she’s cycled on a road, how she plans to navigate busy city centres, winding country roads, and unsteady terrain, and her fitness journey since giving birth to her daughter in 2022. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey Studio Manager: Tim Heffer

Nikki Haley has officially dropped out of the race to become Republican candidate for US President. So what does this mean for the upcoming elections, for women voters and also for women in politics? Emma Barnett speaks to political strategist at the Harvard Belfer Center, Shannon Felton Spence and director of the US and Americas at Chatham House, Leslie Vinjamuri.The author Liz Jensen’s son Raphael was a wildlife biologist, an environmental activist, and a prominent member of Extinction Rebellion. In 2020, at the age of 25, he unexpectedly collapsed and died due to an unknown heart condition. Liz speaks to Emma about her new memoir, Your Wild and Previous Life, about her process of grief, hope and rebellion. On Friday 22nd March, Anita will take Woman's Hour to Doncaster and join forces with BBC Radio Sheffield for a special panel edition of Woman's Hour - Who wants to be a female entrepreneur? Ahead of that, Emma talks to BBC Radio Sheffield presenter Paulette Edwards who is spending a day at Opportunities Doncaster Live, where school girls have gone to find out about local business opportunities and how to develop their entrepreneurial minds. Continuing our series opening up the conversation around pornography and its impact on sex and relationships, our reporter Ena Miller talks to a woman we are calling Sophie. She believes porn has shaped her sex life and the desires of her sexual partners in a negative way, and explains why she thinks this is the case.Who do we want to be to our children when we’re dead and gone? And how do we want them to remember us? These questions are posed by the play The Hills of California currently on stage in London. Set in Blackpool in 1976, the Webb Sisters are returning to their mother’s run-down guest house, as she lies dying. Olivier award-winning actor Laura Donnelly, who plays the mother Veronica, joins Emma.Presenter: Emma Barnett Reporter: Ena Miller Producer: Lottie Garton

The South London singer-songwriter Raye joins Emma Barnett following her record-breaking six wins at the Brit awards last weekend. Raye tells us about her grandma Agatha who joined her on stage after winning Best Album for My 21st Century Blues. She also talks about being a woman in the music industry and the strength she has found from fellow female musician Charli XCX.The English channel has always held an allure for endurance swimmers the world over, but the first British woman to complete it was Mercedes Gleitze. She achieved this feat in 1927 and a new film, Vindication Swim, recreates that moment in history. Kirsten Callaghan plays Mercedes, she joins Emma along with the current channel swimmer Sarah Philpott to explain what it’s like to spend that long in open water, and what drives women to do it.It’s the Oscars this weekend, the first ceremony since the Academy introduced new diversity rules for all candidates. But almost seven years since the start of the Me Too movement - has Hollywood really become a safer place for the women who work there? According to the latest survey by the Hollywood Commission, which was set up in 2017 to help stop workplace harassment and discrimination in the entertainment industry, there's still a lot of work to do. Emma speaks to the chair of the Hollywood Commission, the activist, academic and author Anita Hill.If you had 20 minutes with the Prime Minister what would you use your time to ask? Grazia magazine, ahead of International Women's Day this week, chose to focus on the personal and the domestic in a series of three videos which have had a lot of reaction online. Lindsay Nicholson, writer and former editor of various women's magazines including Good Housekeeping and Cosmopolitan, joins Emma to discuss.Children with a disability, or limited mobility, often need some type of adjustment to garments so they can wear them. It’s known as adaptive clothing and whilst there are a growing number of brands offering this, they’re not widely available on the high street. My next guests are trying to raise awareness of this with a fashion show. Andrea Jester is a leading hand and upper limb plastic surgeon at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Carmen Burkett is a fashion lecturer at South and City College in Birmingham. They’ve teamed up to put Andrea's young patients - or models as they’ve become - in touch with student designers.

Two years after the US Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion, lawmakers in France yesterday made history by enshrining this right in their country's constitution - it was a global first. We talk to Stephanie Hennette-Vauchez about the change.Singer-songwriter Sarah Jane Morris performs live.We look at what's behind the cuts to Birmingham City Council's budget - equal pay or a new IT system? With Heather Jameson, editor of the Municipal Journal and Dr James Brackley, lecturer in accounting at Sheffield University.In the next part of our series about porn, Ena Miller talks to ‘Sam’ who, from an early age, measured herself by the women she saw in pornography.  And Imelda May talks about her new documentary Lilly and Lolly: The Forgotten Yeats Sisters, on Sky Arts. Elizabeth and Susan Yeats (also known as Lolly and Lilly) founded a women-only arts and crafts guild to promote women’s economic and cultural independence. Overshadowed by their famous brothers, W.B Yeats and Jack Butler Yeats…until now.Presenter: Emma Barnett Reporter: Ena Miller Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Steve Greenwood

On the 3rd March 2021, Sarah Everard was murdered by Wayne Couzens, an off-duty police officer. The incident sparked national outrage and a surge in fighting violence against women and girls. Three years on, how much has changed? Emma Barnett speaks to the Detective Inspector who interviewed Wayne Couzens, Nick Harvey, and former Detective Superintendent Shabnam Chaudri.If you’ve browsed through political podcasts recently, you’d be forgiven for thinking the guys have got that particular market cornered. There’s The Rest is Politics with Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell, Political Currency with Ed Balls and George Osborne, and Politics at Jack and Sam’s. That may be about to change, with an all-female line-up on new podcast Electoral Dysfunction, featuring Sky News political editor Beth Rigby, Labour MP Jess Phillips and Conservative peer and former Scottish party leader Ruth Davidson. Jess and Ruth join Emma Barnett to tell her what they’ll be covering.Poet Hollie McNish is back with a new book, with her unique and hugely relatable take on all kinds of taboos, on subjects ranging from friendships, parenthood and breastfeeding, to periods, UTIs and vulvas. Her live readings are often blush inducing, with plenty of adult content and strong language. She’s talking to Emma Barnett about her inspiration behind the book of poetry and prose ‘Lobster and other things I’m learning to love’. Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, better known as CMAT, is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician. Playing country-tinged pop, both of her albums have topped the Irish Albums Chart. She was longlisted for the BBC's Sound of 2024 and joins Emma fresh from the BRIT awards, where she was nominated for Best International Artist. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Emma Pearce

The twice Oscar-nominated actor Samantha Morton has just received the Bafta Fellowship: a lifetime achievement award which recognises an outstanding contribution to film and television. She grew up in the social care system and began working in film and television at the age of 13. In a moving speech at the Baftas last week, Samantha dedicated the award to every child in care today.Both Republicans and Democrats in the US state of Alabama are trying to find a legal solution that would protect access to IVF treatment, after a court ruling cast doubt on its future. Alabama's Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that frozen embryos have the same rights as children. Jenny Kleeman speaks to lawyer Eric Wrubel, who specialises in fertility law and Kristia Rumbley who has three frozen embryos at a fertility clinic in Alabama.People in their early 20s are more likely to be out of work because of ill health than those in their early 40s, according to a new report. Lindsay Judge, Research Director at The Resolution Foundation, which carried out the research, explains how young women are particularly affected and are one-and-a-half times more likely to experience poor mental health than young men.Last July, comedian, actor and author Andi Osho joined spoke to us about her second novel, Tough Crowd. During the interview Andi revealed she was also editing her mother’s memoirs – a legacy for her three children. Charlotte Osho has now published The Jagged Path, and she joins Emma along with her editor/daughter Andi.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed

A parliamentary committee has issued a new and scathing report about Primodos - a pregnancy test drug issued by doctors between the1950s and 1970s. The All Party Parliamentary Group on Hormone Pregnancy Tests says claims there is no proven link between Primodos and babies being born with malformations is “factually and morally wrong". The report claims evidence was “covered up” that it's possible to “piece together a case that could reveal one of the biggest medical frauds of the 20th century”. Around 1.5 million women in Britain were given hormone pregnancy tests which was 40 times the strength of an oral contraceptive pill. We hear from Hannah Bardell the SNP MP for Livingstone and a member of the APPG and Marie Lyon who gave birth to a daughter with limbs that were not fully formed - she had been prescribed Primodos. She has been campaigning for nearly 50 years.One in four children starting school in England and Wales are not toilet-trained, according to teachers who now spend a third of their day supporting pupils who are not school-ready, a report has found. That’s according to the early-years charity, Kindred2 who polled 1,000 primary school staff and 1,000 parents. Only 50% of parents think they are solely responsible for toilet-training their child, while one in five parents think children do not need to be toilet-trained before starting reception. What’s the reality in schools and whose responsibility is it? We hear from Steve Marsland, Headteacher, Russell Scott Primary school in Denton, Greater Manchester.Last week we got excited about big hair having a comeback after Miley Cyrus’ backcombed tresses at the Grammys made headlines. The larger-than-life hair-do was a fun change from the straight hair that has dominated fashion for decades. But it didn't last long - Paris Fashion Week is now in full swing and we’re back to the slicked back buns. So, will big hair ever truly come back and why did it fall out of fashion? Hair historian Rachael Gibson, and academic, and author of Don’t Touch My Hair, Emma Dabiri join Anita Rani to discuss big hair.In a new series, Woman’s Hour is starting frank and open conversations about how porn has shaped lives and relationships. Reporter Ena Miller has spoken to a woman who had to decide where to draw the line around her partner’s porn use, and we revisit an interview with Erika Lust, the adult filmmaker whose work focusses on female pleasure and ethical production.Anita takes a walk through female history looking at 101 objects with the writer Annabelle Hirsch. There are artefacts of women celebrated by history and of women unfairly forgotten by it, examples of female rebellion and of self-revelation. They delve into a cabinet of curiosities ranging from the bidet and the hatpin to radium-laced chocolate and Kim Kardashian’s ring.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey Studio Manager: Duncan Hannant

Both Republicans and Democrats in the US state of Alabama are trying to find a legal solution that would protect access to IVF treatment, after a court ruling cast doubt on its future. Alabama's Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that frozen embryos have the same rights as children. Jenny Kleeman speaks to lawyer Eric Wrubel, who specialises in fertility law and Kristia Rumbley who has three frozen embryos at a fertility clinic in Alabama.How is porn shaping our sex lives? In a new Woman’s Hour series we want to start an honest conversation about how the availability and content of porn affects what we do, how we feel and what we expect. Today, our reporter Ena Miller talks to a woman who had to decide where the line was for her around her husband's porn use. Is the boys' club in tattooing over? A new book, Tattoo You, celebrates the most innovate and trailblazing tattoo artists from across the world – two thirds of which are women, non-binary and trans artists. Tattoo expert Alice Snape and tattoo artist Tanya Buxton discuss shifts in the industry and the future of tattooing.The tale of the relationship between actress Tippi Hedren and director Alfred Hitchcock is told as part of a new play, Double Feature. In her memoir, Tippi accused Hitchcock of sexual assault. Joanna Vanderham, who plays Tippi, and Helen O’Hara, a film critic, join Jenny to explore how the play portrays that tumultuous relationship. Presenter: Jenny Kleeman Producer: Emma Pearce Reporter: Ena Miller

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is calling for 'Raneem’s Law' in memory of a 22-year-old woman who was stabbed to death by her ex-husband. Raneem Oudeh spoke to police five times in less than two hours before her ex-husband killed her and her mother Khaola Saleem in 2018. One of Labour’s proposals is for domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms so that victims speak to an expert from their first call. Emma speaks to Yvette Cooper in her first broadcast interview on the issue and also to Raneem’s aunt, Nour Norris, who is backing the proposals.In a new Woman’s Hour series we want to start an honest conversation about how the availability and content of porn affects what we do, how we feel and what we expect from sex and relationships. Today we begin by speaking to the woman leading the Independent Pornography Review for the government looking at the legislative and regulatory framework around pornography. The Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin joins Emma in the studio.Last July comedian, actor and author Andi Osho joined spoke to us about her second novel, Tough Crowd. During the interview Andi revealed she was also editing her mother’s memoirs – a legacy for her three children. Charlotte Osho has now published The Jagged Path and she joins Emma along with her editor/daughter Andi.A new sitcom called Things You Should Have Done starts on the 29th February on BBC Three. It follows Chi, who's parents have died and has to learn how to fend for herself. It was written by comedian Lucia Keskin, who also stars as Chi. She joins Emma to talk about the series and where her inspiration came from.

Through her songs, the Mercury prize nominated singer/songwriter Nadine Shah has explored mental health, the refugee crisis and feminism. The subject matter of her last album, Kitchen Sink, included themes of fertility, tradition and identity told through the stories of women at different stages of their lives. Now Nadine’s latest work - Filthy Underneath – is a raw collection of songs which chronicle a period of unprecedented turbulence in her life from grief to addiction and PTSD.The new podcast Who Trolled Amber? investigates allegations that Amber Heard was trolled online by an army of AI bots after her trial with Johnny Depp. Podcast host Alexi Mostrous and Professor Gina Neff, Executive Director of the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy at the University of Cambridge, discuss this and the wider implications of abuse of women online.                                                                                                           Parents across England who lost a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy can now apply for a baby loss certificate as part of a new government scheme. Babies who are born dead after 24 weeks are officially registered - but this doesn’t happen for babies born before that stage. Every year there are thought to be a quarter of a million miscarriages and more than 11,000 hospital admissions for losses because of ectopic pregnancies. Now, campaigners say they’re thrilled that families will finally get the acknowledgement that their baby existed - for however short a time. Emma Barnett speaks to one such campaigner - Zoe Clark-Coates – who runs the baby loss and bereavement charity The Mariposa Trust and campaigned for these certificates for nine years.                                                                                                  Vivian Oparah played the female lead in British hit film Rye Lane, for which she was Bafta-nominated this year. She's now starring in a new TV comedy thriller called Dead Hot, playing the sister of a man who's mysteriously disappeared. Vivian joins Emma in the Woman's Hour studio.Presented by Emma Barnett Producer: Louise Corley Studio Engineers: Emma Harth & Gayl Gordon

The twice Oscar-nominated actor Samantha Morton has just received the Bafta Fellowship: a lifetime achievement award which recognises an outstanding contribution to film and television. She grew up in the social care system and began working in film and television at the age of 13. In a moving speech at the Baftas last week, Samantha dedicated the award to every child in care today. 2024 is a leap year and 29 February is the day when traditionally women are "allowed" to propose to their male partner.  We hear your stories and discuss the tradition with wedding speech writer Heidi Ellert-McDermott, and Dr Vera Beckley-Hoelscher, an academic at Royal Holloway, University of London.People in their early 20s are more likely to be out of work because of ill health than those in their early 40s, according to a new report . Lindsay Judge, Research Director at The Resolution Foundation, which carried out the research, explains how young women are particularly affected and are one-and-a-half times more likely to experince poor mental health than young men. And Emma speaks to the world-famous classicist Mary Beard about Legion - the new exhibition at the British Museum, about life in the Roman army. Mary will share stories of some remarkable women who lived in Roman military bases. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer:Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Emma Harth

It has been almost two years since the death of The Wanted star Tom Parker after he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in 2020 aged 33. His wife, Kelsey Parker, announced last month that, after a lot of reflection, it was time to take off her wedding rings. Kelsey tells Anita Rani about the decision and how she has dealt with her grief. The Ukrainian government says it has identified 20,000 children who have been abducted by Russian forces. This week saw 11 Ukrainian children reunited with their families. The BBC’s Hague Correspondent, Anna Holligan, and filmmaker Shahida Tulaganova, who directed the ITV documentary Ukraine’s Stolen Children, discuss. Wicked Little Letters is a new black comedy film set in Littlehampton in the 1920s. It follows two neighbours, deeply conservative Edith Swan played by Olivia Colman and rowdy Irish single mother Rose Gooding played by Jessie Buckley. When Edith and other residents begin to receive poisonous pen letters full of obscenities, potty mouthed Rose is charged with the crime. The director, Thea Sharrock joined Emma Barnett to discuss this true story, and the parallels with trolling on social media today. How do black girls and women experience education in Britain today? Sociologist Dr April-Louise Pennant of Cardiff University joined Emma to discuss why Black Caribbean girls are excluded from school at double the rate of white girls and why intersectionality means the issue of afro hair continues to affect black girls' education today. She explores these issues and more in her book, Babygirl, You’ve Got This! Experiences of Black Girls and Women in the English Education System. The comedy and acting star Aisling Bea grew up in County Kildare in Ireland and in 2011 became the first woman for 20 years to win the prestigious stand-up competition So You Think You’re Funny? She spoke to Emma about her latest show, Alice and Jack.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

It has been almost two years since the death of The Wanted star Tom Parker after he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in 2020 aged 33. His wife, Kelsey Parker, announced last month that, after a lot of reflection, it was time to take off her wedding rings. Kelsey joins Anita Rani in the Woman’s Hour studio to discuss this decision and how she has dealt with her grief.What is the impact of 'sharenting' on the first generation of kids who grew up with it? Dorothy Koomson's new thriller, Every Smile You Fake, follows the daughter of a parenting influencer who has mysteriously disappeared. Anita speaks to Dorothy and Dr Emma Nottingham about sharenting and the proposed legislation in the US and France to regulate it.Tomorrow is the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Oksana Grytsenko is a Ukrainian playwright and freelance journalist covering the war for various newspapers including the Wall Street Journal. She joins Anita to discuss living in Ukraine two years into the war, what is acceptable to write about whilst living through a conflict and the opening of her play focused on a family of women living in a village occupied by Russian soldiers.The first Police and Crime Commissioner to take maternity leave, Emily Spurrell, joins us on the programme. On becoming pregnant, she realised no maternity provision existed for the role and took matters in to her own hands. She joins Anita alongside Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government, who’s currently researching maternity leave provisions for elected officials. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Emma Pearce

It is has been 11 years since the American journalist James Foley was kidnapped in northern Syria, and nearly a decade since his mother, Diane Foley, discovered he had been beheaded by Islamic State fighters. Diane has written a book with the novelist Colum McCann, called American Mother, in which she recounts the story of her son’s kidnapping and murder, and her campaign to improve the chances of Americans wrongfully detained abroad. She joins Emma Barnett in the studio.In the UK, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer; around 55,000 women are diagnosed every year. Emma speaks to Professor Canan Dagdeviren, who has invented a piece of wearable tech that fits inside a bra which may lead, one day in the future, to the creation of an ultrasound bra, able to screen for breast cancer in between check-ups. Canan featured on the BBC’s 100 Women list for 2023 and first sketched the idea at her aunt Fatma’s bedside, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer.From Queen Camilla to Monica Lewinsky, has the perception of mistresses changed in recent decades? Someone who believes that the so-called 'other woman' has had a cultural rebrand is the author Madeleine Gray, who has written a novel about an affair - but from the perspective of the mistress. Green Dot follows 24-year-old Hera who starts a messy relationship with an older married colleague. Madeleine joins Emma to discuss.How do black girls and women experience education in Britain today? Sociologist Dr April-Louise Pennant of Cardiff University joins Emma to discuss why the adultification of black girls means that Black Caribbean girls are excluded from school at double the rate of white girls and why intersectionality means the issue of afro hair continues to affect black girls' education today. She explores these issues and more in her book, Babygirl, You’ve Got This! Experiences of Black Girls and Women in the English Education System.Presenter: Emma Barnett Studio manager: Duncan Hannant

This week marks two years since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine's government says it has identified 20,000 children who have been abducted by Russian forces. Now Qatar has brokered the third and largest deal, which will see eleven Ukrainian children reunited with their families. Emma speaks to the BBC’s Hague Correspondent, Anna Holligan and film maker Shahida Tulaganova, who directed the ITV documentary, Ukraine’s Stolen Children.Wicked Little Letters is a new black comedy film set in Littlehampton in the 1920s. It follows two neighbours, deeply conservative Edith Swan played by Olivia Colman and rowdy Irish single mother Rose Gooding played by Jessie Buckley. When Edith and other residents begin to receive poisonous pen letters full of obscenities, potty mouthed Rose is charged with the crime. The director, Thea Sharrock, joins Emma.A new scientific paper from researchers at Stanford University using AI has shown the ability to spot consistent differences between men and women's brains. Gina Rippon,  neuroscientist and author of The Gendered Brain & Professor Melissa Hines, director of the Gender Development Research Centre at the University of Cambridge join Emma.How much do you know about your female ancestors? There’s a growing trend in finding out more about our family histories – but it’s harder to find details about women than men. Founder and director of the genealogy service Eneclann, Fiona Fitzsimons and Ailsa Burkimsher who successfully campaigned for mothers' names to be on marriage certificates join Emma.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

Former government minister Tracey Crouch has joined the list of MPs who’ve said they won’t be standing at the next general election. She won the former Labour seat of Chatham and Aylesford in 2010 and has turned it into a healthy majority of more than 18,000 for the Conservatives. A self confessed 'sports nut', in 2015 she attained her dream job as sports minister and oversaw the government’s football governance review. In 2018 she resigned in protest at the government’s 'unjustifiable' refusal to speed up plans to curb controversial fixed odds betting terminals. Four years ago as the pandemic hit, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and following treatment went on to raise £153,000 for cancer charities. She joins Emma Barnett to talk about her decision to leave politics and her plans for the future. Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny who was announced dead in a Russian prison last week, has directly accused the Kremlin of poisoning and killing him and has vowed to continue his fight to change Russia. Someone who has been following this story intently is Marina Litvinenko, the widow of Alexander Litvinenko, who exposed corruption in Russia and died in a London hospital in 2006 after ingesting tea which contained radioactive polonium. The European Court of Human Rights found Russia was responsible for the killing of Mr Litvinenko in 2021. Marina joins Emma.Can you have a true friendship or relationship if one of you has more money than the other? Novelist Kiley Reid dominated bestseller lists with her debut, Such A Fun Age, which skewered white liberal guilt. Her new book, Come And Get It, returns to themes of race, class, and above all money. Set on a campus in southern America, it follows students and academics whose behaviour is shaped by money. Kiley joins Emma in studio.Women get more gain from exercise than men. That's the suggestion of a new study of 400,000 people. 140 minutes of moderate exercise a week reduced women's risk of premature death from any cause by 18% compared with being inactive. Men needed 300 minutes of exercise for a similar gain. Joining Emma to discuss is Baz Moffat, former Team GB rower and co-founder of The Well, an organisation that works to challenge the status quo for women in health, fitness and sport.

The comedy and acting star Aisling Bea grew up in County Kildare in Ireland and in 2011 became the first woman for 20 years to win the prestigious stand-up competition So You Think You’re Funny? Her Bafta-winning sitcom This Way Up firmly established her as a presence to be reckoned with on our TV screens- last year she played the lead in the film based on Take That’s music, Greatest Days, and she regularly pops up on US TV and movies. She joins Emma Barnett to discuss her latest show, Alice and Jack, which has just begun on Channel 4.Following the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, we look at the role of his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, and whether she might become the new face of the opposition. Yulia is due to speak with European foreign ministers in Brussels today. To discuss, Emma is joined by the Spectator's Russia correspondent, Owen Matthews, who was Bureau Chief for Newsweek in Moscow for more than a decade, and Sarah Rainsford, BBC Eastern Europe Correspondent who was expelled from Russia after many years, and is now based in Warsaw. Carmen Smith is 27 and set to become the youngest peer in the House of Lords. Carmen will replace Plaid Cymru’s only member of the Lords,  Dafydd Wigley (the Rt, Hon Lord Wigley) who is retiring aged 80, and was a previously leader of Plaid.  Carmen will be known as Baroness Smith of Llanfaes, the village where she grew up. She joins Emma to talk about the challenges ahead, the reaction to her selection and why she wants to join a body she believes should be abolished. Can Ancient Greek theories revolutionise our modern day lives? Australian author Brigid Delaney seems to think so. She talks to Emma about swapping wellness for stoicism, alongside classicist Professor Edith Hall.Presenter: Emma Barnett Produced by: Louise Corley Studio engineer: Steve Greenwood

Lorraine Kelly CBE has been described as the queen of morning television. Now after a lifetime of wanting to, she has written her first novel, The Island Swimmer, a story of family secrets, island communities and overcoming fear. Lorraine joins Anita Rani to discuss her novel, her life and her 40-year career.It’s been almost 40 years since most UK coal miners went on strike over pit closures and proposed redundancies. It was one of the most divisive conflicts of a generation – but what role did women play? And how did it change things for them? Nuala McGovern is joined by two women who were there at the time – Lisa McKenzie and Heather Wood – to share their experiences. Violence and abuse against shop workers rose to 1,300 incidents a day last year. That’s according to new figures from the British Retail Consortium. Nuala hears from Michele Whitehead, a workplace rep for the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, on what it’s like for her. Four years ago, Avon and Somerset Police offered Channel 4 unprecedented access to its Counter Corruption Unit, the people who police the police. Emma Barnett speaks to their Chief Constable, the first woman to hold the post, about why she made the decision to let the cameras in, and the consequences of doing so.Lauren Rowles is a two-time Paralympic Gold, World and European champion rower, who was on the Woman’s Hour Power List of Women in Sport. This summer she’s hoping to break a record at the Paris Paralympics – she tells Nuala about that, and her work away from sport advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those struggling with their mental health. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lottie Garton

Lorraine Kelly CBE has been described as the queen of morning television. She joined TV-am as their Scottish correspondent in 1984 and, save for a brief maternity leave 30 years ago, has barely left the schedules since - for the last 14 as host of ITV’s Lorraine. Now after a lifetime of wanting to, she has written her first novel, The Island Swimmer, a story of family secrets, island communities and overcoming fear. Lorraine joins Anita Rani to discuss her novel, her life and her 40-year career.The deaths of three women in one week, all allegedly murdered by their husbands, has caused outrage in Somalia and sparked days of protests over the country’s femicide rates. Police have named the suspects in all three killings, which took place in the first week of February, as the dead women’s husbands. Two of the victims were pregnant. The BBC's Fardowsa Hanshi, a video journalist with the Somali Service explains what's going on.Kali Reis is the breakout star of True Detective: Night Country. As the series nears its finale on Sky Atlantic on Monday, Kali joins Anita in the Woman’s Hour studio to talk about going from a career in boxing to acting with Jodie Foster. She is also an indigenous rights activist, who has Native American and African heritage, and was the first indigenous woman fighter to become a World Champion.Last month, Woman's Hour discussed a shocking report which warned of endemic misogyny and discrimination in the music industry. MPs from the Women and Equalities Committee found that sexual harassment and abuse is common. That report has resonated with many – and not just in the music industry. Award-winning broadcaster Gemma Cairney has written a piece in The Guardian about her experience, saying she’d battled racism and misogyny in creative industries for years. Gemma tells us about the reaction to her piece. Professor of Media, Culture and Communications at Brunel University Sarita Malik will explain why Gemma’s experience is so widespread in broadcasting.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey Studio Manager: Neva Missirian

In April last year, The Guardian exposed allegations of rape, sexual assault and harassment at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Rain Newton-Smith took over as Chief Executive and pledged to reform the culture of the organisation. As she approaches a year in the job, Rain speaks to Nuala McGovern about what progress has been made. She also gives her reaction to the news that the UK fell into recession in December 2023.It’s been nearly a year since we announced the Woman’s Hour Power List, celebrating incredible women in the world of sport. Today we are joined by one of those who placed on the list ahead of her attempt to break a record at this summer's Paris Paralympics. The two-time Paralympic Gold, World and European champion British rower Lauren Rowles is training hard for what she hopes will be her third Paralympic Gold and joins Nuala to discuss her glittering career and her work away from sport advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those struggling with their mental health.  Lorna Tucker ran away from home at the age of 14 and ended up living on the streets of Soho in London. Now a filmmaker, her latest release, Someone’s Daughter, Someone’s Son, has forced her to revisit life on the streets, both from her own perspective and those currently sleeping rough. Writer Helen Russell moved to Denmark a decade ago and wrote a bestselling book, The Year of Living Danishly. Several books and three children later, she has now turned her attention to the parenting culture of Denmark and other Nordic nations. Her new book is How to Raise a Viking: The Secrets of Parenting the World's Happiest Children. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucy Wai

Violence and abuse against shop workers rose to 1,300 incidents a day last year, up by 50% in the year to September 2023. That's according to new figures by the British Retail Consortium. Nuala hears from Michele Whitehead, a workplace rep for USDAW who has worked at a convenience store in Wolverhampton for 20 years.Dr Natalie Yates-Bolton is 57 and has survived cancer five times. The senior lecturer in nursing was first diagnosed at the age of 22 whilst still at university. She's had 11 operations, 30 sessions of chemotherapy and 55 rounds of radiotherapy. Natalie joins Nuala McGovern to discuss what’s helped her get through three decades of cancer care. Professor Katrin Hohl is the new independent advisor to the Government on rape. She joins Nuala to discuss her new role, and her priorities for change. Forty years ago next month most of the coal miners in the UK went on strike over pit closures and proposed redundancies. The strike lasted a year and was one of the most divisive conflicts of a generation. On Sunday, BBC Two is broadcasting Miners’ Strike: A frontline Line Story, which features personal testimony from men and women on the frontline of the strike. Nuala’s joined by two women who were there at the time to discuss their experiences: Lisa McKenzie appears in the film and was a teenager when her dad was on the picket lines and Heather Wood was also very active in the strike. My Life with the Walter Boys is a teen drama on Netflix that hit 12 million views in it’s first week alone. It was adapted from a book written by Ali Novak when she was just 15 years old. She joins Nuala to talk about the transformation of her book to a hit series along with the executive producer who adapted the story, Melanie Halsall.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Dianne McGregor

A forthcoming three-part ITV drama Breathtaking, set in a fictionalised London hospital, tells the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic through the eyes of Acute Medical Consultant Dr Abbey Henderson. The series is based on Dr Rachel Clarke’s book of the same name. She worked on Covid wards and is also one of the writers on the series. Dr Henderson is played by Joanne Froggatt, known for many roles including Downton Abbey, Sherwood and Angela Black. They join Emma Barnett to discuss.The "orange peel theory" is as trend where one person in a couple will ask their partner to peel an orange for them. As Valentine's Day approaches, what are the small gestures that mean so much? The ways you show your love? Minette Batters is standing down as President of the National Farmers' Union after six years of leading the organisation. She joins Emma to talk about her tenure leading the farming world, and what it felt like to be the first woman to do so.We've been looking at the experiences of women from both Israel and Gaza on the programme this week, asking what are the main issues facing women on each side as the war continues in to its fifth month. Today Emma speaks to Ayelet Razin Bet Or the Legal Adviser to the Association of Rape Crisis Centres in Israel. Ayelet has been travelling the world in recent months highlighting the horrific evidence of rape, sexual violence and mutilation of women during the October 7 brutal attacks by Hamas that killed 1,200 people and says she feels hugely let down and even betrayed by the response she has seen, particularly from other women. She also talks about her concerns for the 14 female hostages still being held by Hamas. To listen to our discussion about women in Gaza, please head to BBC Sounds to find it in yesterday's episode.Presented by Emma Barnett Producer: Louise Corley Studio Engineer: Giles Aspen

Four years ago, Avon and Somerset Police offered Channel 4 unprecedented access to its Counter Corruption Unit, the people who police the police. The result is a three-part documentary series called To Catch A Copper. Emma Barnett speaks to Sarah Crew, Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police, about why she made the decision to let the cameras in, and the consequences of doing so.Bryony Gordon is the bestselling author of The Wrong Knickers, You Got This and Mad Girl. She won the MIND Making a Difference Award for changing the perception of mental health in the media, and even ran the London Marathon in her underwear! She joins Emma to discuss binge eating, OCD, menopause and her new book - Mad Woman. As the Israel-Gaza war enters its fifth month, we’re looking at what the impact is on women and children. Tomorrow, Emma will hear from women in Israel. Today, she speaks to BBC Arabic journalist Dalia Haidar and Frances Leach from ActionAid to hear more about what life is like at the moment for Palestinian women and children in Gaza. The three-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has confirmed she will retire this year after the games in Paris. The 37-year-old, regarded as one of the greatest sprinters of all time, won the 100m title in 2008 and 2012. Former Team GB sprinter Katherine Merry joins Emma to discuss the announcement. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lottie Garton

Rhianon Bragg was held hostage at gunpoint by her ex-boyfriend, Gareth Wyn Jones, for eight hours. He was sentenced in 2020 for stalking, false imprisonment, making threats to kill and possession of a firearm. Now, despite a parole board panel saying they are not satisfied it would be safe, he is being released from prison. Rhianon tells us about how her relationship with Wyn Jones developed, what happened at the end, and how she feels about him coming out of prison.Ambika Mod stars as Emma in the new Netflix adaptation of David Nicholls’ much-loved novel One Day. She acts opposite Leo Woodall as Dex, and their comedic romance plays out over 14 episodes and 20 years. You may have seen Ambika as Shruti, the junior doctor with a pivotal plot line in the BBC labour ward drama This is Going to Hurt. She tells us about taking on this lead role.On Thursday Kate Garraway returned to Good Morning Britain following the death of her husband, Derek. She spoke about her reaction to being called a widow for the first time, by a delivery man, apologising for her loss. We hear from Poorna Bell, a journalist and author who lost her husband in 2015, and Karen Sutton, host of The Widow Podcast, who became a trained grief coach after her husband died in 2016.New sonar images from deep in the Pacific Ocean might have located the wreckage of Amelia Earhart’s missing plane. Has Earhart’s disappearance finally been solved, or has the obsession with this mystery distracted us from the pioneering woman herself? Pilot Katherine Moloney and historian Dr Darren Reid discuss Amelia Earhart, her legacy, and women in aviation today.Emma Grede, a native East Londoner, now a thriving businesswoman in the US, is known for her entrepreneurial prowess and successful collaborations with the Kardashian sisters. Emma is a driving force behind iconic brands like Good American and Skims. She will soon be making her mark as a guest investor on an upcoming episode of BBC’s Dragon's Den.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed

Yesterday, Kate Garraway returned to Good Morning Britain following the loss of her husband, Derek. She spoke about her reaction to being called a widow for the first time, by a delivery man, apologising for her loss. Anita Rani speaks to Poorna Bell, a journalist and author who lost her husband in 2015, and Karen Sutton, host of The Widow Podcast, who became a trained grief coach after her husband passed away in 2016. Anita Rani talks to a woman who says a cosmetic surgery clinic tried to silence her after she reported concerns about her eye operation. Signature clinic is taking five people in total to court after they posted negative reviews or comments on support groups. A judge has thrown out an attempt to get a gagging order against one of them. BBC reporter Melanie Abbott speaks to the woman concerned. And that woman's solicitor tells Anita what she thinks this judgement means for free speech. A trend is surfacing on social media, where women reach out to one another with a request - Can you find out if my partner is cheating on me? Anita speaks to Becky Hayes from The Laura and Becky Show podcast, who is creating social media content out of these requests and a journalist who has researched the subject, Beth Ashley, for a discussion on the morality of social media investigators. Although payments are not taken for these requests and identities are kept secret, some might ask whether it’s appropriate to make humorous content, out of what could possibly be very devastating news for someone. And without the context of the relationship to inform them, whether the trend invade people’s privacy. Fans are eagerly waiting to see if Taylor Swift will make it from Tokyo to Las Vegas in time to support her American footballer boyfriend Travis Kelce at the US Super Bowl this Sunday. Many in the Trump camp are watching closely too, as right-wing conspiracy theories run wild that the pop megastar might use the event to influence the presidential elections. What is going on? Anita talks to BBC reporter Holly Honderich, based in Washington.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Emma Harth

A BBC investigation has uncovered evidence that vapes are being used to groom children into sexual or criminal exploitation. Last week, the Prime Minister announced that disposable vapes are set to be banned as part of plans to tackle the rising number of young people taking up vaping - measures will also be introduced to prevent vapes being marketed at children and to target under-age sales. However, there are concerns that banning the sale of vapes will encourage children to seek them elsewhere. Emma Barnett is joined by the BBC’s Hayley Hassall and the Children’s Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza. Apparently, if you’re a middle-aged couple and your sex life has faded away you may be experiencing the “couplepause”. The therapist and writer Lucy Cavendish joins Emma to explain what this is and how to get the spark back. Actor Phoebe Dynevor, best known as Daphne Bridgerton in the Netflix blockbuster series, joins Emma in the studio. Her most recent role, as an ambitious hedge fund manager in the film Fair Play, has earned her a nomination for the EE Rising Star award at this year’s Baftas.New sonar images from deep in the Pacific Ocean might have located the wreckage of Amelia Earhart’s missing plane. Has Earhart’s disappearance finally been solved, or has the obsession with this mystery distracted us from the pioneering woman herself? Pilot Katherine Moloney and historian Dr Darren Reid discuss Amelia Earhart, her legacy, and women in aviation today.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Emma Pearce

Emma Grede, a native East Londoner, now a thriving businesswoman in the US, is known for her entrepreneurial prowess and successful collaborations with the Kardashian sisters. Emma is a driving force behind iconic brands like Good American and Skims. She will soon be making her mark as a guest investor on an upcoming episode of BBC’s Dragons' Den, and she joins Emma to explain how she's learned more from her business failures, and what she looks for in a potential investment.The Welsh government has intervened in the running of the fire service in South Wales - after a toxic culture of misogyny and sexual harassment was uncovered during a review. In what's been called an unprecedented move, four Government-appointed commissioners have been brought in to restructure management. Emma speaks to Hannah Blythyn, Deputy Minister for social partnership and Member of the Senedd. Crystal Hefner, spent almost ten years of her life inside the Playboy Mansion after meeting founder and editor of Playboy magazine - Hugh Hefner - when she was 21. She became one of his infamous ‘girlfriends’ before marrying him, travelled the world and attended lavish parties. She has now written a book, Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself, in which she provides an insight into her time spent at the mansion and her experiences of beauty standards and objectification. New research suggests social media algorithms prioritise serving harmful and misogynistic content to young people – with a fourfold increase across just five days shown to the study’s test personas. How do we keep young people safe online – particularly on social media sites? Emma discusses this issue with the report author, Dr Kaitlyn Regehr and Will Gardner from online safety organisation Childnet.Presented by Emma Barnett Producer: Louise Corley Studio Engineer: Steve Greenwood

Rhianon Bragg was held hostage at gunpoint by her ex-boyfriend, Gareth Wyn Jones, for eight hours. He was sentenced in 2020 for stalking, false imprisonment, making threats to kill and possession of a firearm. Now, despite a parole board panel saying they are not satisfied it would be safe, he is being released from prison. Rhianon speaks to Emma about how her relationship with Wyn Jones developed, what happened at the end, and how she feels about him coming out of prison.The Prime Minister has upset some people by seeming to take a bet with TalkTV presenter Piers Morgan over his Rwanda policy. Rishi Sunak told presenter Rachel Burden on BBC 5 Live that he wanted to show his commitment to his immigration policy. Rachel joins Emma to discuss what the bet tells us, alongside Isabel Hardman, Assistant Editor at the Spectator.Ultrarunner Allie Bailey is the first woman to have run the length of the Panama Canal and she’s completed more than 200 marathons and almost 80 ultramarathons. She joins Emma to talk about her new book “There is No Wall” which details how she was doing a lot of her running at the height of her struggles with alcoholism, depression and mental breakdowns.What can women artists’ work tell us about their addictions? Sally Marlow is a Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London. She’s been looking at five women artists for a BBC Radio 3 series, Women of Substance, to find out what their work can tell us about their addictions. She joins Emma to discuss researching Billie Holiday in particular, and what the lyrics of Billie's songs reveal about alcohol use in women.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lottie Garton

Ambika Mod stars as Emma in the new Netflix adaptation of David Nicholls’ much-loved novel One Day. She acts opposite Leo Woodall as Dex, and their comedic romance plays out over 14 episodes and 20 years. You may have seen Ambika as Shruti, the junior doctor with a pivotal plot line in the BBC labour ward drama This is Going to Hurt. She joins Anita Rani in the Woman’s Hour studio to talk about now taking the lead.A new programme on Radio 4, Forgiveness: Stories from the Front Line, explores how you survive and restore your life, when something truly appalling is done to you. Anita is joined by the founder of the Forgiveness Project, Marina Cantacuzino and Marian Partington, whose sister Lucy was murdered by Fred and Rosemary West in 1973.Grandparent antenatal classes give grandparents-to-be the chance to brush up on practical skills and get key advice on how to look after young kids again. Anita talks to Dr Francesca Dooley, founder of Happy Parents Happy Baby where she runs grandparent classes, and Francesca’s mother Beverly Bonora who was in her first ever class.Taylor Swift has made history at the Grammys by winning album of the year for a fourth time. Billie Elish, SZA and Miley Cyrus also took home major awards. Even Jay-Z got in on the act, calling out the fact that his wife Beyonce has never won album of the year. Anita discusses with Jude Rogers, arts and culture journalist for the Guardian and Observer and Tschepo Mokoena, freelance culture writer and author of Beyonce, Lives of Musicians.

The creator of Sex and the City, Candace Bushnell, whose column in the New York Observer was the inspiration behind the TV series, joins Anita in the studio. The real-life Carrie Bradshaw is bringing her one-woman show about creating the hit series to the West End and then doing a UK tour.After 20 years of silence, prize-winning author Lisa St Aubin de Terán is back with a new book. Aged 16, Lisa married a Venezuelan landowner-turned-bank robber; she eventually ran away from him with her young daughter only to end up trapped in a castle with the Scottish poet George MacBeth. From there she eloped to Italy and in 2004 she settled in north Mozambique, establishing the Teran Foundation to develop community tourism. She lived there until 2022 when a cyclone took the roof off her house, and returned to London with a bag full of manuscripts including her memoir, Better Broken than New. She joins Emma in studio.A new study says that an ideological gap has opened up between young men and women in countries on every continent. These increasingly different world views could have far-reaching consequences. One of the leading researchers in gender studies Dr Alice Evans, Senior Lecturer in the Social Science of Development at King’s College London tells Emma why Gen Z is two generations, not one. Emma also speaks to Professor Rosie Campbell, Director of the Global Institute for Women's Leadership at King's College London.Emma talks to the TV presenter Kaye Adams about her 10-year battle with HMRC over their claim she owed almost £125,000 in unpaid taxes. Best known for her role on the Loose Women panel show, she also hosts the morning show on BBC Radio Scotland. She says the protracted legal case has left her feeling “utterly, utterly beat up and gaslit”, despite her vindication.From cute cat memes to plush toys, a new exhibition at Somerset House explores the power of cuteness in contemporary culture. But is buying into a cute aesthetic regressive or even sexist, or can cute be reclaimed as a form of protest? And how would you feel, as a grown woman, about being labelled 'cute' or 'adorable'? To discuss, Emma is joined by Dr Isabel Galleymore, a consultant on the Cute exhibition; and the journalist Vicky Spratt.Have you ever thought about where your name came from? Perhaps you were named after a favourite relative, a character in a movie or maybe your parents just liked the sound of it. Photographer Deirdre Brennan wanted to mark the 1500th anniversary of Saint Brigid, one of the patron saints of Ireland. To do this, she photographed Brigids all over Ireland and asked them how they felt about their name. She joins Emma to discuss the project - as does one of the Brigids involved in her project - Brigid McDonnell, a sheep farmer from County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Anita Rani speaks to Roopam Carroll, who recently sold her nursery business, and Ellen Broome, Head of Family and Childcare at the charity CORAM.Since the abdication of Queen Margarethe II of Denmark, there are no Queens in Europe. This is the first time this has happened since Queen Isabella of Spain was crowned in 1833. Will this make a difference in Europe? What difference have previous Queens in Europe made? Royal commentator Caroline Aston and journalist Emily Andrews join Anita to discuss. The creator of Sex and the City, Candace Bushnell, whose column in the New York Observer was the inspiration behind the TV series, joins Anita in the studio. The real-life Carrie Bradshaw is bringing her one-woman show about creating the hit series to the West End and then doing a UK tour. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lottie Garton

Nine people have been injured after a man threw a 'corrosive substance' over a mother and her two girls in Clapham, south London, yesterday evening. The family, three responding police offices and three other people who tried to help were taken to hospital after the attack. Witnesses described a "horrific" scene. Police are searching for the subject. Emma Barnett spoke to a solicitor Ayesha Nayyar, who has previously represented victims of acid crime. Emma talks to the TV presenter Kaye Adams about her 10-year battle with HMRC over their claim she owed almost £125,000 in unpaid taxes. Best known for her role on the Loose Women panel show, she also hosts the morning show on BBC Radio Scotland. She says the protracted legal case has left her feeling “utterly, utterly beat up and gaslit”, despite her vindication.A new study says that an ideological gap has opened up between young men and women in countries on every continent. These increasingly different world views could have far-reaching consequences. One of the leading researchers in gender studies Dr Alice Evans, Senior Lecturer in the Social Science of Development at King’s College London tells Emma why Gen Z is two generations, not one. Emma also speaks to Professor Rosie Campbell, Director of the Global Institute for Women's Leadership at King's College London.Have you ever thought about where your name came from? Perhaps you were named after a favourite relative, a character in a movie or maybe your parents just liked the sound of it. Photographer Deirdre Brennan wanted to mark the 1500th anniversary of Saint Brigid, one of the patron saints of Ireland. To do this, she photographed Brigids all over Ireland and asked them how they felt about their name. She joins Emma to discuss the project - as does one of the Brigids involved in her project - Brigid McDonnell, a sheep farmer from County Antrim, Northern Ireland.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Steve Greenwood

Former Northern Ireland First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster joins the programme to talk about a return to devolution in Northern Ireland and the fourth anniversary of Brexit. Author Fiona Williams is out with her debut novel, The House of Broken Bricks. She joins Emma to talk about the ways in which the book relates to her real life in terms of navigating issues of race and belonging, and why she wanted to write a story so intertwined with nature. Thames Valley Police has referred itself to the policing regulator after a BBC investigation revealed that officers ridiculed an assault victim while watching body-worn video that showed her groin. Emma speaks with the BBC's Noel Titheradge about his investigation as well as Harriet Wistrich about misogyny in the UK police force.It’s out with heels and in with trainers. That’s what is happening in France where, according to a poll, women are falling out of love with high heels - instead going for a chunky boot or comfortable trainer. To discuss this fashion shift, Emma is joined by Professor of Fashion History Dr Serena Dyer and French shoe designer Marie Laffont.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Cece Armstrong Studio Manager: Duncan Hannant

A new report comes out today by the Women and Equalities Select Committee about the serious problems faced by women in the music industry. To tell Emma Barnett what's in it is the Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee and Conservative MP Caroline Nokes. Emma also gets the reaction of academic and business research consultant Vick Bain.Sky Sports presenter Jo Wilson has been gracing our screens since 2011, but what you might not have known is that Jo has also lived with Stage 3C cervical cancer. After a difficult birth experience in 2020, she was reluctant to book a smear test, but convinced herself to do it 19 months later leading to her diagnosis. Her treatment was successful, and she is now speaking out about her personal experience in a bid to encourage women to take up their smear tests. NHS data shows that almost a third of women in England did not attend their test last year. Emma speaks to Jo and to Theresa Freeman-Wang, consultant gynaecologist and clinical advisor to Jo’s Trust.After 20 years of silence, prize-winning author Lisa St Aubin de Terán is back with a new book. Aged 16, Lisa married a Venezuelan landowner-turned-bank robber; she eventually ran away from him with her young daughter only to end up trapped in a castle with the Scottish poet George MacBeth. From there she eloped to Italy and in 2004 she settled in north Mozambique, establishing the Teran Foundation to develop community tourism. She lived there until 2022 when a cyclone took the roof off her house, and returned to London with a bag full of manuscripts including her memoir, Better Broken than New. She joins Emma in studio.Last week we spoke about the record low birth rate in China as the country struggles to revert effects of the decades long one-child-policy. Today, we turn our attention to Japan. The population of the world’s third biggest economy has been declining for 16 years. An ageing workforce, combined with the country's strict immigration control, has, among other things, led to significant labour shortages. Could women be Japan’s hidden asset? Emma speaks to Moeka Iida, The Economist’s reporter and researcher in Tokyo.

Following the speech last week by the head of the British Armed Forces calling for a new ‘citizen army’, we look at what this could look like and what role women would play. Emma Barnett speaks to former RAF Group Captain Kathleen Sherit the author of Women on the Front Line, and to Diane Allen, a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel. It's been reported that the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak fasts for 36 hours at the start of each week. He is said to stop eating by 5pm on a Sunday and doesn't permit himself to touch food again until 5am on a Tuesday, and allows himself to drink only black coffee and water. It is said that he has followed this practice for years. Emma is joined by Dr Saira Hameed to discuss fasting and how men and women should approach it differently. Amy and Anu are identical twins, but just after they were born, they were taken from their mother and sold to separate families. Years later they connected online and realised they were among thousands of babies in Georgia stolen from hospitals and sold, some as recently as 2005. Emma speaks to one of the twins, Amy Khvitia, and also Fay Nurse, a BBC journalist behind a new documentary, Georgia’s Stolen Children. From cute cat memes to plush toys, a new exhibition at Somerset House explores the power of cuteness in contemporary culture. But is buying into a cute aesthetic regressive or even sexist, or can cute be reclaimed as a form of protest? And how would you feel, as a grown woman, about being labelled 'cute' or 'adorable'? To discuss, Emma is joined by Dr Isabel Galleymore, a consultant on the Cute exhibition; and the journalist Vicky Spratt.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Emma Pearce

Hundreds of doctors - led by campaign group Long Covid Doctors for Action - are planning to sue the NHS over claims that inadequate PPE provision has left them with Long Covid. Dr Nathalie MacDermott, joins Emma Barnett to discuss. Do you pay your children to do the chores around the house? The journalist Helen Carroll faced an online backlash after revealing she pays her son £40 a month to load the dishwasher everyday. To navigate the thorny issue, Sue Atkins, Parenting Coach and Author of Parenting Made Easy joins Anita Rani to discuss. In an exclusive interview, Emma speaks to the academic Professor Jo Phoenix who has won an unfair dismissal claim against the Open University after she was compared with “a racist uncle at the Christmas table” because of her gender-critical beliefs. China is experiencing its biggest population drop in six decades. In an attempt to recover from the ‘one-child policy’ introduced in 1980, the government are now urging women to have more children. But a large amount of women in China are saying no – they don’t want children, or to get married. Ty Dr Ye Liu from King’s College London and Cindy Yu, host of the Spectator’s Chinese Whispers podcast, discuss. Rapper Princess Superstar speaks to Emma about finally hitting the big time after a 30-year career in the music industry. Her song, Perfect, features on the soundtrack of the blockbuster film Saltburn. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

False beliefs about what does and doesn’t constitute rape are more deeply ingrained in young people than we might think. The Crown Prosecution Service has conducted research into what these misconceptions are, and the impact they’re having on the justice system when it comes to rape convictions. Anita Rani is joined by Baljit Ubhey from the CPS and Andrea Simon from End Violence Against Women to hear more.Julia Bullock is an American classical singer. Her debut solo album, Walking in the Dark, was nominated for a Grammy award. Next week, she is bringing her mixed-media project History’s Persistent Voice to London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. It shines a light on the words, work and experiences of Black American and British artists, and includes new songs commissioned from leading Black women composers. She joins Anita to discuss her music, her influences and her passions. Journalist Helen Carroll faced a backlash online when she revealed she pays her son £40 a month to load the dishwasher. This sparked a discussion - were you paid as a child to do household chores? Or do you think children should just be doing things around the house anyway without money? Parenting coach and psychologist Sue Atkins joins Anita to discuss. Domino Day is a brand new series coming to BBC Three which combines the world of modern dating with the world of the supernatural. Series writer Lauren Sequeira speaks to Anita about why the show’s themes of modern relationships and female empowerment are so important to her, and why she wanted to show witches in a whole new light. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lottie Garton

Hundreds of doctors - led by campaign group Long Covid Doctors for Action - are planning to sue the NHS over claims that inadequate PPE provision has left them with Long Covid, according to Sky News. One of those, Dr Nathalie MacDermott, joins Emma Barnett to discuss it. Emma is joined by the rapper Princess Superstar who, after a 30-year career, has finally hit the big time following her song, Perfect, featuring on the soundtrack for the blockbuster film Saltburn. Ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day, we speak to three Jewish women - one, a survivor who was born in a concentration camp - about how you keep teaching the lessons of the Holocaust as fewer and fewer survivors are around to tell their stories. The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is facing pressure to fix "unfair" child benefit rules. Campaigners like Martin Lewis have called for it to be a focus of the Budget in March as he says single income families are being penalised. Emma talks to the chair of the Treasury Select Committee, the Conservative MP Harriet Baldwin, and Tom Waters from the Institute for Fiscal Studies.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Emma Pearce

The Victim’s and Prisoner’s Bill heads to the House of Lords today for the Committee Stage. What is it trying to achieve, and what difference will it make to women? Emma is joined by the Independent London Victim’s Commissioner, Claire Waxman OBE, and a woman who will share her personal experience of a partner convicted of child sexual abuse who, under the current law, still had access to his daughter. China is experiencing its biggest population drop in six decades. In an attempt to recover from the ‘one-child policy’ introduced in 1980, the government are now urging women to have more children. But a large amount of women in China are saying no – they don’t want children, or to get married. To discuss this further, Emma is joined by Dr Ye Liu from King’s College London and Cindy Yu, host of the Spectator’s Chinese Whispers podcast. D-MER is a relatively unknown condition that could affect around nine percent of mothers who breastfeed. Emma speaks to Charlie Middleton from the University of Dundee, who is leading a study into the condition to find out more about it, and Beth Strachan, who has D-MER and is currently breastfeeding. The Oscar nominations are out, and many feel that there are some key women who haven’t made the list, but should have. Among these are Barbie director Greta Gerwig and actor Margot Robbie – although Ryan Gosling has been nominated for his role in the movie. There’s only one woman director nominated – Justine Triet. Are women being snubbed? Film journalist Karen Krizanovich joins Emma to discuss.Presented by Emma Barnett Producer: Louise Corley Studio Engineer: Donald MacDonald

In an exclusive interview, Emma Barnett speaks to the academic Professor Jo Phoenix who has won an unfair dismissal claim against the Open University after she was compared with “a racist uncle at the Christmas table” because of her gender critical beliefs.New York Times writer Amanda Taub brings us the latest news from the US Presidential race.Irish actor Sarah Greene on her new project, an eight-part series – Sexy Beast – which has just launched on Paramount+. And we hear about a campaign to get a new portrait of Margaret Bondfield, the first female government minister, commissioned and hung in Parliament with MP Alison McGovern and historian Professor Pam Cox.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Tim Heffer

Award-winning DJ Paulette has been in the music industry for more than 30 years. She got her start at the famous Haçienda nightclub in Manchester but has DJ'd all over the world. Her book, Welcome to the Club: The Life and Lessons of a Black Woman DJ, tells some of the tales of her career so far and shines a light on many other women in the electronic dance music industry. Paulette joins Emma Barnett.New guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to healthcare workers says that suspected illegal abortions should not be reported to the police. This guidance, which applies to England and Wales, follows some recent cases where women have been convicted of having illegal abortions. Emma is joined by former Chief Superintendent at the Metropolitan Police Parm Sandhu, and Associate Professor in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice at Durham University Dr Emma Milne to discuss.Buying second-hand clothes is fashionable again, thanks to online marketplaces like Vinted, Depop and eBay. Emma talks to Vinted co-founder Milda Mitkute about what it takes to turn an idea into a successful business and why she decided to leave the company in 2017 when her first child was born.Is the Government's key childcare promise to parents in trouble? One newspaper is reporting that thousands of parents are being warned they won't be able to access the offer of free childcare to under twos this year. Emma gets the view of providers from Neil Leitch, Chief Executive of the Early Years Alliance which represents 14,000 nurseries, pre-schools and childminders, and June O'Sullivan CEO of LEYF nurseries.

The Killing Eve star Jodie Comer joins us to discuss her latest film, The End We Start From. The protagonist is a new mum, who has to navigate a flooded Britain with her baby. Jodie also reflects on the powerful response to her play Prima Facie, and the impact of fame on her life.According to a new report by the charity Brainkind, up to one in two survivors of domestic abuse in the UK may be living with an undiagnosed brain injury. We speak to Steffy Bechelet from Brainkind and Dr Annemarie Burns, a consultant clinical neuro-psychologist.Vicky McClure joins us to discuss her new role as explosives expert Lana Washington in a new series of Trigger Point. How often do you feel weary and depleted? The burnout coach and historian Anna Schaffner discusses her book, Exhausted: An A-Z for the Weary.They were known as Israel’s “eyes on the border.” These were female Israeli border soldiers - who raised concerns about suspicious Hamas activity on the Gaza border in the run up to the October 7 attack - but those concerns went unheard by higher ranking officers. Hamas killed at least 1,200 people in that attack and took about 240 hostages, around 130 of whom are still being held. Since then, nearly 25,000 civilians have been killed in the Israeli bombardment that followed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. We speak to the BBC’s Alice Cuddy and the author Mary Ann Sieghart.The actor and activist Jameela Jamil has made headlines over the years for her provocative, sometimes sweary social media posts, often calling out celebrity culture for promoting unrealistic ideals. She reflects on cancel culture and her resolution to post online with more 'grace and empathy'.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lucy Wai Editor: Erin Riley

Vicky McClure is back on our screens as explosives expert Lana Washington in a new series of Trigger Point. Well known for her stand-out roles in Line of Duty and This is England, Vicky also set up the Dementia Choir, and recently received a MBE for services to drama and charity.The classic teen drama film Mean Girls has been remade as a musical film and it opens in the UK today.  Author Holly Bourne, who writes young adult fiction, and film critic Christina Newland discuss its enduring themes.2024 will be the biggest year ever for democracy as more than four billion people across the world go to the polls. To mark this historic milestone, the FT has launched Democracy, 2024, a short film series to examine what democracy will look like in the year ahead. Anita Rani talks to FT editor Roula Khalaf and the comedian Aditi Mittal, who has contributed to the series.Dame Professor Lesley Regan, the Women’s Health Ambassador for England, gives an update on the progress of the Government’s Women's Health Strategy.And the latest on the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan with BBC journalist Zarghuna Kargar.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Emma Harth

The actor Jodie Comer became a household name playing the glorious baddie Villanelle in BBC drama Killing Eve, and she has gone on to win multiple awards for her work on screen and stage. She joins Emma Barnett now to talk about her latest film, The End We Start From. Think 28 Days Later meets The Day After Tomorrow with a twist – the protagonist is a new mum, who has to navigate a flooded Britain with her baby.Football commentators Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward are reported to be considering legal action against Joey Barton for his recent online criticisms of them. Eni Aluko has released a video on her Instagram speaking about the effect it has had on her. Where is the line between sexist bullying online and freedom of speech? Emma speaks to Henry Winter, Chief football writer at The Times and Seyi Akiwowo, founder of Glitch UK, a charity working to end online abuse, and author of How to Stay Safe Online.Olivia Attwood knows more than most about the financial – and emotional – cost of cosmetic treatments. The former Love Island contestant and star of The Only Way Is Essex has been open about the surgeries and 'tweakments' she has had. In her new ITV series The Price of Perfection, she goes behind the scenes to watch butts being lifted, lips being filled and breasts being enlarged. But she wants to make sure that teenage girls don’t make the mistakes she herself made.Da’Vine Joy Randolph has just won this year’s Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her portrayal of Mary Lamb in Alexander Payne’s new film The Holdovers. It’s about a teacher, pupil and head cook who end up spending Christmas together at a New England boarding school in the early 1970’s. Mary is grieving the loss of her son, who has been killed in Vietnam. Da’Vine has been tipped for more awards recognition to come, and she joins Emma in the Woman’s Hour studio.

The actress Jameela Jamil talks to Emma Barnett about her crusade for gentle exercise and body positivity as well as her new strategy for how she communicates on social media. She’s become one of the internet’s most prominent activists holding the beauty industry and celebrity culture to account for their unrealistic ideals with her provocative online posts. Her outspoken views have led to widely publicised social media spats which she says have left her with the desire to post with more “grace and empathy”. Best known for her role as Tahini in the Netflix series The Good Place she also hosts the podcast iWeigh which declares its “radical inclusivity” agenda where guests talk about what they “weigh” or value in life as opposed to their physical weight. New draft guidance from the Home Office appears to water down previously voted on laws about Safe Access Zones around abortion clinics. To talk about what this could mean for women seeking an abortion, and why the changes might be made, Emma is joined by Jo Gideon, Conservative MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central and Louise McCudden from MSI Reproductive Choices. They were known as Israel’s “eyes on the border.” These were female Israeli border soldiers - who raised concerns about suspicious Hamas activity on the Gaza border in the run up to the October 7 attack - but those concerns went unheard by higher ranking officers. Hamas killed at least 1,200 people in that attack and took about 240 hostages. Since then, more than 23,000 civilians have been killed in the Israeli bombardment that followed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Emma discusses with the BBC’s Alice Cuddy who reported on these soldiers and Mary Ann Sieghart, the journalist and author of “The Authority Gap: Why Women Are Still Taken Less Seriously Than Men and What We Can Do About it”The Traitors is back, we’re a few episodes into this second series of the hit reality TV show and things are hotting up at the Scottish castle, where a bunch of strangers are divided into traitors and ‘Faithful’ then compete to win up to £120,000.  Claudia Winkleman is the host who hand picks the traitors.  She joins Emma. Presented by Emma Barnett Producer: Louise Corley

The first female Radio 1 DJ Annie Nightingale has died at the age of 83. She was a huge trailblazer when it came to breaking down barriers for women in radio. To mark her death, we hear a clip from 2007 when Annie spoke to Martha Kearney on Woman’s Hour.Two female journalists who spent over a year in prison for covering the death of Mahsa Amini have been released on bail by Iranian authorities. Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi are appealing against their jail sentences and will remain out of prison until a decision is made. Emma Barnett is joined by Women's Affairs Journalist for the BBC World Service Ferenak Amidi to hear more.From Kourtney Kardashian to Sienna Miller, there’s been lots of recent examples of women who have kids early on in life, and then try to conceive with a new partner in their 40s and beyond. Journalist Grace Ackroyd has written candidly about her experience of this – she talks to Emma about having children again at a new stage in life, and the challenges she’s faced.Gladiators is back on our TV screens. The BBC’s reboot of the super popular 90s series was launched this weekend, with new games added to the show. We’ll hear the first impressions from one of the original Gladiators – Diane Youdale, better known as ‘Jet’, who joins Emma to talk about her own experience and advice she would give to the new female gladiators.Ahead of the US election this year, one woman has begun to challenge Donald Trump in the polls for who will be the Republican representative. To find out more about Nikki Haley, Emma is joined by Dr Leslie Vinjamuri, Director of the US and Americas programme at Chatham House, and Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill who is reporting live from this week’s Iowa caucuses. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lottie Garton

Up to one in two survivors of domestic abuse in the UK may be living with an undiagnosed brain injury. That's according to a new report by the charity Brainkind. Emma Barnett is joined by Steffy Bechelet from Brainkind and Dr Annmarie Burns, a Consultant Clinical Neuro-psychologist.How often do you feel weary and depleted? Or perhaps just plain exhausted? Anna Schaffner knows these feelings well. Now a coach specialising in helping the exhausted, in her previous life as an academic, as a Professor of Cultural History at the University of Kent, she suffered from burnout. She has now written a book, Exhausted: An A-Z for the Weary.Since 1 January, working parents in England have been able to apply for a code to access new free childcare hours for two-year-olds, which will then kick in on 1 April. The scheme is part of a significant investment in childcare announced by the Government. But one campaigning organisation has found that parents are facing major challenges in securing a code. Joining Emma is Lauren Fabianski from the campaign group Pregnant then Screwed who carried out the survey.After the Advertising Standards Authority banned a Calvin Klein poster featuring the singer FKA twigs for presenting her “as a stereotypical sexual object”, we’re asking, what determines whether an advert is objectifying? Sarah Golding, the CEO of The&Partnership and journalist Rebecca Cope join Emma.Last week, Jade Robertson woke up to find that one of the dresses from her fashion brand Little Lies had sold out overnight – after Taylor Swift was spotted wearing it. Jade joins Emma to talk about what this means for her and her fashion brand. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

Cush Jumbo is the award-winning actor known for her roles on the stage and screen, from The Good Fight to Macbeth. She joins Clare McDonnell to discuss starring in - and executive producing – the new crime thriller series Criminal Record. Cush stars as DS June Lenker, a police detective locked in a confrontation with an older detective, played by Peter Capaldi, over a historic murder conviction.For the first time, Royal Mail has dedicated set of stamps to a female pop group, to commemorate 30 years since the Spice Girls formed in 1994. Lauren Bravo, a culture journalist and author and DJ Yinka Bokinni joined Emma to talk about it.Last week on Woman’s Hour we heard the candid admission by the former Labour MP and Government Minister, Dame Joan Ruddock that she was ready to end her terminally ill husband's life using a pillow in a bid to end his pain. Her husband the former MP Frank Doran had been suffering from end stage bowel cancer in 2017, and she struggled to get him pain relief medication in the hours before he died. She is now calling for a free vote in the Commons to legalise assisted dying. The public debate around the subject has been revived in recent months by leading figures such as Esther Rantzen - who revealed that she is considering travelling to a Dignitas clinic in Switzerland if her cancer worsens. But others such as Baroness Ilora Finlay, a cross bench peer in the House of Lords and a palliative end of life care expert, are cautioning against a law change. She believes improved access to care and pain relief is the answer when people are dying rather than the taking of lethal drugs. She joins Clare McDonnell to reflect on the new push for a law change.Shere Hite - a name many people will remember, but some may not know. She was a pioneering feminist sex researcher who published her ground-breaking book, The Hite Report: A National Study of Female Sexuality in 1976. The book was seen by many as radical, changing prevailing notions about female sexuality. Shere went on to write and publish several more books, but endured intense and lasting criticism in the US, and eventually moved to Europe and renounced her American citizenship in 1995. She died in 2020. Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated Director, Nicole Newnham felt that despite how influential Shere had been in life, that she has since been forgotten. So Nicole produced the documentary, The Disappearance of Shere Hite, which is released in UK cinemas on January 12th. She joins Krupa to discuss it. As the number of pupils missing a significant amount of their education is about double the level it was before the pandemic, Clare is joined by Ellie Costello, the executive director of Square Peg, a not-for-profit which helps families that struggle with school attendance.

A pilot scheme to allow journalists to report cases from three family courts in England and Wales is to be extended to almost half of the courts. From the end of January, coverage of cases at 16 more family court centres in England will be permitted. This means 19 of the 43 centres in England and Wales will be part of the Transparency Pilot. Families and individual social workers will be anonymous under the scheme. Krupa Padhy talks to Louise Tickle, a journalist who specialises in reporting on family courts and leads a project for the Bureau of Investigative journalism supporting other journalists to do the same, and Angela Frazer Wicks, Chair of the Family Rights Group and a parent with experience of the family justice system.Popular psychology tends to define a quarter-life crisis as the confusion, stress and anxiety individuals in their 20s and 30s feel about their goals, beliefs and relationships as they seek direction in life and look to find their place in the world. Satya Doyle Byock, a clinical psychotherapist based in the US is the author of the new book Quarterlife: The Search for Self in Early Adulthood and she joins Krupa to talk about young people's struggles with the push and pull of meaning and stability.Northern Soul is commonly associated with Northern England and the 1970s. But mother and daughter duo Levanna and Eve are turning this on its head. Through Levanna’s viral dance videos on social media and Eve’s DJing at their events in Bristol, they’re bringing Northern groove to the South West, all whilst introducing a new generation to the genre. They speak to Krupa about the release of their new album, Wonderful Night.Shere Hite was a pioneering feminist sex researcher who published The Hite Report: A National Study of Female Sexuality in 1976. The book was seen by many as radical, changing prevailing notions about female sexuality. It laid out the views of 3,500 women on sexuality and the female orgasm, but it was derided by some, including Playboy, which dubbed it the "Hate Report". Shere went on to write and publish several more books, but endured intense and lasting criticism in the US, and eventually moved to Europe and renounced her American citizenship in 1995. She died in 2020. Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated director Nicole Newnham felt that despite how influential Shere had been in life, that she has since been forgotten. So, Nicole produced the documentary, The Disappearance of Shere Hite, which is in UK cinemas from 12 January. She joins Krupa to discuss it.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Duncan HannantPresenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Duncan Hannant

Farah Naz, the aunt of murdered law graduate Zara Aleena, tells of her concerns that her niece’s killer has allegedly been caught having sex with a prison worker. Jordan McSweeney is serving a life sentence at high security Belmarsh Prison in South London.For the first time, Royal Mail has dedicated set of stamps to a female pop group, to commemorate 30 years since the Spice Girls formed in 1994. We talk to Lauren Bravo, a culture journalist and DJ Yinka Bokinni. We hear about the start of a new landmark Radio 4 documentary series called Child which follows a child’s development from fertilisation to first birthday from its creator India Rakusen.There’s been a surge in the number of scabies cases and experts are warning there’s an acute shortage of treatments which is turning it into a major public health threat. Emma Barnett talks to Dr Tess McPherson about who is most at risk from catching it and how best to avoid it.And we talk to barrister Harriet Johnson about a study which suggests rape convictions are 20% less likely in cases where victims give pre-recorded evidence. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Emma Harth

Woman’s Hour investigates the cosmetic surgery clinic taking legal action when patients post unfavourable reviews. Kate Kronenbach tells reporter Melanie Abbott she was disappointed when she had an operation to remove fat from her arms after losing 10 stone, and received a solicitor’s letter when she wrote about her experience on the Trustpilot website. Action has also been taken against five others. The Free Speech Union is supporting them in their case. Clare McDonnell discusses the story with Melanie and speaks to the Union and to patient campaigner Dawn Knight. Is speed-dating making a comeback? Apathy over dating apps seems to be pushing both men and women towards the kind of speed dating that was so popular in the nineties. But is it better than online dating? And does it work? Clare is joined by writer Radhika Sanghani and relationship counsellor Suzie Hayman to discuss.Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina won a controversial fourth consecutive term in Parliamentary elections last elections last Sunday. The opposition party called it a 'sham' election, coming after mass arrests of her political opponents and refused to participate. The leader of the Opposition former PM Khaleda Zia – also female - is under house arrest. Between them the two women have dominated Bangladeshi politics since 1991. BBC News South Asian Correspondent, Samira Hussain, joins Clare McDonnell to tell us more about these leaders and the political situation in Bangladesh. Last week on Woman’s Hour we heard the candid admission by the former Labour MP and Government Minister, Dame Joan Ruddock that she was ready to end her terminally ill husband's life using a pillow in a bid to end his pain. Her husband the former MP Frank Doran had been suffering from end stage bowel cancer in 2017, and she struggled to get him pain relief medication in the hours before he died. She is now calling for a free vote in the Commons to legalise assisted dying. The public debate around the subject has been revived in recent months by leading figures such as Esther Rantzen - who revealed that she is considering travelling to a Dignitas clinic in Switzerland if her cancer worsens; and the late Dame Diana Rigg, who made a recording before her death making the case for assisted dying. But others such as Baroness Ilora Finlay, a cross bench peer in the House of Lords and a palliative end of life care expert, are cautioning against a law change. She believes improved access to care and pain relief is the answer when people are dying rather than the taking of lethal drugs. She joins Clare McDonnell to reflect on the new push for a law change.Presented by Clare McDonnell Producer: Louise Corley

The number of midwives in England has increased by just 7% over the last year and some NHS Trusts in England have more than one in five midwifery jobs vacant, according to BBC research. The Royal College of Midwives says staffing gaps have to close. The BBC’s Health Correspondent Catherine Burns joins Clare McDonnell to talk about what her investigation into maternity units in England has discovered, and to share the story of Farzana, who had to give birth on her own after midwives said they were too busy to answer her calls.Carole Stone must have one of the best address books ever. A former producer of BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions, for years Carole has run 'salons' and parties bringing together hundreds of interesting people - politicians, actors, journalists. Carole’s partner, the TV broadcaster Richard Lindley, died four years ago. Carole joins Clare to discuss how and why she is looking for another soulmate at the age of 81. Could the next leader of North Korea be a woman? Clare gets the latest from lead correspondent at NK News, Jeongmin Kim, and hears more about what life is like for women on the ground with North Korea expert, Professor Hazel Smith.As the number of pupils missing a significant amount of their education is about double the level it was before the pandemic, Clare is joined by Ellie Costello, the executive director of Square Peg, a not-for-profit which helps families that struggle with school attendance. It’s 60 years this week since Jackie, the magazine for teenage girls, was first published. At its peak, it was selling more than a million copies a week. To celebrate the anniversary, Clare is joined by Nina Myskow, Jackie’s first female editor, and Wendy Rigg, a teenage fan who achieved her dream of working on Jackie.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Lottie Garton

Cush Jumbo is the award-winning actor known for her roles on the stage and screen, from The Good Fight to Macbeth. She joins Clare McDonnell to discuss starring in - and executive producing – the new crime thriller series Criminal Record. Cush stars as DS June Lenker, a police detective locked in a confrontation with an older detective, played by Peter Capaldi, over a historic murder conviction.A BBC investigation into one of Africa’s most influential pastors has uncovered hundreds of allegations of abuse, including a number of British victims. TB Joshua, who founded the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Nigeria, built an evangelical empire that drew presidents, Premier League footballers and millions of followers from across the globe - including from towns and cities across the UK. Multiple victims claim they repeatedly tried to raise the alarm with British authorities, including the Foreign Office, but an adequate investigation “never took place”. Two UK survivors of his abuse - Rae and Anneka - join Clare to discuss their experiences as ‘disciples’, why they left and the law changes they hope will result from this exposure.The Post Office Horizon scandal is once more dominating the headlines. Today, a petition calling for the former Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells to lose her CBE has received more than one million signatures, and yesterday the Prime Minister told the BBC the Government was reviewing options to help victims of the scandal. More than 700 branch managers were convicted of false accounting, theft and fraud based on faulty software. Currently, a public inquiry into the scandal is ongoing and the Metropolitan Police is investigating the Post Office over potential fraud offences arising from the prosecutions. One of the women who was falsely accused was Jo Hamilton. Her story has been told in the ITV drama Mr Bates vs. The Post Office, where she was played by the actor Monica Dolan. Jo joins Clare.What do you do if your child refuses to go to school? Today, the Government is expected to announce funding for a new initiative aimed at tackling school absences in England. More than a fifth of secondary school pupils in England are persistently absent. The new scheme will see funding for school attendance mentors, an initiative which has been trialled in a pilot by the charity Barnardos. Clare speaks to Nadine Good from the charity, and hears from head teacher Simon Kidwell.

Police are investigating what is possibly the first crime of its kind: a British schoolgirl playing a game in the metaverse was allegedly sexually assaulted by a group of online strangers. Given that this happened in a virtual reality game, it is not yet clear whether there is any crime here to prosecute. We hear from Helen Rumbelow from The Times, and her colleague Sean Russell, who has gone into the metaverse as both a man and a woman, and was struck by how different it was.How much of your daily life do you spend negotiating? Perhaps at work, or with your children – or even in-laws? Mum and a mic on Instagram, Jane Dowden, discusses the negotiations she has with her twins, and clinical psychologist Catherine Hallissey tells us what goes on in our brains while we’re negotiating, and the best way to do so with family.Is farming getting easier for women? New research out this week suggests that women working in agriculture are finding life worse now than they did 10 years ago. This comes as more women are showing an interest in pursuing farming as a career – with some agricultural colleges enrolling record numbers of girls onto their courses. We hear from Emily Norton, a female farmer and agricultural commentator, as well as Bridgette Baker, a young farmer who recently graduated, to find out their experiences in farming.Violinist Izzy Judd trained at the Royal Academy of Music and was an original member of the string quartet Escala, who shot to fame on Britain’s Got Talent in 2008. She met her husband Harry on the McFly Wonderland tour. Following marriage and three small children, Izzy has written two books - Dare to Dream and Mindfulness for Mums. She has now returned to her love of playing the violin, with a forthcoming EP - Moments, and a single - Somewhere in My Memory. The Storm We Made is a new book by the debut author Vanessa Chan. Set in what we know today as Malaysia across two timelines - British colonialism and Japanese colonialism - it follows bored housewife Cecily who risks it all to become a spy for a general. But her decisions have huge repercussions for her and her family. Vanessa Chan tells us about her book which was fought over in a seven-way auction by publishers in the UK.Steph Daniels gave up hockey in her 30s to teach PE and English and manage an all-female synth pop group called Zenana. However, in her 70s, she saw an advert for Bedford Hockey Club and decided to dust off her sticks. Since then, she’s even attended a trial for the over-70s England team and vows to try again next year. She tells us about reigniting old passions.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed

Female artists dominated the 2023 music scene. New figures from the British Phonographic Institute reveal that Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Raye, Dua Lipa, Ellie Goulding and many more - spent a record-breaking 31 weeks in the number one spot in the UK Singles Chart. But that’s not all... they had seven of the top 10 singles and even took the top vinyl album spot. Why was 2023 so good for female artists? And will it continue? We ask global music business lecturer and podcaster, Karlyn King, and music journalist Jo Kendall.Domestic Abuse Commissioner Nicole Jacobs says new Government plans to get rid of shorter jail sentences in England and Wales put women at risk. The new sentencing bill currently making its way through Parliament aims to give what are known as suspended sentences where people may have instead been given jail terms of 12 months or less. Estimates from the Office for National Statistics show around 2.4 million people - 1.7 million of those being women - suffered from domestic abuse in the year to March 2022.We're a few days into the new year - and maybe you're trying to start some new healthy habits, or even hygiene habits. And for some that's desperately needed - a new survey from the bathroom suppliers Showers to You shows that out of 2,200 UK residents, almost one in ten only wash their towels twice a year. 5% of men have admitted to washing towels once a year - compared to 1% of women. Professor Sally Bloomfield from the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene explains what we should be doing to protect ourselves and others.Is farming getting easier for women? New research out today suggests that women working in agriculture are finding life worse now than they did 10 years ago. This comes as more women are showing an interest in pursuing farming as a career – with some agricultural colleges enrolling record numbers of girls onto their courses. Claire McDonnell speaks to Emily Norton, a female farmer and agricultural commentator, as well as Bridgette Baker, a young farmer who recently graduated, to find out their experiences in farming.Women’s Health magazine is an iconic brand in the UK and read globally by millions of people monthly. Women’s Health Editor-in-Chief Claire Sanderson has just made history as the first woman globally to also be appointed Editor-in-Chief of Men's Health. Claire joins Woman’s Hour to discuss what it means to be a woman editing a men’s magazine, whether there is a crossover with what women and men are reading and, in an age where we’re worried about body image, are these magazines useful?Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Kirsty Starkey Studio Manager: Duncan Hannant

Katherine Parkinson has graced our TV screens for almost two decades, from Doc Martin and The IT Crowd to Humans and Here We Go. Now she has a comedy drama airing on ITV called Significant Other, in which she plays one half of an odd couple - neighbours who meet in highly unusual circumstances. She joins Clare McDonnell to discuss. Former Labour MP and government Minister Dame Joan Ruddock tells Clare about her call for a free vote in the Commons to legalise assisted dying. She admitted she was ready to end her terminally ill husband’s life to stop his pain. Our New Year's day programme on negotiating provoked one listener to write to us: 'I would love you to cover negotiations between carers and their parent with dementia. Another world! As is negotiating between carer and their siblings'. Professor June Andrews, who’s a fellow of the Royal College of Nursing and an author of Carers and Caring, and Dr Lis Boulton, Health and Care Manager at the charity Age UK, discuss. The Storm We Made is a new book by the debut author Vanessa Chan. Set in what we know today as Malaysia across two timelines - British colonialism and Japanese colonialism - it follows bored housewife Cecily who risks it all to become a spy for a general. But her decisions have huge repercussions for her and her family. Vanessa Chan joins Clare to discuss her book which was fought over in a seven-way auction by publishers in the UK. Steph Daniels gave up hockey in her 30s to teach PE and English and manage an all-female synth pop group called Zenana. However, in her 70s, she saw an advert for Bedford Hockey Club and decided to dust off her sticks. Since then, she’s even attended a trial for the over-70s England team and vows to try again next year. She joins Clare to talk about reigniting old passions.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Dianne McGregor

A new play - Shakespeare’s Women - transports ten of Shakespeare’s female characters from the 16th century to 2024, placing them in the same domestic abuse support group. Written by Lorien Haynes, this dark comedy gradually exposes each woman’s darkest secrets and asks what would happen if these protagonists survived their men and traditional narratives, to become flesh and blood today? Lorien and the director Jude Kelly, join Emma Barnett in the Woman’s Hour studio.Violinist Izzy Judd trained at the Royal Academy of Music and was an original member of the string quartet Escala, who shot to fame on Britain’s Got Talent in 2008. She met her husband Harry on the McFly Wonderland tour. Following marriage and three small children, Izzy has written two books - Dare to Dream and Mindfulness for Mums. She has now returned to her love of playing the violin, with a forthcoming EP - Moments, and a single - Somewhere in My Memory. Izzy joins Emma to talk about her music and motherhood.Police are investigating what is possibly the first crime of its kind: a British schoolgirl playing a game in the metaverse was allegedly sexually assaulted by a group of online strangers. Given that this happened in a virtual reality game, it is not yet clear whether there is any crime here to prosecute. Emma is joined by Helen Rumbelow from The Times and her colleague Sean Russell, who has gone into the metaverse as both a man and a woman, and was struck by how different it was.In 2015, BAFTA-winning film-maker Leslee Udwin decided that making programmes to raise awareness about issues like rape was not enough for her. Her investigation India’s Daughter - about Jyoti Singh Pandey who was raped, tortured and killed by six men on a bus in Delhi in 2012 – asked why men rape women. Leslee spoke to one of the attackers, who blamed the victim. Leslee decided to campaign for a revolution in education, not just in India, but in the UK and theoretically, every country. Her aim is to equip all children with the tools to ‘think equal,’ and reduce violence against women. She joins Emma.

The names of Jeffrey Epstein's associates are likely to be published today, after a judge in the US ordered the release of court documents. Epstein took his own life after he was accussed of sexually abusing and trafficking underage girls. Names connected to him have previously been anonymised as John or Jane Doe; but now around 170 people, mostly men, will have their association with the former financier made public. Joan Smith, journalist and author, and Georgina Calvert-Lee, an equality lawyer at Bellevue Law, tell Emma Barnett what the list will mean.Lavinia Greenlaw is one of the country's leading poets and has now published a selected edition of her work, covering three decades of writing. She tells Emma about her new role as poetry editor at Faber, the first woman to hold the position. She is now the custodian of a back catalogue that includes TS Eliot, Seamus Heaney and Ted Hughes, and the gatekeeper for aspiring poets of the next generation.It is ten years since journalist Alison O’Reilly revealed that up to 796 babies were buried in a mass, unmarked grave in the grounds of a former mother and baby home in Galway in Ireland. The Irish government has promised compensation but none has been paid out. Is this now about to change? Alison joins Emma to discuss the latest developments.And how far would you go to help a friend? In Lindsay Duncan's new drama, Truelove, on Channel 4, a drunken reunion at a funeral leads a group of friends to make a pact: they will support each other in assisted dying rather than let a friend suffer alone. Lindsay tells Emma how a thriller starring a cast in their 70s and 80s is turning the police procedural on its head.Producer: Hannah Sander Presenter: Emma Barnett

A special Woman's Hour episode all about women and negotiation. Nicky Perfect is the former Deputy Head of the elite New Scotland Yard Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Unit. She has travelled the world teaching negotiation and working with the Government on international operations. She’ll be joining Hayley Hassall throughout the programme sharing her own experiences and advice, and taking us through how what she learnt can be used in our everyday lives.What has been the role of women in negotiations historically? Professor Margaret Macmillan specialises in British Imperial and International History from the 19th to the 20th Century. In those days, negotiations never involved women on paper – but that wasn’t always the case in reality. She joins Hayley to tell us more. Nomi Bar-Yaacov has been all over the world mediating and negotiating international conflicts. She’ll tell Hayley some of her experiences, as well as how these negotiations happen, and the different roles women play.How much of your daily life do you spend negotiating? Perhaps at work, or with your children – or even in-laws? Mum and a mic on Instagram, Jane Dowden, joins Hayley to chat through negotiations she has with her twins, and clinical psychologist Catherine Hallissey will talk about what goes on in our brains while we’re negotiating, and the best way to do so with family. At the end of last year, the largest negotiations including delegates from all over the world took place – COP28, the United Nation's climate summit. Rachel Kyte was there – and at several previous COPs as well, having served as special representative of the UN secretary-general and chief executive officer of Sustainable Development for All among other roles. She’ll tell Hayley all about how negotiations like COP work behind-the-scenes, including the strops and the drama that lead eventually to world-changing commitments. Presenter: Hayley Hassall Producer: Lottie Garton

Just 14% of care leavers go to university, compared to 47% of young people who didn’t grow up in care, according to a report by the think tank Civitas. The figures have barely changed over the past 10 years and at the current rate of progress, it will take 107 years to close the gap. Two care-experienced young women who did manage to smash the so-called care ceiling share their experiences with Krupa; Rebecca Munro, who graduated with a masters in business and is now an Education Liaison Officer at the University of St Andrews and Lucy Barnes, a barrister.Up to half of women will have a UTI at some point in their life. Earlier this year the NHS launched a new awareness campaign which the filmmaker and author Kate Muir has criticised for not mentioning vaginal oestrogen as a treatment. Kate joins Krupa Padhy alongside Dr Olivia Hum, a GP who is on the Council of the British Menopause Society.Actor Dame Siân Phillips’ life and career are explored in a new documentary, Siân Phillips at 90. She joins Krupa to talk about some of her acting roles, including playing Emmeline Pankhurst in a BBC drama in the 1970s, what it was like being married to Peter O’Toole, and what she’s doing now.Terri Lyne Carrington, a multi-Grammy-winning drummer and jazz artist, saw a distinct lack of songs by female composers being learned by jazz musicians - and decided to fix it. As a ‘gender justice advocate’ she decided to create a project, the New Standards: 101 Lead Sheets By Women Composers, and an accompanying album which won a Grammy, to shine a light on female jazz composers. She joins Nuala McGovern to discuss the project and jazz and gender justice on our special programme about women digging for the truth.Would you swap your trousers for a pair of statement knickers? Julia Hobbs from Vogue tells Krupa about the new trouser-less trend that's been sweeping the catwalks and social media, and the reactions she got when testing it out on the London Underground.As a nation we eat more sprouts than any other country in Europe but it’s a vegetable that, like marmite, divides opinion. Anita Rani is joined by plant pathologist Dr Lauren Chappell and the brassica research expert Dr Rachel Wells to explain how sprouts are being engineered to taste sweeter and withstand climate change. Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Hanna Ward Studio Manager: Donald MacDonald

Actor Dame Siân Phillips’ life and career are explored in a new documentary, Siân Phillips at 90. She joins Krupa Padhy to talk about some of her acting roles, including playing Emmeline Pankhurst in a BBC drama in the 1970s, what it was like being married to Peter O’Toole, and what she’s doing now.Clemency Burton-Hill MBE, is an award-winning broadcaster, podcaster, author, journalist and musician. She joins Krupa to discuss Journal of Wonder - the newest book in her bestselling Year of Wonder series - which takes you from January to December with classical music suggestions for every day.The power of attorney system can sometimes be abused to take advantage of older people. Krupa is joined by Carolyn Stephens, who shares her story of becoming estranged from her elderly father after he met a woman on a singles holiday. He later agreed to grant power of attorney to the woman, which resulted in him being placed in a care home without his family knowing. Journalist Sue Mitchell, who shares the details of the whole affair in an upcoming radio documentary, also joins Krupa to talk about why she wanted to tell Carolyn’s story. Co-founder of The Onion Collective, Jess Prendergast, tells Krupa how she and her friends created the social enterprise East Quay Watchet in Somerset after they were frustrated by the lack of opportunities in their local town. Plus local ‘craftivist’ Lyn Barlow tells us about exhibiting her textile art in the new gallery and what the new enterprise means to her. Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Lottie Garton

This summer, the region of Manipur in India made headlines after two women were viciously attacked and assaulted by a mob of men. With a similar case happening this month in the south west of the country, Krupa Padhy is joined by Geeta Pandey, BBC Women and Social Affairs Editor in Delhi, and Professor of Modern Indian History at the University of Nottingham, Dr Uditi Sen, to find out why these incidents continue to happen and whether anything is being done at a higher level to stop them.Just 14% of care leavers go to university, compared to 47% of young people who didn’t grow up in care, according to a report by the think tank Civitas. The figures have barely changed over the past 10 years and at the current rate of progress, it will take 107 years to close the gap. Two care-experienced young women who did manage to smash the so-called care ceiling share their experiences with Krupa; Rebecca Munro, who graduated with a masters in business and is now an Education Liaison Officer at the University of St Andrews and Lucy Barnes, a barrister.A freebirth is defined as giving birth without a healthcare professional in attendance. It is also known as an unassisted birth. Anecdotally, more women are making this choice in the UK - but why? What sort of experiences are they having and is it a safe and responsible decision? Krupa speaks to Naomi Nygaarda, a psychotherapist and a mother who chose to freebirth both her children and Mavis Kirkham, a retired midwife and emeritus Professor of Midwifery at Sheffield Hallam University and co-editor of Freebirth Stories, a collection of stories from women choosing to give birth this way. Would you swap your trousers for a pair of statement knickers? Julia Hobbs from Vogue tells Krupa about the new trouser-less trend that's been sweeping the catwalks and social media, and the reactions she got when testing it out on the London Underground.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Emma Harth

Up to half of women will have a UTI at some point in their life. Earlier this year the NHS launched a new awareness campaign which the filmaker and author Kate Muir has criticised for not mentioning vaginal oestrogen as a treatment. Kate joins Krupa Padhy alongside Dr Olivia Hum, a GP who is on the Council of the British Menopause Society. Dr Ronny Cheung speaks to Krupa about the double-edge sword of children building their immunities in their early years and the disruption caused to working parents and carers. What do parents need to know about caring for a child with seasonal colds and coughs? Sally Snowman is the last official lighthouse keeper in the United States and at the end of this month she will retire after two decades of service. She's the first and last woman to be the lighthouse keeper for Boston Light in Massachusetts. She joins Krupa to discuss what it's like being a lighthouse keeper and how she feels about leaving it.We know that Christmas and New Year, although filled with joy for some, can put a really big strain on relationships and it can be a time when people in an unhappy relationship decide to end them. But is there ever a good way to break up a relationship? And is it ever acceptable or kinder to end something by text? Krupa is joined by Olivia Petter, journalist and author of Millennial Love and Vicky Spratt, journalist and documentary maker.The award winning comedian, writer, playwright and actor Meera Syal – known for her comedy series such as Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars - has been talking to Ros Akins on Radio 4’s Media Show, we can hear some of that interview.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Emma Pearce

A special Woman’s Hour episode all about women who dig for the truth.Marianne Asher-Chapman from Holts Summit, Missouri has been searching for her daughter, Angie Yarnell, for more than 20 years now. Angie went missing in 2003. Her husband, Michael pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter in 2009. He was released in 2013. He has so far refused to tell Marianne or the authorities where he buried Angie - and Marianne has been unable to find her - despite physically digging in the property where she thinks her daughter may have been buried. She joins Nuala to discuss what she’s done to find her daughter and how she’s now helping other families with missing relatives.Terri Lyne Carrington, a multi-Grammy-winning drummer and jazz artist, saw a distinct lack of songs by female composers being learned by jazz musicians - and decided to fix it. As a ‘gender justice advocate’ she decided to create a project, the New Standards: 101 Lead Sheets By Women Composers, and an accompanying album which won a Grammy, to shine a light on female jazz composers. She joins Nuala to discuss the project and jazz and gender justice on our special programme about women digging for the truth.Many of us have stayed up late, spending the night scrolling through the internet, looking for clues or information we might be on the hunt for. But have you ever felt like you need help to find out something? Someone to confirm your worst fears or set you free? Alison Harris is a private investigator and began her career in investigations later in life. She speaks to Nuala about how being a PI isn’t always the glamorous job we imagine - and what it’s like to find the truth for people.In 2018, Helen McLaughlin and Karen Whitehouse got married in Amsterdam - but they had their day forever changed in their memories, after someone defecated on the floor of a toilet cubicle in the ladies’ bathroom. They enlisted the help of their friend, ‘Detective’ Lauren Kilby to find out who did it - and why. Karen Whitehouse, one of the brides, and ‘Detective’ Lauren join Nuala to talk about their unusual investigation - and why they couldn’t let it go.A name you may be familiar with when it comes to the search for the truth is historian, Philippa Langley. Known now by many as the woman who found King Richard III underneath a car park in Leicester, she’s turned her attention to his nephews, the missing Princes, who for centuries have been said to have been murdered by their uncle, King Richard, after he took the throne. Her new research suggests otherwise - and she joins Nuala to talk all about the search for the truth and what it means to her.

Our Christmas Day special programme is devoted to the Brussels sprout, with some incredible women for whom they’re playing a key role in their working lives. As a nation we eat more sprouts than any other country in Europe but it’s a vegetable that, like marmite, divides opinion. Originally from the Middle East, they came to Europe as an export of the Roman Empire. We hear how they became known as Brussels sprouts with the head of the Royal Horticultural Society Clare Matterson and the food historian Dr Sue Bailey. Plant pathologist Dr Lauren Chappell and the brassica research expert Dr Rachel Wells explain how sprouts are being engineered to taste sweeter and withstand climate change. Nutritionist Charlotte Hunter says the phytoestrogens in these mini cabbages mean women should be eating more of them. And for ideas about how to cook your sprouts, chef and broadcaster Andi Oliver and her daughter Miquita are on hand, as well as the chef Rosalind Rathouse.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager Neva Missirian

23-year-old Gracie Spinks was killed by a man who she had reported to the police for stalking her. The inquest into her death reported several failures by Derbyshire Police in how her case was handled. Now, her parents, Richard Spinks and Alison Ward, are campaigning for Gracie’s Law, which would ensure better training for police officers around stalking, and the appointment of independent stalking advocates. They tell us about Gracie and the changes they want to be made in her memory.Have you got a signature scent – and would you share where you got it from? Whether you are ‘gatekeeping’ your perfume or keen to spread the word about your favourite scent, smell is one of the most evocative and emotive of our senses. We talk all things fragrance with The Guardian's beauty editor, Sali Hughes, and Experimental Perfume Club’s Roshni Dhanjee - why we want to smell unique, gifting perfume, and why smell is so connected to our emotions and identity.‘There is an expectation that women like me – without children - will pick up the slack so the working mums can have time off with their families’. Those are the words of Sam Walsh who has worked every Boxing Day for the last 20 years. She decided to quit her retail job in October because she resented having to work over the Xmas period. Sam, who runs The Non Mum Network Facebook group and website, says working parents shouldn’t be given priority. Kelly Simmons has recently left the Football Association after 32 years with the organisation. Best known for her time as Director of the Women’s Professional Game, Kelly joins Jessica Creighton to discuss her long career and the future of the Women’s Super League, which she helped to launch and transform.Elle and The Pocket Belles describe themselves as an all-girl retro band. They are a vocal harmony group who have been singing together for more than a decade. They’ll be creating more Christmas cheer for us.Presenter: Jessica Creighton Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed Editor: Rebecca Myatt

A new drug called Veoza used to prevent hot flushes and night sweats has been approved in the UK. Also known as fezolinetant, it is prescription-only and will be available privately from January. Dr Paula Briggs, chair of the British Menopause Society and consultant in sexual and reproductive health at Liverpool Women’s Hospital joins Jessica to explain the importance for many women of this decision.What would you say to spending Christmas with your friends instead of your family? You may have seen an article this morning in the Independent where the journalist Katie Glass says she'll be having a 'women-only Christmas', sharing the day with four like-minded girlfriends. Some of us may choose to do this intentionally, for others it may not be their first choice but they are making the most of the situation. And sometimes the most unexpected Christmases turn out to be the most fun. Journalist Daisy Finer spent Christmas last year with a female friend, when her children were with her ex-husband, and talks about 'the joy of a very self-centred Christmas'.Have you got a signature scent – and would you share where you got it from? Whether you are ‘gatekeeping’ your perfume or keen to spread the word about your favourite scent, smell is one of the most evocative and emotive of our senses. Joining Jessica Creighton to talk all things fragrance, Guardian beauty editor Sali Hughes and Experimental Perfume Club’s Roshni Dhanjee discuss why we want to smell unique, gifting perfume, and why smell is so connected to our emotions and identity.Can loneliness really take the same toll on your physical and mental health as smoking and lack of exercise? The British Psychological Society says it’s a scourge on society and should be treated as a public health emergency. It’s calling for the Government’s 2018 Loneliness Strategy to be updated to reflect the impact of the pandemic. We talk to Julia Faulconbridge, a consultant clinical psychologist from the organisation, and also Liz Veitch, a retired deputy headteacher who became increasingly lonely after being widowed, moving house and then facing the lockdowns. She was introduced to 19-year-old Ankita Menon, a volunteer with Kissing It Better, whose mission statement is ‘to reduce the isolation of old age by bringing the generations together.’Elle and The Pocket Belles sing live in the Woman’s Hour studio on the last live programme before Christmas. Describing themselves as an all-girl retro band, they are a vocal harmony group who have been singing together for more than a decade. They’ll be creating more Christmas cheer with a couple of seasonal songs.Presenter: Jessica Creighton Producer: Kirsty Starkey

The Met Police have reported that cases of spiking - putting alcohol or drugs into another person's drink or body without their consent - have quadrupled in London over the last five years. This week the Home Office set out new provisions to provide training for venue staff and test-kits for customers. Campaigner Sharon Gaffka joins Jessica Creighton to talk about whether that's enough for spiking victims. As we gear up for Christmas, some people might be considering the age-old question: How do you survive the big day without falling out with your family? With unwanted questions about your parenting style, your career or even your love life - tensions can often rise over the brussels sprouts. Camilla McGill is a parent coach and joins Jessica to give us tips on how to manage anxieties and stress with loved ones.A 16-year-old girl died last week from what is thought to have been a blood clot - three weeks after being prescribed the contraceptive pill. According to the NHS, there is a very low risk of serious side effects from taking the pill. Dr Janet Barter is a consultant in sexual and reproductive health at Barts Health NHS Trust in London – she tells Jessica the facts we need to know around the pill.Last year, female-owned businesses received just 2% of all venture capital funding, Parliament’s Treasury Committee found. Entrepreneur Grace Beverley wants to raise awareness of the female funding gap. She joins Jessica to talk about her business model and using her platform to empower women. If you are a woman who is adopted, then the decision to have children of your own can be a complicated one, as your own birth family’s medical history may be a mystery to you. How do you know what you are passing on through your genes? Writer and journalist Katharine Quarmby has been looking into this issue because she has had to grapple with it herself. She joins Jessica to discuss. Presenter: Jessica Creighton Producer: Lottie Garton

England goalkeeper Mary Earps has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year. She was a big part of the Lionesses' win at the Euros in 2022 and was named goalkeeper of the tournament in this year's World Cup. But back in 2019 she was ready to quit the game. Jessica Creighton speaks to Rebecca Myers from the The Sunday Times about Earps' bumpy road to success.Kelly Simmons has recently left the Football Association after 32 years with the organisation. Best known for her time as Director of the Women’s Professional Game, Kelly joins Jessica to discuss her long career and the future of the Women’s Super League which she helped to launch and transform.A breakthrough on why women get pregnancy sickness could open the way to finding a cure. Scientists have discovered a hormone that causes nausea and vomiting in pregnant women, sometimes to the extent that they get Hyperemesis Gravidarum – the most severe form of sickness often resulting in hospitalisation. Professor of Clinical Biochemistry and Medicine at Cambridge University Sir Stephen O’Rahilly and CEO of the charity Pregnancy Sickness Support Charlotte Howden join Jessica to discuss the implications of this discovery.Could planning for a simpler, more realistic January be the best way to help your mental health this Christmas? Author and psychological decluttering expert Cathy Madavan and clinical psychologist Dr Emma Hepburn join Jessica to discuss why less might mean more as we move into the new year.'Go to the front line yourself - and die'. Those are the reported words of the wives and girlfriends of Russian soldiers to Vladimir Putin, who they are addressing on a Telegram channel called The Way Home. According to UK estimates, 300,000 military personnel from Russia have died during the war in Ukraine. Jessica gets insights from Dr Jenny Mathers from the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University.

Kirsty Wark joins Emma Barnett to talk about stepping down from Newsnight after 30 years; what she’s planning to fill the extra time with and she also shares some Christmas cooking tips.A new book, A Heart Afire, paints a picture of paediatrician Helen Taussig who dedicated her life to looking after children with heart defects. We hear from author Patricia Meisol.We look at the issues of "workplace housework" - tasks like organising office Christmas parties, sorting the secret santa gifts, decorating the communal spaces - with economist Lise Vasterlund and comedian Cally Beaton.Could a woman win the BBC's annual Sports Personality Of The Year award later today? Now in it's 70th year, we talk to Lady Mary Peters who won the gong in 1972 – the same year she won gold in the pentathlon at the Munich Olympics.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Neva Missirian

23-year-old Gracie Spinks was killed by a man who she had reported to the police for stalking her. The inquest into her death reported several failures by Derbyshire Police in how her case was handled. Now, her parents, Richard Spinks and Alison Ward, are campaigning for Gracie’s Law, which would ensure better training for police officers around stalking, and the appointment of independent stalking advocates. They join Emma Barnett to discuss Gracie and the changes they want to be made in her memory.‘There is an expectation that women like me – without children - will pick up the slack so the working mums can have time off with their families’. Those are the words of Sam Walsh who has worked every Boxing Day for the last 20 years. She decided to quit her retail job in October because she resented having to work over the Christmas period. Sam, who runs The Non Mum Network Facebook group and website, says working parents shouldn’t be given priority. Today is the beginning of the Jimmy Lai trial in Hong Kong - a national security case against the media mogul and pro-democracy activist who has been accused of conspiring to collude with foreign forces. Outside the court is the familiar face of a woman affectionately known as 'Grandma Wong', real name Alexandra. Cindy Yu, Assistant Editor of The Spectator, tells us more about her.The damage being done to girls’ education in Afghanistan has been well documented, but new research suggests the Taliban is causing ‘irreversible damage’ to boys’ education too. Research carried out by Human Rights Watch found that female teachers have been replaced by men with no qualifications, and that boys are subject to brutal punishment. Emma speaks to Sahar Fetrat, the author of the report.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Emma Pearce

Imelda Staunton has played Queen Elizabeth II for the last two series of television drama The Crown. As the final episodes are released this week, she joins us to discuss playing the monarch, and what it’s been like to take on this role since Her Majesty died.How could people step in safely if they see a woman being harassed in public? Former police officer Graham Goulden and criminologist Molly Ackhurst tell us how bystanders can protect themselves while helping others.Soul singer Mica Paris will headline an evening of gospel music on Sky Arts, where she’ll be joined by 10 gospel singers and a four-piece band to perform Christmas songs. She gives us a taste of what to expect on A Gospel Christmas.It's been a year and a half since Roe vs Wade was overturned in the United States, ending the constitutional nationwide right to abortion for millions of women. It remains an issue that divides opinion. The British writer Nazrin Choudhury has directed a short film, Red White and Blue, which follows the character Rachel Johnson, played by Brittany Snow, who is forced to cross state lines in search of an abortion. Should we celebrate quitting a job? When Hannah Witton decided to stop making her successful YouTube and podcast series, Doing It, her friends threw her a surprise quitting ceremony. Hannah tells us whether this party helped, alongside the career coach Soma Ghosh with her advice for anyone thinking of quitting.The bestselling author Louise Doughty joins us to discuss a new ITVX drama based on her novel: Platform 7. She tells us how she has turned male-heavy police procedurals on their head – and why she thinks all middle-aged women long to go on the run.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lucy Wai Editor: Sarah Crawley

The government is today unveiling the first ever national Kinship Care strategy, aiming to bring more awareness and more money to family members looking after children that aren’t theirs. Kinship care is when a child lives full time, or most of the time, with a relative, be it grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, or someone in the wider family network, because their own parents can’t care for them. Anita talks to David Johnston, the Under Secretary of State for Children, Families and Wellbeing at the Department of Education about the new strategy.Shane MacGowan, the legendary songwriter and frontman with The Pogues, died on 30th November. As the classic Christmas anthem Fairy Tale of New York reaches number one in Ireland, Anita speaks to his widow, Victoria Mary Clarke about their life together, his music, his addictions and his legacy. It has been a year and a half since Roe vs Wade was overturned in the United States, ending the constitutional nationwide right to abortion for millions of women. It remains an issue that divides opinion. Anita talks to the British writer Nazrin Choudhury, the director of a new short film on the subject; 'Red White and Blue,' follows the character Rachel Johnson, a single mother in a precarious financial position, who is forced to cross state lines from Arkansas in search of an abortion. Musician Lora Logic was the woman behind the iconic saxophone that was a part of the British Punk-Rock band X-Ray Spex. After almost 30 years, the band are re-releasing their second album, Conscious Consumer. Lora joins Anita to talk about the album, what she’s up to now and what lead singer Poly Styrene would have thought of the re-release.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Sue Maillot

The National Crime Agency has warned parents that Facebook and Instagram are now a danger to children. That’s after Meta, the parent company of the social media sites, made the decision to introduce encrypted messaging. The BBC’s Technology Editor Zoe Kleinman and online safety expert John Carr join Emma Barnett to discuss. Bafta award-winning actor Sheridan Smith has said that she regrets the tattoos she’s got and would never get another one done. It’s a situation that a lot of people find themselves in. Letitia Mortimer, a London-based tattoo artist, talks to Emma about seeing plenty of people wanting to get their tattoos covered or removed over the years. Soul singer Mica Paris will headline an evening of gospel music on television, where she’ll be joined by 10 gospel singers and a dynamic four-piece band to perform moving versions of various Christmas songs. She joins Emma live in the studio to give us a taste of what to expect on A Gospel Christmas and her new album.Two referenda to change Ireland’s constitution regarding gender and family are to be held on International Women’s Day next year. The amendments would broaden the definition of family beyond marriage in the constitution, and there would be reference to carers to recognise all those who provide care. Commentator Laura Perrins and academic and activist Ailbhe Smyth join Emma to discuss why the suggestions are potentially contentious. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lottie Garton

How could people step in safely if they see a woman being harassed in public? Former police officer Graham Goulden and criminologist Molly Ackhurst tell Emma Barnett how bystanders can protect themselves while helping others.Imelda Staunton has played Queen Elizabeth II for the last two series of television drama The Crown. She joined us before she started the role, in 2021, to talk about how she was approaching the role, and why it was important to her. She joins Emma Barnett again now that it’s coming to an end – the final episodes of The Crown are released on Netflix this week.Should we celebrate quitting a job? We’ve got divorce parties - how about a quitting party? When award-winning sex educator and author, Hannah Witton decided to stop making her successful YouTube and podcast series, Doing It, her friends and colleagues threw her a surprise quitting ceremony. There was cake, and even a card saying Bye, Bye Don't Come Back. Hannah tells Emma whether this party helped, alongside career coach, and host of the Career Happiness podcast, Soma Ghosh, with her advice for anyone thinking of quitting.There has been a significant increase in the number of women being investigated by police after a suspected abortion, according to a senior consultant gynaecologist, with some women facing high-profile court cases, and other instances where children have been removed from the mother. Abortion is a criminal offence in England and Wales unless it meets strict criteria. Co-chairman of the British Society of Abortion Care Providers Dr Jonathan Lord, who has raised these concerns, joins Emma.Producer: Hannah Sander Presenter: Emma Barnett

Leading scientists are calling for a change in the law to help IVF patients donate unused embryos to biomedical research after a collapse in donations over the past 15 years. Emma Barnett talks to Professor of Reproductive Physiology at Cambridge University Kathy Niakan and Clare Ettinghausen from the UK's fertility regulator, the HFEA.The new play Glacier is a dark and poignant festive comedy. It follows three women who meet while wild swimming in their local lake one Christmas. They form an unofficial tradition, meeting each year to go for a swim and escape. Escape their responsibilities, life’s stresses, and maybe most of all – their families. We hear from playwright, comedian and podcaster Alison Spittle, and actor Sophie Steer, who stars in the show.We take another look at the world of gymnastics following on from last year's damning Whyte review with labelled the British Gymanstics as "inept and dysfunctional". Since that time, not one complaint of abuse has been upheld by British Gymnastics’ Independent Complaints Process – with every single case over the past three years collapsing. We talk to Claire Heafford from Gymnasts 4 Change about their campaign for a new procedures. As two teaching unions call for a pause in Ofsted inspections following the death of head teacher Ruth Perry, we talk to Paul Whiteman, the General Secretary of the teaching union the National Association of Head Teachers.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Tim Heffer

Israel has accused the United Nations of moving too slowly to respond to accounts that Hamas carried out widespread sexual violence against women in the October 7th brutal attack on Israel. Christina Lamb, Chief Foreign Correspondent for the Sunday Times, has brought the details of this part of the attacks to light joins Emma Barnett.Mandy Abramson runs a bridal shop in Skipton in North Yorkshire. For two years now she’s run a special week in December where she invites women from all walks of life to try on a wedding dress even if they have no plans to marry. She joins Emma to explain why she wants to give everyone a chance to try on their dream dress. When Louise Beevers found a lump in her breast during pregnancy, she was told by her GP that it was hormone related. Four months later she was diagnosed with Grade 3 breast cancer, and despite undergoing treatment the cancer is now incurable. Louise joins Emma alongside the Chief Medical Officer from Macmillan Cancer Support Professor Richard Simcock to discuss why greater awareness about cancer in pregnancy is needed.Bestselling author of Apple Tree Yard, Louise Doughty, on a new ITVX drama based on her novel: Platform 7. She tells Emma Barnett how she has turned male-heavy police procedurals and spy thrillers on their head – and why she thinks all middle-aged women long to go on the run.Emma talks to two women about their hope for peace in Israel. Amira Mohammed is a Palestinian woman who works with young leaders across the Middle East and North Africa; and Danielle Cumpton is a 32-year-old from Israel who works for an organisation that promotes political partnership between Jews and Arabs within IsraelPresenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Emma Pearce

An Ofsted inspection "contributed" to the death of head teacher Ruth Perry. That’s the conclusion of senior coroner Heidi Connor. This is the first time Ofsted has been listed as a contributing factor in the death of a head teacher. Ruth Perry had been head of Caversham Primary School in Berkshire for 13 years when she took her own life in January, ahead of an inspection report being made public which had downgraded the school from Outstanding to Inadequate, based on safeguarding concerns. Her death ignited a national debate about the mental health of school leaders and the pressure they are under in terms of inspections. Anita Rani speaks to Ruth Perry’s sister, Professor Julia Waters.   Born and raised in Deptford, south east London, Kwesia didn’t grow up with a lot of nature around her. That’s until she went on a life-changing trip to the Amazon. She’s since created her YouTube channel, City Girl in Nature, to guide other city dwellers into the great outdoors. She speaks to Krupa Padhy about her platform, nature activism work, and winning Best New Voice at the Audio Production Awards for her podcast Get Birding.   Lina Mookerjee had been married to her husband Richard for more than 15 years when he lost both his sight and hearing. Lina is now as much a carer to Richard as she is a wife. Lina and Richard share their story and discuss what they describe as the ‘invisible’ work of carers.   Research suggests that the average Briton spends £300 on Christmas gifts. One woman who is bucking this trend is the writer and journalist Nell Frizzell, who says that her family Christmases have improved since they stopped buying one another gifts. Krupa hears from Nell and Ellie Gibson, comedian and one half of the Scummy Mummies, who is a big fan of gifting every festive season.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

An Ofsted inspection "contributed" to the death of headteacher Ruth Perry. That’s the conclusion of senior coroner Heidi Connor. This is the first time Ofsted has been listed as a contributing factor in the death of a head teacher. Ofsted are yet to comment on the verdict. Ruth Perry had been head of Caversham Primary School in Berkshire for 13 years when she took her own life in January, ahead of an inspection report being made public which had downgraded the school from Outstanding to Inadequate, based on safeguarding concerns. The school was regraded this summer to Good. Her death ignited a national debate about the mental health of school leaders and the pressure they are under in terms of inspections. Anita is joined by Ruth Perry’s sister, Professor Julia Waters.America Ferrera is an award-winning actress, a director, producer and activist. She shot to stardom with her roles in Ugly Betty and The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, but you'll most recently have seen her playing Gloria, an assistant to the chief executive of Mattel, in the blockbuster Barbie film, who delivers a powerful monologue on the double standards of being a woman. America joins Anita to talk about how she didn't "set out to be a role model, or to break barriers, or to have a career about defying the norm.” Food has revolved around women for centuries. History of food can provide us with a lens through which we can discover untold stories of women: their joys, struggles and ever-changing roles in society. Pen Vogler, author of “Stuffed," explores such themes in her new book and examines the history and culture of British food through political, social and global upheavals. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Duncan Hannant

Marin Alsop is one of the most famous conductors in the world. Ten years ago, she became the first woman to conduct the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. Now she is giving the European premiere of Too Hot To Handel: The Gospel Messiah!, a reimagining of Handel’s Messiah Marin tells Hayley Hassell why she wanted to rework the piece, and looks back over her illustrious career as a conductor. The actor Diana Quick joins Hayley to discuss her role as Mrs Wentworth in a new series The Famous Five – and describe how the classic adventures have been brought to life with a new, fresh, modern reimagining of Enid Blyton’s iconic stories.The Centre for Women’s Justice is campaigning to prevent unjust criminalisation of victims and survivors of domestic abuse. Hayley is joined by director of the CWJ, Harriet Wistrich, and former director of Southall Black Sisters, Pragna Patel.What can we tell about medieval women’s lives from studying their skeletons? Dr Sarah Inskip from Leicester University has been part of a team excavating Cambridge graveyards for a new research project called After the Plague. She has found evidence that some medieval women did very strenuous work that changed the shape of their upper bodies; others were trading and travelling across Europe, and many would have existed in chronic pain.Producer: Hannah Sander Presenter: Hayley Hassell

Academy Award-winning actor Julianne Moore plays Gracie Atherton-Yoo in Todd Haynes’ newest film, May December. The film tells the story of a married couple who were at the centre of a notorious tabloid relationship, and the actress doing research on them for a film about their past. Julianne joins Krupa to talk about the controversies within the film, and how it’s already been tipped for the Oscars. Lina Mookerjee had been married to her husband Richard for more than 15 years when he lost both his sight and hearing. Lina is now as much a carer to Richard as she is a wife. Lina and Richard join Krupa to share their story and discuss what they describe as the ‘invisible’ work of carers. Dame Mary Berry joins Krupa to discuss her one-off TV special ‘Mary Berry’s Highland Christmas.’ She tells us how her Scottish roots have inspired her latest festive recipes and gives us some tips for entertaining this Christmas.The New York Times has just published an investigation into the prevalence of forced sterilisation of disabled women in Europe, even when the procedure is not medically necessary and despite it being banned under multiple international treaties. New York Times reporter Sarah Hurtes met with families who have chosen to sterilise their daughters and women who have undergone sterilisation procedures. She joins Krupa to talk about what she found and we also speak to German politician Katrin Langensiepen who is one of the few visibly disabled members of the European Parliament. She’s pushing for a strict Europe-wide outright ban on non-consensual sterilisation.Presented by Krupa Padhy Producer: Louise Corley

There are big changes afoot for women’s football. Former England Lioness Karen Carney published a review into the women’s domestic game over the summer and the Government has just announced that it will back all the findings from her report. That includes making the top two tiers professional and giving the sport a dedicated broadcast slot. Baroness Sue Campbell, director of women's football at the Football Association, discusses their decision.The head of Ofcom, Dame Melanie Dawes, talks about her plans to make tech companies stop children accessing online pornography in her first broadcast interview on the subject. Under the new Online Safety Act, which came into effect last month, the regulator has been tasked with coming up with age verification measures. Latest research shows that the average age at which children first see online pornography is 13 - although nearly a quarter come across it by age 11 and one in 10 as young as nine. By 18, 79% have encountered violent pornography depicting coercive, degrading or pain-inducing sex acts.A report out today details for the first time the views of the bereaved families of women killed by men. A woman is killed by a man on average every three days in the UK and the charity Killed Women is campaigning to end this and improve the experiences for families forced to deal with it. The director of Killed Women, Anna Ryder, joins Krupa Padhy to discuss the report’s findings ahead of a planned protest outside Parliament.Now it's only 20 sleeps until Christmas, and for many of you that might mean running around the shops buying all your Christmas presents. But one woman who is bucking this trend is the writer and journalist Nell Frizzell, who says that her family Christmases have improved since they stopped buying one another gifts. Nell and Ellie Gibson, comedian and one half of the Scummy Mummies who IS a big fan of gifting every festive season discuss.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Kirsty Starkey

A man has been convicted in court of harassing the Labour MP Stella Creasy. This harassment included reporting her to social services as an 'unfit mother'. A safeguarding review quickly cleared Stella Creasy – but the complaint cannot be removed from her records. Today, she is tabling an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill, to allow councils to delete baseless complaints. Stella Creasy speaks to Krupa Padhy about her fight for justice under a law she herself drafted. She also pays tribute to fellow Labour politician Glenys Kinnock, who died on Sunday.Last week on the programme we heard from Katy Marks, an architect by trade, who discovered after her single mastectomy that there was no bra on the market that was flat on one side. She didn’t want to use a prosthetic and so designed her own. Lots of you got in touch following that item to talk about your own experiences of living with one breast. Krupa is joined by two listeners, Diane Devlin and Laura Homer.Born and raised in Deptford, south east London, Kwesia didn’t grow up with a lot of nature around her. That’s until she went on a life-changing trip to the Amazon. She’s since created her YouTube channel, City Girl in Nature, to guide other city dwellers into the great outdoors. She speaks to Krupa about her platform, nature activism work, and winning Best New Voice at the Audio Production Awards for her podcast Get Birding.Some studies have found that women are more vulnerable to negative health impacts of single-use plastics, and women also form a larger majority of plastic consumers. With COP28 now underway in Dubai, Krupa is joined by Christina Dixon from Environmental Investigation Agency - an NGO which uncovers environmental crime and abuse. She would like to see plastic pollution being given a higher profile in climate talks.What do our shoe choices say about us? A new exhibition at the Arc in Winchester in Hampshire called SHOES: INSIDE OUT looks at our relationship with our footwear. From the functional and practical to the fashionable and extravagant, what can shoes tell us about our social history, modern lives and our aspirations? Krupa is joined by Claire Isbester, co-curator of the exhibition.

Research by the charity Stamma shows that 8% of children will start stuttering at some point. Our listener Geri, a mother who’s son has a stammer, got in touch with Woman’s Hour and asked us to discuss the topic. Kirsten Howells from Stamma, Tiktok influencer Jessie Yendle and Geri join Claire McDonnell to share their own experiences and advice.Actor Emily Blunt found fame as the scene-stealing assistant in The Devil Wears Prada, and has since starred in many films including Mary Poppins Returns and A Quiet Place with her real-life husband John Krasinski. She is also in one of this year’s biggest cinematic hits, Oppenheimer. As Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster about the father of the atomic bomb is released on ultra-HD DVD and Blu-ray, Emily Blunt talks to Clare McDonnell about her role as Kitty Oppenheimer, Robert’s wife.How do you keep long-distance friendships going? Clare talks to filmmaker Shannon Haly, who lives in New York and wrote a viral poem about missing her best friend. They are joined by the journalist Rose Stokes who, after having an 18-year long-distance friendship decided to move to live in the same city as her friend.What do women look for in a bra after breast cancer surgery? Clare is joined by Katy Marks, an architect by trade, who discovered after her single mastectomy that there was no bra on the market that was flat on one side. She didn’t want to use a prosthetic and so designed her own, called Uno, which launched on Monday. She’ll be joined on the programme by Asmaa Al-allak who won this year’s Great British Sewing Bee and is a consultant breast surgeon who has made post-surgery lingerie for her patients.Today marks 100 years since the birth of one of opera’s most renowned and influential singers of the 20th century: the iconic heroine, Maria Callas. But what is it about her talent that has transcended the decades? Two sopranos – Alison Langer and Nadine Benjamin – join Anita to describe Maria Callas’ enduring star quality. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Hanna Ward Studio Manager: Tim Heffer

In Adura Onashile’s debut film, Girl, mother Grace and daughter Ama have recently arrived in Glasgow and have created a beautiful cocoon for themselves in a council block apartment. But Grace carries deep trauma from her past, and she finds it exceptionally difficult to watch her daughter go out into the world alone. Director Adura Onashile tells Anita why she emphasised the beauty of urban poverty, and how she drew on her relationship with her own mother.Gwyneth Paltrow shared a photo on Instagram holdings hands with her ex-husband Chris Martin's current partner, Dakota Johnson.. But we ask, could you be friends with your ex's new partner? Alexandra Jones, a journalist who wrote a feature for Vogue about why she feels great about having a friendship with her ex’s now wife.Tomorrow marks one hundred years since the birth of one Opera’s most renowned and influential singers of the 20th century: the iconic heroine, Maria Callas. But what is it about her talent that has transcended the decades? Two sopranos – Alison Langer and Nadine Benjamin – join Anita to describe Maria Callas’ enduring star quality. Going shopping after a loved one has died can be a sharp reminder of your loss. Carmel Bones, who recently lost the main three men in her life now finds it hard to go into men’s department stores. Anita speaks to Carmel about her plan to tackle her grief and psychotherapist Julia Samuel gives her advice.Next Sunday, December 3, the annual Radio 4 Christmas Appeal is taking place. Money raised by the Appeal will go to people experiencing homelessness, as well as to support frontline workers and to fund organisations working to end and prevent homelessness. West Mercia Women’s Aid are one of the charities who receive donations to assist some of the women that come to them for help. Anita speaks to Chief Executive, Sue Coleman to find out how important this funding is and why they are focussed on older women vulnerable to domestic abuse.Presented by Anita Rani Producer: Louise Corley

Actor Emily Blunt found fame as the scene-stealing assistant in The Devil Wears Prada, and has since starred in many films including Mary Poppins Returns and A Quiet Place with her real-life husband John Krasinski. She is also in one of this year’s biggest cinematic hits, Oppenheimer. As Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster about the father of the atomic bomb is released on ultra-HD DVD and Blu-ray, Emily Blunt talks to Clare McDonnell about her role as Kitty Oppenheimer, Robert’s wife.The price of baby formula has been making the headlines this week. The main brands have been pulled up by the Government’s Competition and Markets Authority for their high pricing. In fact, their research shows that the retail price is a lot higher than the costs to make the product. Joining Clare to discuss the high prices is Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA and Kirsty Jackson, the founder of High Peak Baby Bank, a donation service for families in need up in the Staffordshire area. How common is it for a long relationship to end with a short marriage? What is it about formalising a union, or having a wedding that can be the catalyst for a split? And what are the legal pitfalls that couples might want to avoid? Clare is joined by Eve Simmons, US Health and Wellness Editor for the Daily Mail and Laura Naser, a partner in family law.As Ireland's first female state pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy helped to solve murders and clarify unexplained deaths for over 15 years. She tells Clare what drew her to this career, how she deals with the emotionally taxing nature of the job and why she's now turned to writing with her debut novel 'Body of Truth'.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Duncan Hannant and Neva Missirian

Last year's landmark Whyte Review into gymnastics detailed 'systemic issues' of physical and emotional abuse between 2008 and 2020. Today, British Gymnastics has for the first time introduced safeguarding policies relating to weighing, hydration and academic education, which they say are designed to better protect the welfare of gymnasts, but do they go far enough? Clare speaks to David Hart, performance director for British Gymnastics, Karen Whelan, gymnastics coach and mother of two-time British Olympian Hannah Whelan, and Eloise Jotischky, former elite gymnast and trustee and the youth voice on the Gymnasts for Change board and the first (and currently only) person to win a civil case against British Gymnastics for the abuse she experienced in the sport.The actor Myha'la joins Clare to discuss her latest project starring alongside Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali in the film Leave the World Behind. It's an apocalyptic thriller which sees Julia Roberts's character Amanda rent a luxury house in the countryside with her family. They're disturbed by Ruth, played by Myha'la, and her father who claim they own the house and need a place to stay following a mysterious cyber attack. Team GB hockey player Tess Howard campaigned for women to be able to choose whether they play in shorts or the traditional skort for their matches, resulting in official changes to the sport’s kit regulations. She’s been awarded Changemaker of the Year at the Sunday Times Sportswomen awards for her work. How do you keep long-distance friendships going? Clare talks to film maker Shannon Haly, who lives in New York and wrote a viral poem about missing her best friend. They are joined by the journalist Rose Stokes who, after having an 18-year long-distance friendship decided to move to live in the same city as her friend. It's long been claimed that in prehistoric times, women were gatherers while men were hunters. However, new research debunks this narrative and suggests that women were actually superior to men when it comes to hunting. Clare spoke to Dr Annamieke Milks, a palaeolithic archaeologist from the University of Reading who is an expert in hunting and weapons.Presenter Clare McDonnell Producer: Dianne McGregor

Research by the charity Stamma shows that 8% of children will start stuttering at some point. Our listener Geri, a mother who’s son has a stammer, got in touch with Woman’s Hour and asked us to discuss the topic. Kirsten Howells from Stamma, Tiktokker Jessie Yendle and Geri join Claire McDonnell to share their own experiences and advice.In 2013 Benita Alexander was working as a producer at NBC in New York. Tasked with putting a documentary together on renowned Swiss surgeon Dr Paolo Macchiarini, the pair soon grew close and started dating. However, not was all what it seemed with both their relationship and the success of his surgical invention. Benita joins Claire McDonnell to tell her story, as featured in the new Netflix documentary, Bad Surgeon: Love Under The Knife?The UK’s Equalities and Human Rights Commission is being investigated by the UN over its position on “biological sex” and the provision of single-sex spaces. We talk to EHRC Chair Baroness Kishwer Falkner. Kamila Hryshchenko is one of the highest chess ranked players in England however until very recently she represented a different nation. Kamila and her mother were forced to flee their home nation of Ukraine during the outbreak of war in 2022 and it was chess that proved instrumental to securing Kamila and her mother’s safety. Kamila has chosen to now play for England and she joins Clare McDonnell.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Emma Pearce

Award-winning actor Dame Harriet Walter is back on stage at the National Theatre in Federico Lorca’s newly-adapted The House of Bernada Alba. After a break of seven years playing assorted television roles including ‘difficult’ mothers in Succession and Ted Lasso, she’s back treading the boards and once again playing a formidable matriarch. She joins Clare McDonnell in the studio to talk about her career so far, as well as her newest role.As of today, police in Northern Ireland can now charge people with upskirting, downblousing and cyber-flashing. At the same time, British Transport Police are encouraging women to lower their tolerance for sexual harassment during their commute and report minor offenders more often. So is recognition of so-called 'minor' sexual offences improving? Clare speaks to Naomi Long, Leader of the Alliance Party and former Northern Ireland Justice Minister, and to women's rights activist Zan Moon.What do women look for in a bra after breast cancer surgery? Clare is joined by Katy Marks, an architect by trade, who discovered after her single mastectomy that there was no bra on the market that was flat on one side. She didn’t want to use a prosthetic and so designed her own, called Uno, which launches today. She’ll be joined on the programme by Asmaa Al-allak who won this year’s Great British Sewing Bee and is a consultant breast surgeon who has made post-surgery lingerie for her patients.Runner Eilish McColgan follows in the footsteps of her mother Liz McColgan in the pursuit of sporting greatness. Now she’s made a documentary telling their story, looking at their relationship and charting the times Eilish has broken her mother’s records – all except the marathon. Eilish joins Clare to talk about making the documentary, as well as the pressures and benefits of following in the family business.

For more than two decades, Sharon Osbourne has been a regular feature on our screens. She came to prominence while appearing with her husband Ozzy on The Osbournes - a reality television show on MTV, which followed the family's daily life. She later became a talent show judge on television programmes such as the X Factor and America's Got Talent. She joins Anita Rani to discuss her forthcoming theatre show - Sharon Osbourne - Cut The Crap!Actor Jodie Whittaker joins Woman’s Hour to talk about her role in a new Australian six part drama called One Night. Shot in New South Wales the story unfolds around three women from a coastal community whose reunion after many years apart is intensified by the publishing of a novel based on their lives. She joins Emma to discuss some of her other hard hitting roles post Doctor Who.Amanda Spielman is coming to the end of an unprecedented seven year tenure at the helm of Ofsted. This year the organisation has come under intense scrutiny over its inspection regime and in particular the use of single-phrase judgments of schools, and the potential mental health impacts of those on school leaders and teachers. During the week Ofsted’s annual report is released, Amanda Spielman joins Emma for her only BBC interview.Another Body is an award-winning documentary which follows US engineering student, 'Taylor', in her search for answers and justice after she discovers deepfake pornography of herself circulating online. Ahead of its release in the UK, one of the documentary's directors, Sophie Compton joins Emma to discuss why she decided to make this documentary, what she found and why she used deepfake technology herself to anonymise the identities of the protagonists.Coaching for sonographers, the professionals carrying out the scans, on how to deliver unexpected and potentially devastating pregnancy news has been successfully tested in new research from the University of Leeds. Emma speaks to the lead researcher, Dr Judith Johnson, and also Karen, who says she was left with PTSD after receiving unexpected news about the health of her baby during a scan.

For more than two decades, Sharon Osbourne has been a regular feature on our screens. She came to prominence while appearing with her husband Ozzy on The Osbournes - a reality television show on MTV, which followed the family's daily life. She later became a talent show judge on television programmes such as the X Factor and America's Got Talent. She joins Anita Rani to discuss her forthcoming theatre show - Sharon Osbourne - Cut The Crap! - in which she promises to reveal all about some of the hardest years of her eventful life.The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is warning of a growing mental health crisis amongst nursing staff, as its membership support line data shows a substantial increase in the number of nursing staff seeking help for having suicidal thoughts. We hear from Hannah Cadogan - a nurse currently working in the NHS - and Stephen Jones, the Lead for Mental Health at the RCN to unpick what lies behind this increase.Dr Shani Dhanda is a disability inclusion & accessibility specialist, social entrepreneur and broadcaster. This month she was named the UK’s most influential disabled person by the Shaw Trust as part of the Disability Power 100 nominated by the public and judged by an independent panel. Shani is also an Ambassador for disability charity Scope. The Autumn Statement was controversial in its announcements affecting sick and disabled people, with the Government claiming their changes would support more people into work and campaigners and some professionals saying they could make the situation worse. Shani joins us to give her take, but also to discuss her life.Women composers for the film, TV and gaming industries are rare; this month a report, Female Professionals in European Film Production 2023 revealed only 10% of European film composers are women; and in this year’s GameSoundCon Game Audio Industry Survey, women game composers and sound designers made up only 15% of the talent. Anita discusses what can be done to reduce the gender gap in the media music industry with the composers Hannah Peel and Bishi.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Actor Jodie Whittaker joins Woman’s Hour to talk about her role in a new Australian six part drama called One Night. Shot in New South Wales the story unfolds around three women from a coastal community whose reunion after many years apart is intensified by the publishing of a novel based on their lives. The central theme being the rape of Jodie’s character Tess twenty years previously and the impact its had on all their lives. Emma Barnett will be asking her about some of her other hard hitting roles post Doctor Who. Amanda Spielman is coming to the end of an unprecedented seven year tenure at the helm of Ofsted. This year the organisation has come under intense scrutiny over its inspection regime and in particular the use of single-phrase judgments of schools, and the potential mental health impacts of those on school leaders and teachers, with many in the profession arguing that the current system is now unfit for purpose, and requires a complete overhaul. On the day Ofsted’s annual report is released, Amanda Spielman joins Emma Barnett for her only BBC interview.The politician Margot Wallström introduced the concept of a feminist foreign policy to the world in 2014 when she became foreign secretary of Sweden. During her tenure she publicly recognised the state of Palestine, endorsed a United Nations ban on nuclear weapons and made no secret of her dislike for President Trump. Since then more than a dozen governments have announced their commitment to a feminist foreign policy, but what does it actually mean? Emma Barnett talks to Margot Wallström and to the German activist and author Kristina Lunz who has just written the Future of Foreign Policy is FeministPresenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Emma Pearce

Another Body is an award-winning documentary which follows US engineering student, Taylor, in her search for answers and justice after she discovers deepfake pornography of herself circulating online. Ahead of its release in the UK, one of the documentary's directors, Sophie Compton joins Emma to discuss why she decided to make this documentary, what she found and why she used deepfake technology herself to anonymise the identities of the protagonists.The Covid-19 inquiry continues with key scientists sharing their insights into the pandemic response. Someone who has already given their testimony is Professor Yvonne Doyle. Professor Doyle was the former Medical Director and Director of Health Protection for the now defunct Public Health England. She speaks to Emma about the role of PHE in the pandemic response, her experience as a senior woman in government at the time and lessons we can learn from the pandemic.Israel has agreed to a four day pause in its retalitory bombardment of Gaza for the first time since the attacks, masssacring and kidnapping of Israelis by Hamas on October 7th. Hamas has agreed a deal to release 50 of the more than 200 hostages being held in Gaza. It is understood these will be women and children. Emma discusses the news with Yolande Nell, the BBC's Middle East correspondent in Jerusalem and Martin Richards, hostage and crisis negotiator and kidnap response consutlant. The pianist Chloe Flower came to the public’s attention after a show-stopping performance with rap queen Cardi B at the 2019 Grammy Awards. She has collaborated with some of the biggest names in music from Celine Dion to American rappers such as: Meek Mill, Lil Baby, 2Chainz and Nas. Recently Chloe received an award from Gloria Steinem at the Asia Society’s Last Girl Awards for her efforts in the fight against human trafficking. She joins Emma to talk about her “popsical” musical style, which infuses classical music with contemporary pop, and to perform live from her ‘Chloe Hearts Christmas’ album.Presented by Emma Barnett Producer: Louise Corley

Barbara Windsor, Hattie Jacques and Joan Sims were some of the iconic women who starred in the Carry On films from the late 1950s onwards. From Carry on Camping to Carry on Up the Khyber, the humour relied largely on innuendo, double entendre and slapstick comedy, with the women viewed as objects for male desire. But were they really sexist? Emma Barnett speaks to Gemma Ross, co-author of The Carry On Girls, who argues it was the women who came out on top and were more sexually confident than the men, as well as actor Anita Harris who was in Carry On Doctor.The experiences of staff in the NHS are the subject of a report out today which has found that female NHS workers face an ‘embedded culture of misogyny.’ The campaign group Surviving in Scrubs has gathered testimony of 150 staff members through their website that launched last year and finds "systemic and institutional sexual violence" with experiences ranging from sexism to rape in the workplace. Emma is joined by Dr Chelcie Jewitt, a specialist trainee in emergency medicine at Merseyside hospitals and co-founder of Surviving in Scrubs, and Professor Dame Jane Dacre, former President of the Royal College of Physicians.The podcast series Intrigue - Million Dollar Lover looks at love in later life and the question of inheritance when someone with adult children finds a new partner. Sue Mitchell follows the unlikely love story of Carolyn, who is 80 and has properties worth a few million dollars, and Dave, 57, a former drug addict who is homeless and has spent a decade in jail. Sue joins Emma ahead of the series release on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.Coaching for sonographers, the professionals carrying out the scans, on how to deliver unexpected and potentially devastating pregnancy news has been successfully tested in new research from the University of Leeds. We hear from the lead researcher, Dr Judith Johnson, and also from Karen, who says she was left with PTSD after receiving unexpected news about the health of her baby during a scan.

After being the latest celebrity contestant to be voted off Strictly Come Dancing at Blackpool’s Tower Ballroom, Angela Rippon tells Emma Barnett about forming a lifelong friendship with her 28-year-old dance partner Kai Waddington. At 79, she was the oldest competitor in the series and has wowed the judges and the audience with her flexible dance moves. Sam Fraser started working as a standby weather presenter for BBC South in 2012. When a fan club for her bottom surfaced online and she became a topic on the YouTube channel, Babes of Britain, she soon realised her public reception was not on par with her male counterparts. She turned to stand-up comedy as an outlet – and compiled the experiences of women in her job to produce an Edinburgh Fringe Show, as well as Scorchio! The Story of the Weather Girl, which is on BBC Radio 4 this week. Yvette Greenway-Mansfield won a record settlement of at least £1 million from the NHS in September after her vaginal mesh implant following a hysterectomy caused traumatic complications. We hear her story and about her ongoing campaign on behalf of other sufferers. The legendary composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein’s eldest daughter Jamie talks to Emma about her father and the new film about his life, Maestro, which is released this week. And Noam Sagi talks about waiting for news of his mother currently being held hostage in the Israeli-Gaza war.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Tim Heffer

Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes spoke publicly about her sexuality for the first time last year. Her new memoir, Unique, details how serving in the military in the late 1980s - when it was illegal to be gay in the military – was a major factor in contributing to her decades-long silence. She joins us to speak about her experience.After a reshuffle that left the government with no women in the “big four” offices of state, we speak to Justice Secretary Alex Chalk about the impact of the reshuffle as well as sentencing reforms which will affect women.From Nefertiti to Amy Winehouse, what is the personal and political power of eyeliner? We discuss with Zahra Hankir, author of Eyeliner: A Cultural History.Tish Murtha is a celebrated photographer whose images of working-class life in North East England can be found in the National Portrait Gallery and Tate Britain. But in her lifetime, Murtha struggled to find work of any kind. Now her daughter, Ella, has made a film about Murtha’s life and work. We speak to Ella and producer of the documentary, Jen Corcoran.How is our interaction with AI shifting our concepts of intimacy and sexuality as humans? We discuss with Kate Devlin, Reader in Artificial Intelligence & Society at King's College London, and to Trudy Barber, Senior Lecturer at Portsmouth University in Media Studies.In April 2020, Debenhams in Ireland closed all 11 of its stores, informing its staff they had been let go in the process. What ensued were pickets and protests across Ireland that lasted for 406 days. As a new film is released on the subject, we're joined by two women who were involved, Carol Ann Bridgeman and Jane Crowe.

Brave Girls is a new sitcom following a dysfunctional family made up of sisters Josie and Billie and their mum Deb. It’s a fictional show exploring trauma but it's a comedy in every sense of the word. Ahead of its release on BBC Three and iPlayer next Wednesday, Anita Rani is joined by Kat Sadler, who plays Josie, and by her real life AND fictional sister Lizzie Davidson, who plays Billie. Just over a year ago, on 28th October, 2022, we did a nursery and childcare special programme, looking at whether the system needs an overhaul. Early this year, the government announced plans to extend the government's existing offer of 30 hours free childcare to working parents of children aged 9-months to two-years-old in England. Beginning in April 2024, funding will be rolled out in stages. Prior to this, only working parents of three and four-year-olds were entitled to the free 30 hours. Now, new BBC News analysis estimates that demand for places at nurseries and childminders is likely to rise by about 15% - equivalent to more than 100,000 additional children in full-time care. Anita dicusses the issues with Neil Leitch, Chief Executive of the Early Years Alliance. Tish Murtha is a celebrated photographer whose images of working-class life in North East England can be found in the National Portrait Gallery and Tate Britain. But in her lifetime, Murtha struggled to find work of any kind. Now her daughter, Ella, has made a film about Murtha’s life and work. Ella talks to Anita, along with Jen Corcoran, who produced the documentary.Are you an apple? A pear? An hourglass? Or even an inverted triangle? For years women have been told to dress for their shape. But our shape doesn’t stay the same over the course of our lifetime. So, how helpful are these shapes? Anita discusses with Anna Berkeley, stylist and founder of the body mapping app, Think Shape, who believes we should actually be more interested in our proportions, and Shakaila Forbes-Bell, Fashion Psychologist and author of Big Dress Energy.Presented by Anita Rani Producer: Louise Corley

It’s Doctor Who’s 60th year and to celebrate, there will be three anniversary specials coming to your screens starting next week. Jemma Redgrave will be returning as Kate Stewart - Chief Scientific Officer at UNIT - the military organisation set up to investigate alien threats to earth. Jemma speaks to Emma Barnett about what we can expect and what it is like being a part of the show.Professor Dame Lesley Regan talks about the decision to let women access the contraceptive pill from pharmacies in England, from next month, without the need for a GP appointment.There is going to be a new parental leave policy in France. Parents will be entitled to “family leave” worth half their salary for up to a year. We talk a lot on Woman’s Hour about the maternity leave, paternity leave and shared parental leave policies in this country – but what could we learn by looking abroad? Professor Alison Koslowski from University College London and Elena Brown from Rand Europe outline and discuss the different policies.Emmy-nominated film director Nisha Pahuja joins Woman’s Hour to talk about her new documentary, To Kill A Tiger. It focuses on Ranjit, the father of a young girl in a tribal Indian village who has been sexually assaulted, and his battle for justice. Nisha tells Emma why she wanted to make a film about this and the important changes it has made.Eyeliner is one of the most enduring cosmetic tools; it is an aesthetic trademark that was favoured by the ancient Egyptian Queen Nerfertiti, the late singer Amy Winehouse and still up there now, with Z beauty influencers. Writer Zahra Hankir reports its history in her new book Eyeliner.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Bob Nettles

After a reshuffle that saw Suella Braverman leave her post as Home Secretary, and left the government with no women in the “big four” offices of state, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk spoke to Emma Barnett. They discussed the impact of the reshuffle, as well as sentencing reforms which will affect women, and the alleged rapist currently serving as a Conservative MP.Endometriosis is a chronic condition which affects one in 10 women, for whom tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places, causing debilitating pain and in some cases fertility complications. But a charity that looks to support women suffering from the condition - Endometriosis South Coast - has faced criticism this week after announcing that a trans woman, Steph Richards, would be their new CEO. The decision to appoint Steph was made by Jodie Hughes, Chair of the Trustees, who also founded the charity. They spoke to Emma about the appointment.Lisa Lintott always enjoyed writing, but being a single mum meant that this had to take a back seat. But when her son Jazz, an aspiring actor, found that he was only being sent typecast roles, Lisa enrolled herself into a creative writing masters and wrote her own play, casting her son in the lead role. Going for Gold, which tells the life story of British boxer Frankie Lucas, has since won multiple awards, including Best Production Play, Best Producer and Best Actor at this year’s Black British Theatre Awards, catapulting them both into the spotlight. Jazz and Lisa told Emma about this unexpected partnership.Minnie the Minx is turning 70. In December the much loved Beano cartoon character will celebrate 70 years since her first appearance. The writers and illustrators of the Beano, based in Dundee, Scotland, created Minnie to “be just as tough as the boys” and “kick back against pre-war societal norms.” Well, that was in 1953. Today, a special edition of The Beano is coming out, guest-edited by England's football captain, Leah Williamson. Laura Howell has been drawing Minnie since 2018 and explained why Minnie’s popularity has endured.

The four top jobs in Rishi Sunak’s new cabinet have all been filled with men. It’s the first time this has happened since 2009. To unpack what this means, Emma Barnett is joined by Baroness Kate Fall, former deputy chief of staff to the newly appointed Lord Cameron, and Executive Editor of Politico Anne McElvoy. Double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes spoke publicly about her sexuality for the first time in June last year. Her new memoir, Unique, details how serving in the military in the late 1980s - when it was illegal to be gay in the military – was a major factor in contributing to her decades-long silence. Dame Kelly joins Woman’s Hour to speak about her experience and what it meant to hear the Government’s apology to LGBT veterans. In April 2020, Debenhams in Ireland closed all 11 of its stores, informing its staff they had been let go in the process. What ensued were pickets and protests across Ireland that lasted for 406 days, 24 hours a day and through all weathers. As a new film is released on the subject in the UK, Emma is joined by Carol Ann Bridgeman who worked for Debenhams for 15 years and Jane Crowe who worked there for 23 years. Karuna Nundy is an advocate at the Supreme Court in India and has been leading legal campaigns to criminalise marital rape and to legalise same-sex marriage. She was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2022 and will be giving a speech on her career tonight at the Institute for Development Studies. She joins Emma to discuss her role in these high-profile cases.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lottie Garton

Following a weekend of speculation, the most senior woman in government Suella Braverman has been sacked from her role as Home Secretary. To discuss Emma is joined by Lucy Fisher, the Whitehall Editor for the Financial Times; and Claire Pearsall, former Home Office special advisor under Amber Rudd and Sajid Javid. The gripping BBC One drama ‘Time’ focuses on the stories of three women, and shows the stark differences for female and male prisoners. Emma is joined by Time’s screenwriter, Helen Black, who has first-hand experience of the criminal justice system from her past career in the law, and Lady Unchained, who was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for grievous bodily harm following a fight in a club while trying to protect her sister. She is now a poet, performer and broadcaster. The actor Natalie Cassidy pays tribute to the late Anna Scher who taught children in North London to act for more than 50 years.How is our interaction with AI shifting our concepts of intimacy and sexuality as humans? Emma Barnett talks to the Kate Devlin Kate Devlin who’s a Reader Artificial Intelligence & Society at King's College London and the author of Turned On: Science, Sex and Robots, and to Trudy Barber, Senior Lecturer at Portsmouth University in Media Studies.Tens of thousands of women in England could benefit from a drug that helps prevent breast cancer. Anastrozole, used for many years to treat the disease, has now been licensed as a preventative option, and almost 300 thousand women will be eligible to take it. But is it as big a step forwards as it seems? Former surgeon and breast cancer survivor Dr Liz O’Riordan joins Emma to discuss.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Emma Pearce

The Government has announced £11 million in funding for the NHS in England to roll out a dedicated perinatal pelvic health service across all trusts. The aim of these new perinatal pelvic health services will be to help educate and assess women during pregnancy and after a traumatic birth – but how will it work? Emma Barnett hears from Jacqui Barrett, who had a traumatic birth and was incontinent for a year, Professor Swati Jha, consultant gynaecologist and spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the Conservative MP Maria Caulfield, who is the Women’s Health Minister. Luxury brands are beginning to feature ‘timeless icons’ in their campaigns to attract older shoppers with more spending power. Is the fashion industry finally responding to the strength of the so-called 'grey pound'? Alexandra Schulman, journalist and former editor-in-chief of British Vogue and retail analyst Kate Hardcastle discuss. Jilly Cooper has sold more than two million copies of her books, including Riders, Rivals, and Polo - taking us into the glamorous worlds of show jumping and classical music. Her latest novel, Tackle!, takes us to the football pitch and features her legendary hero Rupert Campbell-Black. Jilly joins Emma to talk about football, why there is less sex in her novels now, and her view on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reading her books. Why do we swear, and are women judged differently for swearing than men? Why are some swear words considered more offensive than others, and what does that tell us about misogyny and sexism in society? Dr Emma Byrne, scientist and author of Swearing Is Good For You: The Amazing Science of Bad Language, and Dr Rebecca Roache, the author of a new book, For F's Sake: Why Swearing is Shocking, Rude and Fun, discuss. The ABC News Breakfast guest host Imogen Crump has been praised for helping to normalise symptoms of perimenopause, after she experienced a severe hot flush on live television. Emma asks her about what happened.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

If you've been following the Covid inquiry, you may have noticed a lot of strong and swearing language. So why do we swear, and are women judged differently for swearing than men? In her new book For F*ck's Sake: Why Swearing is Shocking, Rude, and Fun, Dr Rebecca Roache explores double standards, the misogynistic roots of certain swear words and the challenges in reclaiming them. Anita Rani is also joined by the scientist Dr Emma Byrne who discusses why she swears, swearing in front of children and her own relationship with certain swear words.Six months ago, there was a horrific act of violence in north-east India, when two women were stripped, paraded naked, and allegedly gang raped by a mob. It made the news nationally when their ordeal was made public in a viral video. Now the two women have spoken for the first time, in a face-to-face interview with the BBC's Divya Arya.Luxury fashion brand Loewe recently made headlines with the face of their Spring/Summer 2024 pre-collection campaign: 88-year-old Dame Maggie Smith is pictured modelling some of their best-selling bags. Is this a step in a new direction for the world of fashion? Are major brands waking up to the consumer power of the 'Grey Pound'? Anita Rani is joined retail analyst Kate Hardcastle and former British Vogue Editor Alexandra Shulman.In 1985 in Gary, Indiana, four girls aged between 14 and 16 years old entered the house of an elderly woman and brutally murdered her. They took her car and a small amount of cash. The girls were black and the woman was white. Ruth Pelke was a Bible school teacher, a widow, well-known in her community. Those facts are not disputed. A new book called Seventy Times Seven by Alex Mar is a forensic study of what happened before and after that day and her focus is on Paula Cooper - a 15-year-old girl sentenced to death for her crime. So far, so grim, but this is also a story of forgiveness and radical empathy. Alex Mar joins Anita. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey

We have been bringing you women's voices from Israel and Gaza since the start of the war. Yesterday, you will have heard on the programme Rachel Goldberg, mother of a 23-year-old hostage Hersh Goldberg Polin, kidnapped by Hamas from a music festival in Israel. Today, we hear from a mother in Gaza. Nour Swirki is a journalist with two children living in Khan Younis, a city in the southern strip of Gaza, with her husband, mother and sister - they have had to leave their home in Gaza City for safety reasons and relocate to the south - a fraught journey many more Palestinians are expected to make. Due to the difficulties in speaking live to guests in Gaza, we asked Nour to record for us voice notes explaining the situation she and her family are currently in. She and her husband continue to work as journalists while her wider family look after her children - a son and daughter aged 10 and 12.The ABC News Breakfast guest host Imogen Crump has been praised for helping to normalise symptoms of perimenopause, after she experienced a severe hot flush on live television. Emma Barnett asks her about what happened.Research from the University of Bristol demonstrates that women can lose out financially when they divorce. The number of couples seeking legal advice during divorce proceedings is falling, and old-fashioned procedures that disadvantage women are being used. To find out more, and get advice on how to make sure you are not penalised financially, Emma speaks to financial planner Megan Jenkins and family lawyer Amanda McAlister.The NHS is launching a new study into Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, which affects around twice as many women as men. The study, a joint project with Alzheimer’s Research UK and Alzheimer’s Society, will use a blood test to detect for the disease at an early stage. There is currently no single test for Alzheimer's and patients can wait years for a diagnosis. Dr Susan Mitchell, Head of Policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK, one of the charities leading this study talks to Emma.Emma talks to journalist Linda McDougall about her new biography of Marcia Williams, who went on to become Baroness Falkender. Linda hopes to shift public perception of the Baroness as a Svengali figure who influenced Prime Minister Harold Wilson during the sixties and seventies, and gain recognition for her achievements for the Labour Party. Linda's alternative history is called Marcia Williams, The Life and Times of Baroness Falkender.Presenter: Emma Barnett Studio manager: Duncan Hannant

Jilly Cooper began her career as a journalist, wrote columns on marriage, sex and housework for the Sunday Times, and numerous works of non-fiction before turning to romance novels - to great success. She has sold more than two million copies of her books including: Riders, Rivals, and Polo - taking us into the glamorous worlds of show jumping and classical music. Her latest novel Tackle! takes us to the football pitch and features her legendary hero Rupert Campbell-Black. Jilly joins Emma to talk about football, why there is less sex in her novels now, and her view on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reading her books. Yesterday marked a month since Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on Israel in which 1,400 people were killed and more than 200 men, women and children taken hostage. One of those seized and kidnapped was Hersh Goldberg-Polin - a 23-year-old dual Israeli American citizen who was attending the Supernova music festival - the site of which became a massacre of a majority of young people - more than 250 people at the hands of Hamas. Hersh lost an arm during that attack but is still believed to be alive. Since then more than 10,300 people have been killed in Gaza according to the Hamas-run health ministry in retaliatory air strikes by Israeli forces demanding the return of its citizens. Emma speaks to Hersh's mother Rachel Goldberg.A new report by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, which compared alcohol consumption across 38 countries, British women top the list as the heaviest binge drinkers alongside Denmark. The OECD found that 26% of British women reported binge drinking at least once a month - defined as having at least six drinks in a single session. Emma discusses the issues with Dr Helen Garr, GP and Medical Director of NHS Practitioner Health, a mental health and addiction service for healthcare professionals; and Catherine Gray, the author of The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober.The government has announced £11 million in funding for the NHS in England to roll out a dedicated perinatal pelvic health service across all trusts. The aim of these new perinatal pelvic health services will be to help educate and assess women during pregnancy and after a traumatic birth – but how will it work? And is it enough? Emma speaks to Jacqui Barrett, who had a traumatic birth and was incontinent for a year, Professor Swati Jha, consultant gynaecologist and spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the Conservative MP Maria Caulfield, who is the Women’s Health Minister. Presented by Emma Barnett Producer: Louise Corley Studio engineer: Gayl Gordon

Caster Semenya is one of the most decorated athletes of her generation but she is also one of the most scrutinised. The South African shot to fame in 2009 after winning the 800 metres at the World Championships in Berlin. Her performance was so astonishing it was met with questions about her sex and gender, with some asking publicly if she was really a woman. Caster's career, for all its highs, has been defined by a battle between her and the sport's governing body World Athletics about her right to compete. Caster joins Emma to discuss her career as she releases her new book A Race to be Myself. Kirsty MacColl wrote and sang some of the most iconic pop songs of the eighties and nineties. She tends to be remembered best for Fairytale of New York, and for her untimely death in 2000. However, as a comprehensive new box set of her work, See That Girl, demonstrates, her influence and importance as an artist extends far beyond this. Music journalist Jude Rogers wrote an essay for the box set, and joins Emma in studio.This morning, we'll have the first King's Speech in more than 70 years. In this morning's speech, the King is expected to include around 20 bills, focusing on criminal sentencing and smoking, among other things. A bill to change the leasehold system is also expected to be included. The BBC's Iain Watson gives us a run through of what to expect and Jo Darbyshire from the National Leasehold Campaign joins Emma to discuss why they want the leasehold system to be scrapped.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Emma Pearce

An unidentified Conservative MP has been accused of rape by several women. These allegations are mentioned in a new book by former cabinet secretary Nadine Dorries. It comes after reports the Conservative party's former chairman, Sir Jake Berry, wrote to the police to make them aware of the claims after leaving the post last year. The deputy Prime Minister, Oliver Dowden, has denied a cover-up by the party when he was the chairman. Emma Barnett hears the reaction of Isabel Hardman, Assistant Editor at The Spectator, and Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee.A group of mothers under the umbrella of Just Stop Oil are planning a slow march to demand an end to new oil and gas licences and to call for a secure liveable future for their children. Just Stop Oil's tactics around the country, from blocking roads to halting theatre productions, are controversial. Emma is joined by two of the protesting mums. When con woman Melissa Caddick vanished from her luxurious eastern Sydney home in November 2020 - with only her partially decomposed foot found washed up on a beach months later, it set off a frenzy in Australia. Regulators suspect the 49-year-old stole nearly £16m from more than 60 clients, including many of her family and friends, to help fund a lavish lifestyle. Chief investigative reporter at the Sydney Morning Herald, Kate McClymont, joins Emma to discuss.We hear about a development in the case of Agnes Wanjiru, a 21-year-old Kenyan woman who was found stabbed to death at a hotel in the garrison town of Nanyuki in 2012. Witnesses said she was last seen leaving the hotel bar with a British soldier, and her body was found in a septic tank at the hotel nearly three months later. A Kenyan judge concluded after an inquest in 2019 that she had been murdered by one or two British soldiers. As yet, nobody has been convicted. Kenyan police have now flown to the UK to question British soldiers and officers about the case. Emma speaks to Sunday Times journalist Hannah Al-Othman.Sarah Whalley is the producer and director of Forests, an episode of Planet Earth III. She was pregnant during filming and chose to name her child Forest. Sarah talks to Emma about how the isolation of her pregnancy during lockdown was mirrored when they filmed a Hornbill bird in its nest for the first time.

This week, the Maternity Safety Alliance group has called for a full statutory public inquiry into maternity safety in England. They joined Jess to explain why they’re calling for this inquiry as did Presenter Krupa Padhy, who has produced a documentary on Radio 4 which investigates this issue. Writer and comedian Alison Larkin avoided love most of her adult life but in her 50s, she found true love for the first time with an Indian climate scientist. Then he died. Alison joins Krupa to tell her all about her new show based on this experience, Grief…Comedy at the Soho Theatre.British sprinter Bianca Williams has had lots of success in Athletics competitions for almost a decade but in recent weeks it has been an investigation into an incident which happened three years ago that has put her back into the news. She joins Krupa to discuss her stop and search ordeal.Singer-songwriter and cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson has collaborated with a prestigious range of artists from Andrea Bocelli to Anoushka Shankar. She has now joined forces with London Symphony Orchestra Percussion Ensemble to create a new album, Ocean Floor. She joins Anita to discuss it.Have you ever played poker? Did you think about how playing it could influence your life decisions? Science writer and poker player Alex O’Brien has written a new book, The Truth Detective, which explores how the game's rules and strategies help us to better navigate the world and make better choices. She spoke to Jess about the life lessons she’s learned from playing – and why she’s teaching her daughter.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Claire Fox

There is huge pressure in the rental market and women are being hit hardest of all, according to The Financial Times. Average rents have increased so much that “there are almost no affordable one-bedroom lets in London and the East of England for the average single mother”, according to ONS and rental market data analysed by the Financial Times. Women, and especially single mothers, are being forced to relocate away from networks of family and friends and even their children’s schools, in order to find somewhere affordable to live. Amy Borrett, a Data Journalist at the Financial Times and Victoria Benson, CEO of Gingerbread, the charity for single parent families, join Anita Rani to discuss the issues.   The singer/songwriter and cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson has collaborated with a prestigious range of artists from Andrea Bocelli and Anoushka Shankar to Nitin Sawhney and Akala, as well as touring as part of Peter Gabriel’s band.  She has now joined forces with the London Symphony Orchestra Percussion Ensemble.  Their new album Ocean Floor explores stories relating to Ayanna’s ancestral heritage, culture and identity, and blurs the boundaries between chamber music, jazz and soul.  Ayanna performs in the studio, alongside Neil Percy, the LSO’s Principal Percussionist.A hundred years ago, nearly 400,000 ordinary women in Wales signed a petition calling on the women of America to join them in demanding a world without war. Today a purple plaque is being unveiled in Aberystwyth to commemorate Annie Hughes Griffiths who led the delegation of Welsh women who brought the petition to the US and to the President.  Dr Jenny Mathers, a senior lecturer in International Politics at Aberystwyth University, is co-editor of the book The Appeal 1923-23: The Remarkable Story of the Welsh Women's Peace Petition which is being launched today at the National Library of Wales. Catherine Dalton is making waves in professional cricket, having just become the first woman to be hired as a men’s fast-bowling coach. A cricketer for Essex, Catherine has played four one day internationals and four T-20 internationals for Ireland - and she'll soon be joining the Pakistan Super League side The Maltan Saltans for their 2024 season. In 2017, Lewes FC became the first English club to split its budget and resources equally between the men’s and women’s teams. It's just been announced the club's owners - made up entirely of its fans - voted in favour of moving forward with potential new investment in their women's team. It would come from Mercury 13, a consortium bidding to acquire women's football clubs in Europe and Latin America. Maggie Murphy, CEO of the club, and celebrated change-maker on the Woman's Hour Power List this year, explains why this is a big moment for how women's football could change and grow as its popularity continues to rise. Presented by Anita Rani Producer: Louise Corley

Former deputy cabinet secretary Helen McNamara gave evidence at the Covid Inquiry yesterday, saying that she thought that the culture in Number 10 was toxic and sexist. She was particularly critical of the explicit and misogynistic language the former chief advisor Dominic Cummings used to describe her. Krupa Padhy is joined by Lucy Fisher, Whitehall Editor for The Financial Times, and Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, to discuss what this says about the treatment of women at the heart of government.Journalist Rebecca Reid talks to Krupa about child-free friends and how she thinks they don't understand that she needs to be selfish now that she has a young child. Pakistan has ordered all unauthorised Afghan asylum seekers to leave the country. Pakistan is home to over four million Afghan migrants and refugees, about 1.7 million of whom are undocumented, according to the authorities. As Afghanistan's neighbour, Pakistan, has seen people travel across the border for safety for four decades, from the 1979 Soviet invasion through to the more recent return of the Taliban in 2021, Krupa talks to Zarghuna Kargar, an Afghan Journalist at BBC News, about the impact of this decision on women.The noughties was an incredibly hostile decade in which to be female, according to the writer Sarah Ditum.  It was the time when the traditional media of television, film and newspapers was joined by the internet; and the fame that resulted for nine iconic women: Britney, Paris, Lindsay, Aaliyah, Janet, Amy, Kim, Chyna and Jen came at a price. Sarah examines how each of these women changed the concept of ‘celebrity’ forever, often falling victim to it, in her new book Toxic.The writer and comedian Alison Larkin is the author of The English American, an autobiographical novel about an adopted English woman who finds her birth mother and Jane-Austen-like romance in the US. Alison had avoided love for most of her adult life. However, in her 50s she found true love with an Indian climate scientist who had also immigrated to the US. Then he died. After 30 years living in America, Alison is in the UK to perform her one woman show Grief... a Comedy which opens at the Soho Theatre in London on Monday. Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Emma Harth

As the Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit starts at Bletchley Park today, we look at the growing issue of AI generated child sexual abuse imagery. Jessica Creighton speaks to Emma Hardy from the Internet Watch Foundation and to Professor Gina Neff, Executive Director of the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy at Cambridge University. Science writer and poker player Alex O’Brien explores how the game's rules and strategies could help us to navigate the world, in her new book The Truth Detective. She joins Jessica in the studio.A recent report from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health says that climate change is causing an existential threat to the health and wellbeing of all children. Their President Dr Camilla Kingdon tells Jessica why that is, and what can be done.How do you navigate sex and consent as a teenager? How To Have Sex is the debut feature film of director Molly Manning Walker. It follows three best friends on a hedonistic post-GCSE trip to a party resort in Greece. As they fill their days sunning, clubbing and drinking, they also deal with troubling first sexual encounters and wrestle with issues of consent. Molly joins Jess to discuss the inspiration behind the film. Presenter: Jessica Creighton Producer: Lottie Garton

A group of families affected by failures in NHS maternity care are calling for a full statutory public inquiry into maternity safety in England. Emily Barley from the Maternity Safety Alliance group told Jessica Creighton why she thinks fundamental reform is needed. And presenter Krupa Padhy draws on her own personal story of baby loss in her BBC Radio 4 investigation, How safe is maternity care?The Covid inquiry is already under way and has heard about an internal report into the culture at the top of Government in the early months of the pandemic. This found that female staff were talked over and ignored. So what is the impact on the workplace when women can't speak out? And how can women get their voices heard in the workplace? Barbara Nixon is a success and leadership coach and she joined Jessica to discuss.There is a new superstar in women's football. Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí has won one of the sport's most presitgious awards... the Ballon d'Or. She is also one of five women nominated for the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award. Jo Currie, the BBC's Women's Football Correspondent, outlines the nominees.Princess Leonor of Spain turns 18 today and has been swearing allegiance to the country. So who is the young princess, and what role might she play in Spanish public life? Rafa de Miguel is the UK and Ireland correspondent for the Spanish newspaper El Pais and he joined Jessica to discuss.Producer: Hannah Sander Presenter: Jessica Creighton

Bianca Williams and her partner, fellow athlete Ricardo dos Santos, were stopped outside their home in London in July 2020. They had their three-month-old baby with them in their car. Both were handcuffed and searched on suspicion of having drugs and weapons. None were found and neither was arrested. A police Misconduct Hearing was held involving the five officers present. Last week that hearing found that two Met officers must be sacked as the stop and search was found to have amounted to gross misconduct - allegations against three other officers were not proven. The two officers have since been dismissed. Bianca joins Krupa Padhy to discuss how she's been affected by the experience.Living at home too long - An Italian court has ruled that a 75-year-old Italian woman can evict her “big baby” sons in their 40s. So how long is too long to live at home? We talk to Journalist Adriana Urbano.Actor Sandra Hüller on her two Oscar nominations for roles in Anatomy of the Fall – where she plays a wife suspected of murdering her husband - and The Zone of Interest where she plays Hedwig Höss, the wife of a Nazi commander. Amina Noor from London was found guilty at the Old Bailey last week of taking a three-year-old British child to Kenya for female genital mutilation in 2006. We talk to Jaswant Narwal the Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London North on the wider implications of the case.And Ellen Miller from Refuge, tells Krupa about her concerns for survivors of domestic abuse and stalking now that GP practices across England have been instructed to grant access to patients' medical records through the NHS app and other online portals. Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Sue Maillot

Leigh-Anne Pinnock - a name you may know, as a member of one of the biggest girl bands in the world, Little Mix. This year - almost two years since the band announced a hiatus - Leigh-Anne has embarked on her own solo career. She tells Anita Rani about her new memoir Believe, all about her life growing up, what it was really like going through The X Factor and how she found her voice. Ukraine claims it has identified 20,000 children who it alleges have been abducted by Russia since the start of the war. Arrest warrants have been issued to President Putin and his Commissioner for Children's Rights. It's the subject of the latest work from film-maker Shahida Tulaganova, who joins us to discuss her ITV documentary Ukraine's Stolen Children.Lizzi Larbalestier has cared for 139 seals in her home in Cornwall. She also helped set up a new seal hospital with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, and has just won an animal action award from the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Ruth Birch and Julia Curry are a couple from South Wales. They met as young women in the British Army, but had to leave because of the pressure they were under to lie about their sexuality and conceal their relationship. The stress led to them breaking up, but 20 years later they reunited. They join us to share their story.Britney Spears has been in the news again after spilling personal stories in a memoir. Are women being pressured to overshare in order to sell books? And are men also expected to publicise their personal lives? Nina Stibbe, whose newest memoir is Went to London, Took the Dog, and Caroline Sanderson, Associate Editor of The Bookseller, joins us to discuss. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lucy Wai

Leigh-Anne Pinnock has embarked on her own solo career, almost two years after her band, Little Mix, called a hiatus - and has already released two songs. Now she's got a new book out, Believe, all about her life growing up, what it was really like going through the X Factor and how she found her voice. She joins Anita Rani to discuss it all.The Black British Book Festival is now in its third year. It aims to celebrate new and emerging Black British authors across all genres of literature. To find out more, Anita speaks to author and events producer Selina Brown, who launched the festival, and Margaret Busby, Britain’s first black woman publisher, who is also currently President of English PEN, one of the world's oldest human rights organisations that campaigns for freedom of expression. Gesbeen Mohammad is the producer and director of Inside Iran: The Fight For Freedom, a new documentary that has taken more than a year to make. It’s a story told through the eyes of ordinary Iranian women who took to the streets when Mahsa Amini died in September 2022. Gesbeen tells Anita about why these women chose to tell their stories, and what the current situation is in Iran.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lottie Garton

Britney Spears has been in the news again after spilling personal stories in a memoir. Are women being pressured to overshare in order to sell books? And are men also expected to publicise their personal lives? Nina Stibbe, whose newest memoir is Went to London, Took the Dog, and Caroline Sanderson, Associate Editor of The Bookseller, joined Emma Barnett to discuss.Mary Turner Thomson found writing a memoir cathartic after discovering that her husband, William Allen Jordan, was not a spy as she had been told. He was actually a bigamist and a conman. Her story is now a documentary series, The Other Mrs Jordan: Catching the Ultimate Conman, which is available on ITVX. She and her daughter Eilidh told Emma about the day they discovered William's real identity.A report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Heriot Watt university says the number of children in the UK living in destitution has nearly trebled since 2017. Why are families struggling, and what could be done to help? Abby Jitendra, Principal Policy Adviser at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and Sophia Worringer, Deputy Policy Director at the Centre for Social Justice, joined Emma. We also heard from Kimberley in Fife who contributed to the report.Dame Alison Rose, the former chief executive of NatWest, has been found to have breached data protection laws after she publicly discussed the closure of Nigel Farage’s account with NatWest subsidiary bank Coutts. In the UK, banks closed more than 343,000 accounts in the last financial year. Gina Miller, the woman who spearheaded the anti-Brexit campaign before the 2016 referendum, was 'de-banked' and has called for an investigation into the practice.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Hannah Sander

As the Israel-Gaza war continues, aid groups are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza as power shortages threaten the lives of vulnerable patients, including women and children. UN agencies have estimated that one-third of hospitals in Gaza and nearly two-thirds of primary health care clinics have had to shut due to damage or a lack of fuel. The Israeli government says Hamas is stock-piling thousands of litres of fuel. The biggest aid provider in Gaza, the UN, says its fuel will run out tonight, unless it gets fresh supplies - hospitals in Gaza are already limiting services to critical cases only. Emma Barnett hears from Save the Children's Soraya Ali, as well as women's voices from Gaza and Israel.Lizzi Larbalestier has cared for 139 seals in her home in Cornwall. She also helped set up a new seal hospital with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, and has just won an animal action award from the International Fund for Animal Welfare.Actor Monica Dolan joins Emma to talk about starring in a new film about the undiscovered artist Audrey Amiss. Amiss was tipped for artistic greatness, but ended up cycling between mental hospitals and menial jobs for decades, and was sadly never exhibited, or recognised in her lifetime. Typist Artist Pirate King comes out this Friday.What normally happens as someone dies? These questions and others are answered in a new short animation ‘Dying for Beginners’. Kathryn Mannix is a retired palliative care doctor, who’s made it her mission to demystify what happens as we die. She’s worked with Theos Think Tank to produce the video, and will also be giving their annual public lecture on the public understanding of dying at the Royal Society for Medicine on 1st November. Kathryn joins Emma.

Liza Mundy is the bestselling author of Code Girls, a book about the American women who broke codes during the Second World War. Her new book details the lives of spies and intelligence agents behind some of the biggest operations in postwar history including locating Osama bin Laden, and rescuing the schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram.Around 80 Israeli rights groups have signed a letter calling on the organisation UN Women to condemn acts of violence against women by Hamas. The letter was addressing a statement issued by UN Women, a United Nations entity which aims to be a global champion of women and girls – which they said ‘ignored the atrocities that took place on Oct 7th’. Emma Barnett speaks to Tal Hochman from the Israeli Women’s Network who are one of the organisations involved and also by Lyse Doucet the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent.According to a new trial published in the journal of Clinical Psychiatry involving 80 people from Massachusetts General Hospital - heated yoga sessions could lead to reduced depressive symptoms in adults with moderate-to-severe depression. The trial findings suggest that the combination of yoga and heat should be considered as a potential treatment for individuals experiencing depression. Hot yoga instructor Cindy Thomas and writer and broadcaster Laura Barton talk about the survey.Ruth Birch and Julia Curry are a couple from South Wales. They met as young women in the British army, but had to leave because of the pressure they were under to lie about their sexuality and conceal their relationship. You were not allowed to be gay or lesbian in the UK military until the year 2000. The stress led to them breaking up, but twenty years later they reunited, and now campaign on behalf of fellow LGBT veterans. Ruth and Ju feature on You Had Me at Hello, a podcast where ordinary people tell their love stories. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Giles Aspen

Ukraine claims it has identified 20,000 children who it alleges have been abducted by Russia since the start of the war. Arrest warrants have been issued to President Putin and his Commissioner for Children's Rights. It's the subject of the latest work from film maker Shahida Tulaganova, whose documentary Ukraine's Stolen Children airs on ITV tonight. Now you may have heard of German composer Felix Mendelssohn but what about his sister, Fanny? A composer in her own right, Fanny was long ignored by the classical music world in favour of her brother. And despite being forbidden a musical career, Fanny persevered and composed 450 works. A new documentary, Fanny The Other Mendelssohn, explores her life and features never-before-heard or recorded pieces by her. Its director, BAFTA winner Sheila Hayman is also Fanny’s 3x great granddaughter and she joins Emma to discuss it.An extra course of chemotherapy could cut the risk of death from cervical cancer by up to two fifths, according to a new study by scientists. The drugs used are already licensed for use in the UK so those involved say it should be straightforward to roll out because the treatment is 'cheap and accessible'. GP Dr Phillipa Kaye who is also an ambassador for Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust and Comedian, Ambassador for Eve Appeal and cervical cancer survivor Karen Hobbs both join Emma Barnett to discuss it.Designer Sarah Burton has stepped down as Creative Director of the fashion brand Alexander McQueen, meaning that there are now only a tiny number of women designing clothes for the rest of us. So why are there so few female designers at the top fashion houses? And does it actually make a difference when the clothes women wear are designed by men? Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Emma Pearce

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has launched a ratings system to let patients see which IVF add-ons are backed-up by evidence. Emma Barnett is joined by Professor Tim Child, chair of the HFEA's Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee, and Jessica Hepburn, who spent over £70,000 on unsuccessful fertility procedures.In October 2019, Coleen Rooney was concerned by articles appearing in newspapers that could only have come from stories on her private Instagram account. She laid a trap for the account she suspected of the leak, and then told the world ‘It was…Rebekah Vardy’s account’. Rebekah Vardy, who continues to deny she was the source of those stories, sued Coleen for libel. In a radio exclusive, Coleen speaks to Emma about her side of the story, told in a new documentary: The Real Wagatha Story.Jazz/soul singer Mica Millar is performing as part of the London Jazz Festival in November. She joins Anita Rani to talk about her new album, Heaven Knows, which she wrote while recovering from a spinal injury during lockdown. Britain's long-awaited Online Safety Bill is days away from becoming law. Emma talks to legal expert Joshua Rozenburg about what will be in the act. She’s also joined by Baroness Kidron, who has been very involved in getting the act through the Houses of Parliament, and Rashik Parmar, CEO of BCS, the chartered institute of IT, about the future of online safety.Are we becoming afraid of our phones? A recent survey suggest half of 12 to 26-year-olds don't answer the phone to their parents and a third of them feel awkward speaking on the phone generally. Emma speaks to Helen Thorn, a writer, podcaster and comedian and to 17-year-old Iona Cooke Mcintosh. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lottie Garton

A new report out today from the CQC - the Care Quality Commission - says that almost two thirds of maternity units provide dangerously substandard care that puts women and babies at risk. It has rated 65% of maternity services in England as either "inadequate" or "requires improvement", an increase from 54% last year. And yesterday saw the first debate in Parliament about birth trauma and the injuries suffered by some women in labour. The Conservative MP Theo Clarke has campaigned for better support for mothers following her own traumatic experience after giving birth to her daughter in August 2022. She gave her powerful testimony to Parliament in an effort to get birth trauma added to the women's health strategy and improve perinatal care for women. First we hear from Chief Executive of the CQC, Ian Trenholm, and then consultant obstetrician Dr Daghni Rajasingham.After Ruhama Wolle took on the bridesmaid mantle three times in the space of 18 months, she decided to never say yes to the role, ever again. She penned an open letter resigning from all future bridesmaid requests, addressed to all her family and friends in Glamour Magazine US, where she works as Special Projects Editor. She joins Anita Rani to talk about why she’s opted out of the type of friendship being a bridesmaid requires.A prize-winning poet and currently Associate Professor of Creative Writing at Arizona State University, Safiya Sinclair, has now written a stunning memoir, How to Say Babylon. It looks at her childhood and teenage years growing up in an ultra-strict Rastifari family in Jamaica, and how literature and poetry changed the trajectory of her life.The soul/jazz singer Mica Millar has amassed almost five million streams on Spotify, and her debut album has been championed by the likes of Trevor Nelson and Jamie Cullum. This summer she’s had sold out shows, festival appearances at Love Supreme and the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, plus opening slots for Gregory Porter and Lionel Ritchie. Mica is to perform at the Union Chapel as part of London Jazz Festival’s opening weekend in November. She discusses recording her new album, Heaven Knows, during lockdown, while recovering from an accident.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Dr Lisa Cameron was the SNP MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow from 2015 until a week ago when she decided to join the Conservative Party. She has described the move as equivalent to leaving an abusive marriage. In her first radio interview since her defection, she joins Emma Barnett to discuss what led to her making this decision.Listeners who have been through IVF treatment will be familiar the extra – and often very expensive – add-on services that many clinics recommend. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the fertility regulator, has now launched a ratings system to let patients see which add-ons are backed-up by evidence. Strikingly, not one of them has been given the highest "green" rating. Professor Tim Child chairs the HFEA's Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee. Jessica Hepburn spent over £70,000 on unsuccessful fertility procedures and now campaigns about the fertility industry. They joined Emma to discuss.Three Little Birds is a new ITV series written by Lenny Henry which follows three women who emigrate from Jamaica to England in the 1950s - post-Windrush. The series is inspired by the stories of Lenny Henry’s family who, although had positive experiences of being helped as new arrivals, also shared accounts of physical and racial abuse when they reached the UK. Saffron Coomber who plays ‘Chantrelle’ and director Yero Timi Biu talk about the show.Julia Fox is an actor, artist and fashion icon, as famous for her breakout role in the film Uncut Gems as she is for her spectacular avant-garde fashion choices. She became tabloid fodder after a brief relationship with Kanye West. Her memoir Down the Drain describes a troubled childhood of sex, drugs and abusive relationships in Italy and New York. She tells Emma how her high-fashion image allows her to escape the male gaze.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Steve Greenwood.

If the current polls are to be believed the next chancellor of the exchequer could be a woman. That woman would be Rachel Reeves, the current shadow chancellor and the MP for Leeds West. Originally from Lewisham, South London, she attended a state school, made it to Oxford University then into the world of finance working as an economist for the Bank of England. Labour have yet to announce their manifesto and detailed costed policies to put to the electorate, but we can examine the philosophy behind Labour’s economic thinking because Rachel has just published her latest book, The Women Who made Modern Economics, and hear how they have influenced her own thinking. In October 2019, Coleen Rooney posted on social media that she had been concerned by articles appearing in newspapers that could only have come from stories on her private Instagram account. So she laid a trap for the account she suspected of the leak, and then told the world ‘It was…Rebekah Vardy’s account’. Immediately dubbed ‘Wagatha Christie’ - Rebekah Vardy, who continues to deny she was the source of those stories, sued Coleen for libel. A High Court judge ruled in Coleen Rooney’s favour last year and she is now putting her side of the story in a documentary series on Disney Plus called Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story. She speaks to Emma Barnett in a radio exclusive interview. British poet Becky Hemsley has self-published four collections of her work and has been top of the Amazon poetry chart twice now - most recently around International Women's Day last March. Originally a primary school teacher, she now focuses solely on her poetry. She joins Emma to explain why and to perform some of her poetry live.Presented by Emma Barnett Producer: Louise Corley Studio Engineer: Bob Nettles

As the war in Israel and Gaza heads into its 10th day, Emma talks about the role of hostages in this conflict with Rachel Briggs the CEO of Clarity Factory and an associate fellow at Chatham House. BBC's Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet also provides an update about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.Are we becoming afraid of our phones? A recent survey suggest half of 12 to 26 year olds don't answer the phone to their parents and a third of them feel awkward speaking on the phone generally. But are we any different? Emma talks to Helen Thorn, a writer, podcaster and comedian and to 17-year-old Iona Cooke Mcintosh.Britain's long-awaited Online Safety Bill setting tougher standards for social media platforms has been agreed by parliament and is days away from becoming law. It will regulate online content to help keep users safe, especially children, and to put the onus on companies to protect people from the likes of abusive messages, bullying and pornography, Emma talks to Legal expert Joshua Rozenburg about what will be in the Act and also to Baroness Kidron who has been very involved in getting the act through the houses of parliament and to Rashik Parmar the CEO of BCS the chartered institute of IT about the future of online safety.In 2020, an undercover investigation by the BBC’s Africa Eye exposed a network of baby stealers and traffickers in Kenya. It sparked public outcry in the country and led many officials to make public promises of government action. Journalist Njeri Mwangi went undercover to cultivate a network of whistle-blowers in these trafficking networks. She’s revisited those impacted by the trade in a second documentary, What Happened to the Baby Stealers.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

The queen of pop returned to London's O2 this weekend for her Celebration Tour, performing more than 40 songs from her four-decade career. During her opening performance on Saturday, 65-year-old Madonna thanked her children for supporting her while she was ill earlier this year with a 'serious bacterial infection' which saw her admitted to intensive care for several days and forced her to postpone the tour. Some of her children then joined her on stage. Emma Barnett speaks to two women who were there - Sabrina Barr from Metro online and Helen Brown, Chief Album Critic for The Independent.Exit polls from yesterday's general election in Poland suggest the governing right-wing Law and Justice Party has lost its majority in parliament. Three opposition groups are predicted to get enough seats to form a government if they can agree a coalition. The biggest of the three is the Civic Coalition, led by the former head of the European Council, Donald Tusk - who has already claimed victory. Women have played an important role in these elections with the issue of abortion taking centre stage since a near total ban was announced by the government in 2021, sparking protests across the country. The BBC's Eastern Europe Correspondent, Sarah Rainsford, is in Warsaw and joins Emma.Diana Parkes, Joanna Simpson’s mother, has campaigned for months to stop the man who killed her daughter, Robert Brown, being allowed out of prison. Halfway through his 26-year sentence for her manslaughter, he was due for automatic release from prison next month. However, it has been announced that the Justice Secretary has blocked this and referred the case to the Parole Board. Diana joins Emma to share her response to the decision.As climate ministers meet in Luxembourg today ahead of the COP28 summit next month in the United Arab Emirates, an exhibition looking at the relationship between women and ecology around the world is running at the Barbican in London. Emma talks to Alona Pardo, the lead curator of RE/SISTERS: A Lens on Gender and Ecology.Do you have an unconventional living arrangement with your partner? Last week we spoke to Caroline and Niel, who remained in the same house after they split up but now Caroline's new partner is living with her ex. It got very complicated! We wanted to see how many of you are in similar situations, and how that has worked. Listener Amy got in touch to say she has been together with her partner Richie for 19 years but they have never lived together, even after they got married. She joins Emma in studio.

Dawn French has been making people laugh as a writer, comedian and actor, for more than 30 years. Her celebrated shows include French and Saunders, The Vicar of Dibley, and Jam and Jerusalem. She joins Emma Barnett to discuss her new book about the hilarious gaffes that she has made in life, as part of her one-woman mission to celebrate what it means to be gloriously, messily human, rather than striving for Instagram-style-perfection.It’s one of the things we’re most embarrassed to talk about – pain when having sex. This is something that Professor Katy Vincent, academic gynaecologist, and Dr Lydia Coxon, researcher in Pain in Women, are hoping to change. They join Emma alongside BBC presenter Sophie Law to talk about an open panel they held to try and get women to talk about their pelvic pain, and address the taboo around talking about periods, sex and women’s pelvic health.'My Boyfriend Lives with with My Husband,' was the intriguing headline of an article in the Guardian newspaper recently. While Caroline and the children she shares with her husband Niel live in Cheltenham, Neil is living with Caroline's boyfriend in Scotland. Both Caroline and Niel describe their unconventional family living arrangements to Emma, they explain how it came about and why it works for them.The new BBC drama series The Reckoning has started on BBC One. It tells the story of Jimmy Savile, who for decades was one of the UK’s most influential celebrities forging friendships with politicians and royalty and raising millions for charity. But after his death in 2011, it transpired he was also one of the country’s most prolific sexual predators, abusing hundreds of people, many of them children. The series, which stars Steve Coogan as Jimmy Savile, explores how he was able to hide in plain sight and use his celebrity status, powerful connections and fundraising activity to gain uncontrolled access to vulnerable young people. Sam Brown was abused by Savile from the age of 11. Her story is depicted in episode 3 of the series, and she speaks to Emma.Violinist Esther Abrami was handpicked by Julian Lloyd Webber as one of 30 under 30 to watch, and she is the first classical musician to win the ‘Social Media Superstar’ category at the Global Awards. With more than 400,000 followers on TikTok, Esther joins Emma to discuss her new album, Cinema.Shirley Ballas is best known for being one of the judges on BBC Strictly Come Dancing and her stellar career in Latin dance that earnt her the title, ‘Queen of Latin’. She joins Krupa Padhy to talk about Strictly, the menopause and her new book, Murder on the Dancefloor.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Hanna Ward Studio Manager: Tim Heffer

Shirley Ballas is best known for being one of the judges on BBC Strictly Come Dancing and her stellar career in Latin dance that earnt her the title, ‘Queen of Latin’. She joins Krupa to talk about Strictly, the menopause and her new book, Murder on the Dancefloor. Last weekend’s earthquake in Western Afghanistan killed 1,300 people and injured many more according to UN figures. UNICEF have said more than 90% of those who died were women and children, as they were more likely to have been at home. Krupa speaks to Salma Braham, Afghanistan Country Director for the International Rescue Committee. She joins live from Kabul. Bed bugs are everywhere in the news. The actress Sue Elliott Nicholls joins us to describe the shame she felt when her house became infested. Social media influencer and author “Queen of Clean” Lynsey Crombie says with education and vigilance bed bugs can be avoided in the first place. She shares her top tips on actions we should take now and what we must avoid. Serious issues relating to cervical screening services in parts of Northern Ireland have led to 17,500 women having their smear tests re-checked as part of a major review of cervical screening dating back to 2008. Failures in screening has led to some abnormal tests not being followed up. Marie-Louise Connolly, the BBC’s NI Health Correspondent joins us to explain, together with a patient, we are calling Susan, who has been affected by previous failures within the screening system.Ripley Parker is the 22-year-old writer and creator of the new Netflix series Everything Now. She joins Krupa to talk about why the series is so important to her, and how it came from her own personal experiences as a teenager. Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Emma Pearce

Nearly 350,000 people have been displaced in Gaza, since Israel launched retaliatory air strikes and created a blockade of the area. In Gaza's hospitals, where thousands of people are being treated, power is running out. Women and children are chief among those affected. Emma speaks to Lyse Doucet, the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent, Najla Shawa, a humanitarian worker who lives in the west side of Gaza City with her family and Adele Raemer, a grandmother in Israel. Emmy winning actor, Laura Linney, joins Emma Barnett to discuss her new film, The Miracle Club, in which she stars alongside other film icons, Maggie Smith and Kathy Bates. Emma asks her how much she misses playing Wendy Byrde in the much-acclaimed long-running TV series Ozark.'My Boyfriend Lives with with My Husband,' was the intriguing headline of an article in the Guardian newspaper recently; While Caroline and the children she shares with her husband Niel live in Cheltenham, Niel is living with Caroline's boyfriend in Scotland. Both Caroline and Niel describe their unconventional family living arrangements to Emma and explain how it came about and why it works for them. Dawn French has been making people laugh as a writer, comedian and actor, for more than 30 years. Her celebrated shows include French and Saunders, The Vicar of Dibley, and Jam and Jerusalem. She joins Emma to discuss her new book about the hilarious gaffes that she made in life, as part of her one-woman mission to celebrate what it means to be gloriously, messily human, rather than striving for Instagram-style-perfection. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Steve Greenwood

We heard reports last night from Israel that a massacre had taken place at the weekend in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Women and children were among the dead and we were told that beheadings had happened too. A group of journalists were taken to the scene by Israeli soldiers. Emma is joined by Bel Trew, Chief International Correspondent for the Independent, who was one of the journalists. And, focusing on women's lives in the region, Emma speaks to Adele Raemer, who survived an attack on her home, and we hear extracts from journalist Plestia Alaqad in Gaza, who sent her audio diary to the BBC. Dr Katalin Kariko's work has had a major impact on people's lives around the world. She tells Emma how the mRNA technology she was working on for decades helped the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech covid vaccines come to be. Now Dr Kariko has been awarded a Nobel Prize. She's a biochemist, Professor at the University of Szeged in Hungary and along with her colleague Professor Drew Weissman, who is at the University of Pennsylvania, she won the prize for the category of Physiology or Medicine.It’s one of the things we’re most embarrassed to talk about – pain when having sex. This is something that Professor Katy Vincent, academic gynaecologist, and Dr Lydia Coxon, researcher in Pain in Women, are hoping to change. They join Emma alongside BBC presenter Sophie Law to talk about an open panel they held to try and get women to talk about their pelvic pain, and address the taboo around talking about periods, sex and women’s pelvic health. Since 2011, October 11 has been declared by the UN as International Day of the Girl Child to recognise girls' rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. This year Women of the World (WOW) Festival has launched the Young Leaders Directory, inspiring activists from across the world campaigning on topics such as education, period poverty and climate justice. Emma is joined by two young women, Marwa Shinwari from Afghanistan and Ain Husniza from Malaysia to discuss their passions and hopes for the future.Presented by Emma Barnett Producer: Louise Corley

After the Hamas attacks at the weekend and Israel’s order of a “complete siege” of the Gaza Strip in response, we talk to two people from the different communities involved. A few years ago, Bassam Aramin lost his 10-year-old daughter, Abir, who was killed by an Israeli soldier, and Robi Damelin lost her 28 year old son, David, after he was killed by a Palestinian sniper. Neither were killed in this latest stage of the Israel-Gaza conflict but as members of a cross-community group called the Parents Circle-Families Forum, they’re uniquely placed to comment on the situation.Esther Abrami was handpicked by Julian Lloyd Webber as one of 30 under 30 to watch, and she is the first classical musician to win the ‘Social Media Superstar’ category at the Global Awards. With more than 400,000 followers on TikTok, Esther joins Emma Barnett to discuss her new album, Cinema, and to perform live in the studio.Women dominated headlines at the Conservative Party conference last week. But is the future of the Labour Party female? Rachel Cunliffe, Associate Political Editor at the New Statesman, and Alice Thomson, columnist and interview at The Times, bring us the latest news from Liverpool.The Government’s official independent rape advisor Emily Hunt has decided to walk away from her role. She advised the government in the run-up to the landmark 2021 End-to-End Rape Review - which has successfully increased the number of rape cases getting to court to pre-2016 levels. But she has said that her own experiences within the justice system as an abuse victim have left her feeling unsafe. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Tim Heffer and Gayl Gordon

Images of children, mothers and grandmothers are flooding media and social media two days after a coordinated attack by Hamas on Israel. Israel has since declared war. Emma Barnett speaks to the BBC's Anna Foster, who is in Israel, not far from Gaza, who talks about the impact on women on both sides of the conflict. Also Emma hears from the son of a 74-year-old Israeli former headmistress and Arabic teacher who is believed by her family to have been kidnapped from her home, and Alicia Kearns MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.A new test could cut the time it takes to diagnose endometriosis from an average of eight years to just eight days. Researchers at the University of Hull have developed a test that uses a urine sample instead of a laparoscopy, an invasive surgical procedure that is currently used to diagnose the condition. Emma is joined by Dr Barbara Guinn, Reader in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Hull, to discuss.The new BBC drama series The Reckoning starts tonight on BBC One. It tells the story of Jimmy Savile, who for decades was one of the UK’s most influential celebrities forging friendships with politicians and royalty and raising millions for charity. But after his death in 2011, it transpired he was also one of the country’s most prolific sexual predators, abusing hundreds of people, many of them children. The series, which stars Steve Coogan as Jimmy Savile, explores how he was able to hide in plain sight and use his celebrity status, powerful connections and fundraising activity to gain uncontrolled access to vulnerable young people. Sam Brown was abused by Saville from the age of 11. Her story is depicted in episode 3 of the series, and she joins Emma.

Female teenage soldier Jaysley Beck is believed to have taken her own life after a period of relentless sexual harassment from one of her bosses, an Army investigation has found. Gunner Beck was serving in the Royal Artillery and was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire in December 2021. Her mother, Leighann McCready, speaks to Emma Barnett.Nicknamed 'the Taylor Swift of classical music', Anna Lapwood is one of the world's most famous organists, and Director of Music at Pembroke College, Cambridge. To encourage more women to try the instrument, Anna initiated the social media hashtag #playlikeagirl. She joins Emma to talk about her music and her new album, Luna.We hear from Karen Farquharson who has been awarded £37,000 at an employment tribunal after her boss told her she used the menopause as an “excuse for everything”. She tells Emma how the process has impacted her and why she wants to help other women.This week marked the start of a Catholic synod that will take place throughout October in the Vatican to discuss the direction of the Catholic Church. Emma talks to former Irish president Mary McAleese about why she thinks women should play a bigger role. And the food writer Grace Dent joins Anita Rani to talk about her new book, Comfort Eating, inspired by her podcast of the same name. She'll explain why she's so fascinated by the foods that make us feel better behind closed doors.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lottie Garton

We hear from food writer Grace Dent about her new book, Comfort Eating, inspired by her podcast of the same name. She'll explain why she's so fascinated by the foods to make us feel better behind closed doors.The Iranian visual artist Shirin Neshat’s latest work is called The Fury. It is a short film and series of photographs which explore the sexual exploitation of female political prisoners in Iran. Shirin left Iran as a teenager to study in the US and has lived in exile there since the 1990s. Her art is known for posing questions about how the female body is perceived within Islam and Iranian culture. She talks to Anita Rani about bringing The Fury to London and why she has chosen to deviate from her usual style and include the nude form.Gloria Daniel is the descendant of John Isaac Daniel, who was a slave. After finding out more about her family history and the lives of her ancestor, as well as other slaves, she has started the organisation TTEACH (Transatlantic Trafficked Enslaved African Corrective Historical) Plaques. She joins Anita to tell us about the exhibition they are currently holding, ’50 PLAQUES & PLACES’, which includes the testimonies and artwork of women.Mei Mac is an Olivier award nominee who has taken on the lead role of Kim in the ‘untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play' at the Young Vic. The play tackles over a century's worth of stereotypes about Asian women in drama, parodying Madame Butterfly, Miss Saigon and South Pacific. Mei tells Anita about confronting prejudice in theatre, 'the bamboo ceiling' and why she has set up a mentorship scheme for British East Asian and South East Asian actors.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey

An Army investigation has found that 19-year-old soldier Jaysley Beck is believed to have taken her own life after a period of relentless sexual harassment from one of her bosses. The gunner was serving in the Royal Artillery, and was found dead at the Larkhill army camp in Wiltshire in December 2021. Her mother Leighann McCready joins Emma along with Emma Norton, Director and Solicitor for the Centre for Military Justice.Poet Donna Ashworth has released a new collection of her work, Wild Hope. It is a selection of poems and passages that she hopes will help people to find hope in an increasingly pressurised world. She joins Emma to talk about why she picked up poetry in her 40s, and how it has changed her life.Savanah Leaf is a Team GB volleyball player turned film director, whose feature film Earth Mama is playing at the London Film Festival this week. Having competed in the 2012 Olympics, Savanah turned to filmmaking as a hobby when recovering from an injury. She joins Emma to discuss the transferable skills between sports and directing and tackling the US foster care system in her directorial debut.Lakaydia Reynolds was walking through a park in south London on her way to a driving lesson when she was attacked by three dogs. The dog’s owner tried to intervene, but the dogs injured her arm, legs and face. A stranger saw the attack and filmed it happening, rather than moving to intervene. The footage was uploaded to social media, where it has been viewed tens of thousands of times. Emma talks to Lakaydia about what she experienced. Susie Kahlich founded Pretty Deadly Self Defense and offers listeners tips on how best to defend themselves in a dog attack.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Emma Harth

Starting today a Catholic synod will take place throughout October in the Vatican to discuss the direction of the Church. Delegates will consider the way in which all members participate and decide the future direction of key issues such as the role of women. Emma Barnett talks to the former Irish president Mary McAleese about the issues facing the Church. Rishi Sunak will today give his first Conservative Party conference as Prime Minister – but his moment in the spotlight is under threat from the women in his party. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been called the “front-runner” for next leader after her speech, while Liz Truss became the surprise breakout star of conference. So is the future of the Conservative Party now female? Kitty Donaldson, UK Political Editor at Bloomberg News, and Isabel Hardman, Assistant Editor of The Spectator, join us from the Conservative Party conference in Manchester. And what can ordinary women learn from Liz Truss about bouncing back from a public failure? Writer Viv Groskop and Psychotherapist and podcaster Emma Reed Turrell discuss the lessons women can learn from Liz Truss’s return to the spotlight. The UK’s first and biggest study into pre-eclampsia which can affect the kidneys, liver and brain can cause seizures in women has been launched. The study will monitor women before pregnancy, during and after birth to find out why some women develop the conditions and the long term health implications.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Bob Nettles

It's day two of the 72-hour joint strike by junior doctors and consultants in the NHS. Dr Helen Neary, deputy chair of the BMA's consultant's committee and consultant anaesthetist in paediatrics and BBC’s Health Correspondent Nick Triggle joins Emma to discuss the strike and parts of the Health Secretary's speech today.Nicknamed the Taylor Swift of classical music, Anna Lapwood is one of the world's most famous organists, and Director of Music at Pembroke College, Cambridge. To encourage more women to try the instrument, Anna initiated the social media hashtag #playlikeagirl. She joins Emma to talk about her music and her new album Luna.Máiría Cahill grew up in a staunchly Republican family and community in west Belfast. At the age of 16 she says she was serially sexually assaulted and raped by a member of the IRA, and was later subjected to months of meetings about that trauma by the IRA, including being brought face to face with her alleged attacker. In 2014 Máiría waived her anonymity and has been relentless in her campaign to expose those who abused their power, and to get an apology for the way she was treated from senior Sinn Fein politicians. Máiría has written a memoir, Rough Beast, and joins Emma to talk about it.Glasgow Women’s Library is the UK’s only accredited woman’s history museum. For the last 32 years they’ve championed feminist stories from Scotland and beyond through their research, exhibitions and artefacts that have all been donated. However, for the first time they’re entering an auction to bring a piece of Scottish suffragette history back home. Emma Barnett speaks to operations director Sue John on the day of the auction.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

The world renowned Serbian performance artist Marina Abramovic talks to Emma Barnett about a major exhibition of her work across five decades at the Royal Academy in London. Universities are said to be spending increasingly more of their time investigating complex sexual misconduct cases raised by students. But how equipped and effective are universities at investigating such cases? Professor Steve West, Vice Chancellor of the University of the West of England, Eleanor Laws KC, leading criminal barrister and Geraldine Swanton, a lawyer working with the higher and further education sector discuss.The American performer Nicole Scherzinger came to our attention as the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls. She has since carved out a successful solo career as well as being a judge on television talent shows including The X Factor. Eight years after she was nominated for an Olivier Award for her portrayal of Grizabella in Cats, Nicole has now returned to the West End stage where she stars as Norma Desmond in a new production of the musical Sunset Boulevard.The cost of living has put a strain on people’s budgets and a recent report from Carnegie UK Trust suggests around a third of people are not even seeing their friends because they can’t afford to. Danielle Bayard Jackson, a female friendship coach and Otegha Uwagba, author of We Need to Talk about Money discuss navigating friendships and money.Author Ysenda Maxtone Graham talks about her new book Jobs for the Girls which gives a snapshot of British women's working lives from 1950s.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

After the invasion of Ukraine by Russia on 24 February 2022, Elena Kostyuchenco, one of Russia’s most fearless independent journalists, crossed into Ukraine to report on what was happening in the country. The paper she had worked at for 17 years, Novaya Gazeta, was shut down just months later in response to her reporting. Elena’s latest book, I Love Russia, gives a rare insight into her homeland, bringing us voices we have never heard. She speaks to Emma Barnett. We hear from Karen Farquharson who has been awarded £37,000 at an employment tribunal after her boss told her she used the menopause as an “excuse for everything”. In a separate case, a woman assisted by the Equality and Human Rights commission says her menopausal symptoms should be considered, in her case, as a disability. The economist Vicky Pryce comments on the potential implications of the case. We talk to BBC Wales political correspondent Teleri Glyn Jones about the victimisation of a whistle-blower and a complainant who made allegations of a serious nature about the Plaid Cymru MS Rhys ab Owen. Both say they were harassed by a family member of the MS who has been suspended from his party since last November pending an investigation by the Welsh Parliament’s standards watchdog. Emma Barnett also talks to former Plaid Cymru politician Nerys Evans who recently produced the damning report into Plaid’s sexual harassment complaints procedures earlier this year. Innes Fitzgerald is the current under 17s UK number one in the 3000 metres and she’s made the conscious decision to no longer fly to any championships or running events abroad. She’s been nominated for Young Athlete of the Year in the BBC Green Sports Awards. She joins Emma to tell us more. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Sue Maillot

The American performer Nicole Scherzinger came to our attention as the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls. She has since carved out a successful solo career with albums, serving as a judge on television talent shows including The X Factor. Eight years after she was nominated for an Olivier Award for her portrayal of Grizabella in Cats, Nicole has now returned to the West End stage where she stars as the immortal Norma Desmond in a new production of the musical Sunset Boulevard. She joins Anita to discuss taking on this iconic role.The cost of living has put a strain on people’s budgets and a recent report from Carnegie UK Trust suggests around a third of people are not even seeing their friends because they can’t afford to. To discuss how to navigate the finances of friendship Anita talks to Danielle Bayard Jackson, a female friendship coach and Otegha Uwagba, author of We Need to Talk about Money. Singer-songwriter and producer Asha Puthli is regarded as one of the most successful vocalists to come out of India. Referred to as a cosmopolitan pioneer of jazz, funk, soul and electronic dance music who has recorded ten solo albums for labels like EMI and CBS/Sony she joins Anita Rani to discuss 50 years in music.India’s Supreme Court has issued a handbook of 40 words which judges should avoid when describing women in writing judgments or filing cases before courts. Ranjana Kumari is the Founder and Director of the Centre for Social Research, a women's rights organisation based in New Delhi. She joins Anita to talk about how sexist views have played a role in disadvantaging women in India’s courts. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Emma Pearce

Marina Abramović, the world renowned Serbian performance artist, refers to herself as the “godmother of performance art”. Her pioneering work explores the relationship between the performer and the audience; one of her works saw her sit across from each visitor, staring into their eyes. She has repeatedly subjected herself to physical and mental extremes, including exhaustion, pain and even the possibility of death. Now at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, she presents key moments from her career and talks them through with Emma.A comment made by the broadcaster and self-styled anti-woke campaigner, Laurence Fox, about political reporter, Ava Evans, on GB News on Tuesday has led to his suspension. Now the man he was speaking to, Dan Wootton, has also been suspended as a presenter on the channel. Ava called the comments "really nasty" and said she has since received threats online. Emma speaks to Rebecca Whittington, the committee lead on this issue for the organisation Women in Journalism and Online Safety Editor at Reach PLC.Dehenna Davison MP was part of the ground breaking group of Conservative MPs who in 2019, won dozens of seats in former Labour areas known as the Red Wall. She was elected by voters in Bishop Auckland in the North East as their first ever Conservative MP and was the first Conservative female MP to reveal she is bi-sexual. Last year she made it into the Government as a junior minister in Michael Gove’s Levelling Up Department, but despite this promotion and being see as one of the most energetic and active of the new MPs, in November 2022 she announced she wouldn’t be standing for election again. Last week she stood down as a minister, citing chronic migraine as the cause. Emma Barnett talks to Dehenna about her health, her life in politics and her plans for the future. A university in Melbourne is preparing to host the first ever Taylor Swift Symposium, or Swiftposium as it’s being called, with researchers gathering to discuss the singer through a variety of subjects. Dr Jennifer Beckett is one of the organisers behind the event and Emma to discuss the plans for early 2024.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Emma Harth

Dame Joan Collins has dominated the stage and screen for over seven decades, starting her career at just 17. Best known for her roles in the 1980s TV phenomenon Dynasty and Hollywood Golden Age films, she has written a new memoir Behind the Shoulder Pads: Tales I Tell My Friends. She speaks to Emma about her glittering career, sexism in Hollywood and turning 90. Students are more likely than other groups of people to be subjected to sexual assault. A study soon to be published by researchers at Oxford University has found that one in four female students at the university had experienced some sort of sexual assault in the preceding year. Now, universities are said to be spending increasingly more of their time investigating complex sexual misconduct cases. But how equipped and effective are they in investigating such cases? And why are students putting their faith in university hearings rather than going to the police?  Emma discusses with Professor Steve West, Vice Chancellor of University of West of England, Eleanor Laws KC, leading criminal barrister and Geraldine Swanton, a lawyer working with the higher and further education sector.A new report from a commission at the medical journal The Lancet looks at how cancer disproportionately impacts women. “Women, Power and Cancer” puts the case forward for an intersectional feminist approach to cancer - with the goal of transforming the ways women interact with the cancer health system. The commission has been headed up by Dr Ophira Ginsburg from the National Cancer Institute in the US.Presented by Emma Barnett Producer: Louise Corley

The managing director of AFC Wimbledon has resigned after being secretly recorded making sexist and abusive comments about a female colleague, just two months after publicly committing to tackling sexism as part of the Her Game Too campaign. Emma Barnett gets reaction from Lewes FC Chief Executive Maggie Murphy and Yvonne Harrison, CEO of Women in Football.Minna Dubin is the author of Mum Rage: The Everyday Crisis of Modern Motherhood. It's a book inspired by her own experiences and she then spent three years speaking to other mothers, to build up a picture that goes beyond her own domestic sphere.In 2021, prominent Chinese journalist and #MeToo activist Sophia Huang Xueqin was arrested and jailed. Unseen for the last two years, the Chinese Government announced that her closed-door trial began on Friday. Journalist Jessie Lau joins Emma to discuss the latest in this case.Emma talks to author Ysenda Maxtone Graham about her new book Jobs for the Girls which gives a snapshot of British women's working lives from 1950, through cardigans and pearls, via mini-skirts and bottom-pinching, to shoulder pads and the ping of the first emails in the early 1990s.

Claiming to tell unknown stories about the iconic singer, alongside songs some of his much-loved songs, this world premiere musical hopes to reflect his enduring legacy. His youngest daughter Tina, one of the producers, and the director and choreographer of the show, Kathleen Marshall join Emma Barnett.We discuss the possible decision to cancel another part of the high speed rail link - HS2 - and the impact it could have on women with Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, co-director of the Women's Budget Group, a Feminist Economic Think Tank and Zoe Billingham, Director of the IPPR North - based in Manchester.Between 1975 and 1980, Peter Sutcliffe murdered 13 women and attempted to murder at least seven more across the North of England.  A new ITV drama series, The Long Shadow, portrays the women who were killed, and their families, as well as the hardworking but flawed and misogynist police investigation.  Joining Emma are Willow Grylls, executive producer of the show and Meg Winterburn, who worked on the investigation as a police sergeant.Exclusive research shared with Woman’s Hour claims that £60m is ‘wasted’ in England every year on Tribunals for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Local authorities ‘fight’ thousands of parents of disabled children about what support the child gets and where they go to school  – but 'lose' 96% of those cases. This comes on the day that one of the country’s leading experts delivers a valedictory lecture after a 40 year career advocating for disabled children. Dame Christine Lenehan, Director of the Council of Disabled Children, part of the National Children’s Bureau, Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Duncan Hannant

Emma Barnett hears from one of the women alleging she was assaulted by Russell Brand. Speaking for the first time since accusations became public, 'Alice', who has accused Russell Brand of sexual assault when she was a teenager, says Brand's emphatic denial of the allegations of rape and sexual abuse against him is "insulting". 'Alice', who had a relationship with Brand when she was 16 and he was 30, says she wants to start a conversation about changing the age of consent. On her first day back at the Woman's Hour helm after maternity leave, Emma gets some advice and reflection from someone who returned to work after a similar break, the global literary force that is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Author of bestselling books including Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah, plus essays and short stories, she has just released her first children’s book, Mama’s Sleeping Scarf. You’ll no doubt be familiar with the book Frankenstein - but how much do you know about its author Mary Shelley? That’s a question that led director, Lucy Speed, and producer, Deborah Clair, to write, direct and produce their new play that’s about to start touring in the UK. Conception - Mary Shelley: The Making of a Monster tells the story of a journey of self-discovery, as the Frankenstein author returns, years later, to Lake Geneva where she wrote her famous novel. The play is hitting the stage around the 200th anniversary of the first publication of the novel under Mary Shelley’s name - having originally been published anonymously. Artist and author Fleur Pierets embarked on a performance art project with her wife, Julian, in 2017, aiming to get married in all the countries where same-sex marriage was legal at the time. But their dream was cut short when Julian was diagnosed with late-stage brain cancer in early 2018 and died six weeks later. It’s a story Fleur has put down on paper in her book, Julian, which has just been translated into English and released in the UK. Since the 1980s, the comedian and actor Doon Mackichan has been a TV regular, starring in programmes like Two Doors Down, Smack the Pony and Brass Eye. She has also played plenty of roles on stage. She dissects how today’s culture still expects women to adhere to stereotypes, some of which she refuses to act out, as described in her memoir, My Lady Parts.Presenter: Jessica Creighton Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed Editor: Sarah Crawley

Have you heard of the term 'sharenting'? That’s when a parent, caregiver or relative shares content about their child’s life, such as news, videos, images, online. Some have even turned it into a lucrative business. The psychologist Dr Elaine Kasket was an habitual 'sharent', chronicling her young daughter’s life on social media. But then four years ago at the age of nine, her daughter told her she didn’t like her doing it, so she stopped. Elaine’s written about 'sharenting' and her experiences in a chapter in her new book Reboot: Reclaiming Your Life in a Tech-Obsessed World. She joins Jessica Creighton along with her daughter Zoe. British Gymnastics has published a list of 62 banned coaches and members, as part of its response to the damning Whyte Review published in 2022, which detailed 'systemic' issues of physical and emotional abuse in the sport. The campaign group Gymnasts for Change has accused the governing body of "serious institutional betrayal" for not including more people on the list, who they believe meet the criteria. We heard from the co-founder of Gymnasts for Change, Claire Heafford and BBC Sports correspondent Natalie Pirks.In the 70s and 80s, nearly 5,000 people with haemophilia contracted HIV or Hepatitis C after being infected by tainted blood clotting products. Over 2,800 people died including women and children in what was described as 'the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS’.  With an ongoing public inquiry, we spoke to Sunday Times Political Editor Caroline Wheeler, who has interviewed countless victims and has been following the story for 20 years.You’ll no doubt be familiar with the book Frankenstein - but how much do you know about its author Mary Shelley? That’s a question that led director, Lucy Speed, and producer, Deborah Clair, to write, direct and produce their new play that’s about to start touring in the UK. Conception - Mary Shelley: The Making of a Monster tells the story of a journey of self-discovery, as the Frankenstein author returns, years later, to Lake Geneva where she wrote her famous novel. The play is hitting the stage around the 200th anniversary of the first publication of the novel under Mary Shelley’s name - having originally been published anonymously. Presenter: Jessica Creighton Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Iran’s parliament has approved the Hijab and Chastity Bill, under which women will face up to 10 years in prison if they defy the country’s mandatory hijab rules. This comes a year after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who was detained by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating rules requiring women to cover their hair. Emma Barnett speaks to Samaneh Savadi, an Iranian feminist activist who specialises in international law.A new independent standards body, the Creative Industry Independent Standards Authority, is being set up in the UK so that concerns over behaviour can be raised and investigated confidentially. Emma talks to its CEO, Jen Smith.Sarah-Jane Nichols, former BMX racing world champion, talks to Emma about qualifying for the world championships 36 years after she first retired from the sport.Since the 1980s, the comedian and actor Doon Mackichan has been a TV regular, starring in programmes like Two Doors Down, Smack the Pony and Brass Eye. She has also played plenty of roles on stage. Doon talks to Emma about her recollections of those parts and dissects how today’s culture still expects women to adhere to stereotypes, some of which she refuses to act out, as described  in her memoir, My Lady Parts.Isata Dumbuya is a midwife who is striving to reduce maternal mortality rates in Sierra Leone, a country where 717 in 100,000 women die in childbirth every year. She has dedicated her career to helping mothers-to-be and joins Emma to talk about the new maternal centre she is setting up.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Steve Greenwood

The BBC has revealed that the Prime Minister is considering a major shift on key climate action policies. These changes include pushing back a ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars to 2035 and delaying the 2026 ban on off-grid oil boilers to 2035. The economist Kate Raworth joins Emma to discuss her reaction to this news. If you’re on TikTok, “girl”-based trends are everywhere you look these days. From girl dinner to girl math, lazy girl job to hot girl walk, the list goes on. Girl math is the latest trend, with a hashtag with over 360 million views. Is it about reclaiming girlhood - or is it sexist and infantilizing? Behavioural scientist and author Professor Pragya Argawal and host of the “Adulting” podcast Oenone Forbat join Emma to discussThe Met Police have announced that they aim to change the demographic of the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Unit – where both Wayne Couzens and David Carrick worked - to have 20% women in the next two years. But why should it fall to women to improve workplace behaviours? To discuss, Emma is joined by Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne and workplace commentator Julia Hobsbawm.Artist and author Fleur Pierets embarked on a performance art project with her wife, Julian, in 2017, aiming to get married in all the countries where same sex marriage was legal at the time. But their dream was cut short when Julian was diagnosed with late stage brain cancer in early 2018 and died six weeks later. It’s a story Fleur has put down on paper in her book “Julian”, which has just been translated into English and released in the UK.TikTok clips uses: samcity and VIDA GLOWPresenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Emma Pearce

Yesterday on Woman's Hour, one of Russell Brand's alleged victims, 'Alice', called for a conversation around changing the age of consent in the UK, to what she called 'a staggered age of consent'. It would mean individuals between the ages of 16 and 18 could legally have sex with one another, but there would be legislation in place to prevent adults having relations with 16 to 18-year-olds, as there is the potential for a power imbalance in this dynamic. Emma Barnett speaks to Baroness Helena Kennedy and Gudrun Young QC. Lucy Letby was recently convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to kill six others while working within the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016. We talk to Dr Susan Gilby who joined the hospital trust as medical director and then chief executive a few weeks after Letby was arrested. Two weeks ago, Birmingham City Council issued a 114 notice which means they can’t balance the books to meet their spending commitments this year.  The tipping point appears to have been a £750 million equal pay settlement and it’s feared many more councils could be in a similar position. Emma talks to Heather Jameson, Editor of the Municipal Journal and to Peter Marland from the Local Government Association which represents councils in England about the problems they’re facing.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Tim Heffer

Emma Barnett hears from one of the women alleging she was assaulted by Russell Brand. Speaking for the first time since accusations became public, 'Alice', who has accused Russell Brand of sexual assault when she was a teenager, says Brand's emphatic denial of the allegations of rape and sexual abuse against him is "insulting". 'Alice', who had a relationship with Brand when she was 16 and he was 30, says she wants to start a conversation about changing the age of consent.One woman who spoke out earlier this year is the TV producer turned novelist and screenwriter Daisy Goodwin. She accused Daniel Korski, a former special advisor who was in the running at the time to be Conservative candidate for London Mayor, of groping her at an event in 10 Downing Street in 2013. Daniel Korski vehemently denies this and subsequent allegations of sexual misconduct. Daisy joins Emma in studio.On her first day back at the Woman's Hour helm after maternity leave, Emma gets some advice and reflection from someone who returned to work after a similar break, the global literary force that is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Author of bestselling books including Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah, plus essays and short stories, she has just released her first children’s book, Mama’s Sleeping Scarf.Fearless is the title of the new book from make-up business owner and makeover specialist Trinny Woodall. You'll probably know Trinny best for her show What Not To Wear, alongside best friend Susannah Constantine in the early 2000s. Trinny has more recently launched a multi-million pound make-up business and skincare company, Trinny London. She speaks to Emma about reinventing herself in her 50s.

Since winning the Great British Bake Off in 2015, Nadiya Hussain has published seven cookery books, presented numerous TV shows and been awarded an MBE for services to broadcasting and the culinary arts. Nadiya joins Anita Rani to talk about her latest book and BBC Two series, Nadiya’s Simple Spices. She also celebrates the women in her family. A survey launched last week by the Government is calling on women in England aged 16 to 55 to share their experiences of reproductive health - from periods, contraception to pregnancy and the menopause. But the decision to only speak to women up to the age of 55 has provoked a backlash. Dr Shazia Malik, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist and a sub-specialist in reproductive medicine, gives her reaction. In a new series called The Knock, we’ve heard the stories of two women whose lives were changed when they were told that a loved one had been arrested for sexual offences against children. Deborah Denis, Chief Executive of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, and Rachel Armitage, Professor of Criminology the University of Huddersfield spoke about the impact of 'the knock' on the families and friends of men arrested for these crimes. Some British women are now being offered IVF treatment using artificial intelligence. How might AI improve the chances of a successful pregnancy? Suzanne Cawood, Director of Embryology at the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health, explains. Mercury Prize-winning musician Arlo Parks has turned her hand to poetry with her debut book, The Magic Border. It combines original poetry, song lyrics and images.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

It’s been one year since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini sparked protests and outrage across the world. Anita Rani is joined by author Arash Azizi and human rights researcher Azade Pourzand to take a look at where women in Iran stand now, and the long-term impact that’s still being felt.Dr Elsie Inglis was a Scottish woman known as the ‘Serbian Mother from Scotland’, who founded four Scottish Women’s Hospitals in Serbia during World War One. Together with more than 1,000 woman from Britain and the Commonwealth, she helped to save the lives of allied and enemy soldiers alike. To find out more about her and why she isn’t better known in the UK, Anita speaks to three women who are in Serbia to honour her memory at a special ceremony: Carole Powell, Dr Iram Kamran Qureshi and Caroline Ferguson.This week, in a new series called The Knock, we’ve heard the stories of two women whose lives were changed when they were told that a loved one had been arrested for sexual offences against children. Anita talks to Deborah Denis, Chief Executive of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, and Rachel Armitage, Professor of Criminology the University of Huddersfield about the impact of 'the knock' on the families and friends of men arrested for these crimes. They’ll discuss what support families need, and what they are calling for.The comedian London Hughes has written a memoir, Living My Best Life, Hun. In it, she details her decision to leave the UK, where she experienced bullying and rejection, and go to live in LA, where she quickly became a star. She joins Anita to talk about writing her memoir, turning rejection into opportunity and romanticising her life.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lottie Garton

Last week, Birmingham City Council effectively declared bankruptcy, issuing a section 114 notice, after it admitted an equal pay liability of £760m. Now the GMB, the UK's third largest Trade Union, says female care workers in Sunderland have been underpaid for years compared with the mostly male litter-pickers, and are making a similar claim against their council. Anita hears the latest from Rhea Wolfson, head of the GMB's National Equal Pay Department.Since winning the Great British Bake Off in 2015, Nadiya Hussain has published seven cookery books, presented numerous TV shows and been awarded an MBE for services to broadcasting and the culinary arts. Nadiya joins Anita to talk about her latest book and BBC Two series, Nadiya’s Simple Spices, in which she concentrates exclusively on recipes from her Bangladeshi heritage, and creates recipes with eight spices. The death toll from last Friday’s earthquake in Morocco has reached nearly 3,000 people. Three hundred thousand people are said to have been affected, including 100,000 children. The aftermath of earthquakes poses numerous challenges to women and children who are said to suffer the most during humanitarian emergencies. Anita speaks to Ridwana Wallace-Laher, CEO of the Penny Appeal, who has been working in Morocco, and the actor Laila Rouass, a British-Moroccan representative for Education for All, a charity which provides schooling for girls in Morocco.Wilderness is a new Prime Video psychological thriller series which stars Jenna Coleman and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. It's the story of a young British couple, Liv and Will, who seemingly have it all. But their glamorous new life in New York changes dramatically when Liv learns Will has been seeing another woman. Liv's heartbreak turns into fury and revenge. Anita is joined by Marnie Dickens, the writer and creator of the series. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Bob Nettles

Crime author Jane Casey joins Nuala McGovern to talk about a new six part TV adaptation of her best selling book The Killing Kind. The legal thriller starring Emma Appleton has themes such as stalking and coercion as she plays a lawyer who tries to rebuild her life after getting too close to a former client. Emma also joins Nuala in the studio.In the second part of our series The Knock, Jo Morris talks to a woman we are calling Evie who chose to stand by and support her brother after he pleaded guilty to sex offences against children. Why did she make that decision and what has it cost her?Some British women are now being offered IVF treatment using artificial intelligence. The software is used to help select the best embryo for implantation. So how might AI improve the chances of a successful pregnancy? Nuala is joined by Suzanne Cawood, Director of Embryology at the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health, a private clinic in London, which has been using AI and offering it as an 'add-on' to patients. We also hear the regulator the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's position on such practices.In a historic ruling, the Mexican Supreme Court has decriminalised abortion at the federal level. The two leading candidates in next year’s elections in will both be women, meaning that Mexico expects to have its first ever female leader. So, is the country having a feminist revolution? Nuala speaks to Daniela Philipson-Garcia, a PhD scholar and specialist on Mexico's gender policies.

They say current disparities in women’s health across England mean there are far too many cases where women’s voices are not being heard. But the decision to only speak to women up to the age of 55 has provoked a backlash. Nuala McGovern is joined by consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Shazia Malik, a sub-specialist in reproductive medicine.The film Scrapper follows 12-year-old Georgie living happily alone in a council house in London following the death of her mum. But when her absent father Jason turns up out of the blue, her world is disrupted. We talk to director Charlotte Regan about her debut feature film who says she wanted to show British working class life as something that can be joyful and fun.A new survey shows that nearly a third of female NHS surgeons have been sexually assaulted by a colleague over the past five years. Nuala speak to Tamzin Cuming, a consultant surgeon and chair of the Women in Surgery forum at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, who says it’s a #MeToo moment for surgery.Before the age of social media, there was still plenty of trolling in written form. Emily Cockayne, author of the new book Penning Poison, joins Nuala to discuss her research into the history of poison pen letters; that is, messages sent anonymously, seemingly with the intention to unsettle the recipient. Emily has traced the stories of such missives to all corners of English society from 1760 to 1939.We start our new series 'The Knock' which details the stories of two women whose lives were changed when they were told that a loved one had been arrested for sexual offences against children.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Tim Heffer Reporter Jo Morris

Millie Bobby Brown is a 19-year-old actress best known for her award-nominated performance as Eleven in Stranger Things, and for producing and starring in Enola Holmes. Now she has written a debut novel, Nineteen Steps, based on her grandmother’s life in the East End of London during the Second World War. She joins Nuala to talk about why she wanted to write the novel and why it’s so personal for her.In recent months there’s been increasing momentum for what has been called Martha’s rule which would give patients the power to get an automatic second medical opinion from other experts. This comes after the death of 13-year-old Martha Mills who died in hospital. An inquest concluded that her death had been preventable. So what difference could Martha’s Rule make to how much say patients have to question the decisions made by doctors? Paediatrician and health campaigner Dr Guddi Singh wants to empower people so that medical care works in their best interests and joins Nuala. Three quarters of police officers and staff accused of violence against women are not suspended by their force. That’s according to a joint investigation by the Independent newspaper and Refuge Charity. Nuala is joined by Ellie Butt, Head of Policy at Refuge. Mercury Prize Winning Musician Arlo Parks has turned her hand to poetry with her debut book, The Magic Border. It combines original poetry, song lyrics and images and she joins Nuala for an interview and live reading of one of the poems.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma PearceOpener 00:00 Martha’s Rule 01:23 Police accused of violence against women 12:50 Millie Bobby Brown 23:49 Arlo Parks 42:48

Economic abuse was officially recognised under the Domestic Abuse Act in 2021, yet a new study from the charity Surviving Economic Abuse suggests victims are still being let down by the police and the courts. Their CEO Nicola Sharp-Jeffs joins to tell us more about their findings, alongside ITV broadcaster Ruth Dodsworth who shares her own personal experience.On Tuesday’s programme, the Conservative MP for Don Valley, Nick Fletcher, championed the idea of a Minister for Men. He says statistics show that 75% of people taking their lives are men, that the life expectancy of men is 3.7 years lower than it is for women, that 83% of rough sleepers are men. On Wednesday we heard your views - could a Minister help tackle some of the issues many young men seem to be struggling with, such as masculinity, pornography, consent and their role in society? Could a Minister for Men also make life better for women? And could it be a way to tackle the rise of influencers such as Andrew Tate – a self-declared misogynist?Have you ever been in a 'situationship'? It's sort of a relationship but you're not exclusive. It's the subject of the debut novel of Taylor-Dior Rumble. The Situationship is published by Merky Books and it's been termed the label's first Rom-Com. Rebuilding My Life series: When Martine Wright was rescued from the wreckage of a bombed Tube train on what became known as 7/7, her injuries were so severe that she could not be identified. Both her legs were amputated above the knee. 18 years on, Martine speaks about her road to recovery, physically and emotionally.Is Belfast the new city of love? Well, it’s the backdrop to new Sky Atlantic romcom The Lovers, which follows local supermarket worker Janet and her love affair with English TV presenter, Seamus O’Hannigan who has a whole other life, and a girlfriend, back in London. Roisin Gallagher, who plays Janet, talks about filming in her hometown and the changing perceptions of Northern Ireland’s capital.Presenter; Anita Rani Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed Editor: Sarah Crawley

Economic abuse was officially recognised under the Domestic Abuse Act in 2021, yet a new study from the charity Surviving Economic Abuse suggests victims are still being let down by the police and the courts. Their CEO Nicola Sharp-Jeffs joins to tell us more about their findings, alongside ITV broadcaster Ruth Dodsworth who shares her own personal experience.What would you do if you weren’t afraid? That is the question Michal Oshman is asking in her latest book. As the former Head of Company Culture at TikTok and International Leadership Development Executive at Facebook, she is no stranger to success. But Michal says that she has spent most of her life hiding anxiety and fear under this success - and uses her book to explore how we can all replace uncertainty with purpose for a better life. She joins Anita Rani to discuss.You might have seen in the papers and online that the actress Sophie Turner and the singer Joe Jonas are getting divorced. The couple met back in 2016 on Instagram, and were married a year later. They have two daughters together, but earlier this week released a joint statement saying they have 'mutually decided to amicably end' their marriage. However, TMZ reported that a source claimed that they had very different lifestyles. Sophie Likes to party, while Jo stays at home, they reported. Olivia-Anne Cleary is a senior editor and writer who felt compelled to write an article about it for Glamour magazine, Can We Please Stop Mum Shaming. She joins Anita to discuss.When you think of traditional barbershop singers you probably think of men. But there are just as many female acapella singing groups as male. The Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers has around 60 clubs as members. And Mountain Harmony Chorus, the only one in Wales, wrote to Woman's Hour during Listener Week, inviting us to one of their rehearsals. We hear from our reporter Melanie Abbott who went along.Is Belfast the new city of love? Well it’s the backdrop to new Sky Atlantic romcom, The Lovers, which follows local supermarket worker Janet and her love affair with English TV presenter, Seamus O’Hannigan who has a whole other life, and a girlfriend, back in London. Roisin Gallagher, who plays Janet, joins Anita to talk about filming in her hometown and changing perceptions of Northern Ireland’s capital.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Hanna Ward Studio Manager: Bob Nettles

Today MPs from all parties are holding a debate on a controversial pregnancy testing drug used widely in the 1960s and 1970s. It's expected that MPs from all parties will speak, including former Prime Minister Theresa May. In May, the High Court rejected a claim for compensation saying it could not proceed because there was no new evidence linking the tests with foetal harm. Marie Lyon, Chairwoman of the Association for Children Damaged by Hormone Pregnancy Tests and Hannah Bardell MP, Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group On Hormone Pregnancy Testing, join Nuala McGovern. In the last in our series Rebuilding My Life, Nuala speaks to Wiz Wharton, author of Ghost Girl, Banana. Wiz was sectioned under the Mental Health Act 24 years ago, which led to a diagnosis of bipolar. She was forced to confront her demons and work out what needed to change, including owning her identity as a British-Chinese woman and learning how to stand up to the racism she had experienced all her life. Exclusive reporting from The Guardian this week shows that cricket umpires were paid three times more to officiate the men’s Hundred this summer than the women’s. It comes just days after the England and Wales Cricket Board announced that the women’s teams will get the same match fees as the men’s. Nuala speaks to journalist Raf Nicholson.One of the last surviving Bletchley Park codebreakers has died aged 99. Margaret Betts was just 19 when she was headhunted to work on the project. Nuala speaks to Tessa Dunlop, author of The Bletchley Girls, to find out a bit more about her.Dame Shirley Bassey will become the first female solo artist in British history to be honoured with a stamp series. Welsh music journalist Jude Rogers joins Nuala.

On yesterday's programme, the Conservative MP for Don Valley, Nick Fletcher, championed the idea of a Minister for Men. He says statistics show that 75% of people taking their lives are men, that the life expectancy of men is 3.7 years lower than it is for women, that 83% of rough sleepers are men and that 96% of the prison population is men. Do you agree with Nick? Could a Minister help tackle some of the issues many young men seem to be struggling with, such as masculinity, pornography, consent and their role in society? Could a minister for men also make life better for women? And could it be a way to tackle the rise of influencers such as Andrew Tate – a self-declared misogynist?Today Nuala McGovern talks to Michael Conroy, the founder of Men at Work, which focuses on unpicking some of the social influences on the values and beliefs of boys and young men – and how some of those influences can manifest in a range of problematic behaviours. Hear him and have your say live on air by calling Nuala. The phone lines open at 0800 on Wednesday 6 September. Call us on 03700 100 444 or you can text the programme - the number is 84844. Texts will be charged at your standard message rate. On social media we're @BBCWomansHour. And you can email us through our website.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer Lisa Jenkinson Studio Managers: Donald McDonald and Emma Harth

Ukraine's First Lady, Olena Zelenska, has given a very personal interview to the BBC 18 months after the Russian invasion and subsequent war in her country. In it, she speaks about having to live in a different location to her husband, President Zelensky, and her fears for her children's future. The BBC's Yalda Hakim joins Nuala McGovern.A male politician is calling for a Minister for Men. Nick Fletcher, the Conservative MP for Don Valley, believes that men face such serious difficulties in today’s society that they need a specific champion. The second in our Rebuilding My Life series. When Martine Wright was rescued from the wreckage of a bombed Tube train on what became known as 7/7, her injuries were so severe that she could not be identified. Both her legs were amputated above the knee. Eighteen years on, Martine speaks to Nuala about her road to recovery, physically and emotionally.Past Lives is the directorial debut from the New York playwright turned filmmaker Celine Song. She tells the story of Nora and her childhood sweetheart, Hae Sung, who she left behind in Seoul when her family immigrated to Canada. But they reconnect years later in New York, when Nora is happily married - and grapple with what they are to each other now… and whether they missed their chance.Do you wish you cooked more but don't know where to start? Yotam Ottolenghi called Bee Wilson 'the ultimate food scholar'. She's the author of six books on food-related subjects. Now she's written her first cookbook, The Secret of Cooking: Recipes for an Easier Life in the Kitchen. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda MontefioreOpener 00:00 Olena Zelenska 01:40 Nick Fletcher 09:10 Rebuilding My Life - Martine Wright 24:29 Past Lives 37:35 Bee Wilson 45:51

In 1969, migration to the UK was increasing with Britain becoming home for thousands of foreign settlers. In Coventry, 21 women of Indian origin booked what were supposed to be routine appointments with their local GP. Little did they know that these appointments would result in them becoming subjects of a controversial medical experiment, in which they were given chapatis laced with radioactive components. Over the next 50 years, memories of the experiment have continued to resurface as campaigners, such as Labour MP Taiwo Owatemi, try to track down participants and their families whilst calling on Parliament to open an inquiry into the findings. Nicky Perfect knows what it’s like to live much of her life on high alert. From joining the police at the age of 18, working in the Met Police Firearms unit to eventually joining the elite New Scotland Yard Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Unit. She’s brought people safely down from rooftop stand-offs, worked to resolve gang kidnappings and terrorist incidents. Now she’s written about her experiences in Crisis: True stories of my life as a hostage negotiator.Listener Carla Mercer contacted Woman’s Hour asking for a discussion on parenting from the perspective of a non-birth mother in a single-sex relationship. She is the non-birth mother to her seven-year-old daughter and five-year-old twin boys. She is separated from her ex-partner who is the children’s birth mother. Author and journalist, Lotte Jeffs is the “other mother” to a four-year-old girl with her wife, who gave birth to their daughter. She is co-author of The Queer Parent: Everything You Need to Know From Gay to Ze. Political parties in Japan are boosting their support to get more women into office. The country’s ruling party and opposition party are both offering financial incentives- pledging a million Japanese Yen, about £5400, in aid for each new female candidate. And many would say the country sorely needs more women in politics- with the World Economic Forum showing only 10% of the country’s parliamentary positions are held by women. Rei Murakami is the President of the Murakami Foundation, and has set up a politics training school with this goal in mind. Hanako Montgomery is a Tokyo-based journalist. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty StarkeyOpener 00:00 Radioactive Chapatis 02:12 Nicky Perfect 12:16 Women on Wheels 30:20 Non-Birth Mothers 35:44 Japanese Women in Politics 46:45

A BBC investigation has found that at least five women have died after family courts allowed fathers accused of abuse to apply for contact with their children. Some took their own lives, and one had a heart attack outside a court. Nuala McGovern is joined by Dr Elizabeth Dalgarno who led the research in to this. We often talk to women about the immediate impact of traumatic life-changing events. But what happens after the dust has settled? This week on Woman’s Hour, we are inviting you to listen to three women’s experiences of picking up the pieces. Claire Russell lost her partner Mark to suicide in 2018, and miscarried their baby a few weeks later. Claire tells Nuala about how she began to recover. Since the conflict in Sudan erupted again in April, there have been reports of the increased use of sexual violence against women and girls. More than four million women and girls are at risk of sexual violence across Sudan, according to the World Health Organization. Nuala speaks to CNN’s Nima Elbagir and to Duaa Tariq who is in Khartoum.How reliable is DIY fertility testing in helping you plan for a baby? A recent report in the British Medical Journal has found that some DIY tests that were sold in the UK to measure oestrogen levels may have given misleading results. The report's author, Emma Wilkinson, joins Nuala alongside Dr Ippokratis Sarris, Consultant in Reproductive Medicine and Director of King’s Fertility. Have you ever been in a 'situationship'? It's sort of a relationship but you're not exclusive. It's the subject of the debut novel of Taylor-Dior Rumble. The Situationship is published by Merky Books and it's been termed the label's first Rom-Com. Taylor-Dior joins Nuala in the studio. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Nicky Perfect has spent most of her life in highly fraught and dangerous situations, working as a hostage negotiator. Now she’s written about her experience in a new book: Crisis: True Stories of my Life as a Hostage Negotiator. She joins Nuala McGovern to talk about some of the things she learnt along the way.The TV presenter Sarah Beeny has spent much of her life in the unpredictable world of property renovation. Her latest book, The Simple Life - How I found Home, is about the many homes she's lived in. While she was writing it, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Sarah speaks to Nuala about her perspective on language around cancer, and why she loves having a chaotic home.Emma Hayes is the manager of Chelsea Women Football Club. In her time, they have won six Women’s Super League titles, five FA Cups and two League Cups. Emma joins Hayley Hassall to discuss football, motherhood, women's health, and leadership – which is the subject of her new audiobook, Kill the Unicorn.The Pulitzer prize-winning production Next to Normal is currently on stage at the Donmar Warehouse in London. It features a suburban wife and mother living with bipolar and haunted by her past. Actor Caissie Levy, who plays Diana, and birder and environmentalist, Mya-Rose Craig, share their experiences with Nuala. Did you hear our special Bank Holiday programme about lists? They pop up everywhere in life – and can be good, or bad. Nuala discusses some historically bad lists with authors Helen Lewis and Anne Sebba.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lottie GartonOpener 00:00 Nicky Perfect 01:23 Sarah Beeny 10:41 Emma Hayes 23:10 Bipolar Mothers 35:49 Bad Lists 44:09

Emma Hayes has been manager of Chelsea Women football team for more than a decade, a reign made remarkable by six Women’s Super League titles, five FA Cups and two League Cups. Emma joins Hayley Hassall to discuss leadership in football and beyond, motherhood and women's health. Emma Hayes’ new audiobook, Kill the Unicorn, explores how her experience coaching elite female athletes has lessons for all of us. On 24 May, the iconic singer Tina Turner died at the age of 83. For the last five years her life and music have been portrayed on stage in London’s West End to endless audiences keen to continue to enjoy her songs and watch the highs and lows, particularly of her early life, marriage to Ike Turner and then the revival of her career as a solo artist. Karis Anderson has recently taken on the role of Tina and joins Hayley in the Woman’s Hour studio. Women in Afghanistan are turning to nursing as one of the few remaining professions they are permitted to do under the Taliban. But nursing itself is facing a crisis in the country. Former BBC Persia journalist Bahaar Joya is now a nurse in London. She describes the training she wants to provide for nurses in Afghanistan, and what the women there are telling her.The hit BBC Three and HBO rom-com series Starstruck is back on our screens with its third season - following the main character Jessie and her best friend Kate through their late 20s and early 30s in London. Rose Matafeo has co-written the show and plays Jessie and Emma Sidi plays Kate. They join Hayley to discuss their characters and their friendship.Presented by Hayley Hassall Producer: Louise Corley Studio Engineers: Andrew Garratt & Sue Maillot00:00 OPENER 02:38 EMMA HAYES 23:52 TINA TURNER 36:45 AFGHAN NURSE 47:19 ROSE MATAFEO AND EMMA SIDI

A group of women who were raped by the same man are now coming together to campaign for better treatment for survivors of rape in the Scottish justice system. After his sentencing, the women were photographed arm-in-arm outside the high court in Glasgow, having forged a close bond. Catriona Renton, reporter and presenter for BBC Scotland, joins Nuala. Writer and activist Natasha Walter joins Nuala to discuss her new, very personal book, Before the Light Fades: a memoir of grief and resistance. One day in December 2017 Natasha's mother Ruth took her own life. Natasha overwhelmed, by grief and guilt starts to look back through Ruth's history, trying to understand how her life led to this death. Last week scientists in America announced that they have taken an important step in understanding the human genome- our genetic blueprint- by decoding the Y chromosome which is passed from male parent to male offspring and determines biological sex and fertility. Professor Chris Barratt, head of Reproductive Medicine at Ninewells Hospital and the University of Dundee Medical School explains the implications of this research in relation to male infertility. Next to Normal is a Pulitzer prize-winning production currently on stage at the Donmar Theatre in London. At its heart Diana Goodman is a suburban wife and mother living with bipolar and haunted by her past. We speak to actor Caissie Levy playing Diana and birder and environmentalist, Mya-Rose Craig whose recent book Birdgirl talked about the impact on her and her family of having a mother with the same diagnosis. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda MontefioreOpener 00:00 Rape 01:20 Natasha Walter 10:32 Y Chromosome Breakthrough 22:23 Bipolar Mothers 30:19

The TV presenter Sarah Beeny has spent much of her life in the unpredictable world of property renovation. You'll find her in programmes such as Help! My House is Falling Down and Sarah Beeny’s New Life in the Country. Her latest book, The Simple Life - How I found Home, is about the many homes she's lived in and her latest move to a former dairy farm in Somerset. While she was writing it she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Sarah joins Nuala McGovern.Nuala speaks to actor Rebekah Staton, who stars in the new BBC drama The Following Events Are Based on a Pack of Lies. It follows two women who have nothing in common - except conman and celebrated so-called ecopreneur Rob. Staton plays Alice Newman, who had been trying to move on from Rob’s schemes that left her family penniless and his subsequent disappearance - until she sees him one day by chance.The Spanish Football Federation's regional leaders have called on their president, Luis Rubiales, to resign. He faces widespread criticism for kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso on the lips at the World Cup ceremony in Sydney just over a week ago. Hermoso has said the kiss was not consensual. Now his mother has gone on hunger strike in protest against the treatment of her son. Nuala speaks to Semra Hunter, Spanish football journalist.VICE Journalist Deborah Bonello has written about the hidden power women wield in Latin American drug cartels for her first book, Narcas. It is the first in-depth exploration of these women. She joins Nuala to discuss.And the next in our series Women on Wheels - where we hear women speak about the cars that mean or meant a lot to them. Today, we hear from listener Rachel. Her choice of a Morris Minor bemused her friends and family but the adventures she had in it still make her smile.00:00 OPENER 01:54 JENNI HERMOSO 13:57 SARAH BEENY 29:14 LAS NARCAS 41:58 WOMEN ON WHEELS 46:41 REBEKAH STATON

To discuss the how and why of lists, Nuala is joined by Joanna Nolan, author of the book, Listful, and Lucy Ireland Gray, who put together a collection of about 200 shopping lists that she found discarded over the course of nearly 20 years in and around Hertfordshire, where she lives.We consider the psychology of lists - in particular why and whether lists are good or bad for our mental health and creativity. Artist Alice Instone, Joanna Nolan, author of Listful, and Madeleine Dore, the author of, I didn’t do the thing today: On letting go of productivity guilt, join Nuala.Lists in the public domain - with Nuala to discuss the good and bad of lists historically and in contemporary times, are journalist and writer Helen Lewis, author of Difficult women: A history of feminism in eleven fights, and writer Anne Sebba, author of 10 non-fiction books. Her most recent book is Ethel Rosenberg: A Cold War Tragedy.The place of lists in music - songs with lists, the charts, playlists and more. Nuala is joined by Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae, whose album, Black Rainbows, is out in September, and music journalist Jude Rogers, the author of The sound of being human: How music shapes our lives.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

A Listener Week Weekend Woman’s Hour Special, where you – our listeners – decide what you want to hear on the programme.Our listener Rachel asked us to explore the potential of using psychedelic drugs in medicine, and whether these drugs might affect women differently to men. Anita Rani is joined by Professor David Nutt, Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London; and Catherine Bird, Senior Clinical Trials Manager at the Centre for Affective Disorders at Kings College London.Eric, a listener, suggested we find out more about Vulcana, the Victorian strongwoman known for her 'jaw-dropping feats of strength and her breath-taking beauty'. Author Rebecca F John and Sam Taylor, Britain’s Strongest Woman 2020, join Nuala McGovern to talk about strongwomen past and present. A listener who we’re calling Jane tells Nuala about her addiction to shoplifting. She wanted to highlight her experience and her struggle to cope with her compulsion - and explains her anxiety about regularly breaking the law. Listener Nelly has asked us to talk about living funerals. She was inspired by Kris Hallenga, the founder of the CoppaFeel breast cancer awareness charity, who has stage 4 breast cancer and who held a living funeral for herself. Nuala hears from Jenna, whose sister had a living funeral.Franceska Murati is a 27-year-old businesswoman and this year’s Miss Central London. At four years old, she arrived in the UK having escaped war-torn Kosovo, smuggled in the back of a lorry. She shares her story.And our listener Laura wanted us to look at heavy metal and the role women play in the scene. Nuala speaks to Lindsay Bishop, who conducted 10 years of field work for her PhD on the subject and Becky Baldwin, a bassist from the band Fury.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lottie Garton

For Listener Week, you, our listeners, decide what we cover on the programme.Listener Liane has tasked the programme with a deep dive into the impact of generative Artificial Intelligence on the workforce. She’s concerned that AI risks making humans “obsolete” and “has the capacity to replace millions of people's creative ideas, artwork, writing, music, their skills in language, invention and interpretation in seconds.” We speak to Dame Diane Coyle, the Bennett Professor of Public Policy at Cambridge University, and Christina Colclough, founder of the Why Not Lab specialising in the futures of work.Listener Deb emailed in to shine a light on the work of her daughter Daisy and her partner Anna, thatchers who have worked on rooves all over Devon. Our reporter Sarah Swadling caught up with them at work on a cottage near Okehampton.How do you feel about your nose? Once considered a symbol of beauty and power in ancient Rome, having a slightly larger facial feature nowadays can have a different meaning for some. Do you embrace it in its natural form or have you ever thought about changing it? We speak to Radhika Sanghani, who started the #sideprofileselfie campaign; and Karolina who decided to have a rhinoplasty.Listener Annette has often thought about living with her female friends in old age but she doesn’t know how to go about it. To answer her questions, we speak to architect Anne Thorne, who has recently built Cannock Mill CoHousing with 25 other households. And Mim Skinner, author of Living Together, a book about intentional communities in the UK and beyond. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lucy Wai Studio Manager: Gayl Gordan00:00 OPENER 02:17 AI AND AUTOMATION 17.45 TRAIL 18:57 FEMALE THATCHERS 32:00 BIG NOSES 45:51 COMMUNAL LIVING

For Listener Week, you, our listeners, decide what we cover on the programme.Listener Rachel asked Woman's Hour to explore the potential of using psychedelic drugs in medicine and whether these drugs might affect women differently to men. Academics have been researching psilocybin as a possible new treatment for depression, PTSD and anorexia, when used in conjunction with therapy. Anita Rani is joined by Professor David Nutt, Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London; and Catherine Bird, Senior Clinical Trials Manager at the Centre for Affective Disorders at Kings College London.Helen, a listener, wanted Woman's Hour to highlight the importance of peripheral friendships. These are casual acquaintance relationships; the people in your life that you don’t see often, or your co-workers who give you joy, or kindness, but aren’t your close family. Anita meets Helen and they talk to Dr Gillian Sandstrom, a senior lecturer in the Psychology of Kindness at Sussex University, who has studied these relationshipsPosthumous conception is when assisted reproductive technology is used to establish a pregnancy and produce genetic offspring following the death of a parent. Listener, Lauren McGregor, wrote to Woman's Hour wanting to discuss the importance of having the legal paperwork properly completed and signed should you ever find yourself in a situation when you have to consider this. Anita is joined by Lauren and a family lawyer, who has experience of working with fertility law, Louisa Gheveart.Earlier this year, research from the University of Portsmouth showed there are 100 times more microplastics in the coast around the UK than there were six years ago. Anita talks to the marine biologist and PhD student Emily Stevenson who is on a mission to clean up the patch of Cornwall’s north coast where she grew up. Emily founded Beach Guardian in 2017 with her dad to try to empower local communities to combat plastic waste along the coastline.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Giles Aspen00:00 Opener 02:28 Psychedlics 17:12 Peripheral Friendship 30:45 Posthumous Conception 46:18 Beach Conservation

For Woman's Hour's Listener Week, you, our listeners, decide what we cover on the programme.Nuala McGovern is joined by Monica and chartered psychologist Catherine Hallissey to discuss when it might be the right decision to give up on your dream. We'd like to hear your views on the issue. Have you decided to change course or realised a goal isn’t meant to be?Earlier this month, we heard the experiences of young people who are opting to live at home while they study at university because of the cost of living. That prompted a listener, Dr Pam Woolner from Newcastle University, to get in touch to tell us about the latest research by her colleague Dr Sam Shields. It looks into the experiences of working class women going to university and the challenges they face. Sam is senior lecturer in Education at Newcastle University and joins Nuala along with the writer Jessica Andrews who was the first in her family to go to university, leaving her home in the north-east of England to study in London.    One of our listeners got in touch to tell us that his daughter had discovered a previously unseen poem by Georgiana the Duchess of Devonshire, who you may know about from the Keira Knightley film, The Duchess. We’ll be bringing you that poem and discussing why the duchess was such an influential political figure in her day.And Nelly has asked us to talk about living funerals. She was inspired by Kris Hallenga, the founder of the CoppaFeel breast cancer awareness charity, who has stage 4 breast cancer and who held a living funeral for herself.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Andrew Garratt00:00 OPENER 01:43 LIVING FUNERALS 22.46 WORKING CLASS ACADEMICS 35.45 DUCHESS POEM 46.57 GIVING UP ON DREAMS 5439 CLOSE

For listener week, you, our listeners, decide what we cover on the programme.Listener Liz got in touch to say she wanted to know more about the women fighting on the front line in Ukraine. Nuala McGovern is joined by BBC journalist and reporter Olga Malchevska, whose home in Kyiv was bombed at the start of the war. She’s been back to Ukraine to meet three women who are fighting for their country – we’ll hear from one of them who was severely injured when the car she was in drove over a landmine. As a child Julie De’Ath always wished she had an older brother, ‘an easy pass to get a boyfriend’, she said. Two years ago at the age of 67, she finally got one when she received a message on Facebook from a man claiming to be that brother. Her mother had given birth to a baby boy in the 1940s but being unmarried at the time, gave him up for adoption. It was a secret her mother took to her grave. Julie contacted Woman’s Hour as part of Listener week to share her story for the first time. We also speak to her long-lost half-brother, Tom, and to Miriam Silver, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, who specialises in parenting and children who have been adopted. Victorian strongwoman Vulcana was known for her jaw-dropping feats of strength and her breathtaking beauty. Listener Eric suggested her story to us. He asked that we talk to author Rebecca F John, whose historical novel, Vulcana, fictionalises her life. She tells Nuala about the remarkable, and trailblazing, performer. Plus, Sam Taylor, Britain’s Strongest Woman 2020, tells us what it’s like being a modern-day strongwoman. Franceska Murati is a 27-year-old businesswoman and this year’s Miss London. But there’s more to this beauty queen that meets the eye. At 4 years old, she arrived in the UK alongside her parents and older sister. They had escaped war-torn Kosovo, smuggling themselves on the back of a lorry. She shares her story.It’s something we’ve all probably done at one point or another - eating alone. Whether that’s taking yourself out to a restaurant you’ve always wanted to go to, grabbing a meal while you’re on a solo trip, or cooking for just yourself at home. But despite how common eating alone is - given that in 2022 the Office of National Statistics showed almost one in three households in the UK were people living alone - some might say there’s still a stigma around it. So how do we get around it? Nuala talks to Woman’s Hour listener Julia Georgallis and food writer Clare Finney.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey00:00 Opener 01:34 Ukraine Female Soldiers 16:08 Long Lost Family 30:05 Strong Women 39:19 Franceska Murati 49:42 Eating Alone

For listener week you, our listeners, decide what we cover on the programme. It might not have been World Cup glory for England's Lionesses but they still made history and have inspired many along the way. To take a look back at that history, Nuala is joined by two listeners: Sue Whyatt, who played for England in 1972, and successfully got her international cap following an email to us at Woman’s Hour, and Jo Clark, co-founder of Baller FC. A listener speaks to Nuala about her addiction to shoplifting - fully aware that it's a criminal offence and not something that should be condoned, she wanted to highlight her story on the programme. Listener Laura wanted us to look at heavy metal and the role women play in the scene. Nuala speaks to Lindsay Bishop, who conducted 10 years of field work for her PhD on the subject and Becky Baldwin, a bassist from the band Fury. Sue Stewart explains why she got in touch with Woman’s Hour to tell us about the impact on her of the book Matrescence by Lucy Jones. Matrescence is the time during pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood when women undergo far-reaching changes which Lucy Jones argues are more profound, wild and long lasting than we have ever been led to believe. We speak to Lucy and to Sue. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce00:00 Opener 02:35 Football 16:53 Kleptomania 34:43 Mid trail 35:53 Heavy Metal 47:06 Mastresence

Former Lioness and England's top female goal scorer, Ellen White, on England reaching the Fifa Women's World Cup final. VJ day was on Tuesday, marking the anniversary of Japan's surrender, and the end of World War Two. Olga Henderson was 13 in 1945, starving in a camp in Singapore alongside other young internees. Now 91, Olga talks about her time in the camps recalled in her new – and first - book, In the Shadow of the Rising Sun. A survey of 10,000 university students found that only 14% of pupils who had been in the care system progressed to higher education by age 19, compared to 47% of all other pupils. Kim Emenike, who was in care as a child, and Katharine Sacks-Jones, Chief Executive of the charity Become, which supports young care leavers, discuss the challenges they face. Many baby boomers are experiencing the death of their parents much later than previous generations. The journalist Helen Bullough and clinical psychologist Dr Linda Blair discuss the impact of being parentless in older age. Imagine being the first woman to travel to the Moon. The Nasa astronaut Christina Koch has been chosen as one of the four crew members who will orbit the Moon in the spacecraft Orion, as part of Nasa’s Artemis II mission in November next year. TV presenter Sarah Greene, most well-known for her work on Blue Peter and Going Live is back on our screens with a brand-new BBC 1 quiz show, The Finish Line. She reflects on her career and tells us all about her new role. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

Sunday sees the Women's World Cup final between England and Spain and to mark it we are joined by England's top female goal scorer, Ellen White. By the time of Ellen's retirement after last year’s Euros, she'd scored 52 goals in 113 international appearances. She joins Anita from Sydney to discuss the magic of Sarina Wiegman and her advice for the Lionesses ahead of Sunday's match.Has anyone asked for a pay rise yet? With everything costing more and wages not quite keeping up, maybe it's time we did. Historically women are less likely to ask for a pay rise with a recent survey suggesting half of men have asked for a rise but only 37% of women have. Anita is joined by businesswoman and entrepreneur Sharmadean Reid to discuss.Imagine being the first woman to travel to the Moon. The Nasa astronaut Christina Koch is edging closer to that entry in the history books. She has been chosen as one of the four crew members who will orbit the Moon in the spacecraft Orion, as part of Nasa’s Artermis II mission in November next year. All going well, the Artemis programme will continue in 2025 as Nasa and its partners attempt to land the first woman and first person of colour on the surface of the Moon. Anita speaks to Christina all about it.A new study has found that the morning-after pill is made more effective when taken with an anti-inflammatory painkiller. The study found taking the morning-after pill combined with piroxicam - a drug used for arthritis pain - prevented 95% of pregnancies, whereas taking the morning-after pill alone prevented 63%. Anita is joined by the President of The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health at The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Dr Janet Barter, to discuss the significance of these findings. Ligwina Hananto is an Indonesian stand-up comedian journeying to Europe for the first time to appear at the Edinburgh Fringe. She joins Anita to talk about what it’s like to be a hijab-wearing comedian in a conservative Muslim society, and why she feels like she lives a double life.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Hanna Ward Studio Manager: Bob Nettles00:00 Opener 01:30 Ellen White 15:34 How to Ask For a Pay Rise 28:58 Christina Koch 43:00 Contraception 48:04 Mrs Hananto

England are through to the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time in history. But while the Lionesses are excelling in Australia and New Zealand, what’s it like for girls playing football back in the UK? Are they feeling the impact of England’s success? Samerah, Charlotte, and Isabelle, teenagers involved in the Football Beyond Borders programme, share their experiences, and Anita speaks to Ceylon Andi Hickman, the charity’s director of external relations, about how to ensure the legacy of the World Cup reaches girls from all backgrounds.A 22 year old woman has denied carrying out an illegal abortion during lockdown. Bethany Cox was accused of two charges on Tuesday in relation to using drugs and poison to end a pregnancy in July 2020. She pleaded not guilty to the charges in court and has been released on bail. Anita Rani speaks to Hannah Al-Othman, a reporter for the Sunday Times who was in court.It's A level results today across the UK for hundreds and thousands of students. The proportion of A or A* grades is 27.2% down from a peak of nearly 45% in the pandemic. That means it is more or less back to where it was in 2019, the last year of exams before COVID. Grainne Hallahan, senior analyst from TES Magazine, looks into how girls performed. In 2023, a survey of 10,000 university students found that only 14 percent of pupils who had been in the care system progressed to higher education by age 19, compared to 47 percent of all other pupils. Anita is joined by Kim Emenike, who was in care as a child and Katharine Sacks-Jones, Chief Executive of the charity, Become, which supports young care leavers to discuss the challenges they face.TV presenter Sarah Greene, most well-known for her work on Blue Peter and Going Live is back on our screens with a brand new BBC 1 quiz show, The Finish Line. She joins Anita Rani to reflect on her career and to tell us all about her new role. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Steve Greenwood00:00 Opener 01:21 Football 20:19 Abortion 27.49 Exam results 36:42 Care leavers Uni 45:58 Sarah Greene

Martine McCutcheon describes her rising anxiety levels to do with the perimenopause. Who is Fani Willis? On Monday 14 August a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia voted to charge Mr Trump and 18 others with attempting to overturn the 2020 election result in the state. The woman taking on his case is District Attorney Fani Willis. Kimberley Peeler Allen the co-founder of HHFA, a national organization building the political power and leadership of Black women from the voting booth to elected office, joins Nuala. Should parents of disabled children and those with long term health conditions be kept in the loop, even when the young person turns 18 and is an adult? We hear from parents devastated to be excluded, who say they are not listened to, sometimes until it’s too late. And the Royal College of Psychiatrists tells Woman’s Hour they want to see the period of transition to be extended past 18 and up to the age of 25. In Nepal there have been reports of a 16-year old girl who has died as a result of the illegal practice of chhaupadi. This is where menstruating women are forced to stay in huts outside their home due to the centuries-old belief that they are unclean and untouchable during menstruation. Journalist Shristi Kafle joins us from Nepal.  The Invincibles is the untold story of one of the most successful women’s football team of World War One. And as the spirit of the Sterling Ladies lives on in the Lionesses epic Women’s World Cup adventure this summer a play about them opens at the Queens Theatre in Hornchurch Essex early next month. Playwright Amanda Whittington and actor Yanexi Enriquez join Nuala. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore00:00 Opener 02:10 Martine Mccutcheon 13:53 Fani Willis 26:24 Post - 18 40:03 Period Huts 46:40 The Invincibles

Today marks two years since the re-taking of Afghanistan by the Taliban. We speak to Afghanistan's youngest female mayor, Zarifa Ghafari, who was elected mayor of the conservative central city of Maidan Shahr in 2018, aged 23, and survived three assassination attempts while still living in the country. During one of these attempts, her father was killed. Following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, she fled Afghanistan along with her husband, mother and siblings. But she still receives daily death threats from the Taliban despite fleeing to Germany two years ago.Across social media, everyday activities such as making dinner for yourself, going for a walk or buying yourself flowers have been transformed into acts of feminist empowerment. The hashtag for the trend - ‘Romanticise your life’ - has over 1.5 billion views. Should we all be romanticising our lives more? Journalists Ellie Muir and Chanté Joseph look at the pros and cons of the trend.Women with poor mental health have an almost 50% higher risk of having a pre-term birth, that's according to a study of 2 million pregnancies in England. The research found that one in 10 women who had used mental health services before their pregnancy had a pre-term birth, compared with one in 15 who did not. We hear from one of the reports authors, Louise Howard, who is professor emerita in women’s mental health at King’s College London. Today is VJ day which marks the surrender of Japan and therefore the end of World War Two. Olga Henderson was 13 in 1945, starving in a camp in Singapore alongside other young internees. Now 91, Olga will join us in the studio to talk about her time in the camps recalled in her new – and first - book, In the Shadow of the Rising Sun.Journalist Ellie House is bisexual. But before she had even realised that, it felt like Big Tech had already worked it out, with some sites regularly recommending her LGBTQ content. Ellie joins Nuala to speak about her quest to understand how recommendations systems really work, and the risks and rewards of being queer online. She’ll also tell us about speaking to people for whom these kind of recommendations could become potentially life-threatening. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey00:00 Opener 02:00 Afghanistan 11:38 Romanticise Your Life 21:04 Pregnancy 30:54 Olga Henderson 45:47 Big Tech

The Lionesses are through to the Women's World Cup semi-final on Wednesday against co-hosts Australia. Reaching semi-finals of major tournaments is what England "are known for", says defender Lucy Bronze. Lucy's mum, Diane Bronze and former Lioness and football comemntator Anita Asante discuss. Many baby boomers are experiencing the death of their parents much later than previous generations. The journalist Helen Bullough and clinical psychologist Dr Linda Blair discuss the impact of being parentless in older age. Gill Castle will be the first person to attempt to swim the channel with a stoma. She's documenting her journey to crossing the channel in The Stoma Swimmer - a new audio series for BBC Sounds.What would happen if the apocalypse happened in the middle of a hen party? Caroline Moran, known for writing Raised by Wolves, has written a brand new comedy for BBC Two looking at just that. She joins Nuala to talk about why she wanted to create the series, Henpocalypse, and what to expect. How much can you tell a woman's life story through her feet? Emma McConnachie, who is a podiatrist and a spokesperson for the Royal College of Podiatry, explains how our feet change as we age. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Dianne McGregorOpener 00:00 Football 01:55 Older Orphans 13:36 Henpocalypse 30:09 Swim 39:36 Women and feet 48:21

The rapper Tory Lanez has been sentenced to 10 years for the shooting of fellow musician Megan Thee Stallion. She required surgery to remove bullet fragments from her foot after he shot her following a party in 2020. BBC entertainment correspondent Chi-Chi Izundu joins Clare McDonnell to discuss.New research by The Sutton Trust reveals that more than a third of A-level students in England are considering living at home if they get into their preferred university. And in some cases, choosing lower-ranking universities because they are closer to home. Rebecca Montacute, head of research for the Sutton Trust, explains the findings. Hayley Hassall also hears from future student, Lori Cobon, and her mother Rachel.A few months ago, Sarah de Lagarde came on Woman's Hour to share her incredible story of survival. She had fallen on to the Tube tracks at a north London station and was run over by two Tube trains. She lost her right arm and leg as a result. Today, Sarah returns with a newly fitted bionic arm, made possible with the support of a crowdfunding campaign. She speaks to Hayley about her recovery.More than 60 women have made allegations of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment against the US comedian and actor Bill Cosby. But only one woman, Andrea Constand, was able to gain a criminal conviction. In 2018, he was sent to prison for three to 10 years on three counts of aggravated indecent assault. At the time, it was celebrated as a major win for the #MeToo movement. Less than three years later, he was freed when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his conviction on a legal technicality. In a new two-part documentary exclusively for ITVX from 10 August, The Case Against Cosby, Andrea tells her story.It's been two years since the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan and during that time women and girls have found many curtailments on their liberty. Dr Nadia Nadim is Afghanistan's most successful and most influential female footballer. She fled to Denmark following the death of her father and has gone on to play for the Danish national team over 100 times. Dr Nadim joins Hayley to discuss her career and her hope for women and girls back home in Afghanistan.Presenter: Hayley Hassall Producer: Hanna Ward Studio Manager: Tim Heffer00:00 Opener 01:26 Megan Thee Stallion 07:48 Students Living At Home 16:45 Sarah De Lagarde 26:01 Andrea Constand 36:38 Fertility Anxiety 44:25 Afghanistan

Mother and daughter duo, Andi and Miquita Oliver, have started a new podcast, Stirring it Up, where they ask guests to join them at their kitchen table. They join Hayley Hassall to talk on how this format harks back to their roots, their passion for sharing food and stories, the challenges they’ve faced as women at different life stages in broadcast, and growing up together in London’s Ladbroke Grove. It's been two years since the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan and during that time women and girls have found many curtailments on their liberty. Dr Nadia Nadim is Afghanistan's most successful and most influential female footballer. She fled to Denmark following the death of her father and has gone on to play for the Danish national team over 100 times. Dr Nadim joins Hayley to discuss her career and her hope for women and girls back home in Afghanistan. Last week we spoke to the children’s charity, the NSPCC, who talked about how the school summer holidays can be a particularly difficult time for some children. And Hayley talks to Ruth, who has worked on the helpline for over a decade, and Brad, who made that call. Emma Rawicz is an award-winning young saxophonist and composer, already making waves on the UK music scene, and described as "an astonishing new talent" by Jamie Cullum. Emma is a recipient of the 2021 Drake Yolanda Award, winner of Best Newcomer at the 2022 Parliamentary Jazz Awards, as well as being a finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician competition.  She joins Hayley to chat and perform live in the studio. Women and Hip Hop with music journalist Jacqueline Springer and the latest on the devastating Maui Fires with Chair of the Island Council Alice Lee.Presenter: Hayley Hassall Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Michael Millham00:00 Opener 02:06 Maui Wildfire 07:16 Andi and Miquita Oliver 17:02 Afghanistan 32:50 Reporting Child Abuse 40:14 Women and Hip Hop 47:53 Emma Radwicz

New research by the Sutton Trust reveals that more than a third of A-level students in England are considering living at home if they get into their preferred university. And in some cases, chooing lower-ranking universities because they are closer to home. Rebecca Montacute, head of research for the Sutton Trust, explains the findings. Hayley also hears from future student, Lori Cobon, and her mother Rachel. The summer of cricket continues with The Hundred. Hayley finds out the latest news from Beth Barrett-Wild, who is Director of Women’s Professional Game with the England and Wales Cricket Board, the ECB, and number eight on the Woman’s Hour Power list. Hayley is also joined by England cricketer Nat Sciver-Brunt, who is ranked number one in the world and is Captain of Trent Rockets Women. Barbie the film is a surprising hit in China, exceeding box office expectations. Why are feminists flocking to see it and how does it compare with other films released there this summer? To find out more, Hayley speaks to Frances Hisgen, Research Programme Manager for the Project on China’s Global Sharp Power at Stanford University in the US and Jingfei Li, a lecturer at Shanghai Vancouver Film School in China.Many young people will be looking forward to starting university and thinking about their student finances. Nicola Robinson got in touch to say that she believes women like her who took out a student loan in England have been unfairly penalised. She tells her story. Hayley also discusses the issues with Sabina Mackenzie and Katie Watts, Head of Campaigns at Money Saving Expert. Presented by Hayley Hassall Producer: Louise Corley Studio engineer: Andrew Garratt00:00 Opener 02:56 Students Living at Home 16:36 Student Loans 34:13 Women on Wheels 40:03 Barbie in China 48:31 Cricket 100

The rapper Tory Lanez has been sentenced to 10 years for the shooting of fellow musician Megan Thee Stallion. She required surgery to remove bullet fragments from her foot after he shot her following a party in 2020. BBC entertainment correspondent Chi-Chi Izundu joins Clare McDonnell to discuss.Do you have fertility anxiety? Today we are discussing why some women fear they can’t easily have children, despite having no known health issues. The journalist Sophie Gallagher joins Clare alongside Dr Ellie Cannon, an NHS GP and author. 18-year-old Linda Caicedo has been one of the break-out stars of this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Colombian player’s journey so far includes a professional and international debut at 14, a cancer diagnosis at 15, and a move to one of the most well-known clubs in the world. BBC Sport reporter Emma Smith joins us to explain her meteoric career.Lorna Rose Treen is an award-winning comedian who has taken her one-woman character comedy show Skin Pigeon to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the first time this year. Being a performer at the Fringe is fun but can be gruelling – so how does it work? Lorna has recorded an exclusive audio diary for Woman’s Hour to give us a peek behind the scenes. Spiritual healing is extremely popular in many countries in the Middle East and North Africa. But the practice is unregulated and that means women are vulnerable to sexual exploitation. An investigation by BBC News Arabic has uncovered allegations of widespread sexual abuse by healers in Sudan and Morocco. Clare McDonnell is joined by the BBC’s Hanan Razek and Senior Women's Rights Researcher at Human Rights Watch, Rothna Begum, to discuss.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Emma Pearce00:00 Opener 02:53 Megan Thee Stallion 10:42 Fertility Anxiety 25:54 Linda Caicedo 35:29 Lorna Rose Treen 47:53 Spiritual Healing

A judge in Texas has ruled that women who experience pregnancy complications are temporarily exempt from the state's abortion bans. The ruling comes after a group of thirteen women and two doctors sued the state of Texas in March of this year, calling for a clarification of the law. However, the injunction is only temporary until the lawsuit is decided - and the state of Texas has appealed the ruling. Dr Emma Long, Associate Professor in American History and Politics at the University of East Anglia, joins Clare McDonnell to explain the significance of the ruling.Author and researcher Dr Julia Ebner has spent the last two years immersed in one of the darkest corners of the internet, the world of incels. She has been pretending to be an unhappily single, unemployed, male in his late 20s who is tired of feminism. This is part of her decade-long work going undercover investigating different extremist movements and how they pose a risk to democracy. Her new book, Going Mainstream, looks at the rapid spread of extremism into our mainstream social and political discourse. Chloe Matharu is an award-winning, singer songwriter and harpist. She has cultural roots in Scotland, Wales and the Punjab, and draws inspiration from her time in the Merchant Navy and the natural world as experienced at sea. Her debut album, Small Voyages, was selected for Celtic Music Radio’s Album of the Year. At Celtic Connections she was awarded the revered Danny in February this year. She joins the programme live in the studio to talk about her music and to perform The Silkie of Sule Skerry.More than 60 women have made allegations of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment against the US comedian and actor Bill Cosby. But only one woman, Andrea Constand, was able to gain a criminal conviction. In 2018, he was sent to prison for three to 10 years on three counts of aggravated indecent assault. At the time it was celebrated as a major win for the #MeToo movement. Less than three years later, he was freed when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his conviction on a legal technicality. In a new two-part documentary exclusively for ITVX from 10 August, The Case Against Cosby, Andrea tells her story.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Kirsty Starkey00:00 Opener 02:50 Texas abortion 13:16 Julia Ebner 29:58 Chloe Matharu 38:52 Andrea Constand

A few months ago, Sarah de Lagarde came on Woman's Hour to share her incredible story of survival. She had fallen on to the Tube tracks at a north London station and was run over by two Tube trains. She lost her right arm and leg as a result. Today, Sarah returns with a newly fitted bionic arm, made possible with the support of a crowdfunding campaign. She speaks to Hayley about her recovery journey.As England’s Lionesses face Nigeria in the knock out stages of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, Hayley Hasssall is joined by BBC sports reporters Mimi Fawaz and Anna Thompson to discuss all the action.MPs are warning that the use of smart technology and connected devices in facilitating domestic abuse is becoming a growing problem. The Culture, Media and Sport Committee has found that smart products in the home are being used to 'monitor, harass, coerce and control' victims. Committee Chair and Conservative MP Dame Caroline Dinenage joins Hayley.Priya Hall decided to use her experience of trying to start a family within a same-sex couple as the basis for her stand-up comedy debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She speaks to Hayley about the unfairness that same-sex couples face when it comes to accessing fertility treatment.With the blessing of creator Ian Fleming’s estate, the latest literary instalment of James Bond is based in a modern world, and written by a woman. Hayley speaks to author Kim Sherwood on her experience of writing for the iconic series.

All this week on Woman’s Hour we’ve been discussing the topic of loneliness as women and young people are statistically more likely to experience it. We hear from the psychiatrist Dr Farhana Mann from UCL about the impact of loneliness on our health.Jodie Ounsley is the world’s first ever deaf female rugby sevens international player, and she was part of the Woman’s Hour Power List of women in sport. She also uses TikTok to show others what it’s like to live with hearing loss. She talks about being a sportswoman, as well as one of the brand new TV Gladiators.The children’s charity NSPCC says that its Helpline received over 1,000 contacts last year about children experiencing coercive and controlling behaviour, a form of domestic abuse. The school summer holidays can be a particularly difficult time for some of these children. If you are worried about someone, what should you do? We hear from Paddi Vint, Development Manager for the NSPCC and a woman we call Margaret, who experienced coercive control in a previous relationship.Would you use fig and pine nut hand scrub? Or perhaps some tree gum anti-wrinkle cream? Just a few of the 16th century beauty recipes Professor Jill Burke has included in her new book, How to be a Renaissance Woman. Jill discusses 16th century women’s body anxieties and the men who wrote beauty tips for them.Actor and writer Georgie Grier has shared a post on social media after her opening show at the Edinburgh Fringe had just one person in the audience. She’s had replies of support and encouragement from thousands of people, including comedian Jason Manford. She tells us what it was like to perform to one person, and how she feels about the reaction she’s getting.Rock Follies was a 1970s TV series about an all-female rock band, The Little Ladies, trying to make their mark on a male-dominated music industry. A new musical adapted from the TV series is currently on in Chichester. We hear from Rula Lenska, who played Q in the original TV series, and Zizi Strallen, who has taken on the stage role.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed

Actor and writer Georgie Grier has shared a post on social media after her opening show at the Edinburgh Fringe had just one person in the audience. She’s had replies of support and encouragement from thousands of people, including comedian Jason Manford. She joins Anita to talk about what it was like to perform to one person, and how she feels about the reaction she’s getting.The Women’s Netball World Cup is hotting up and Anita is joined by the BBC’s Katharine Merry to look ahead to Sunday’s final. She also tells us how netball is impacting girls in the host city of Cape Town. All this week we’ve been talking about loneliness. Today we ask: Is it possible to design cities and public spaces with social connection at their heart? Anita is joined by Erin Peavey, an architect and well-being design leader at HKS and by Joanna Yarrow, a Non-Executive Director at property developer Human Nature.What do you consider before buying an item of clothing? The cost? The brand? Journalist and TikTok creator Andrea Cheong says we’ve never been taught how to shop and that breaking up with fashion is like leaving behind a bad boyfriend. Andrea joins Anita to discuss her new book Why Don’t I Have Anything to Wear? Woman’s Hour has been closely following the Women’s Football World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this year. Dr Kerry Peek has also been keeping a close eye on the action – but for different reasons. She is one of the ‘concussion spotters’, who for the first time in the women’s game have been deployed to monitor players for head injuries during matches. She joins Anita Rani to explain her research into why women footballers sustain more concussions than men.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Emma Pearce

All this week on the programme we are looking at the topic of loneliness. Women are statistically more likely to be lonely and so in today's programme we will look at ways to cope with those feelings and if it's possible to reframe them. Anita is joined by Radio 4's All in the Mind presenter Claudia Hammond and author of Alonement, Francesca Specter. The comedian Nicole Travolta is taking her one-woman show Doing Alright to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It chronicles her life as a compulsive shopper, how she freed herself from debt, shame and the weight of a famous last name, one spray tan at a time. When she is not dressed up in a wig doing impressions, she can also be found performing comedy around LA. The children’s charity NSPCC says that its Helpline received over one thousand contacts last year about children experiencing coercive and controlling behaviour, a form of domestic abuse. The school summer holidays can be a particularly difficult time for some of these children. If you are worried about someone, what should you do? Anita is joined by Paddi Vint, Development Manager for the NSPCC and a woman we call Margaret, who experienced coercive control in a previous relationship. The Cuban-Spanish singer-songwriter Lucy Calcines joins Anita to sing live, ahead of her headline performance at the UK’s largest Latin music and dance festival this weekend. She shot to fame after her appearance on the Voice TV show in 2020, when she achieved a four chair turn by superstar coaches Meghan Trainor, Sir Tom Jones, Olly Murs and will.i.am. Anita will also be joined by the festival organiser, Amaranta Wright, to talk about all things Latin.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Bob Nettles

The singer Lizzo, and her production company, are being sued by three former dancers. They have been accused of sexual and racial harassment, disability discrimination, false imprisonment and creating a hostile work environment. Tom Murray, Senior Culture Reporter for the Independent, tells Nuala exactly what’s in the lawsuit. Rock Follies was a 1970s TV series about an all-female rock band, The Little Ladies, trying to make their mark on a male-dominated music industry. A new musical adapted from the TV series is currently on in Chichester. Nuala is joined by Rula Lenska who played Q in the original TV series and Zizi Strallen who has taken on the stage role.Jodie Ounsley is the world’s first ever deaf female rugby sevens international player, and she was part of the Woman’s Hour Power List of women in sport. She also uses TikTok to show others what it’s like to live with hearing loss. She joins Nuala to talk about being on the Power List, as well as being one of the brand new Gladiators.All this week we’re looking at loneliness, and today we’re asking: what impact does it have on society at large? To discuss Nuala is joined by Noreena Hertz, an economist and author of The Lonely Century, where she explores how increasing isolation has consequences for our economy and our democracy. Would you use fig and pine nut hand scrub? Or perhaps some tree gum anti-wrinkle cream? Just a few of the 16th century beauty recipes Professor Jill Burke has included in her new book How to be a Renaissance Woman. Jill joins Nuala to talk about sixteenth-century women’s body anxieties and the men who wrote them beauty tips.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lottie Garton

Frances Haugen is the former Facebook employee turned whistleblower who extracted more than 22,000 pages of documents from the company revealing its inner workings. She believes they show the company prioritising profit over the safety of its users. Frances has since campaigned for greater transparency and accountability for social media firms, giving evidence to the US Senate as well as MPs here in the UK. And she's written a book, The Power of One, about her experience. But what has prompted one woman to take on one of the biggest companies in tech? And what has been the personal cost?All this week on Woman’s Hour we are discussing the topic of loneliness as women and young people are statistically more likely to experience it. Today Nuala speaks to the psychiatrist Dr Farhana Mann from UCL about the impact of loneliness on our health.A new community has formed on TikTok where content creators share their top reading recommendations and bring plots to life. BookTokkers are mainly female, as are their followers. With the social media giant now launching its own book awards, just how influential is the BookTok community to both followers and the publishing industry? Nuala is joined by Holly McLoughlin, who posts as “the caffeinated reader” and Assistant Literary Editor for The Times Susie Goldsbrough.New research has found that almost half of black mothers living in London do not feel sufficiently educated on the impact of air pollution during pregnancy, despite 89% of respondents feeling concerned about air pollution in their local area. Nuala speaks to Dr Karen Joash is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Imperial College NHS Trust and expert adviser to Global Black Maternal Health, a platform that aims to connect and empower black maternal health movements across the world.Lucy Bronze MBE is the most capped Lioness playing in the Women’s Football World Cup this year. Her mum, Diane, recorded a special message for Woman's Hour wishing Lucy and the team good luck ahead of England’s last group stage game against China today.

In 2018, two new mothers died weeks apart after giving birth in two Kent hospitals from a herpes infection. Kimberley Sampson and Samantha Mulcahy both had c-sections and contracted herpes before or around the delivery of their babies. That’s according to an inquest into their deaths that has just concluded - that their mothers, Nicola Foster and Yvette Sampson, say doesn’t give enough answers as to what actually happened. Both Nicola and Yvette joins Nuala to talk about their daughters and what’s next in their fight for the truth.Morocco defender Nouhaila Benzina has made history by becoming the first player to wear a hijab at a World Cup. Nuala discusses with Shaista Aziz, co-director of the Three Hijabis, a trio of British Muslim women working to make football free of racism and discrimination.Before becoming a full-time writer, Jane Fallon was a multi-award-winning television producer behind shows such as This Life, Teachers and 20 Things to Do Before You’re 30. She has written a dozen best-selling novels including Getting Rid of Matthew and Got You Back, which is being made into a musical with music by Roxette. She joins Nuala to discuss her latest book, Over Sharing, and its themes of influencers, projecting the perfect life on social media, fake profiles, revenge and 'frenemies'.All this week on the programme we’re looking at loneliness and in particular loneliness among young women. This is because the stats tell us that young people are the age group most likely to say they are lonely – and women of any age are more likely to say they are lonely than men. Today Nuala is joined by two women who tell us about their experience of loneliness. Beth McColl is 30 and Rachael Devine is 33. The Women’s Netball World Cup is underway in Cape Town. It’s the first time the competition has been held in Africa - and will see 16 teams battling it out for a place in the final on 6 August. Broadcaster Kath Merry is in South Africa following all the action, and updates Nuala McGovern on the latest news.Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

What role should men play in stopping sexist behaviour? Several campaigns have aimed to tackle this, the most recent being the Mayor of London’s Maaate initiative. To discuss we're joined by Karen Whybro, a woman’s safety consultant and Graham Goulden, the former Chief Inspector at Police Scotland who now offers training to organisations to improve team culture.This year marks the sixth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire where 72 people lost their lives. A new play created from interviews conducted with a group of survivors has opened at the National Theatre. Grenfell: in the words of survivors follows the lead up to the disaster, the night of the fire, and the Grenfell Inquiry which followed, and is still ongoing. We're joined by its writer Gillian Slovo and actor Pearl Mackie.‘Date stacking’ is the latest trend being tried by single people to find love, quickly. The concept, designed to save time by squeezing in several dates in the space of a few hours, went viral on TikTok earlier this year. But can you really decide if you like someone while preparing for the next date? We discuss the pros and cons with journalist Roisin Kelly and dating strategist Johnny Cassell.Anna Sewell was the author of Black Beauty, one of the bestselling novels of all time. Despite suffering ill health throughout her life, she managed to rouse the conscience of Victorian Britain and make her mark upon the world. Dr Celia Brayfield tells us about her life and the impact of the book on animal rights.How much time would it take to photograph every single item in your home? Photographer Barbara Iweins spent four years documenting the 12,795 objects she owns. She explains the inspiration behind the project.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Lucy Wai Editor: Sarah Crawley

In their second game of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, England’s Lionesses face Denmark. Woman’s Hour will be following the game live, bringing you updates and analysis from our special guests. Baller FC was started by a group of friends who were tired of trying to find a pub to watch women’s football matches, only to find that the game wasn’t playing, or the atmosphere was unwelcoming. Their women’s football watching parties now attract crowds of fans queueing out the doors of their venues. We drop in to their Haggerston viewing party to hear the fan’s reactions to the game. Krupa is also joined by former Lioness Claire Rafferty and CEO of Lewes Football Club, Maggie Murphy at half-time to give their thoughts on the Lionesses’ performance so far. Was Dame Alison Rose held to a higher standard because she’s a woman? That’s the question being asked in an article in today’s Guardian after the NatWest chief executive resigned earlier this week. The boss of NatWest subsidiary Coutts also resigned – but the Chair of the bank says he will stay. So what’s it like being a woman in the city? Are you held to different standards than the men? Krupa hears from the economist Vicky Pryce and former corporate banker Heather Melville.Anna Sewell wrote just one book, published in 1877, which went on to become one of the bestselling novels of all time. Its full title:  Black Beauty: His Grooms and Companions. The Autobiography of a Horse Translated from the Original Equine. Despite suffering ill health throughout her life and dying just five months after the book was published, Anna Sewell managed to rouse the conscience of Victorian Britain and make her mark upon the world.  Dr Celia Brayfield, a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Bath Spa university, has now written a book about Anna Sewell, Writing Black Beauty: Anna Sewell and the story of Animal Rights. She joins Krupa to discuss. How was your first day at work? Did you make a lasting impression? Well a 19 year old from Pontinia, Italy started her new job as a lifeguard and on her first day, she made a triple rescue, saving 5 lives...and all this before her essential equipment had arrived! Noemi Marangon joins Krupa live from Bufalara Beach to tell her story.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Hanna Ward Studio Director: Tim Heffer

The Irish musician and activist Sinéad O Connor has died, aged 56. She was best known for her single Nothing Compares 2 U, released in 1990, which reached number one and brought her worldwide fame. She was outspoken in her social and political views, and released 10 studio albums during her career. We hear a special performance that Sinéad gave to Woman’s Hour in 2013, and Krupa speaks to the journalists Sinéad Gleeson and Una Mullally about her legacy.Singapore is due to execute a woman for the first time in almost 20 years, according to human rights advocates. Singaporean national Saridewi Djamani was sentenced to the mandatory death penalty in 2018, after she was convicted of drug trafficking. Krupa discusses with BBC Correspondent Nick Marsh.As a part of this year’s Edinburgh Festival a major exhibition called Scottish Women Artists: 250 Years of Challenging Perception opens tomorrow. It celebrates women artists and their contributions to the Scottish art scene. A series of new artworks has been created, to show in and alongside the exhibition. Krupa speaks to artist Sekai Machache and the director of Dovecot Studios Celia Joicey.‘Date stacking’ is the latest trend being tried by single people to find love, quickly. The concept, designed to save time by squeezing in several dates in the space of a few hours, went viral on TikTok earlier this year. It’s not a totally original idea, it’s a slowed down version of speed dating, which was popular in the 1990s. A new study suggests it takes us 42 minutes and 29 seconds to decide if we want to see someone again. But can you really decide if you like someone while preparing for the next date? Krupa discusses the pros and cons with journalist Roisin Kelly who has tried out stacking her dates and Johnny Cassell, dating and lifestyle Strategist. Tired of the limited options for female fans, football historian Professor Jean Williams was inspired to make her own football memorabilia out of upcycled clothes. She joins Krupa from Australia (where she’s attending her seventh Women’s World Cup) to explain women’s football’s self-made culture.Presented by Krupa Padhy Producer: Louise Corley

What role should men play in stopping sexist behaviour? Several campaigns have aimed to tackle this, the most recent being the Mayor of London’s Maaate initiative. To discuss Nuala is joined by Karen Whybro who is a Woman’s Safety Consultant and Graham Goulden, the former Chief Inspector at Police Scotland, and who now offers training to organisations to improve team culture. The play, Beneatha's place, currently running at the Young Vic, shows the main character Beneatha in two different periods of her life. First, in 1959, as a young black activist. Then 50 years later, as a renowned Dean of an American university. With Nuala to talk about the play is Cherrelle Skeete who plays Beneatha and Nicola Rollock, Professor of Social Policy and Race at King's College London who worked as a cultural consultant to the play.Earlier this month the Taliban ordered the closure of women’s beauty salons in Afghanistan. Faranak Amidi speaks to Shekiba Habib from BBC Pashto and Aaliya Farzan from BBC Dari about this latest restriction.The International Confederation of Midwives has appointed the world’s first ever Chief Midwife. Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent joins Nuala to talk about the challenges midwives face across the world, and how she hopes to combat them. The podcast The Girlfriends follows a group of women coming together to investigate their ex-boyfriend. It begins in 1989 when a man named Bob Bierenbaum moved to Las Vegas. When a group of his ex-girlfriends discover that his wife, Gail Katz, went missing and is presumed dead, they go from dating him to investigating him. Almost 30 years later, Carole Fisher, one of the women who dated Bob, joins Nuala to discuss how she finally got justice for Gail.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Over the last few months we have been hearing the stories of women who believe that they were raised by mothers who have Narcissistic Personality Disorder. And, a woman who has been labelled a narcissist by her daughter. Today, two psychotherapists who have worked extensively in this field, Dr Jan McGregor Hepburn and Helen Villiers, who has an MA in working therapeutically with adult children of narcissists, join Nuala to answer some of the questions raised by the powerful testimonies heard in the series. Have you ever witnessed a mature, grown male sticking close to – and being very dependent on - his mother? These are the words used to describe new findings from on-going research on orca whales. Carried out by the Centre for Whale Research and Exeter University, it studied orcas in the coastal waters between Vancouver and Seattle, to find that older "post-menopausal" orca mothers protect their adult sons from fights. But, while these four or five-tonne males benefit from this maternal protection, female offspring do not receive the same attention. Lead Researcher from the University of Exeter, Charli Grimes, speaks to Nuala. This year marks the sixth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire where 72 people lost their lives. A new play created from interviews conducted with a group of survivors of the fire has opened this month at the National Theatre. Grenfell: in the words of survivors follows the lead up to the disaster, the night of the fire, and the Grenfell Inquiry which followed, and is still ongoing. The final report into the disaster is due to be published later this year. Nuala is joined by writer Gillian Slovo and actor Pearl Mackie. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore Studio manager: Duncan Hannant

There has been a significant increase in the number of non-surgical aesthetic procedures over the past decade. And now the largest academic survey to date in the UK has just been published, relating the lived experience of over 500 people who have experienced an adverse event following administration of Botulinum Toxin. The study finds that a lack of awareness of reporting structures and the lack of regulation within the UK’s cosmetic injectables sector represents a significant public health challenge. Nuala is joined by the senior author of the study Ash Mosahebi, Professor of Plastic Surgery, and by Genee Schock who took part in the survey and runs a side effects support group for people impacted.How much time would it take to photograph every single item in your home? Photographer Barbara Iweins spent four years documenting the 12,795 objects she owns. Barbara wanted 'to see the representation – flat on the ground – of a mother and her children.' She joins Nuala.Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza is the leader of the opposition in Rwanda. She talks to Nuala about the challenges facing women and girls in Rwanda as well as the proposed UK-Rwanda asylum plan.Tributes are being paid to the former Labour MP Ann Clwyd, who has died at the age of 86. Not only Wales' longest-serving woman MP, Ann also became known as a passionate human rights campaigner, committing herself to many causes, including the banning of FGM - female genital mutilation - in the UK. In 2003 she introduced the Female Genital Mutilation Act, making it illegal to take a girl out of the UK to undergo FGM in another country. Nuala is joined by Hibo Wardere, anti-FGM activist and author of Cut.

The law on flexible working changed this week. New rules should make it easier for employees to argue for a flexible working arrangement. It’s the culmination of years of hard work and campaigning for more family friendly workplaces. Anita speaks to the Minister for Small Business, Kevin Hollinrake, and Amy Butterworth from the flexible working consultancy Timewise.Dr Gladys McGarey, cofounder of the American Holistic Medical Association, began her medical practice at a time when women couldn't even own their own bank accounts. She’s now 102 years old and still practicing as a doctor. She started medical school just before the Second World War, married a fellow doctor, Bill and together they practised medicine and had six children. Dr Gladys joins Nuala to talk about her new book, The Well-Lived Life.The mother whose daughters were murdered, and their photographs then shared on a police WhatsApp group, speaks to Nuala from the launch of a new organisation designed to help stamp out misogyny, sexism and racism in the police. Mina Smallman has become an activist since the death of her daughters in 2020, and she wants to see change. The Irish singer-songwriter Roisin Murphy first rose to fame in the 90s as one half of the electronic pop duo Moloko. She has gone on to have a successful solo career and has a new album out soon. She joins Anita live in the studio to talk about her music and creating this latest album.As the film Barbie opens in cinemas today, Set Decorator Katie Spencer and Production Designer Sarah Greenwood discuss how they created Barbieland in a real life space, the invasion of everything pink, and how they approached the film having never played with Barbies themselves.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lottie Garton

As the film Barbie opens in cinemas today, Set Decorator Katie Spencer and Production Designer Sarah Greenwood discuss how they created Barbieland in a real life space, the invasion of everything pink, and how they approached the film having never played with Barbies themselves.This Sunday, Spain is holding a general election, after the current Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, dissolved parliament in May and called for a snap election. Aitor Hernández-Morales, a reporter for Politico Europe and Professor of Gender Studies at LSE Mary Evans discuss some of the issues of concern around gender equality, women's rights, gender based violence and the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. A video showing two women being paraded naked by a mob in the state of Manipur has sparked outrage and protest throughout India. To discuss the background to this case and how women's bodies have become a battleground during conflict, Anita hears from the BBC's Geeta Pandey from Delhi.The stand-up comedian and actor Andi Osho has just written her second novel, ‘Tough Crowd’. It is the story of Abi, a wannabe-comedian, who meets Will and quickly falls in love. However the relationship is complicated because her new beau is a dad. Andi joins Anita to talk about some of the themes of her writing; blended families, grassroots comedy and the power of friendships. Rally driver Catie Munnings joins Anita to discuss taking part in the World Rallycross Championships taking place this weekend. She's also an ambassador for Girls on Track, which works to encourage girls into the motorsport industry.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

The law on flexible working changes today. This should make it easier for employees to argue for a flexible working arrangement. It’s the culmination of years of hard work and campaigning for more family friendly workplaces. Anita speaks to the Minister for Small Business, Kevin Hollinrake, and Amy Butterworth from the flexible working consultancy Timewise. An investigation by BBC Newsnight and the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has uncovered a row over controversial research about the impact of abortion on the mental health of women. An independent panel resigned from the British Journal of Psychiatry after their recommendation to withdraw the research, which is still being used in US legal cases about abortion access, was not followed. Newsnight’s Science Correspondent Kate Lamble joins Anita to discuss what has happened.The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off today in New Zealand and Australia. It’s set to be the largest ever, both in terms of viewing figures and the number of fixtures. But the tournament starts against a backdrop of uncertainty. This morning came the news of a shooting which left two people dead in the centre of Auckland, New Zealand. And off-pitch there have been frustrations around pay and treatment of the women’s teams. Kathryn Batte, Women's Football Correspondent for the Daily Mail talks to Anita.The Irish singer-songwriter Roisin Murphy first rose to fame in the 1990s as one half of the electronic pop duo Moloko, with hits such as Sing it Back and The Time is Now. She has gone on to have a successful solo career with award-nominated albums including Hairless Toys and Róisín Machine. Her upcoming album ‘Hit Parade’ is produced in collaboration with electronic music auteur DJ Koze and is due for release in early September. She joins Anita live in the studio to talk about her music and to perform her single 'Fader' with James McCredie on guitar.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Bob Nettles and Duncant Hannant

The mother whose daughters were murdered, and their photographs then shared on a police WhatsApp group gives a keynote speech this morning at the launch of a new organisation designed to help stamp out misogyny, sexism and racism in the police. Mina Smallman has become an activist since the death of her daughters in 2020. Nuala McGovern will speak live to our reporter Melanie Abbott who will be at the launch and to Mina Smallman.Are you guilty of 'phubbing'? This means snubbing someone to look at your phone. New research into the effects on married couples has found that couples who regularly phub each other have lower marriage satisfaction. To discuss the issue Nuala is joined by Claire Cohen, author and journalist, who says she is guilty of this.Having graduated from drama school only three years ago Georgina Onuorah takes on the role of Dorothy in a new production of The Wizard of Oz currently on stage at the London Palladium. She joins Nuala in the Woman’s Hour studio to sing ‘Over the Rainbow’ live.Over 80% of legal practitioners feel that the family court, when dealing with private law cases, is likely to retraumatise victims and survivors of domestic abuse. That’s according to a survey by the Office of the Domestic Abuse Commissioner which was published in a report yesterday. Nuala is joined by Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner to find out what the report revealed. Nuala also hears from a Woman’s Hour listener who is critical of the way that the family court works.Today a new song, Call Me A Lioness, is released to coincide with the start of the Women's World Cup. The drummer on the track, Al Greenwood from the band The Sports Team, joins Nuala in the studio. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Zoe Saldaña has appeared in the top three grossing movies of all time – Avatar, Avatar: Way of Water and Avengers: Endgame. You may know her as Uhura in the Star Trek reboot films, Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy, or as Neytiri in Avatar. Now Zoe is taking a break from sci-fi and fantasy to star in a new, Earth-based TV series called Special Ops: Lioness. It’s a spy thriller about a covert programme that trains and dispatches women around the world as undercover operatives. Zoe joined Nuala to record an interview last week, before the US actors’ strike was called. The Metropolitan Police has started using counter-terrorism tactics to hunt down the 100 worst male sexual predators targeting women. Nuala gets the reaction of former Inspector of Constabulary Zoe Billingham, who led the 2021 review of the policing response to violence against women and girls, calling for it to be treated with the same priority as terrorism. 15 countries in the Middle East and North Africa still apply laws that require women to either 'obey' their husbands or seek their permission to leave the marital home, work, or travel. That’s according to a new report from Human Rights Watch, which compares the state of male guardianship laws across the region. The report finds that, although women’s rights activists have been successful in winning some freedoms, new restrictions are still being implemented – particularly in areas of conflict such as Yemen and Syria. Rothna Begum, Senior Women's Rights Researcher, joins Nuala to explain the findings.Yomi Adegoke is the co-author of the bestselling guide, Slay in Your Lane: A Black Girl’s Bible. Now she’s stepping into the world of fiction with her debut novel, The List. Journalist Ola and her fiancé Michael are getting married in a month, but their excitement is shattered when a database of men in the world of media, and allegations of sexual harassment against them, is anonymously posted online. And Michael is on it. How will the couple navigate the fall out? Yomi joins Nuala to talk about why she wanted to write this story.For the first time in fifty years, humans will soon be returning to the moon. Sara Pastor is the project manager and Chief Engineer of the International Habitation module – the place where astronauts will live and study scientific findings in space as part of the Artemis Mission, set to happen in the next few years. Sara joins Nuala to talk about why this is such an important project for human exploration, and how women are at the centre of it.

Nuala McGovern is joined by one woman who has had a huge impact on the women's game over many years - Hope Powell - the former Lioness head coach will discuss England's chances, the growth of the game and how to continue building a legacy for women's sport. A fifth of young women suffering a mental health crisis were asked if they were on their period, a new survey has found. Research by the prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) also found that women’s calls for help were sometimes dismissed. We talk to Wendy Robinson, Head of Services at Suicide prevention charity, Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) Dr Gladys McGarey, cofounder of the American Holistic Medical Association, began her medical practice at a time when women couldn't even own their own bank accounts. Now a 102 and still practicing as a doctor, she was born in India in 1920. She started medical school just before the Second World War, married a fellow doctor, Bill and together they practised medicine, first in Ohio, then In Arizona. They also produced six children. Dr Gladys has now written a book, The Well-Lived Life.Deirdre O'Kane became a stand-up comic in 1996, getting to the finals of the BBC New Comedy Awards of that year. A co-founder of Comic Relief in Ireland, she also fronted her own talk shows, Deirdre O’Kane Talks Funny on RTÉ as well as a brand-new series, The Deirdre O’Kane Show on Sky Max. One of Ireland’s favourite comedians, she is also known for acting roles such as Chris O’Dowd’s Moone Boy and the biopic of philanthropist and children’s rights stalwart Christina Noble called Noble, for which she received an IFTA Award. Deirdre joins Nuala to discuss her wide-ranging career and her new stand up show Demented, which is coming to London’s Soho Theatre this week.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Gayl Gordon

In her only broadcast interview, Louise Townsend, the mother of Olivia Perks who took her own life in 2019 whilst at Sandhurst Military Academy, speaks to Woman’s Hour. Louise discusses her view that there was a lack of welfare support from the academy towards her late daughter and what steps need to be taken to ensure it doesn’t happen again.According to the ONS, only 2.4% of plumbers are women. We speak to two female plumbers about why that figure is so low and whether they recommend the job to other women. Sovay Berriman runs the company PlumbMaid and is based in Cornwall, and Lysette Hacking, worked as a plumber for six years before becoming a lecturer in plumbing at Calderdale College in Halifax in Yorkshire.The Supreme Leader of Iran has called for a massive population increase, and the state has been offering financial incentives for women to have more children. There is also now more pressure on women not to access contraception, and abortion has been criminalised further, with a potential prison sentence for women being proposed by the regime. Meanwhile cases of unsafe illegal abortions have increased. The BBC’s Saba Zavarei has been speaking to Iranian women about their experiences.Where do you put your awards and achievements? Do you show them off or keep them all to yourself? We hear from the academic Dr Louise Creechan who keeps hers in her downstairs loo, while the co-host of the Wittering Whitehalls, Hilary Whitehall, has kept her trophy in her handbag.As the holiday season begins, we talk to Jane Dowden and Lucy Cavendish about travelling on planes with small children, and how to deal with tantrums and disgruntled fellow passengers.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lucy Wai Editor: Louise Corley

Gracie Nuttall, sister of Laura Nuttall who died aged 23 in May of a glioblastoma, and Megan Fryer-Kelsey, whose brother Ezra died eleven years ago of leukodystrophy, join Anita to discuss what it's like to grow up with a sibling who is ill, and how parents can support non-sick siblings.Young people in Italy are expressing outrage on social media after Italian judges decided to clear a man of groping a teenager because it lasted less than 10 seconds. The BBC's Sofia Bettiza joins Anita from Rome. Where do you put your awards and achievements? Do you show them off in your house? Which room do they fit in best? And if you have kids, what do you do with all their achievements once they’ve flown the nest? Well, academic Dr Louise Creechan keeps hers in her downstairs loo. Co-host of the Wittering Whitehalls, Hilary Whitehall, kept her trophy in her handbag for a while. Anita asks them why.The Supreme Leader of Iran has called for a massive population increase, and the state has been offering financial incentives for women to have more children. There is also now more pressure on women not to access contraception, and abortion has been criminalised further, with a potential prison sentence for women being proposed by the regime. Meanwhile cases of unsafe illegal abortions have increased. The BBC’s Saba Zavarei has been speaking to Iranian women about their experiences and joins Anita.Right to Fight tells the surprising story of the maverick pioneers of women’s boxing, who defied sexism and racism for their place in the ring; overcoming the odds to become the first women issued with professional boxing licenses. Director Georgina Cammalleri joins Anita.

Almost half of women in England and Wales don’t trust the police enough to report a crime. That’s according to a recent report from the Tony Blair Institute. How can the police regain women’s trust? What needs to be done to fix the issue of public trust in the police overall? Anita speaks to the author of the report, Harvey Redgrave and the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex, Katy Bourne.As part of the Woman's Hour series about narcissistic mothers, we hear from a mother who is determined to change the patterns set up in her childhood; she wants to parent differently to her own mum, who she considers to be a narcissist. Reporter Ena Miller goes to meet Louise and Ed (their names have been changed), who are trying 'gentle parenting,' an approach that focuses on empathy, respect and boundaries, all of which were lacking in Louise's childhood. Marita Cheng is a roboticist from Australia, who advocates to get more girls into technology. She has written a children's book memoir, where all the images were created using generative artificial intelligence. Marita joins Anita to explain why and how she did it. As the annual Flamenco Festival at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London draws to a close, we look at the enduring popularity of the dance and the wider growth in popularity of Latin music across the globe. Anita Rani talks to Belén Castres White, the technical director of the Flamenco Festival and also to Amaranta Wright who runs the Latino Life in the Park Festival, the largest of its kind in the UK. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Giles Aspen

In her first broadcast interview, Louise Townsend, the mother of Olivia Perks who took her own life in 2019 whilst at Sandhurst Military Academy, speaks to Woman’s Hour. Louise discusses her view that there was a lack of welfare support from the academy towards her late daughter and what steps need to be taken to ensure it doesn’t happen again.Today is a big day coming up with the Women's Ashes series where England face Australia. The Aussies have surged ahead in the women's multi-format series, but there is hope for England as the momentum behind them builds - thanks, in part, to record breaking crowds. Sports journalist and broadcaster Georgie Heath joins Nuala to discuss. Shakardokht Jafari was born in rural Afghanistan in 1977 and became a refugee when she was 6 and grew up in Iran. After the fall of the Taliban, she moved back to Afghanistan first securing a teaching post in radiology at Kabul Medical University, then being asked to re-establish a cancer facility in Kabul. To secure the post, she needed to gain more qualifications, and in 2010 she came to the UK where she became the first Afghan woman to earn a PhD in medical physics. Shakar has gone on to win a string of awards for business innovation and has also found time to write her life story, Shakar: An Afghan Woman’s Journey and to be a leading campaigner for girls’ education in Afghanistan.Can distress be used as evidence in rape trials? This is the discussion currently going through the courts in Scotland. Nuala is joined by Sandy Brindley, Chief Exec of Rape Crisis Scotland and Serious Crime Barrister Thomas Leonard Ross KC to debate the issue.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

The inclusion of a particular word in the title of the documentary has caused controversy. For many, it is an extremely offensive term and some contributors have made it publicly known and have withdrawn their contribution from the programme. Rosie talks to Nuala McGovern about the project. A growing trend in the wedding industry is to add wax seal to your invites. If you scroll through any wedding stationary images on social media, you’ll see people using little round wax seals in all sorts of colours and designs. Nuala asks Diane Wisdom, co-founder of Heirloom Seals about the trend. Plus, Dr Elizabeth New from Aberystwyth University, Reader in Medieval History and Leverhulme Trust Major Research Fellow, explains what we can learn about medieval women from historical wax stamps. Theo Clarke, the Conservative MP for Stafford, gave birth last August to a daughter. She had a 40-hour labour and a third-degree tear. She is now working closely with the Birth Trauma Association and she recently met with 11 other mums in parliament who have suffered horrendous experiences giving birth. To help women avoid these experiences, she is setting up an All-party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on birth trauma which launches tomorrow, 12th July. As the holiday season begins we talk to Jane Dowden and Lucy Cavendish about travelling on planes with small children, how to deal with tantrums and disgruntled fellow passengers. And we hear from one woman who says a new approach to treating anorexia nervosa has saved her life. as well as from Conservative MP Danny Kruger who says current provision is inadequate and who says he is hopeful having heard the results that some of his constituents and their families are telling him about this new approach.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Bob Nettles

We look at the effect of being a victim in high-profile cases, after the BBC suspends a presenter accused of paying a teenager for sexually explicit photos. Nuala speaks to former Chief Prosecutor for the CPS, Nazir Afzal.Ruchira Gupta is a journalist, social justice activist and Emmy-award winning documentary maker who has dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of women and young girls. She is the founder of Apne Aap Women Worldwide, an anti-sex trafficking organisation that has helped thousands of girls and women in India leave a life of forced prostitution. She joins Nuala to discuss her work and her debut novel, ‘I Kick and I Fly’, which tells the story of a 14-year-old girl called Heera as she tries to escape the fate of women in her community who are sold into the sex trade.New research has found a rise in vulnerable women dying prematurely in North East England. The report by the charities Changing Lives and Agenda Alliance says that a woman in North East England in 2021 was 1.7 times more likely to die early because of addiction, suicide or murder by a partner or family member than women in the rest of England and Wales. Nuala discusses the findings with Laura McIntyre, the head of women and children’s services at Changing Lives.According to the ONS, only 2.4% of plumbers are women. Nuala speaks to two female plumbers about why that figure is so low and whether they recommend the job to other women. Nuala speaks to Sovay Berriman, who runs the company PlumbMaid and is based in Cornwall, and Lysette Hacking, who worked as a plumber for six years before becoming a lecturer in plumbing at Calderdale College in Halifax in Yorkshire.In April, the Spanish actress Ana Obregón made headlines when she revealed she was a mother again at 68 years of age. A week later, in a glossy photoshoot for ¡Hola! Magazine, she explained that the baby was actually her granddaughter - born via surrogacy using her dead son’s sperm. Journalist Patricia Clarke, from Tortoise Media, has been following the story for her podcast, 'Modern Family: I Had My Dead Son’s Baby at 68'. She tells Nuala the impact the story has had in Spain.Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

Caitlin Moran’s multi-award-winning bestseller How to Be a Woman has been published in 28 countries. Now she has turned her attention to men; what's wrong with them, what they should do about it and why they need feminism to help. Caitlin joins Anita to discuss her new book What About Men?Trichotillomania is often referred to as “hair-pulling disorder”. There is little research in this area, but statistics suggest 1.1m people in the UK could have the condition, with 80% of them women. Half of those never seek treatment. What exactly is it? Why do people do it? And what can be done to help them stop? Clare MacKay is Professor of Brain Imaging at Oxford University. She joins Nuala to share her personal experience for the first time, and discuss the academic review she is doing in this area.Half of prison officers in England and Wales do not feel safe at work, according to a recent large-scale survey. Alex South spent 10 years working as a prison officer, and she’s written a book, Behind These Doors, about her experiences. She speaks to Nuala about working in such a male-dominated environment and shares her stories.A bar in Portsmouth is due to open later this month, which is themed on Jack the Ripper – described as an "immersive cocktail and dining experience with a modern horror twist". The publicity features a young woman in Victorian dress, being followed at night by a mysterious man. Objections have been raised to the whole idea of a business which trades on the notoriety of a serial killer. However the trading licence has now been granted. The owner has said, "There is always a fine line when working on things like this and we are working really hard not to upset anyone". Nuala speaks to Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Five, in which she painstakingly reconstructs the lives of the five women killed by the so-called Ripper, in 1888.What’s it like to go viral on TikTok in your late 80s? 27-year-old Jess and her 89-year-old grandmother, Norma, have gone viral on TikTok posting videos showing their close connection and the fun they have together. They join Anita to discuss their relationship and new found fame.Young singer-songwriter Olivia Dean, has collaborated with the likes of Loyle Carner and Leon Bridges, earning a reputation for her stellar live shows. She joins Nuala to discuss her recent Glastonbury performance, her inspirations and her debut album - Messy.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Hanna Ward Studio Manager: Duncan Hannant

A woman from Manchester is battling to have a criminal conviction overturned because she was a victim of modern slavery at the time. Tina - that's not her real name - was beaten and forced into prostitution by her ex-husband. He controlled her life - and it was during that time that she was convicted of theft. We hear from BBC Radio Manchester's Richard Stead to find out more about the case. Professor Dame Sara Thornton, Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner until April 2022, joins Anita alongside Helen Pitcher, Chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission.The writer Gabrielle Zevin was an only child who played pre-loaded video games on her dad’s work computer while she waited for him. In her best-selling novel ‘Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow’ she explores the world of games and creativity through Sadie and Sam who meet as kids and bond over their love of video games. She joins Anita to explain why she’s so fascinated by the power of play. What’s it like to go viral on TikTok in your late 80s? 27-year-old Jess and her 89-year-old grandmother, Norma, have gone viral on TikTok posting videos showing their close connection and the fun they have together. They join Anita to discuss their relationship and new found fame.A new documentary series has been released which looks at the career of Elvis Presley through the eyes of the women in his life. Barbara Shearer is the director of the three-part series Elvis' Women, which has secured interviews with many of his ex-girlfriends. Some of the women say that their relationship with Elvis began when they were teenagers, prompting many reviews to dub this a potential #MeToo moment for the rock and roll singer. Anita speaks to its director Barbara Shearer.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Emma Pearce

Anita is joined by the five time Paralympic gold medallist Ellie Simmonds to discuss her new documentary where she sets out to find her birth parents. Ellie was adopted within months of being born and whilst she has always known she was adopted, she hasn't previously tried to find her birth parents, until now.Five times Grammy award winner, the bassist, lyricist and composer, Esperanza Spalding has become a prominent voice in the jazz world. At 38 she has released eight albums and has collaborated with many distinguished artists, including Terri Lyne Carrington and Toni Visconti. She talks to Anita from the Netherlands, where she will perform at the North Sea Jazz Festival. Canada has a history of disproportionate violence faced by indigenous women, which was called a genocide by a national public inquiry in 2019. The Native Women’s Association of Canada has counted the names of more than 4,000 Indigenous women they believe have been murdered over the last three decades. Brandi Morin is an award-winning journalist who is Cree, Iroquois, French Canadian and puts the abuses suffered by indigenous Canadians front and centre in her work. She joins Anita to explain why.Caitlin Moran’s multi-award-winning bestseller How to Be a Woman has been published in 28 countries. Now she has turned her attention to men, what's wrong with them, what they should do about it and why they need feminism to help. Caitlin joins Anita to discuss her new book What About Men?Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Gayl Gordon

Trichotillomania is often referred to as “hair-pulling disorder”. There is little research in this area, but statistics suggest 1.1m people in the UK could have the condition, with 80% of them women. Half of those never seek treatment. What exactly is it? Why do people do it? And what can be done to help them stop? Clare MacKay is Professor of Brain Imaging at Oxford University. She joins Nuala to share her personal experience for the first time, and discuss the academic review she is doing in this area.According to a report by the Commons' Women and Equalities Committee, sexual harassment and sexual violence continues to be a scourge in schools, with many girls and women feeling powerless. The cross-party group of MPs is calling on the Government to focus on a specific strategy engaging boys in relationship, sex and health education lessons (RSHE) at school to help tackle the problem. Young singer-songwriter Olivia Dean, has collaborated with the likes of Loyle Carner and Leon Bridges, earning a reputation for her stellar live shows. She joins Nuala to discuss her recent Glastonbury performance, her inspirations and her debut album - Messy. 'Smoke Sauna Sisterhood' is an award-winning documentary which follows a group of Estonian women over seven years. The film artfully captures every bead of sweat and every inch of skin as the women reveal their innermost secrets. Nuala is joined by the documentary's director Anna Hints, and cinematographer Ants Tammik, to discuss why they chose to capture such an intimate ritual.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Alex Webb

Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell joins Nuala McGovern in an exclusive interview for the BBC. He'll be discussing a new report inspecting the work undertaken and progress made by the Probation Service over the last 5 years to protect victims and reduce domestic abuse by those on probation. When librarian Rosie Grant was researching cemeteries, she stumbled across a gravestone with a cookie recipe on it. She decided to make it and post a video of her cooking experiment to social media. It was such a success she has since travel across the US to find other gravestone recipes and make them too. She tells Nuala what she has learnt about life, death and family meals since starting her quest. A bar in Portsmouth is due to open later this month, which is themed on Jack the Ripper – described as an ‘immersive cocktail and dining experience with a modern horror twist.’ The publicity features a young woman in Victorian dress, being followed at night by a mysterious man. Objections have been raised to the whole idea of a business which trades on the notoriety of a mass murderer. However the trading licence has now been granted. The owner has said ‘There is always a fine line when working on things like this and we are working really hard not to upset anyone.’ Nuala speaks to Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Five, in which she painstakingly reconstructs the lives of the five women killed by the so-called Ripper, in 1888. Black and Menopausal is the title of a recently published anthology of writing, capturing Black experiences of the menopause journey. Joining Nuala is Yansie Rolston, one of the editors and contributor Yvonne Witter.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

The award-winning Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina has died from her injuries after a Russian missile hit a pizza restaurant in the eastern city of Kramatorsk on Tuesday, where she was eating. Journalist Christina Lamb was a friend of Victoria’s – she tells Nuala about her and the impact her death has had.Half of prison officers in England and Wales do not feel safe at work, according to a recent large-scale survey. Alex South spent 10 years working as a prison officer, and she’s written a book, Behind These Doors, about her experiences. She speaks to Nuala about working in such a male-dominated environment and shares her stories. Up-and-coming actor Beth Alsbury takes the lead role in a new TV drama called Blindspot, which will be on our screens this week. Beth plays Hannah, who thinks she witnesses a potential murder, but struggles to get the local detective, played by Ross Kemp, to take her seriously. Beth joins Nuala to talk about going straight from drama school to set.On Holocaust Memorial Day earlier this year, Woman’s Hour featured an audio series about young girls who’d come to the UK on the Kindertransport and lived in Tynemouth and the Lake District. A photograph used on BBC Sounds for the series featured three young girls, one whose identity was ‘unknown’. A listener told us the ‘unknown’ girl was her mother, Hanna Singer. Her two daughters tell Nuala what happened next.The National Portrait Gallery has just reopened with an exhibition of the life and career of Yevonde, the pioneering London photographer who spearheaded the use of colour photography in the 1930s. Also open at the Photographer's Gallery is another exhibition of an influential female photographer, Evelyn Hofer, famous for documenting the lives of ordinary people, places, environments and objects. The curators of both exhibitions, Clare Freestone and Clare Grafik, tell Nuala why the contributions these women made may have been overlooked.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lottie Garton

The Oscar-winning actor Olivia Colman is the patron of the arts charity Tender, having previously played a survivor of domestic violence in the film Tyrannosaur. She speaks to Woman’s Hour alongside Tender CEO Susie McDonald about the work they’re doing to try and prevent domestic violence.Do you breakdown your ‘to do’ list into hours and minutes? What if you broke down your day into how much energy you had instead? We discuss Energy Management Techniques with Lauren Walker, an Occupational Therapist and Charlie Thorne, who was a lawyer before she became burnt out.Baroness Margaret McDonagh, the first female general secretary of the Labour Party, has died aged 61. Her sister Siobhain McDonagh shared her tribute and explained why she's chosen to speak out so soon to push for more research into glioblastoma brain tumours.Rebecca Clancy from the Times reflects on the legacy of the all-female motor racing championship, the W Series.The author Caroline O' Donoghue speaks to us about her new campus novel, The Rachel Incident. She talks about writing sex, gay best friends and what happens when messing about in your 20s gets very serious indeed.The much acclaimed actor Rosamund Pike discusses playing a woman who fakes her own death in a BBC audio adaptation of the book People Who Knew Me.Presented by Hayley Hassall Produced by Lucy Wai Edited by Richard Hooper

Actress Olivia Colman is the patron of the arts charity Tender, having previously played a survivor of domestic violence in the film Tyrannosaur. She speaks to Woman’s Hour alongside Tender CEO Susie McDonald about the work they’re doing to try and prevent domestic violence. A special police unit used to spy on left wing political and activist groups was not justified and should have been disbanded in its early days. That’s one of the conclusions of the first part of a judge led inquiry into undercover policing, which covers the years 1968 to 1982. Sir John Mitting, Chair of the inquiry said most groups infiltrated by the Met’s Special Demonstration Squad posed no threat. His report details tactics such as forming sexual relationships while undercover and using dead children’s names to create false identities. Hayley Hassall is joined by ‘Alison’ who had a five year relationship with an undercover officer, and by Harriet Wistrich, who is Director of the Centre for Women’s Justice and part of the legal team that represented women in the inquiry.The writer, editor and disability activist Lottie Jackson has written a memoir called See Me Rolling. In it, she discusses the way that society views disability and the innate prejudices that we have. She also talks about fashion and how important it is in letting her express her identity. She joins Hayley.The journalist Afua Hirsch has made a new series of Africa Rising for BBC 2, about an African cultural renaissance. Afua visits three very different countries; Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa, and interviews young creatives who are expressing new ideas which are gathering momentum across the continent. Afua joins Hayley to talk about the female artists she met and their inspiring visions.

A new study has suggested that women who take hormone replacement therapy to relieve their menopause symptoms may increase their risk of dementia. Scientists at Copenhagen University found that women who had taken HRT were 24 per cent more likely to get dementia or Alzheimer’s disease than women of the same age and background who did not use the treatment. But other researchers have said that the cognitive declines may not have been due to treatment. Joining Hayley are Professor Pauline Maki from the University of Illinois at Chicago who has conducted research on menopause and Dr Nelsan Pourhadi from the Danish Dementia Research Centre, the lead researcher on the study.This weekend, World Wrestling Entertainment is coming to the UK. Among the professional wrestlers performing at the 02 in London will be the current Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley. She has had a meteoric rise to the top of WWE and joins Hayley to talk about her journey to becoming champion, as well as what it’s like to be a woman in such a masculine world. Baroness Margaret McDonagh, the first female general secretary of the Labour Party, has died aged 61. Margaret McDonagh became a key figure in the Labour party under Sir Tony Blair's leadership, and played a central role in the 1997 and 2001 Labour general election victories. Glioblastoma, a type of brain tumour caused her death. Her sister Siobhain believes more research is needed into the causes and treatment of glioblastoma. Next week is the start of Wimbledon. Last week marked the 50th Anniversary of the creation of the Women's Tennis Association, also known as the WTA. It was established by Billie Jean King in 1973, after a meeting in London of 60 of the world's best female tennis players at the time. Krupa Padhy recently spoke to Sue Barker, who has both played at Wimbledon and been the presenter of BBC TV coverage for three decades, before stepping down last year. Krupa asked Sue if she thinks women's tennis, driven by Billie Jean King, has improved since she herself was playing in the 1970s and 1980s.From Liz Hurley’s iconic safety pin dress, to Audrey Hepburn’s iconic ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ gown, the Little Black Dress has taken many forms over the years. The National Museum of Scotland opens an exhibition this weekend called ‘Beyond the Little Black Dress’ which will explore the evolution of the LBD and its relationship with female liberation since it came on the scene almost 100 years ago. Hayley is joined by the exhibit’s curator, Georgina Ripley to find out more. Presenter: Hayley Hassall Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Bob Nettles

On Monday, the TV journalist Daisy Goodwin accused the Tory mayoral candidate Daniel Korski of groping her breast during a meeting at No 10 in 2013. He has denied the allegation "in the strongest possible terms". She has now contacted the Cabinet Office asking to make a formal complaint. Nuala speaks to the assistant editor of The Spectator, Isabel Hardman for her take on the situation. Ensuring fairness in sport is a much debated topic, most recently following World Athletics and British Cycling joining swimming, triathlon and rugby in banning transgender women from competing in the women's category. Someone who has been campaigning on this issue is Sharron Davies, an Olympic silver medallist and swimmer who competed in many international championships for Great Britain. Nuala speaks to Sharron about her new book Unfair Play: The Battle For Women's Sport.Doctors are calling for better support and care for the thousands of women whose lives are devastated by anal incontinence after childbirth. New research by the University of Warwick's Medical School reveals more than 20% of women who give birth vaginally experience this, which can devastate their personal and professional lives. The team discovered missed opportunities in getting a diagnosis, no clear pathway to get treatment and a lack of awareness amongst not only healthcare professionals but also mothers themselves who often keep it secret. We hear from associate professor at the University of Warwick's Medical School, and GP, Dr Sarah Hillman, who led the research, and Anna Clements who experienced severe injuries during the birth of her 3rd child, and has anal incontinence. She now works for the MASIC Foundation which supports women who are injured having their babies.Rosamund Pike made her breakthrough film role as a Bond girl in Die Another Day and followed that with Pride & Prejudice, Made in Dagenham, Jack Reacher and A Private War to name just a few. She was Oscar-nominated for Gone Girl, won a Golden Globe for I Care a Lot and an Emmy for State of the Union. Recently she’s won an award for Best Female Narrator for her narration of the first book in the Wheel of Time novels by Robert Jordan. She joins Nuala to discuss her current role of Connie , a woman who fakes her own death in a BBC audio adaptation of the book People Who Knew Me.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

The actress Archie Panjabi made her film debut in East is East and then went on to play Pinky in Bend it Like Beckham. She won the Primetime Emmy Award in 2010 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in “The Good Wife”. She joins Nuala to discuss her latest role in Hijack, a thriller that follows the journey of a hijacked plane in real time across seven hours and seven episodes. The English Cricket Board has been told to secure equal pay for its male and female cricketers by 2030 as part of the report by The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC). The report also found that racism, sexism and class-based discrimination are widespread and deep-rooted within the game. Sports commentator and journalist Georgie Heath joins Nuala. Do you breakdown your ‘to do’ list into hours and minutes? What if you broke down your day into how much energy you had instead? For years people with medical conditions like M.E and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have used Energy Management Techniques. Could we learn a thing or two by using the techniques, even if we don’t have extreme fatigue? Nuala talks to Lauren Walker, an Occupational Therapist and Charlie Thorne, who was a city lawyer before she became burnt out. In 1911 Emily Wilding Davison hid in Parliament so she would appear on the census as having been there. But far before her, there were women working within Parliament who held much more power and influence than you might expect. Mari Takayanagi is a parliamentary archivist, and has written a book alongside Elizabeth Hallam-Smith that tells the stories of these unknown working women, from cleaners to housekeepers to typists. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore Studio Manager: Sue Maillot

The all-female motor racing championship, the W Series, has goneinto administration. The series was founded in 2019 in response to the lack of female representation at the highest levels of the sport - Formula 1 has not had a female driver compete in a race since 1976. The W Series saw three seasons of racing, where it showcased the talents of racers such as three time champion Jamie Chadwick, Alice Powell and Sarah Moore. Rebecca Clancy, motor racing corrrespondent at the Times and Sunday Times explains more. Woman's Hour broadcast live from Glastonbury for the first time on Friday. Ahead of their performance on The Other Stage Anita interviewed The Nova Twins. A feminist band who have destroyed the narrative about who gets to make rock music. Amy Love and Georgia South discuss their love of Glasto, their unique bond and holding the music industry to account.In The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue Rachel is looking back at herself in Cork in Ireland in 2010. She’s in her early 20’s, at University, in love with her professor, working in a bookshop, trying to work out who she is and then she meets her soulmate. But nothing is at it seems and life gets very messy indeed. Caroline joins Krupa to talk about writing sex, gay best friends and what happens when messing about in your 20’s gets very serious indeed.Adored by millions for their wholesome image, BBC investigative journalist Chloe Hadjimatheou talks about her new Radio 4 Intrigue podcast series Burning Sun, which explores the sex scandals of 2019 in Korea that brought down some of the world’s biggest K-pop Stars. She also delves into the world of spy cams and talks about the misogny that some believe is causing a crisis in the country. The UK’s wealth management industry has traditionally been male-dominated, with only 16% of financial advisers being women, and only 5% of advisers having a differentiated strategy for attracting and retaining female clients. Now financial experts are saying that this industry needs to change to better meet the needs of a growing sector of wealthy women. Krupa speaks to Tamara Gillan, who has created a network called WealthiHer, which aims to help wealthy women take control of their financial futures and advise wealth managers on how to better tailor their services women, and to Sarah Roughsedge at Eva Wealth Management for Women. Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Dianne McGregor

On Thursday, the UK celebrated the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush which made the 5,000 mile journey from the Caribbean to England in 1948. The passengers were mainly made up of ex-servicemen along with over 200 bold, pioneering women. Veteran nurse and founder of the Windrush Cymru Elders, Roma Taylor, former nurse Allyson Williams and journalist Amina Taylor join Nuala to discuss their experiences of leaving home to help rebuild Britain after WWII.As visitors walk through the doors of the newly reopened National Portrait Gallery in London, they will see 45 hand-drawn portraits of women by British artist Tracey Emin, that have been cast in bronze. They are said to represent every woman. Tracey speaks to Krupa Padhy about her creative process and what she hopes people will take away from the images.Professor Irene Tracey is only the second ever female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford. In the last few weeks she has had to deal with several angry protests in Oxford over the appearance of Kathleen Stock at the Oxford Union. She allowed the talk to go ahead, saying, ‘we have to defend free speech’. Professor Tracey joins Nuala to talk about the battle over free speech, as well as what it’s like being a woman in the world of academia.Comedian Bridget Christie’s stand-up has been credited with putting the funny in feminism. You might know her from Taskmaster or Ghosts. Now she’s created and stars in a comedy drama called The Change, which starts this week on Channel 4. She plays Linda, a woman who turns 50, discovers she’s menopausal and abandons her family to go off and find herself in the Forest of Dean. Bridget joins Nuala in studio.Nuala McGovern talks to Rosa Abraham & Rituparna Chakraborty about the fact that nearly half of the population in India is female, but the number of working women has fallen to record lows.For the first time ever, Woman's Hour broadcast live from Glastonbury. Four time Grammy nominee and folk legend Allison Russell joined Anita live for a very special performance. Alongside being a singer and songwriter Allison is a poet, an activist and a multi-instrumentalist. Fresh from performing alongside the one and only Joni Mitchell earlier this month she is at Glastonbury, performing on The Acoustic Stage.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Hanna Ward Studio Engineer: Bob Nettles

For Woman's Hour's first ever live broadcast from Worthy Farm Anita is joined by BBC 6 Music's Jamz Supernova. Jamz gives Anita her top tips and talks us through the women she's most excited to see perform this year. Emily Eavis has been co-organising Glastonbury since 1999, working alongside her father and founder of the festival, Michael Eavis. Over the years, she's booked some of the biggest names in music, from Beyonce and Adele to the Rolling Stones. Emily has been committed to making the festival more sustainable, banning single-use plastics in 2019 and she's been vocal about improving gender equality within the live music industry. So how does she feel about this year’s line-up of all-male headliners? Four time Grammy nominee and folk legend Allison Russell joins Anita live for a very special performance. Alongside being a singer and songwriter Allison is a poet, an activist and a multi-instrumentalist. Fresh from performing alongside the one and only Joni Mitchell earlier this month she is at Glastonbury, performing on The Acoustic Stage.There are no female headliners at Glasto this year, what does this mean for women in the music industry? Anita is joined by a top panel including Vick Bain who has been in the business for over 25 years and founded The F List – a directory of female musicians, the Welsh songwriter and producer The Anchoress and 6 Music DJ and founder of Future Bounce record label Jamz Supernova. Rebecca, Diana and Kristine invited Anita to their camp site. The three friends, who are festival lovers and Woman’s Hour listeners, share their Glasto memories and tell us why it’s such a magical place. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Emma Pearce

As visitors walk through the doors of the newly reopened National Portrait Gallery in London, they will see 45 hand-drawn portraits of women by British artist Tracey Emin, that have been cast in bronze. They are said to represent every woman. Tracey speaks to Krupa Padhy about her creative process and what she hopes people will take away from the images. Society sets us up to fail, according to the academic Dr Faiza Shaheen. Dr Shaheen studied at Oxford University, became a leading statistician, is standing for election as the Labour party candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green and has written a book ‘Know Your Place’. Some might describe Shaheen’s career as a personal success, evidence of working-class mobility, that anyone can do anything, but Shaheen thinks otherwise. She talks to Krupa about inequality in the UK.Stories have emerged in the French media of a man from Provence who allegedly drugged his unsuspecting wife every night so that scores of men could rape her. We haven't independently verified the story but French newspaper Le Monde is reporting that more than 50 men have been charged. Krupa is joined by Anglo-French journalist Benedicte Paviot to tell us more.In the final part of Woman's Hour series about women in India, Krupa looks at the rise of women skateboarders. Since its recent inclusion in the Olympic Games, skateboarding is becoming increasingly popular across the country. Atita Verghese is regarded as one of the pioneers of women’s skateboarding in India. She started skating aged 19, when she was the only woman in the skatepark. In 2015, she founded the Skate Girl India project and talks to Krupa about the events she is organising across India to empower girls.A new exhibition at the V&A celebrates the creative power and cultural significance of the ‘diva’. With a mixture of fashion, photography, design, costume and music DIVA will celebrates the personal stories and resilience of some of the best-known divas; Marilyn Monroe, Tina Turner, Cher and Rihanna. Kate Bailey, curator of DIVA speaks to Krupa Padhy about what people can expect from the exhibition and why the concept of a diva still matters in our culture.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Studio manager: Duncan Hannant

Nuala speaks to a woman who discovered by chance that her fiancé was secretly filming her naked in the home they shared. Victoria, not her real name, reported him to the police and he later pleaded guilty and was convicted on voyeurism charges. Last month she also won £97,000 in compensation, some of which she is aiming to put towards trying to remove the images he made of her without her consent from the internet. According to data gathered from a global network of health scientists, five-year-olds in the UK are on average up to seven centimetres shorter than their peers in other wealthy nations. To discuss the contributing factors Nuala is joined by Anna Taylor, Executive Director of nutrition charity, The Food Foundation and also by Henry Dimbleby the former government food adviser who's also written a book "Ravenous" about our consumption of ultra processed food. In India, the majority of breast cancer cases are diagnosed in the later stages and between 2019 and 2021 less than 1% of women had undergone screening. But a team of blind and partially sighted women are trying to change this by training to become Medical Tactile Examiners where they use their hands to help detect the cancer at its earliest stage. Nuala is joined by Shalini Khanna, Director of The National Association of the Blind India Centre for Blind Women and Leena Chagla, President of the Association of Breast Surgery to discuss.Professor Irene Tracey is only the second ever female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford. In the last few weeks she has had to deal with several angry protests in Oxford over the appearance of Kathleen Stock at the Oxford Union. She allowed the talk to go ahead, saying, ‘we have to defend free speech’. Professor Tracey joins Nuala to talk about the battle over free speech, as well as what it’s like being a woman in the world of academia. Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Karen Dalziel

Nuala McGovern talks to Rosa Abraham & Rituparna Chakraborty about the fact that nearly half of the population in India is female, but the number of working women has fallen to record lows.We hear how new research shows napping is good for us and helps our brain with Dr Ivana Rosenzweig and Dr Maja Schaedel.The Windrush scandal began to surface in 2017 after it emerged that hundreds of Commonwealth citizens, many of whom were from the Windrush generation, had been wrongly detained, deported and denied access to healthcare and work. Most had no idea they had been silently affected by changing legislation. Five years after government apologised we talk to Human rights lawyer, Jacqueline McKenzie and victim of the scandal and advocate Glenda Caesars.Nalette Tucker is one of our Grassroots Power Listers. She set up Sunnah Sports, which aims to get everyone involved in sport in a safe and accessible way, including those like Muslim women and girls who often face barriers to joining in with sport normally. She joins Nuala to talk about how it felt to be on the list, and why she says sport is the reason she’s still here today. And we discuss whether the police, prosecutors and lawyers should have access to the therapy records of rape and sexual assault victims. We hear from Nogah Ofer from the Centre for Women’s Justice and the testimony of one woman’s experience of the system.Presenter: Nuala McGovern. Producer:Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Steve Greenwood

Comedian Bridget Christie’s stand-up has been credited with putting the funny in feminism. You might know her from Taskmaster or Ghosts. Now she’s created and stars in a comedy drama called The Change, which starts this week on Channel 4. She plays Linda, a woman who turns 50, discovers she’s menopausal and abandons her family to go off and find herself in the Forest of Dean. Bridget joins Nuala in studio.On Thursday, the UK will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush which made the 5,000 mile journey from the Caribbean to England in 1948. The passengers were mainly made up of ex-servicemen along with over 200 bold, pioneering women. Veteran nurse and founder of the Windrush Cymru Elders, Roma Taylor, former nurse Allyson Williams and journalist Amina Taylor join Nuala to discuss their experiences of leaving home to help rebuild Britain after WWII.Even if you aren’t a fan of the Archers you're probably familiar with the Helen and Rob storyline that featured coercive control and domestic violence back in 2016. Rob, the perpetrator, eventually got his comeuppance and was banished to the US. Now nearly seven years later Rob has returned. Joining Nuala to talk about the latest twists and turns is the actor who plays Helen, Louiza Patikas.

Thousands of people gathered together on Thursday night to attend a vigil for those killed in the Nottingham attacks. The mothers of the murdered teenagers Grace O’Malley Kumar and Barnaby Webber both paid tribute to their children. Clare speaks to another mother who lost her child to murder, Lisa Squire.Dr Laura Flexer, GP, emailed Woman’s Hour to ask the programme to talk about bone health, especially that of teenage girls with anorexia. Should young women with eating disorders be given oestrogen to boost bone density? Dr Flexer joins Nuala to talk about her research, along with Professor Sandeep Ranote, an expert clinical media spokesperson for the eating disorders charity BEAT and a consultant paediatric psychiatrist for eating disorders in the NHS.Yasmeen Lari, Pakistan's first female architect, talks to Nuala about being awarded the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture 2023, her work in disaster zones and helping the poorest communities impacted by climate change.The actor Cate Blanchett joins Clare to celebrate the work and life of Glenda Jackson, actor and MP who died this week.Jo Tongue is a sports agent who represents some of the best known sporting and broadcasting talent in the UK, including England footballer Leah Williamson. She is vocal in her push for parity of the profile and pay for women in sport - both on the pitch and in the media. For this reason, Jo earned herself a place on the Woman’s Hour Women in Sport Power List earlier this year. She joins Nuala to tell her about her career to date in a male dominated industry.A growing number of people are experiencing what psychiatrists have labelled eco-anxiety or eco-grief, an overwhelming sense of hopeless and doom due to the current climate situation. So what exactly is the impact on people and how can we turn the tables and help people to feel more hopeful about the environment? Krupa is joined by climate scientist turned campaigner Jen Newall from the Climate Majority Project, and Judy Ling Wong CBE, President of the Black Environment Network.Susanna Hoffs is a solo artist and a founding member of the Bangles. She joins Nuala to discuss her career and her first novel – This Bird Has Flown – described as "part British romcom, part Jane Eyre” – which gives a glimpse inside the music business.Presenter: Clare McDonell Producer: Lottie Garton

The actor Cate Blanchett celebrates the work and life of Glenda Jackson, who died this week. The mothers of Grace O'Malley Kumar and Barnaby Webber spoke about their loved ones at a public vigil in Nottingham. Lisa Squire's daughter Libby was murdered as she walked home from a night out. Did choosing to go public and share her emotions and pain with a wider audience help her deal with her grief?For the first time four British women have reached the quarter-finals of the same WTA (Women's Tennis Association) Tour event. Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage have joined Heather Watson in the women's last eight in the Nottingham Open. Tennis reporter Karthi Gnanasegaram explains the significance. Girlguiding has announced the closures of British Guiding Overseas and all five of its Activity Centres. Guide leader Aimmee Scholfield and Kirsty Patterson, also a leader and spokesperson for the campaign against the moves, explain why they are holding an overnight protest vigil and singalong outside Girlguiding UK headquarters.The radio presenter and broadcaster Aasmah Mir was a teenage introvert and loner. She talks about her memoir ‘A Pebble in the Throat’, which tells the story of her childhood, growing up in the 1970s and 1980s in Glasgow, and traces in parallel the story of her mother’s own life as a young woman In Pakistan in the 1950s before she moved to Scotland. Does the key to our happiness lie in ‘decluttering’ our love life? Inspired by Japanese organising expert Marie Kondo, journalist Lucy Holden has been deleting photos, throwing away clothes and unfollowing social media accounts of her ex-partners. Lucy along with comedian Cally Beaton, a self-proclaimed ‘joyous midlife dater’, discuss the pros and cons of a love life spring clean. Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Dianne McGregor

Scientists have created synthetic human embryos using stem cells that sidestep the need for eggs or sperm. The news was presented yesterday at the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s annual meeting and the full details will be published at a later date. This could have a real impact on understanding IVF and early miscarriages. Krupa speaks to the Guardian journalist who broke the story, Hannah Devlin and Dr Helen O'Neill a lecturer and molecular geneticist at the Institute for Women’s Health at University College London.A growing number of people are experiencing what psychiatrists have labelled eco-anxiety or eco-grief, an overwhelming sense of hopeless and doom due to the current climate situation. So what exactly is the impact on people and how can we turn the tables and help people to feel more hopeful about the environment? Krupa is joined by climate scientist turned campaigner Jen Newall from the Climate Majority Project, and Judy Ling Wong CBE, President of the Black Environment Network. Lynzy Billing, an Afghan-Pakistani journalist has been investigating how her family were killed in Afghanistan's Civil War. She has made an animated short film ‘The Night Doctrine’ about her journey to discover the truth of what happened when she was just two years old. The film has had its debut at this year's Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. She joins Krupa to share her story.Suzie Fletcher, has been the BBC's The Repair Shop's resident leatherworker and master saddler since 2017. She has now released her memoir 'The Sun Over The Mountains' which explores her career, life in America, as well as giving an honest and intimate account of her marriage with her late husband. Suzie joins Krupa to discuss her abusive relationship.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Andrew Garrett

NHS England is going to open 10 new clinics this year to deal with childhood obesity. The clinics will provide "intensive" support to thousands of children with severe obesity and their families aged between two and 18. We know that mothers are on the frontline with managing doctors' appointment and family's health issues. So are these clinics the answer? Nuala speaks to Tam Fry, the Chair of the National Obesity Forum.Jo Tongue is a sports agent who represents some of the best known sporting and broadcasting talent in the UK, including England footballer Leah Williamson. She is vocal in her push for parity of the profile and pay for women in sport - both on the pitch and in the media. For this reason, Jo earned herself a place on the Woman’s Hour Women in Sport Power List earlier this year. She joins Nuala to tell her about her career to date in a male dominated industry.With automation threatening swathes of jobs, there’s growing momentum behind the idea of a universal basic income (UBI): an unconditional payment from the state regardless of any other income. For those unable to perform or find paid work, it would provide enough to live on. For those who can work, it would allow an escape from the ‘poverty trap’, where the loss of welfare benefits makes low-paid work uneconomic. A think tank called Autonomy is planning to pilot a UBI scheme, giving a flat payment of £1600 a month to participants. Nuala McGovern speaks to Cleo Goodman from Autonomy and also Eir Nolsoe, Senior Economics Reporter at the Daily Telegraph.Investigative journalist Sian Norris believes that anti-abortion movements across the world are not so much rooted in religious belief, but in far right extremism, white male supremacy and fascism. She joins Nuala to explain why she has come to that conclusion, and written a book called Bodies Under Siege – How the far right attack on reproductive rights went global. Presented by Nuala McGovern Produced by Lucy Wai Edited by Sarah Crawley

Is current abortion legislation fit for purpose? It's a question debated this morning following the conviction and sentencing of Carla Foster for inducing an abortion outside the legal time limit using pills at home. Nuala is joined by barrister, Harriet Johnson and Ruth Rawlings from CBR UK, Centre for Bioethical Reform which seeks to challenge views on abortion. Dr Laura Flexer, a GP, emailed Woman’s Hour to ask the programme to talk about bone health, especially that of teenage girls with anorexia. Should young women with eating disorders be given oestrogen to boost bone density? Dr Flexer joins Nuala to talk about her research, along with Professor Sandeep Ranote, an expert clinical media spokesperson for the eating disorders charity BEAT and a consultant paediatric psychiatrist for eating disorders in the NHS. Last Friday climate activist Greta Thunberg took to twitter to mark her final school strike for climate. We wanted to take this opportunity to look back at the impact of Greta’s work so far and cast forward to the future. Guardian climate journalist Fiona Harvey and Climate activist Mikaela Loach join Nuala. Susanna Hoffs is a solo artist and a founding member of the Bangles. Blending ’60s garage rock, harmonies, and jangly guitars, they became a seminal band of the 1980s with a string of hits including ‘Manic Monday’ , ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’ and ‘Eternal Flame.’ She’s since written and recorded for and appeared in the Austin Powers movies. She joins Nuala to discuss her career and her first novel – This Bird Has Flown – described as "part British romcom, part Jane Eyre” – which gives a glimpse inside the music business.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore Studio Manager: Steve Greenwood

The Scout Association is not doing enough to protect and safeguard children from child abuse, that’s according to two young women who have set up a website which launches tomorrow (Tuesday) asking for people to share their own testimonies of abuse. They are also calling on the Government as well as the Scout Association to do more. On Tuesday BBC Radio 4’s File on Four investigates the Scouts handling of such cases. Yasmeen Lari, Pakistan's first female architect, talks to Nuala on being awarded the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture 2023, her work in disaster zones and helping the poorest communities impacted by climate change.The last in our series Under Pressure about how couples cope when their relationship comes under great strain. An American study from 2010 found that couples who had experienced stillbirth were at a 40% greater risk of their relationship ending. Jo Morris went to meet Mustafa and Hawra who told their story.Presented by Nuala McGovern Reporter Jo Morris Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Karen Dalziel

Facebook has removed an advert for a sanitary towel product because it referenced the words Vagina, Vulva and Clitoris. It's the latest in a long line of period ads that have caused a stir. So what is and isn't appropriate when it comes to period adverts? Chella Quint, the founder of Period Positive, a menstruation education advisor and author and Alice Enders, Director of Research at Enders Analysis discuss. The rescue efforts are continuing in Ukraine after Tuesday's breach of the Kakhovka dam. Thirty communities along the Dnipro river have been flooded according to officials. Now the Red Cross has raised concerns that land-mines have been dislodged in the flooding. Kate Zhuzha is from Nova Kakhovka where the dam has collapsed and is the Founder of NGO Union of Help to Kherson in touch with people in the flooded areas. She tells us about the latest reports.Last month we looked at the experience of caring with authors Emily Kenway and Lynne Tillman. So many of you got in touch including academic Dinah Roe, a Reader in nineteenth-century literature, who with poet Sarah Hesketh, managing editor of Modern Poetry In Translation have been running a series of free online workshops, inspired by Christina Rossetti's writing, designed specifically for people with caring responsibilities. Dinah and Sarah discuss the power of writing poetry.Four-time Grammy award nominated singer Candi Staton has moved between several musical genres during of the course of her celebrated career – from soul, R&B, gospel and disco. She discusses her iconic tracks such as the multi-platinum “You Got the Love” and the singalong anthem “Young Hearts Run Free”. It has recently been remixed by UK producer Benji La Vida and has had more than 2.4 million streams on Spotify alone, and there are 60,000 TikTok reels of people doing a dance challenge to the song No single person can take credit for the huge boom in women’s football but if anyone can it’s the woman who placed second on the Woman’s Hour Power List, Baroness Sue Campbell. The Director of Women’s Football at the FA tells us about the Lionesses legacy, the upcoming World Cup and the future of the Women’s Super League. Since his diagnosis in 2019, rugby league star Rob Burrow has been battling Motor Neurone Disease, with wife Lindsey by his side. Lindsay tells us about her first marathon and has raised over £100,000 towards a specialist Motor Neurone Disease Centre to be built in his name. A new ITV documentary, Lindsey and Rob: Living with MND, follows Lindsey as she navigates marathon training alongside working and family life, whilst also exploring the wider impact of this disease. Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed

This Wimbledon will be the first in 30 years without the familiar presence of Sue Barker. Last year she stepped down from hosting the tennis tournament that she herself played in. In Sue's memoir, Calling the Shots, she recounts first reaching number three in the world tennis rankings, then becoming one of the most familiar faces of BBC sports broadcasting. She joins Krupa to talk about the highs and lows of both careers.Facebook has removed an advert for a sanitary towel product because it referenced the words vagina, vulva and clitoris. It's the latest in a long line of period ads that have caused a stir. So what is and isn't appropriate when it comes to period adverts? To discuss Krupa is joined by Chella Quint is the founder of Period Positive, a menstruation education advisor and author and Alice Enders who is Director of Research at Enders Analysis which follows TV and advertising trends.The Japanese government is currently debating a landmark bill to reform the country's sexual assault laws, but a highly prevalent form of predatory sexual behaviour has been omitted from the discussion. ‘Chikan' refers to a practice where women are sexually assaulted in public and in some cases videos are sold online. The BBC World Service's investigative unit, BBC Eye, has gone undercover for a year to unmask the men cashing in on sexual violence. Krupa is joined by BBC reporter Zhaoyin Feng.Would you fancy hurtling down a twisting mountain road at 80 miles an hour, balancing on a skateboard? That’s the favourite hobby of Jenny Schauerte, better known as Jenny Jungle. She and a group of other female skateboarders are featured in a new documentary, WoolfWomen: Now or Never about a trip to Turkey to try out a high altitude run that had never been skated before. Jenny, a former World No 2 in the sport, joins Krupa in studio.

The rescue efforts are continuing in Ukraine after Tuesday's breach of the Kakhovka dam. 30 communities along the Dnipro river have been flooded according to officials. Now the Red Cross has raised concerns that land-mines have been dislodged in the flooding. Kate Zhuzha is from Nova Kakhovka where the dam has collapsed and is the Founder of NGO Union of Help to Kherson in touch with people in the flooded areas. She talks to Krupa about the latest reports.Lindsey Burrow has been caring for her husband, the former rugby league star Rob Burrow, since he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2019. Last month, she took part in her first marathon, The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon, and raised over £100,000 towards a new specialist Motor Neurone Disease Centre to be built in her husband’s name. She talks to Krupa about fitting in her training with family and work life and exploring the wider impact of MND in a documentary she filmed for ITV, Lindsey and Rob: Living with MND.Louise Redknapp is celebrating 30 years in music. She had 18 top 20 hits with the R&B band Eternal and during her solo career she sold more than 15 million records overall. Louise has just released a Greatest Hits album with 30 tracks, and a new single High Hopes. Having reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing and performed in Cabaret and the musical 9 to 5, she has now returned to the West End stage in Grease as The Teen Angel, the first time the role has been played by a woman in the UK. She joins Krupa Padhy to discuss her career.Bregje Hofstede, a writer, could not sleep for a decade. Driven to desperation, she started with the obvious interventions, then tried every trick and remedy she came across until at last she managed to re-frame her problem and found a solution that worked for her. She joins Krupa to discuss her book, In Search of Sleep, where she documents her experiences and tries to understand the science, psychology and culture of sleeplessness. Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Michael Millham

As a self confessed “silver spooner” who enjoyed a privileged upbringing Polly Toynbee talks to Nuala McGovern about her committed left wing "rabble rouser" ancestors and her own life long battle with the injustices of the British class system. In our series about narcissistic mothers we've heard a lot from daughters. Yesterday, a listener we are calling Bethany told her story. Her relationship with her daughter had been strained for a long time. In January she received a book in the post about how to spot and deal with a narcissistic mother, some passages were highlighted , and a letter. Today she picks up the story and explained how she felt as she opened the book and read the passages pointed out by her daughter. How does it feel to be labelled a narcissist and how can you move forward from there? Last month we looked at the experience of caring with authors Emily Kenway and Lynne Tillman. So many of you got in touch including academic Dinah Roe, a Reader in nineteeth-century literature, who with poet Sarah Hesketh, managing editor of Modern Poetry In Translation, have been running a series of free online workshops, inspired by Christina Rossetti's writing, designed specifically for people with caring responsibilities. Dinah and Sarah join Nuala in the studio.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Duncan Hannant

Four-time Grammy award nominated singer Candi Staton has moved between several musical genres during of the course of her celebrated career – from soul, R&B, gospel and disco. However, dance music has always been her main groove with iconic tracks such as the multi-platinum 'You Got the Love' and her classic anthem 'Young Hearts Run Free'. It has recently been remixed by UK producer Benji La Vida and has had more than 2.4 million streams on Spotify alone, and there are 60,000 TikTok reels of people doing a dance challenge to the song. Candi is in the UK to play the Kite Festival of Ideas and Music in Oxfordshire this Saturday. She joins Nuala to discuss her life and music.Ghana's health system is struggling due to their nurses being recruited by high-income countries, according to the head of the International Council of Nurses. So what is it that makes Ghanaian Nurses want to come and work in the UK? Angela is a nurse from Ghana who also works with the Ghanaian Diaspora Nursing Alliance – she joins Nuala to discuss.Eight primary schools in a town in Ireland have come together and decided together to ban smartphones, Nuala speaks to Principle Rachel Harper, the leader of the initiative and Parent and PTA member Laura Bourne, to find out why and how it's been received. In our series about narcissistic mothers we have heard from the daughters so far. Today, a listener we are calling Bethany tells her side of the story. Her relationship with her daughter had been strained for a long time. In January she received a book in the post about how to spot and deal with a narcissistic mother, some passages were highlighted, and a letter. Since then she has not seen her daughter or her grandchildren. How does it feel to be labelled a narcissist and how can you move forward from there?In 2016, at the age of 27, Emma Cline became very famous indeed when her first novel The Girls was published. Set in the summer of 69 in California 14 year old Evie is caught up in a Manson Family-like cult and the violence that follows. In her new novel ‘The Guest’ Alex is a young woman whose life could go either way. She exploits the men around her as they exploit her but what does she want and where will she end up?Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Karen Dalziel

The Sunday Times' Christina Lamb on the women involved in the war effort in Ukraine.We look at the trend of brides having their long hair cut into bobs before re-emerging with new hair at their wedding. Kyrelle Burton of Devon Wedding Hair, did her first mid-wedding chop for a bride last year.Molly Duane is the senior lawyer for the US-based Center for Reproductive Rights who are challenging Texas state law on abortion on behalf of more than a dozen women. The case is regarded as important because it is being seen as a nationwide model for abortion rights advocates to challenge new abortion laws that have rolled out since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade a year ago this month. Molly discusses the case with Nuala.No single person can take credit for the huge boom in women’s football but if any one can it’s the woman who placed second on the Woman’s Hour Power List, Baroness Sue Campbell. The Director of Women’s Football at the FA joins Nuala to discuss the Lionesses legacy, the upcoming World Cup and the future of the Women’s Super League. In 2020 Baroness Cumberlege authored a report into two drugs and a medical device that caused women or their babies harm. The device in question was vaginal mesh, and the report described how using mesh in surgery for prolapse and incontinence had resulted in serious adverse outcomes for women across the UK. One of the recommendations from that report is about to get underway, to measure the impact of surgery on women’s lives. Anita is joined by Georgina Jones, Professor of Health Psychology at Leeds Beckett University to find out more, and by Hannah Devlin, science correspondent for the Guardian.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

A woman who was stalked by her husband and then placed into witness protection with a new identity to escape him, says she feels like she's the one being punished. She's complained to the police about the way her case was handled after being told she failed an assessment and was no longer being supported by them in her new life. She spoke to our reporter Melanie Abbott, and says she felt completely cut adrift. We hear her story of how she had to uproot her two children and start a new life with a new job in a new town, while her husband is free to live wherever he likes. Academic Rachael Wheatley from the university of Derby tells Anita how she is training police to be better at dealing with stalkers and how victims need better support.A new report by the Trade Union Congress has highlighted a gender pension gap between what men and women are living on in retirement. The estimate it’s currently running at 40.5%, which is more than double the current gender pay gap. Nuala talks to Nikki Pound from the TUC and financial expert Sarah Pennells Consumer finance specialist at Royal London - pensions insurance provider about the issues facing women and possible solutions.You can’t read a tabloid newspaper without some form of cheating scandal filling the headlines. But what makes someone lie to the person they love? Nuala asks Natalie Lue, a boundaries and relationships coach about the big and little lies we tell in relationships.Writer and Podcaster Jackie Adedeji speaks to Nuala about her new Channel 4 documentary UNTOLD: My Big Boobs, a look into the impacts of having big boobs and the rise in breast reduction surgery. Sarah Ditum also joins to discuss the cultural trends of breasts through the years.Dr Edna Adan Ismail is known as the ‘Woman of Firsts’. She’s Somaliland’s first trained midwife, first female Minister of Foreign Affairs, and former First Lady. And now she has added another first to her title. She is this year’s winner of the Templeton Prize - making her the first black African woman to receive the honour. She has been awarded the £1.1 million prize for her contribution to women’s health. In 2002 she sold everything she owned to build The Edna Adan Hospital and University which has played a crucial role in cutting maternal mortality rates in Somaliland. She still lives and works within the hospital. Edna Adan Ismail explains what life is like for women in Somaliland, and what will she spend the prize money on.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Hanna Ward

Two female journalists in Iran are on trial for covering the death of 22 year old Mahsa Amini, the Kurdish-Iranian woman who died in custody last year sparking protests across the country and months of unrest and shocked the world. Mahsa was arrested and charged with not covering her hair properly and then reportedly so severely beaten she fell into a coma. Niloofar Homedi and Elaheh Mohammadi were among the first to report on her death; a photo taken by Niloofar for the Shargh daily newspaper showing Amini’s parents hugging each other in a Tehran hospital where their daughter was lying in a coma drew international attention. While Mohammadi, traveled to report on Mahsa Amini’s funeral. Faranak Amidi, BBC Near East Women Affairs Correspondent discusses.Now Sex and the City fans have been celebrating some exciting, and rather unexpected, news - Variety magazine reports that Kim Cattrall will be reprising her role as Samantha Jones in the spin-off And Just Like That. She was noticeably absent from the first season, and it's reported that she will only be appearing in one scene in the show's finale. There has been much speculation about how it came to happen as she has reportedly had a strained relationship with fellow cast-mate Sarah Jessica Parker, who also acts as an Executive Producer on the show. Journalist and Sex and the City fan, Olivia Petter joins Anita.One consequence of the overturning of Roe V Wade, which has made accessing an abortion more difficult in some US states, is that there’s been a rise in the number of men seeking vasectomies. An estimated 20,000 extra men chose to undergo the surgery between July and December last year. Anita Rani talks to Dr. Stanton Honig the director of the Yale Medicine Male Reproductive Health & Sexual Medicine Program.A new study by the Universities of Glasgow and Cardiff has found that male characters in video games speak twice as much as female characters, and when female characters do speak, they’re more likely to apologise, hesitate or be polite. We discuss the findings and the reasons behind the gendered dialogue with a lead author of the study, Dr Stephanie Rennick, and games writer and narrative designer Samantha Webb. African midwife Edna Adan Ismail is known as the ‘Woman of Firsts’. She’s Somaliland’s first trained midwife, first female Minister of Foreign Affairs, and former First Lady. And now she has added another first to her title. She is this year’s winner of the Templeton Prize - making her the first black African woman to receive the honour. She has been awarded the £1.1 million prize for her contribution to women’s health. In 2002 she sold everything she owned to build The Edna Adan Hospital and University which has played a crucial role in cutting maternal mortality rates in Somaliland. She still lives and works within the hospital. Edna Adan Ismail explains what life is like for women in Somaliland, and what will she spend the prize money on. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey

A woman who was stalked by her husband and then placed into witness protection with a new identity to escape him, says she feels like she's the one being punished. She's complained to the police about the way her case was handled after being told she failed an assessment and was no longer being supported by them in her new life. She spoke to our reporter Melanie Abbott, and says she felt completely cut adrift. We hear her story of how she had to uproot her two children and start a new life with a new job in a new town, while her husband is free to live wherever he likes. Academic Rachael Wheatley from the university of Derby tells Anita how she is training police to be better at dealing with stalkers and how victims need better support.The England manager Sarina Wiegman has this week named her squad for the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in July. But star players like Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby will all miss out because of injury. Wiegman is also keen to get her squad training together at the earliest possible opportunity, but says her plans are being blocked by the European Club Association who only want players released from their club teams at the end of June at the earliest. So what does this mean for England Women’s world cup chances and how will they fare down under? Anita finds out from Jo Currie, BBC women's sport reporter.This week, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law. It’s a country already known for its strict laws against LGBT people, but the new bill includes legislation changes such as the death penalty for what is being described as ‘aggravated homosexuality’, for example anyone engaging in gay sex who is infected with a life-long illness such as HIV. The bill also states that anyone facilitating same-sex marriage in the country could face up to seven years imprisonment, and anyone promoting or normalising LGBT relationships could be served whole life sentences. Kasha Nabagesera, LGBT activist and founder of Freedom and Roam Uganda, one of the main lesbian, bisexual and transgender women's rights organizations in the country, joins Anita to discuss what this means on the ground.Did you grow up in the 90s and noughties during the advent of the internet, when MSN, chatrooms and MySpace were the dominant platforms? Harriet Gibsone is an author and millennial who was part of the first generation to come of age online. In her new memoir Is This OK? One Woman’s Search for Connection Online, she examines the long-term impact it had on her and the pros and cons of online connection at different stages of her life, from being a teen to becoming a mother struggling with early menopause. She joins Anita in the Woman's Hour studio.

When Rebecca Perry was growing up, she competed nationally and internationally as a trampolinist.  She went on to become a published poet and has now ventured into non-fiction with a beautifully written  memoir, On Trampolining.  She joins Nuala in the studio. A new report by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has highlighted a gender pension gap between what men and women are living on in retirement. The estimate it’s currently running at 40.5%, which is more than double the current gender pay gap. Nuala McGovern talks to Nikki Pound from the TUC and financial expert Sarah Pennells Consumer finance specialist at Royal London - pensions insurance provider about the issues facing women and possible solutions.A new Channel 4 documentary out today, A Paedophile In The Family, looks at the life of Emily Victoria and how she carried the weight of being sexually abused by her father throughout her childhood. Following the release of her father from prison, she decided to reach out to those who knew her - teachers, family friends and her mother - to try and understand how the abuse she experienced from the age of two to eighteen remained hidden for so long. Emily joins Nuala in the studio.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

As figures show more than a third of parents are using debt to pay for childcare, Nuala will be meeting two women who’ve gone deep into the red to pay nursery fees in order to maintain a career and discussing whether the financial risk has been worth it.The government has announced that it is set to close what it calls an ‘unacceptable’ loophole which allows e-cigarettes to be given to teenagers - a ban on nicotine free products to under 18s is also being considered. Research by NHS Digital shows that one in five 15-year-old girls use electronic cigarettes, which is 7% higher than boys of the same age. Nuala is joined by Linda Bauld, Professor of Public Health at Edinburgh University as well as Leanne McGuire, the mother of a teenager who was addicted to vaping at 15 and Rob Pavey, the Headteacher at a secondary school in Oxford to discuss.Writer and Podcaster Jackie Adedeji speaks to Nuala about her new Channel 4 documentary UNTOLD: My Big Boobs, a look into the impacts of having big boobs and the rise in breast reduction surgery. Sarah Ditum also joins to discuss the cultural trends of breasts through the years.Succession has ended after four dramatic seasons. It has been called ‘the greatest TV show ever made.’ The satirical dark comedy-drama about power, politics and a family dynasty followed the highly dysfunctional Roy family. The show might be a fantastic snapshot into the lives of the top 1% but it has also produced some incredible female characters. Nuala hears more about the women in Succession from comedian Sara Barron, who co-hosts Firecrotch and Normcore: a Succession Podcast, and Journalist Laura Martin.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Why do we lie? And what is happening in our brain when we do it? Nuala asks psychologist Dr Sharon Leal, Senior Research Fellow and Member of the International Centre for Research in Forensic Psychology at the University of Portsmouth and Professor Tali Sharot, director of the Affective Brain Lab. a professor of cognitive neuroscience at University College London, and the author of The Optimism Bias.A 2019 study by Portsmouth University found that men were more than twice as likely to consider themselves expert liars who got away with it. But women can be just as good at lying. Nuala speaks to two women who are very good at it! Amanda Lovett, from the BAFTA award winning BBC gameshow The Traitors, won legions of fans for her steely ability to lie during the show, and Kirsty Mann is a writer and comedian - but she’s been keeping a very big secret from some of her comedy pals. She has a show about having a double life is called SKELETONS and is playing at the Edinburgh Fringe.Some lies are bigger than other and can have a huge impact on your life. Nuala talks to writer Miranda Doyle about exposing her family's lies in her memoire Book of Untruths, and a listener we are calling Ravi, explains why she lied to her family about moving to the US for love.Plus, you can’t read a tabloid newspaper without some form of cheating scandal filling the headlines. But what makes someone lie to the person they love? Nuala asks Natalie Lue, a boundaries and relationships coach, and author of The Joy of Saying No, and writer Rosie Green, author of How to Heal a Broken Heart and host of podcast Life’s Rosie about the big and little lies we tell in relationships.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sophie Powling

A recent survey of a thousand teenage girls has found that nearly half of them have struggled to access products at school. On Sunday a Period Parade will make its way through London to call for continued support to combat period inequality and shame. We hear from Emily Wilson - the International chief executive of I Rise, a period-equality charity. Dr. Katriona O’Sullivan grew up as one of five children living in dire poverty, surrounded by addiction. She is now an award winning lecturer, whose work explores barrier to education. She tells us about her extraordinary life story, as told in her memoir ‘Poor’ and to explain how she triumphed through sheer determination.As the Online Safety Bill progresses through the House of Lords, the former culture secretary Baroness Morgan of Cotes has tabled an amendment to the Bill calling for a Violence Against Women and Girls Code of Practice. She tells us why she believes a code is desperately needed to specifically address the harms to women and girls. Sales of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK will end by 2030, but women are less likely than men to consider buying an electric vehicle, and the gap seems to be widening. Erin Baker, Editorial Director from AutoTrader and Beth Morley, a mobility and human insights manager from Cenex, discuss. Let’s Eat Grandma are an electro-pop duo composed of best friends Rosa Walton and Jenny Hollingworth. They tell us about their friendship since the age of four and perform ‘Two Ribbons from their latest album.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed

In the last two years Turkey has withdrawn from the Istanbul Convention which "creates a comprehensive legal framework and approach to combat violence against women" and at the same time international observers have raise concerns over femicide rates in the country as well as violence against women and girls. Anita Rani talks to the independent journalist Barcin Yinanc and Ravza Kavakci from Erdogan’s ruling AKP party.A recent survey of a thousand teenage girls has found that nearly half of them have struggled to access products at school. On Sunday a Period Parade will make it’s way through London to call for continued support to combat period inequality and shame. We talk to Emily Wilson - the International chief executive of I Rise, a period-equality charityTracey Curtis-Taylor is a British aviator who has paid tribute to pioneering female aviators like Lady Mary Heath and Amy Johnson by flying the paths they once flew. Now she’s written a book all about her flights, and the reasons behind them. She joins Anita in the studio to talk more about her adventures. Bar Pandora is the emerging alt-pop project and stage name of Coventry-based musician, writer, artist & performer, Charlie Tophill. The new single Ultramess is out this week. Charlie joins Anita to discuss the inspiration for her work, overcoming shame and self-policing in the music industry.Liz Harvie and Debbie Iromlou are both adult adoptees in their 50's and Woman's Hour listeners. Having heard our discussion about adoption on Tuesday they decided to get in touch. They wanted to talk about the impact of being adopted on their mental health all through their lives.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Duncan Hannant

Tributes are being paid to the Queen of Rock n Roll, Tina Turner, who has died aged 83 after a long illness. Turner became one of the world's most famous music icons, known for her smash hits What's Love Got to Do With It , We Don't Need Another Hero and The Best. To pay tribute to this music legend, Anita is joined by the music journalist Jacqueline Springer and Dhivya Kate Chetty, the director of When Tina Turner Came to Britain.More than a million people have been displaced over the last five weeks as two men fight for control of Sudan. The United Nation’s Population Fund says there’s been a 900% increase in reports of gender based violence since the start of the conflict and doctors are reporting a rise in the number of women seeking help after being raped. Anita Rani talks to Nima Elbagir, a Sudanese-born journalist and CNN's Chief International Investigative Correspondent and Dr Attia Abdullah who’s a doctor in Khartoum and General Secretary of the Sudan doctors trade union. Helen Hardy grew up in Newcastle loving football, playing it and watching it. At the 2019 Women's World Cup in 2019 she had a lightbulb moment as she looked around the stands and realised all the female fans were wearing men's football shirts, despite clearly being fans of the women's game. She set up Foudy's in 2020, the first retailer dedicated to selling shirts for women's football. The judges for this year's Woman's Hour Power List put her at Number 6 on the list.Cleo Watson served in 10 Downing Street as Theresa May’s political adviser then Boris Johnson’s co-deputy chief of staff. She joins Anita to talk about her novel, Whips, which follows three young politicos trying to make a life for themselves in Westminster. It's got scandal, sisterhood and a lot of sex! But just how much of it is based on Cleo's own time behind the most famous black door in the UK?Let’s Eat Grandma are an electro-pop duo composed of best friends Rosa Walton and Jenny Hollingworth. They used to write together in Rosa’s family home in Norwich and made their first song together aged just 10. Three albums later, including one which was nominated for an Ivor Novello award, they are soon to be performing at Meltdown Festival in London. They join Nuala in the studio to discuss their career, friendship and perform a song from their latest album ‘Two Ribbons’.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Gayl Gordon and Michael Millham

After more than seven years taking evidence, six months ago the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse published their final report which put forward 20 recommendations for the government. This week the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, announced they had accepted 19 of those put forward. Professor Alexis Jay, who chaired the IICSA for seven years, joins Nuala to explain why she is deeply disappointed with their response.Dr. Katriona O’Sullivan grew up as one of five children living in dire poverty, surrounded by addiction. She is now an award winning lecturer, whose work explores barrier to education. She joins Nuala to discuss herlife story, as told in her moving, funny, brave and shocking memoir – Poor.Sales of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK will end by 2030, but women are less likely than men to consider buying an electric vehicle, and the gap seems to be widening. Erin Baker, Editorial Director from AutoTrader and Beth Morley, a mobility and human insights manager from Cenex, join Nuala to discuss. This month marks ten years since a law authorising same-sex couples to marry and adopt children was passed in France. But it wasn’t until 2021 that single women and lesbian couples were allowed to get fertility treatment following two years of parliamentary debate. A new French film - La Graine or The Seed - looks at the journey of a lesbian couple, Ines and Lucie, on their quest to have a baby, set before the law came into force in France To discuss the current situation I’m joined by the director Eloïse Lang, & journalist for France24, Claire Paccalin.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore Studio manager: Sue Maillot

According to a new report from Adoption UK nearly half of families with adopted children aged 13 to 25 say they are at ‘crisis point’ or ‘facing severe challenges’. Author, Becky Brooks, discusses her report alongside Clare, a parent of adopted children.Indian women wrestlers have been living on the streets of Delhi in protest after they accused their sport's federation's top official of sexual harassment and abuse. There is just three months until the World Championships and the Asian Games when ordinarily these women would be focussed on intense training. Nuala discusses the situation with Divya Arya, Women's Affairs Journalist at BBC Delhi. A new production of Rigoletto opens next week at Opera Holland Park. Described as “a propulsive tragedy of toxic masculinity and unfettered power”, the director, Cecilia Stinton, explains why she has set it in an Oxbridge-style college post World War I, and the relevance of the story to a modern audience. The soprano, Alison Langer, who plays the role of Gilda, also joins Nuala and performs live in the studio.New research has found that women are twice as likely to die within 30 days of a heart attack compared with men. To explore why women continue to appear more vulnerable after having a heart attack Nuala is joined by consultant cardiologist Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan.The Happy Couple is the second novel by the acclaimed Irish novelist Naoise Dolan, whose debut Exciting Times was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. It follows a young couple, Celine and Luke, in the run-up to their wedding and explores the creeping doubts they have about each other, marriage and monogamy. Naoise joins Nuala in the studio.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Starting on BBC Two, BBC Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer tonight, Once Upon A Time In Northern Ireland gives voice to the people who lived through the Troubles, sharing intimate stories from all sides of the conflict. The series airs today on the anniversary of the referendum that ratified the Good Friday Agreement, on 22nd May 1998. Nuala is joined by two women, Denise and Bernadette, who chose to take part in the series to share their stories. As the Online Safety Bill progresses through the House of Lords, the former culture secretary Baroness Morgan of Cotes has tabled an amendment to the Bill calling for a Violence Against Women and Girls Code of Practice. She said a code is desperately needed to specifically address the harms to women and girls. Further discussions will take place this week on the Bill. Baroness Nicky Morgan joins Nuala to discuss.How do you feel if someone tells you you’re 'looking good for your age'? Not so secretly thrilled? Slightly indignant? Why are we likely to take it as a compliment if someone believes you look younger than you actually are? The American businesswoman and lifestyle guru Martha Stewart recently became the oldest woman on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and has been praised for looking less than her 81 years. Why? Nuala is joined by Sam Baker of The Shift podcast, and Lucy Baker who blogs as Geriatric Mum.A new menopause drug to deal with hot flushes could be available by the end of the year in the UK. The non-hormonal drug fezolinetant has been hailed as 'game-changing' by some experts. At the same time, the supply of the HRT drug Utrogestan has been restricted by the government because of shortages. To find out more, Nuala is joined by Dr Annice Mukherjee, a consultant endocrinologist and visiting professor at the University of Coventry; and Dr Nina Wilson, an NHS GP and founder of the One Woman Health menopause clinic.

Psychiatrists say they’re worried that some people with eating disorders are being offered palliative care. They say an eating disorder is not a terminal illness and most people can recover. Our reporter Carolyn Atkinson speaks to two women who currently have an eating disorder, and reports on what charities and professionals are saying about recover, and Hayley talks to mental health campaigner Hope Virgo about her experience.Karen Millen started setting up her fashion brand just after she left college. She later sold the business, and made millions. Now, 20 years later, she’s back working for the company, creating a new collection. Anita speaks to her about what happened in between, and how it feels to be back. Bafta-winning actor Suranne Jones is back on our screens with Maryland, a three-part drama about two sisters discovering that their mother was leading a secret life. Suranne plays the younger sister Becca. She joins Hayley to explain how the idea, which came to her in a dream, made it onto the small screen.A new study suggests that humans kissing may have started more than a thousand years earlier than was previously thought. Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen from the University of Oxford joins Anita to talk through what it means, and how the investigation came about because of a conversation at the dinner table.Are men responsible for unwanted pregnancies? 'Ejaculate Responsibly: The conversation We Need to Have about Men and Contraception' is a stirring manifesto by American writer and award-winning blogger Gabrielle Blair, who thinks they are. According to Gabrielle, if you boil it right down all unwanted pregnancies are caused by irresponsible ejaculations. She joins Hayley to discuss her argument.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lottie Garton

The American singer/songwriter Kesha’s first major success came in 2009 when she was featured on rapper Flo Rida's number-one single "Right Round". She’s since had two number one albums and nine top ten singles including Tik Tok, We R Who We R, "Your Love Is My Drug," "Die Young, and "Timber" with Pitbull. She has earned two GRAMMY nominations. Today she releases her latest album – Gag Order. She joins Anita to discuss the themes of love, anxiety and spiritual awakening.In a new study out today, scientists have suggested that humans kissing may have started 4,500 years ago in the ancient Middle East – that’s 1,000 years earlier than previously thought.  Anita finds out more from the scientist Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen from the University of Oxford.The best selling author of the Geek Girl series, Holly Smale, was diagnosed as autistic in 2021, at the age of 39. She said she felt relief that she now has an explanation for why she’s felt she’s never “fitted in”. She couldn’t herself anywhere. She needed to see herself in a book, so she wouldn’t feel so alone. Holly has now written her first adult fiction – the highly autobiographical, The Cassandra Complex. She joins Anita to explain why it’s important to her that autism is represented in the media.Anita is joined by another one of the women on our Power List celebrating 30 women in sport. Manisha Tailor is the Assistant Head of Coaching at Championship club Queen's Park Rangers and is the first woman to hold such a position in men's professional football in England. Manisha is also the founder of Swaggarlicious, an organisation that uses community football sessions to engage with minority groups including women and girls, and especially those with mental health challenges. ‘Depp vs Heard’ is a three part C4 series that charts the tumultuous defamation trial between Johnny Depp and his former wife Amber Heard that was broadcast live in full. Mixing courtroom footage with the reaction from the millions who viewed it online, it’s a story of twists and turns. And questions if a jury ever be truly fair in the age of social media? The BAFTA-nominated documentary director Emma Cooper, joins Anita from Los Angeles.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Louise Corley

Erika Lust makes adult films that focus on female pleasure, diversity and what she calls ethical production. She has big ideas about how to change the porn industry and joins Anita Rani in the studio to discuss them. Karen Millen, creator of the eponymous fashion brand has created a new collection over 40-years after she set up her first shop. She sold the business in 2004, but in later years she filed for bankruptcy. Now aged 61, Millen is returning to designing clothes. She joins Anita to talk about the highs and lows of her life so far, and starting over.Forced marriage has been illegal in England and Wales since 2014, but a study jointly by the Universities of Lincoln and Bristol, has revealed that the crime remains rife. Their research on the use of Forced Marriage Protection Orders, designed to prevent forced marriages, used data from nearly 600 case files from police forces nationwide. Anita is joined by the criminologist, Professor Aisha Gill, one of the leads on the research, who is proposing new measures to protect victims. Journalist Kiran Sidhu moved from London to the Welsh countryside after the death of her mother. She has written a memoir about what she learnt there of grief, community and unlikely friendships, ‘I Can Hear the Cuckoo’. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Michael Millham

Bafta-winning actor Suranne Jones is back on our screens with Maryland, a three-part drama about two sisters discovering that their mother was leading a secret life. Suranne, who plays the younger sister Becca, is also executive producer on the series. She joins Hayley to explain how the idea, which came to her in a dream, made it onto the small screen. A new law to be tabled in Parliament today would abolish no-fault evictions and make it illegal for landlords to refuse tenancies to those in receipt of benefits, as part of a long-promised overhaul of the private rental sector in England. Housing campaigners said the bill was a "huge opportunity" to improve the lives of the 11 million renters in England - but its still doesnt go far enough to help many renters, 40% of which are women. Melissa York, the assistant property editor at The Times and The Sunday Times & Polly Neate, Chief Exectuive of Shelter. Psychiatrists say they’re worried that some people with eating disorders are being offered palliative care, warning it is not a terminal illness and most people can recover. Carolyn Atkinson reports and Hayley talks to mental health campaigner Hope Virgo. Hayley talks to scientist and academic Athene Donald about her new book Not Just for the Boys which examines the historic societal exclusion of women from science and the systemic disadvantages women in science operate under. She looks at the common myths that science isn't creative and that it is carried out by a lone genius in an ivory tower, offering her perspective on what progress has been made, and how more is needed. Presenter: Hayley Hassall Producer: Lucinda Montefiore Studio Manager: Steve Greenwood

Tanya Ednan-Laperouse and Emma Turay are two women who lost their teenage daughters due to severe allergic reactions to food they had eaten. They are calling for the government to put in a place an ‘allergy tsar’ to prevent what they say are unnecessary deaths and illnesses. They explain their demands to Hayley Hassall.'Ejaculate Responsibly: The conversation We Need to Have about Men and Contraception' is a stirring manifesto by American writer and award winning parenting blogger Gabrielle Blair. Why, she asks, are women expected to do all the work of pregnancy prevention particularly when men are fifty times more fertile than women? That’s one of the 28 arguments in her book which show in different ways how men take little if any responsibility for unwanted pregnancies. And yet according to Gabrielle, if you boil it right down all unwanted pregnancies are caused by irresponsible ejaculations. In a report out today the Independent Monitoring Board have found women are being sent to prison as a 'place of safety' whilst experiencing severe mental health problems. Some women were sent to prison because they had attempted suicide; some had been diagnosed with a severe mental illness and needed medication and there was no adequate community provision. Hayley Hassall is joined by the IMB's National Chair Dame Anne Owers.An adaption of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, the bestselling book by beloved teen author Judy Blume is coming to the big screens this week. So, we are asking - what did the book mean to you? Journalist Leila Latif joins Hayley to discuss why the coming-of-age story is still relevant today and how Judy Blume’s books guided her through her own adolescence.Presenter: Hayley Hassall Producer: Emma Pearce

In their book What I Wish I’d Known When I Was Young, they interview the likes of Ruth Davidson and Mary Portas and explore the psychology behind their experiences. Hayley is joined by Alice Thomson and also by the science writer David Robson, who investigates the potential issues with the psychological concept of Post-Traumatic Growth. The latest political workplace scandal centres around Plaid Cymru in Wales where the party’s leader Adam Price has resigned after a report described it as being a toxic workplace with evidence of misogyny, harassment and bullying. But such claims are or have been found in all the main political parties despite each putting codes of conducts and complaints procedures to address concerns in these areas. Are behaviours like bullying and abusive behaviour concentrated in certain work places, whether its politics, or institutions like the police or fire service? We hear from the former Welsh Assembly politician Bethan Sayed about the situation facing her former party Plaid Cymru and also to the journalist Kate Maltby, Dr Nicola Thomas from the Institute of Work Psychology at the University of Sheffield and Baroness Dame Louise Casey who conducted a review into the Metropolitan Police.Cinematic feminist pioneer Nina Menkes speaks about her new docu-film about the objectification of women in film, and the male gaze, called Brainwashed: Sex-Power-Camera. And the issue of when to allow your children to get a mobile phone with Molly Kingsley from the campaign group UsForThem.Presenter: Hayley Hassall Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Bob Nettles

Masih Alinejad, Iranian American journalist, women's rights campaigner and a Time Woman of the Year 2023, is an outspoken critic of the Iranian government. She joins Anita to talk about her fight for women's rights in Iran.‘Just Saying’ is a memoir by the bestselling author Malorie Blackman, former Children’s Laureate, best known for her Noughts & Crosses series for young adults. Malorie received eighty-two rejection letters before she finally found a publisher. Seventy published books later it is no exaggeration to say that Malorie Blackman has changed the face of British literature forever. Malorie joins Nuala to discuss her life and works.650 years ago a woman we only know as Julian of Norwich produced a book which challenged the ideas of the time about sin and suffering. It presented a radical vision of love and hope that “All Shall Be Well and All Shall Be Well and All Manner of Things Shall be Well”. We hear from a listener, Sophie, about the words that she turns to for motivation and encouragement.Blended families are created for all sorts of reasons. Because of break-ups or the death of a parent, through fostering or adoption. Kate Ferdinand, previously Kate Wright of The Only Way is Essex fame, married the former footballer Rio Ferdinand in 2019, four years after his first wife Rebecca and mother of their three children, had died. As a new step mum she struggled partly because she felt very alone and that no-one understood what she was going through. But there was also very little out there to help someone in her situation – the step-parenting parts of books and websites were tiny, she says. Kate has now written her own book - How to Build a Family. She joins Anita to discuss her experiences.Most of us are familiar with the story of Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl who wrote a diary while hiding from the Nazis with her family, in Amsterdam during the Second World War. You are probably less familiar with the name of the woman who agreed to keep them safe in those secret attic rooms. Miep Gies was Otto’s secretary, and when they were eventually located and sent to their deaths, it was Miep who found Anne’s diary and kept it. A new TV series tells the whole story from Miep’s perspective, and she is played by the British actor Bel Powley. Bel joins Nuala to talk about playing an ordinary woman who displayed extraordinary courage.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Hanna Ward

In her latest stage role Dame Maureen Lipman plays Rose in a one-woman memory play with its Jewish heroine sitting Shiva – mourning for the many dead, and moving through Jewish twentieth century history. On stage alone for two hours, her performance has already sparked two sell out runs in London and Manchester, and now she’s back in the West End for a month. Maureen joins Anita live in the Woman’s Hour studio.Blended families are created for all sorts of reasons. Because of break-ups or the death of a parent, through fostering or adoption. Kate Ferdinand married the former footballer Rio Ferdinand in 2019, four years after his first wife Rebecca and mother of their three children, had died. Now Kate has written How to Build a Family, the book she wished she'd had when she started out being a step mum.Woman’s Hour Power List Leader Rimla Akhtar joins Anita to talk about her ground-breaking work in the world of women’s sport. She was ranked by Forbes and The Independent as one of the most powerful women in international sports, and was awarded an OBE in 2021 for her contribution to diversity and equality in sport.What is it really like to be a female ambassador? A new Netflix show, The Diplomat, has got people talking about the role. It stars American actress, Keri Russell, as a new US ambassador to the UK, parachuted into the role in the midst of a crisis. It debuted at No 1 on Netflix’s weekly global Top 10 list. So, we wanted to know - is the life of a real diplomat as exciting? What do they get up to? We are joined by former ambassadors Jules Chappell and Laura Clarke to find out.

Masih Alinejad, Iranian American journalist, women's rights campaigner and a Time Woman of the Year 2023, is an outspoken critic of the Iranian government. She joins Anita to talk about her fight for women's rights in Iran. The winners of Race Across The World on BBC1, where travellers made it to a destination, choosing any route they liked, but with no flights or phones allowed. For this third series, those involved travelled from West to East Canada. Cathie Rowe and Tricia Sail celebrate their triumph.For the first time, Interpol have released a list seeking information about 22 unidentified murdered women, whose names are a mystery. Anita is joined by BBC journalist Alice Cuddy to explain why this is happening, and forensic scientist Carina Van Leeuwen who is passionate about giving these women a name.Rosie and Chris Ramsey, top podcast couple, join Anita to talk about the perils of producing a podcast when you’re married with children and you’re airing your dirty laundry in public for laughs, and their remarkable success including a new BBC1 series, 'The Chris and Rosie Ramsey Show'.Presenter: Anita Rani Studio manager: Duncan Hannant

Just Saying’ is a memoir by the bestselling author Malorie Blackman, former Children’s Laureate, best known for her Noughts & Crosses series for young adults. Malorie received eighty-two rejection letters before she finally found a publisher. Seventy published books later it is no exaggeration to say that Malorie Blackman has changed the face of British literature forever. Malorie joins Nuala to discuss her life and works. Donald Trump says he will appeal the verdict of a New York jury in a civil case that found he sexually abused and defamed a woman. The woman in question E Jean Carroll, a magazine columnist, claimed the former US president attacked her in a department store in the mid 1990s.  The civil trial rejected her claim of rape and in total the jury ordered Trump to pay five million dollars in damages to Carroll. Emma Long, Associate Professor in American History and Politics at the University of East Anglia joins Nuala. The campaign group Buy Women Built is launching a kitemark to add to products made by female-founded firms to help boost their sales. This means that when you shop, you will be able to spot and buy from brands created by women - and in turn help their revenue. Nuala is joined by the founder of Buy Women Built, Sahar Hashemi OBE and Lemon Fuller, founder and CEO of Lemonade Dolls, a UK underwear start-up that is part of the Buy Women Built community. England Netball have recently launched a new initiative aimed at supporting women and girls to play the sport at every life stage, by normalising conversations around pelvic health, the menstrual cycle and the menopause, and through offering guidance and support to all those involved in the game. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore Studio Manager: Gayl Gordon

Most of us are familiar with the story of Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl who wrote a diary while hiding from the Nazis with her family, in Amsterdam during the Second World War. You are probably less familiar with the name of the woman who agreed to keep them safe in those secret attic rooms. Miep Gies was Otto’s secretary, and when they were eventually located and sent to their deaths, it was Miep who found Anne’s diary and kept it. A new TV series tells the whole story from Miep’s perspective, and she is played by the British actor Bel Powley. Bel joins Nuala to talk about playing an ordinary woman who displayed extraordinary courage.Plans have been announced to allow more patients to use high street pharmacies for some common drug prescriptions and routine tests to ease the pressure on busy GPs. Pharmacies are being asked to take on the prescribing of drugs for seven common ailments, including sore throats, earaches, shingles and urinary tract infections or UTIs. Women are up to 30 times more likely to get a UTIs than men. Half of women will have at least one in their lifetime and 20% will have more than one. So is easier access for women for UTI treatment a positive move? Mary Garthwaite, a former consultant urologist and chair of the Urology Foundation joins Nuala to discuss.As voters in Thailand head to the polls on Sunday for a general election, who are the frontrunners and what are the issues that female voters care about? Women played a key role in the 2020 pro-democracy protests and many are seeing the election as a way to challenge the power of patriarchal institutions such as the military and the monarchy. The current Prime Minister has been trailing behind opposition candidates in the polls, including Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who gave birth just two weeks ago. Nuala is joined by Jonathan Head, the BBC's South East Asia correspondent, to discuss.We hear the next in our series about how relationships are changed and put under strain when life happens. Zoe and James talk about how 'Ed' which is what they call Zoe's eating disorder has affected them since they got together as a couple when they were at school. Zoe's anorexia was 'atypical' - her weight wasn't low but she was in the grip of anorexia, all the behaviours and disordered thinking were there  - her body was under terrible stress and she was regularly collapsing. Only James was really aware of what was going on, a fact that put their relationship under pressure. Jo Morris went to meet Zoe and James in Lincolnshire and they tell their story.What was your experience with theatre when you were at school? Was there that one show you saw that inspired you and that you’ll never quite forget? Playwright Hannah Lavery and writer and actor Sarah Middleton have recently taken to the stage with their respective plays, Protest, and SHEWOLVES, which are aimed at teenagers and ensuring that young women’s voices are heard on the stage. They join Nuala to discuss the impact theatre can have on young people.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Hanna Ward

Words to live by and finding hope in the face of terrible suffering, the life of the anchoress or hermit Julian of Norwich, the power of walking and nature to heal and art that replaces adverts with words of love – all part of this special Bank Holiday Woman’s Hour.650 years ago a woman we only know as Julian of Norwich produced a book written while she was voluntarily walled up in a hermit’s cell which challenged the ideas of the time about sin and suffering. It presented a radical vision of love and hope that “All Shall Be Well and All Shall Be Well and All Manner of Thing Shall be Well”. We hear about her life, how it has helped one woman through cancer treatment and inspired the lives of others, and we hear from listeners about the words that they turn to for motivation and encouragement. Nuala McGovern speaks to Claire Gilbert author of a new novel I Julian; Dr. Hetta Howes senior lecturer in medieval and early modern literature at City, University of London; Sally-Anne Lomas Trustee of The Friends of Julian and creative director of The Cloth of Kindness project and to Faye Smith founder of Hope Walking. And, the British Kenyan artist Grace Ndiritu explains why she emblazoned the words 'Wherever you are I hope you have found peace' on 30 billboards around Birmingham.Producer Caroline Donne

An estimated one in five new and expectant mums develop perinatal mental illnesses such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and psychosis, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists. While every pregnant woman should be screened for mental health issues at their 10-week antenatal appointment, new data from NHS England shows one in six NHS Trusts are struggling to report if they are following the clinical guidelines. We hear from the Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist Dr Trudi Seneviratne and Hayley Johnson a mum of two who experienced debilitating anxiety after the birth of her second child.When Sheilagh Matheson and her husband offered to house a mother and her daughters fleeing from Ukraine little did she know that the girls were musical prodigies and that their music would stop passers-by in the street. Sheilagh and 17-year-old Khrystyna tell us their story. The book ‘Honey, Baby, Mine’ is a new joint project of mother/daughter actors Diane Ladd, and Laura Dern Working. It's based on a series of walks and talks taken when about four years ago Diane faced a serious threat to her health. Why does rejection hurt so much? The writer Kate Wills tells us about how her fear of rejection has held her back in life, and an experiment she did to try and cure it. Plus we hear from the Chartered psychologist Fiona Murden.The new BBC comedy drama Black Ops centres around Dom and Kay, two Police Community Support Officers in East London who join the Metropolitan police in the hope of cleaning up their neighbourhood. Instead they find themselves working undercover to infiltrate a criminal gang. We hear from its star, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed Editor: Beverley Purcell

Plaid Cymru have apologised after a damning review found a culture of harassment, bullying and misogyny in the party. The party had "failed to implement a zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment" and that women had been "especially" let down. Dan Davies, the BBC Wales Political Correspondent explains. Taylor Swift is rumoured to have a new boyfriend and its all over the papers. She is the highest-paid female entertainer in the world, earning $92 million in 2022 following the success of her 10th studio album “Midnights". But why are we so obsessed with her - and in particular, her personal life? Charlotte Gunn, editor of the female-focused music publication, The Forty Five explains. The journalist Kohinoor Sahota tells us why as a single British Asian woman she wanted to share her story about her plans to freeze her eggs next month. Rachel Cutting, an emrbryologist in the NHS for 25 years and now Director of Compliance and Information for the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA) discusses the egg freezing process, and the success rate.Lisa Selby is both the subject and the co-director of a new film called Blue Bag Life. In it Lisa examines her relationships with her mother Helen, who abandoned her at 10 months old, and her partner Elliot. Both were heroin addicts, and in the same year Helen dies and Elliot relapses and ends up in prison. An artist and academic, Lisa shot thousands of videos recording her conversations and thoughts during this difficult period in her life, which have been woven together in this feature-length documentary, Lisa joins Anita, along with one of her co-directors Rebecca Lloyd-Evans. Blue Bag Life is on BBC Four on Tuesday 9 May at 10pm, and then on the iPlayer.Wrexham players and Hollywood club owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney celebrated the men's team promotion to the English Football League as well as the women's team which won promotion to the Adram Premier league. As thousands lined the streets, Katie Owen was invited to DJ on the open top bus victory parade through the town. She explains what it was like to be part of the celebrations.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

An estimated one in five new and expectant mums develops perinatal mental illnesses according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Whilst every pregnant woman should be screened for mental health issues at their 10-week antenatal appointment, new data from NHS England shows one in six NHS Trusts are struggling to report if they are doing so. Anita is joined by Dr Trudi Seneviratne, Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist and Registrar of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Hayley Johnson, a mum who experienced debilitating anxiety after giving birth.It's been a remarkable week for women's sport, with record breaking crowds. Anita is joined by one of the women on the Woman's Hour Power List 2023 who has been banging the drum of women's sport for over a decade, Tammy Parlour, co-founder and CEO of the Women's Sports Trust.For the first time, the May edition of British Vogue features disabled models on its cover.  One of these is Ellie Goldstein, the first model with Down's syndrome to ever star.  She is one of fashion’s rising stars, advocating inclusivity across the industry. Anita talks to Ellie and her mum, Yvonne about Ellie's work.The British tradition of kneeler making, hand-stitching kneeling cushions in churches, is a type of folk art that has been long overlooked. The  earliest examples are from the 17th century and the reigns of Charles I and II.  Will the coronation of a new king revive interest in this languishing art?  Anita meets Elizabeth Bingham, author of Kneelers.  A new BBC six part comedy thriller Black Ops centres around Dom and Kay, two Police Community Support Officers in East London who join the Metropolitan police. In the hope of cleaning up their neighbourhood, they find themselves working undercover to infiltrate a criminal gang. Gbemisola Ikumelo, perhaps best known for the comedy sketch show Famalam is the co-creator. She talks to Anita about writing and starring in the series. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Bob Nettles

For Ellie Wilson, now 25, it’s been a year since the man she once called her boyfriend was convicted of raping her and sentenced to five years in prison. Research shows that one in four women have been raped or sexually assaulted as adults, but it is estimated that only one in six will report it with less than 1% of reported cases ending in a conviction. Ellie speaks to Nuala to explain why she chose to waive her right to anonymity and what propels her to continue to campaign for reform of the justice system in light of her experience.Plans for Britain’s first women’s-only tower block, to be built in Ealing, west London, have been approved. The brainchild of the housing association Women’s Pioneer Housing, it will be a 15-storey tower containing 102 flats to be rented to single women, in particular women who are disadvantaged in the housing market. Nuala is joined by the Chief Executive, Tracey Downie, and Vicky Spratt, the Housing Correspondent for the i newspaper, to discuss its potential social impact.Why does rejection hurt so much? And what are some coping mechanisms can people use? Nuala discusses with the Chartered psychologist Fiona Murden, and Kate Wills who describes her fear of rejection, how it has held her back in life, and an experiment she undertook to try and cure it.Many listeners will know that Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour has been broadcast for more than 75 years – since October 1946. But far less well known is an earlier programme called Women’s Hour, which first appeared 100 years ago, in early May 1923. To find about more Nuala speaks to Dr Kate Murphy, Visiting Fellow at Bournemouth University - and author of the book Behind the Wireless: A History of Early Women at the BBC. Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Beverley Purcell

There are two new books about the experience of caregiving: Who Cares: the hidden crisis of caregiving and how we solve it by Emily Kenway and Mothercare: on ambivalence and obligation by acclaimed American novelist, Lynne Tillman.   Both Emily and Lynne cared for their mothers.  There are differences in their stories, but also many shared experiences, experiences that apply to vast swathes of populations around the world who undertake unpaid caring for spouses, relative and friends. Lynne and Emily join Nuala in the studio. When Sheilagh and her husband offered to house a mother and her daughters fleeing from Ukraine little did they realise that the girls were musical prodigies and that their music would stop passers by in the street. Sheilagh and 17 year old Khrystyna join Nuala to tell their story. On Thursday the another series of Bridgerton will be available and focusses on Queen Charlotte. Described as a spin-off, it goes back in time to chronicle how the young queen at just seventeen finds herself married to the new King George III. Dr Olivette Oteli, research professor at SOAS explains who she was, what we know about her life and if there is any credibility to the longstanding speculation that she was the first woman of colour in the Royal family.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

The book Honey, Baby, Mine is a joint project of mother/daughter actors Diane Ladd, and Laura Dern. Working together is not unusual for these two as over decades they have taken their connection onto our screens but as fictional parent and child. Now 87 and 56, they have both had, and continue to have, critically-acclaimed careers with many character roles, gaining them numerous awards and nominations. They join Nuala to discuss their latest project. Nurses in England are taking part in what the Royal College of Nursing is calling 'the biggest walkout so far' today, and some teachers are striking tomorrow. Nuala speaks to Dr Susan Milner to talk about these female-dominated sectors taking industrial action.Nuala is also joined by one of the Grassroots women on our Power List, celebrating the 30 most remarkable women in sport in the UK. Somayeh Caesar is a teaching assistant in London and has set up several sporting clubs for women and girls. Service is the new novel by the author and critic Sarah Gilmartin. Famed Dublin chef Daniel Costello who runs a successful high-end restaurant is facing accusations of sexual assault. Set between the present day and the earlier noughties, the story is told from the perspective of three voices- the waitress, the chef, and the chef’s wife. It’s a story of power, abuse, complicity and Metoo. Sarah joins Nuala to discuss her new book. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

What happens when a woman famous for talking to people, and for her razor sharp wit, is left stranded on a desert island with just herself and a hermit crab for company? Author, comedian, broadcaster and mental health campaigner Ruby Wax decided to spend 10 days completely cut off from the modern world and other humans, and you can see the results on Channel 5 in Ruby Wax : Cast Away. She joins Anita to discuss what it was like being alone on an uninhabited island near Madagascar. In 2018 the people of Ireland voted to repeal the 8th amendment and grant women access to safe and free abortions up to 12 weeks into pregnancy. Ireland was promised ‘excellent’ abortion services but what is the reality 5 years on? On Wednesday, an independent review of abortion services was released that proposed 10 major changes to legislation. Anita is joined by Dr Deirdre Duffy, a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Lancaster University who was involved in putting together the evidence base for the review.Currently celebrating her 30th year in business, the celebrity colourist Jo Hansford MBE has been described as the “best tinter on the planet”. She started off cutting hair in her parents’ front room and is now one of the most famous female names in the business with two salons, her own range of products, and clients who’ve included Elizabeth Hurley, Angelina Jolie and Richard Burton, not to mention she is the woman in charge of the Queen Consort’s crowning glory! Jo spoke to Nuala about her career, passion for colour - and the upcoming coronation.Zoe Lyons is known for being funny Radio 4 comedy shows like The New Quiz and seen her on TV shows like Live at the Apollo and QI. She also hosts the BBC2 quiz show 'Lightning'. Over the last couple of years, she has kept herself busy by having (what she describes as) ‘a monumental midlife crisis’. It involved buying a sports car, splitting up with her wife and running a 100k ultra marathon…Along the way her hair also started to fall out. Thankfully Zoe has been able to see the funny side and she’s used the experience to write her stand up show ‘Bald Ambition’…which she is currently touring around the country. Zoe joins Nuala to discuss.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Hanna Ward Editor: Louise Corley

What happens when a woman famous for her razor sharp wit is left stranded on a desert island with just her own company and a hermit crab called Spartacus? Author, broadcaster and mental health campaigner Ruby Wax joins Anita to explain why she decided to spend 10 days completely cut off from the modern world and other humans. The Prime Minister’s mother-in-law, Sudha Murty, has claimed that her daughter is the reason Rishi Sunak is in Number 10. She says she herself succeeded in making her husband a businessman, and now her daughter has done the same. To find out more about this claim and the Murty women, journalist and Executive Editor of Politico Anne McElvoy speaks to Anita.What are all the ruffles doing in summer clothes? Why are baggy dresses back? And how do you go about doing your summer shopping without buying the same dress as eight other people at the party? Grazia journalist Hannah Banks Walker and columnist Martha Alexander join Anita to chat all things summer fashion.The NHS Maternity services are in crisis. But how did we get to this point? What was it like to give birth at the very beginning of the NHS? Dr Emily Baughan, Senior Lecturer at Sheffield University, tells Anita how a forgotten book called National Baby can help us understand our current situation. The book was written by Sarah Campion, who had one of the very first truly ‘national babies’, cared for not just from cradle to grave, but in utero by the newly set up health service.Where are all the female choreographers? Liv Lorent is an award-winning choreographer who has spent her career going against the tide in a male dominated arena. 30 years on, she says not much has changed. She speaks to Anita about how women are rare in the industry, which is still lagging behind in putting women behind as well as centre stage.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lottie Garton

In 2018 the people of Ireland voted to repeal the 8th amendment and grant women access to safe and free abortions up to 12 weeks into pregnancy. Ireland was promised ‘excellent’ abortion services but what is the reality 5 years on? Yesterday an independent review of abortion services was released that proposed 10 major changes to legislation. Dr Deirdre Duffy, a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Lancaster University talks to Anita about the review.As the nation prepares for the coronation, Anita Rani considers the issue of gender and sovereignty. The British people have only experienced Queenship so whilst the coronation of Charles III marks a return to the more traditional role of kingship, it’s a big shift for the public. She’ll be joined by Tracy Borman the author of numerous books and co-curator of Historic Royal Palaces and Professor Anna Whitehorn from City, University of London and Director of the Centre for the Study of Modern Monarchy.The former President of the United States, Donald Trump, is facing a trial over an allegation that he raped an advice columnist nearly three decades ago. Jean Carroll, who is 79, is suing Mr Trump for allegedly assaulting her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s, a charge the former president has denied. The civil trial, which started yesterday, is expected to last two weeks. Amanda Taub from the New York Times joins Anita to talk about how this historical case can be brought after several decades.Under Pressure is an occasional series which looks at the stress put on relationships when life happens. Carla and Brendon met at school, their lives looked to be on one track and then things changed. Jo Morris went to meet them and Carla shared her personal experience about when her fibromyalgia, a long-term condition which can cause widespread, persistent pain, first began.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Andrew Garrett

As a ceasefire continues in Sudan we look at how the conflict in the country has impacted women. Nuala is joined by CNN Chief International Investigative Correspondent Nima Elbagir.Jo Hansford MBE has been described as the “best tinter on the planet”. She started off cutting hair in her parents’ front room and is now one of the most famous female names in the business with two salons, her own range of products, and clients from Elizabeth Hurley, Angelina Jolie and Richard Burton, not to mention she is the woman in charge of the Queen’s crowning glory! Currently celebrating her 30th year in business, Jo joins Nuala to talk about her career, passion for colour and the upcoming coronation.Labour MP Paula Barker will bid for a new bill next month so care workers are paid minimum wage for travelling time between appointments to close a loophole which campaigners say means care workers' pay dips below the legal minimum. She joins Nuala to discuss.Fran Hill experienced the foster care system first-hand in the 70s, and her first novel Cuckoo in the Nest, explores what that life can be like for teenagers in care. Fran joins Nuala to discuss how her own experiences informed her writing and her career in teaching.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Hanna Ward SM: Andrew Garrett

Stella Assange is the wife of Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, a whistle-blowing platform that publishes classified material provided by anonymous sources. He is currently being held in Belmarsh Prison pending extradition to the US, where he is wanted for 18 criminal charges related to obtaining and publishing classified information. Stella is leading a campaign to fight his extradition, which has been depicted in a new documentary, Ithaka. She tells Nuala why she thinks Julian should be released, how they first met and the impact of the campaign on their two young children. Award-winning comedian Zoe Lyons tells Nuala about her ‘monumental' midlife crisis. It involved buying a sports car, having a brief marital separation and running a 100k ultra marathon… badly. Along the way, her hair started to fall out. Thankfully, Zoe has been able to explore the funny side and create her stand-up show Bald Ambition. Nurses are set to be given body-worn cameras in a crackdown on hospital sexual assaults under new government plans. A recent report published by The Women’s Rights Network revealed that thousands of sex attacks have been reported in hospitals across England and Wales in the past 4 years. Nuala is joined by Heather Binning, Founder of The Women’s Rights Network, and Catriona Rubens, a solicitor at human rights law firm Leigh Day. Dr Lil Stevens recently found out that her grandfather, Captain Leicester Stevens, had taken part in an expedition to find a dinosaur in the rainforests of the Congo known as the Congo 'thunder lizard' (later dismissed as a hoax) following World War 1. Lil, who works at a palaeontologist, has dedicated her career to studying fossils and was amazed to discover the family connection.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

It's been reported that a draft law that would recognise feminism as an extremist ideology is under consideration by Russia’s state duma - that's the lower chamber of parliament. Nuala asks the prominent women’s rights activist and opposition politician Alena Popova if this is a worrying time for feminists in the country.Yesterday BBC Radio 1's Adele Roberts ran the London Marathon and broke the world record for the fastest time run by a woman with a stoma. Adele was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer two years ago and is very open and honest about daily life with her stoma, who's called Audrey. She spoke to Anita Friday ahead of the race - and joins Nuala today to celebrate her achievement.England's Lionesses captain, and no. 1 on our 2023 Power List, Leah Williamson, will no longer be able to play in the World Cup this summer. She has ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament or ACL. She and her Arsenal team mate Beth Mead are just two of the footballers out of action with the same injury. So why are women six times more likely to suffer this type of injury? And what impact be on the England team? Nuala talks to Fiona Tomas, women's sports reporter for The Telegraph.Another chance to hear Under Pressure, our series looking at what happens to relationships when couples are put under extreme strain - how do they cope? Today we hear from Kate and Annie. They had been together for more than thirty years when Annie became ill. In 2021 they told their story to our reporter Jo Morris. Sadly, Annie died at the end of January this year. Kate was happy for this interview to be repeated as a tribute to her beloved wife.The US Supreme Court has preserved access to a commonly used early abortion pill, ruling that the drug Mifepristone can remain available while a legal case continues. This has been described as the most significant case since the Supreme Court ended the nationwide right to abortion last year, by overturning the landmark 1973 Roe V Wade. Emma Long, Associate Professor of American Literature and Politics at the University of East Anglia, joins Nuala to discuss.

A second woman has come forward alleging that she was raped by two male colleagues when she worked at the Confederation of British Industry. Anita Rani speaks to the Guardian journalist who uncovered the story, Anna Isaac.Is 'therapy speak' making us selfish? The language of the therapist’s couch has slowly seeped into everyday life, particularly online where words like ‘boundaries’, ‘self-care’ and ‘narcissist’ are increasingly common. But when it comes to friendships, is the idea of self-care making us give up on them too easily? Sociologist and writer Amy Charlotte Kean talks to Nuala McGovern about how our relationships are being affected.The Secret Life of Bees was a New York Times bestseller for more than 125 weeks and was made into an award-winning film. Now the book has been adapted by Lynn Nottage, a playwright and screenwriter, for the stage. Anita Rani talks to Lynn, the only woman to have won the Pulitzer prize for drama twice, about her adaptation.As the government prepares to launch the first nationwide test of a new emergency alert system on our smartphones on Sunday 23 April, domestic abuse charities are concerned about the potential risk to those in abusive relationships. Nuala McGovern speaks to Ellie Butt, Head of policy, public affairs and research at the charity Refuge.Anita Rani is joined by Maggie Murphy, the CEO of Lewes Football Club. Maggie featured on our Power List highlighting 30 women working in sport in the UK. Maggie discusses why the club is so unique and how women’s football should grow.Have you been watching Race Across The World? For its third series those involved are travelling from West to East Canada. Nuala McGovern talks to the only all-female team taking part - Cathie Rowe and Tricia Sail - two best friends, both in their late 40's who set out on a journey of a lifetime.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lottie Garton

Academy award-winner Rachel Weisz joins Anita Rani to talk about her new series Dead Ringers, a psycho-sexual thriller about identical twins who are gynaecologists and obstetricians. It is a new adaptation of the 1988 film starring Jeremy Irons, in which Rachel plays twins Elliot and Beverly Mantle. She explains why it was important to her to adapt the story with female leads, and the technical process in performing both characters and what it felt like to watch someone giving birth.Anita is joined by Maggie Murphy, the CEO of Lewes Football Club. Maggie featured on our Power List highlighting 30 women working in sport in the UK. Maggie discusses why the club is so unique and how women’s football should grow. The US Supreme Court has delayed its decision on the abortion pill Mifepristone - until midnight Friday. Allowing access to the drug which is used for more that half of all U.S. abortions. The Supreme Court was asked to look into the matter at the request of President Joe Biden’s Administration after two federal judges issued opposing rulings on its use. This is the most significant case since the Supreme Court ended the nationwide right to abortion last year, by over turning the landmark 1973 Roe V Wade. But how much can we read into this delay? We ask associate Professor of American Literature and Politics at University of East Anglia Emma Long. The Radio 1 DJ and presenter Adele Roberts joins Anita ahead of the London Marathon on Sunday. This is Adele's third marathon but her first since she was diagnosed with bowel cancer and she’s trying to break a World Record in the process! Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Emma Pearce

Published in 2001, ‘The Secret Life of Bees’ was a New York Times bestseller for more than 125 weeks and was made into an award-winning film starring Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson and Alicia Keys in 2008. Now the book has been adapted by Lynn Nottage, a playwright and screenwriter, for the stage. It is on at the Almeida Theatre in London and Anita Rani talks to Lynn Nottage, the only woman to have won the Pulitzer prize for drama twice, about her adaptation.New research by the pensions and investment company, Royal London, shows that women are being hit harder by the rising cost of living than men and are facing higher monthly costs on a lower average income. Women are more likely to have made cutbacks in day-to-day spending to cope and around one in three say they could only afford an unexpected bill of up to £500 from either their income or savings. Anita Rani is joined by Clare Moffat, a Finance Expert, to go through the figures and Amber Proctor, youth and community worker at Hexham Youth Initative in Northumberland.A rise in popularity of gel nail products is leading to increasing numbers of people developing allergies that can affect their future healthcare options, according to dermatologists. Some imported products are thought to contain high levels of chemicals known as acrylates, which can be harmful in liquid form. The allergies can prevent people having medical procedures such as joint replacement and cataract surgeries. Dr. Emma Wedgeworth, Consultant Dermatologist and Lucy Tucker, a nail technician working in the film industry discuss the issues. Author, Liv Little, founder and former editor of gal-dem, the award-winning online and print magazine for women of colour, publishes her debut novel today. Called Rosewater it introduces us to Elsie; a sexy, funny and fiercely independent 28-year old poet living in South London. Liv joins Anita in the Woman’s Hour studio.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt Studio manager: Bob Nettles

Kristine Kujath Thorp is the star of new ‘unromantic comedy’ Sick of Myself. The film follows the unhealthy and competitive relationship between bored waitress Signe and her boyfriend Thomas; both self-proclaimed narcissists obsessed with attention. When Thomas suddenly breaks through as a contemporary artist, Signe decides to do something drastic to attract sympathy and go viral. Kristine joins Nuala to talk about playing a true anti-hero. We talk to BBC presenter Yalda Hakim about how the UN might take the "heartbreaking" decision to pull out of Afghanistan if it cannot persuade the Taliban to let local women work for the organisation. In January the government announced that it would amend the Victims Bill currently going through parliament so that children born as a result of rape in England and Wales will be officially recognised as victims of crime. In a powerful new BBC documentary ‘Out of the Shadows: Born from Rape’, Sammy Woodhouse, the campaigner, and victim of the Rotherham grooming scandal, who was just 15 when she became pregnant hears for the first time from mothers as well as children born from rape, and she tells us why she is calling for more support for those affected. Sammy is joined by ‘Eva’, who tells her story. Have you been watching Race Across The World? The BBC 1 programme where travellers can choose any route they like - but no flights or phones are allowed. Now in it's third series those involved are travelling from West to East Canada - the second biggest country in the world. The partnerships that you see between the pairs taking part are just as compelling as the wonderful Canadian landscapes on display. Nuala talks to the only all female team taking part Cathie Rowe and Tricia Sail - two best friends, both in their late 40's who set out on a journey of a lifetime. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Steve Greenwood

A new report from the women’s and equalities committee is calling on the government to eliminate what it calls ‘appalling disparities in maternal deaths between black and white women’. Black women are 3.7 times more likely to die in pregnancy, childbirth or six weeks afterwards than white women. Nuala discusses the issues with MP Caroline Nokes, who chairs the committee, and Sandra Igwe, who founded the Motherhood Group to support black women. As the government prepares to launch the first nationwide test of a new emergency alert system on our smartphones this Sunday afternoon at 3pm, domestic abuse charities are concerned about the potential risk to domestic abuse survivors. Nuala speaks to Ellie Butt, Head of policy, publc affairs and research at the charity Refuge.Last year the libel trial between feuding footballers' wives, Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy, gripped the nation. Now, the legal tussle has moved from the Royal Courts of Justice to London's West End stage in a show called Vardy V Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial. Nuala talks to the director, Lisa Spirling, and adapter, Liv Hennessy, to find out how they turned seven days of court transcripts into a play. The former European Champion gymnast Ellie Downie is No 4 on our Woman’s Hour Power List. In 2020 Ellie spoke out about systemic abuse in the world of gymnastics – contributing to a major independent review into the sport. She retired from gymnastics in January this year – in order to protect her own mental health. She joins to discuss what impact she thinks her honesty about her own experiences has had long term.Multi-award-winning Scottish smallpiper Brighde Chaimbeul is a BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner, and is performing at King's Place this weekend in a concert that showcases the Scottish smallpipes.Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Karen Dalziel

Ian Paterson, who became known as the butchering breast surgeon, is currently serving a 20-year jail term after being convicted of 17 counts of wounding with intent and 3 counts of unlawful wounding. Now the Sunday Times has revealed that 27 inquests have been opened as a result of investigating the deaths of 650 of his patients. Nuala speaks to campaigner Debbie Douglas, who was one of Mr Paterson’s patients, and the Sunday Times Health Editor Shaun Lintern.Is 'therapy speak' making us selfish? The prescriptive language of the therapist’s couch has slowly seeped into everyday life, particularly online where words like ‘boundaries’, ‘self-care’ and ‘narcissist’ are increasingly common. But when it comes to friendships, is the idea of self-care making us give up on them too easily? Sociologist and writer Amy Charlotte Kean talks to Nuala about how our relationships are being affected.In the next in the Woman’s Hour Girl’s World series, Ena Miller has been talking to three girls in Glasgow, Saskia, Francesca and Olivia all of whom are 13 and 14 years of age. We often talk about girls and their lives on Woman’s Hour but we rarely talk to them, so Ena asks them - do they feel listened to? Award-winning playwright and actor Lolita Chakrabarti joins Nuala in the Woman's Hour studio to talk about the new play 'Hamnet'. Maggie O’Farrell’s best-selling novel of the same name tells the story of the death of Shakespeare’s 11 year old son as she would have us believe it happened. Having sold more than 1.5m copies the story has now moved from paper to stage at the RSC in Stratford Upon Avon thanks to an adaptation by Lolita. She'll tell us why she was so drawn to telling the story of the people around Shakespeare.A new BBC Africa Eye documentary, Uganda’s Stolen Innocence, investigates the increasing levels of sexual violence and incest in Uganda, particularly in the North. Documentary producer Nicola Milne and Ugandan lawyer Eunice Lakaraber Latim join Nuala to talk about the lack of faith in the justice system and how the legacy of the insurgency led by Joseph Kony fuelled this issue further.

The writer Hadley Freeman stopped eating when she was 14, and spent the next three years in and out of hospital, battling with anorexia. Now in her mid-forties, she says she didn’t completely close the door on the disease until relatively recently. In Good Girls – A Story and Study of Anorexia, she gives an unflinching account of what happened to her and looks at what happens to girls who become anorexic now; what we know and what we don’t about the mental illness.Brian Friel’s classic play Dancing at Lughnasa has opened at the National Theatre. Telling the story of the five Mundy sisters, two of the actors, more recently on our screens in Derry Girls - Siobhan McSweeney and Louisa Harland - discuss their new roles.Emma Booth is on the Woman's Hour Power List, this year focussed on women in sport. Emma impressed the judges as she took a public stand against major golf brand TaylorMade and their lack of female imagery and golf products for women. She reflects on speaking out against such a well-known company and how it is to be a woman in golf.The conservative peer Baroness Sayeeda Warsi has criticised the home secretary Suella Braverman for using "racist rhetoric". She says her recent comments on small boats and grooming gangs have "emboldened racists". We ask her why she's decided to speak out. Have you ever heard an interview with a robot on the radio? We speak to the world’s first ultra-realistic artist robot, Ai-Da, and her creator, Aidan Meller.What’s it like to become a pop star at almost 46? Twenty years ago Alexis Strum had a record deal and achieved her dream to make an album, but then it was pulled. She walked away from music – until now. She shares her story with Nuala.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lucy Wai Editor: Louise Corley

The fashion designer Dame Mary Quant, best known for popularising the mini skirt which helped define the swinging sixties has died at the age of 93. The Telegraph's fashion writer Melissa Twigg who knew Mary and the fashion Amber Butchart discussed her impact and legacy.Sumayya Vally has been described as one of the most exciting, innovative and fresh voices in architecture, she's featured on the TimesNext100 list, and was the youngest ever architect to design the iconic Serpentine Pavilion in Hyde Park. Now she is the woman behind the innaugral Islamic Arts Biennal in Saudi Arabia, which aims to bridge past, present and future of Islamic culture through a unique multi-sensorial experience. Sumayya joins Anita to talk about how her upbringing as an Indian muslim in South Africa has shaped her view on the world and the structures she creates.A new report highlights concerns about infants with non-accidental injuries being missed by clinicians in busy A&E departments. The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch has examined serious case reports of infants being harmed and initially sent away without safeguarding teams being alerted. Their findings suggest factors such as lack of curiosity and lack of specific national guidance for Emergency Departments could be at play.Emma Booth is on the Woman's Hour Power List, this year focussed on women in sport. Emma impressed the judges as she took a public stand against major golf brand TaylorMade and their lack of female imagery and golf products for women. Emma joins Anita to discuss speaking out against such a well-known company and how it is to be a woman in golf. As we head into peak hen do season, Anita will be discussing the rise of the "healthy hen do" with Hannah Dean who set up her own hen party company as a direct result of her divorce, and writer Ellie Steafal who went on six hen parties last year alone.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

The conservative peer Baroness Sayeeda Warsi has criticised the home secretary Suella Braverman for using  "racist rhetoric".  She says her recent comments on small boats and grooming gangs have "emboldened racists".  Baroness Warsi held a number of ministerial roles in the coalition government before resigning in 2014. Anita asks her why she's decided to speak out now.If you’ve had breast cancer – what do you know about the signs the disease may have progressed? The charity Met UP UK says the information given to the 55,900 people diagnosed every year is very patchy. Every day, 31 women in the UK die from secondary breast cancer, which is incurable. In Greater Manchester every patient is provided with an infographic in their end of treatment plan, about signs to look out for. NHS England says it has adopted this in its guidelines but can’t mandate every health trust uses it. We speak to Jo Taylor from METUP UK and oncologist Carlo Palmieri from Clatterbridge Health Centre about why this is important.In November 2005 police constable Sharon Beshenivsky she was shot and killed as she responded to an alarm at a travel agent in Bradford. She was with a colleague PC Teresa Millburn who was also shot but survived.  Today, a 74-year old man is due to appear in court charged with Sharon's murder after being extradited from Pakistan. Anita speaks to Julie Langford, a journalist at BBC Radio Leeds who was at the scene the day after it happened.For the first time ever the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons has begun collating data on the number of women undergoing labiaplasty where women want to reduce the size of the labia. It’s in response to the increased demand for the procedure which some fear could be driven by either body dysphoria or the prevalence of pornography. Anita Rani talks to cosmetic surgeon Dr Paraskevi Dimitriadi and psychologist Elizabeth Ritchie about the trend."Cluttercore" and "Clustercore" are the latest interior design trends popping up on social media. Minimalism is out, and rooms bursting at the seams with clashing colours and loads of knick-knacks are in. But it’s more than just having lots of items everywhere. You have to arrange the items in curated vignettes. So, how is it done? When does it become clutter? And, what's the history behind our desire to organise and curate? Anita is joined by Claire Bingham author of The New Naturalists: Inside the Homes of Creative Collectors, and Dr Vanessa Brown, senior lecturer at the Nottingham School of Art & Design at Nottingham Trent University.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Bob Nettles

Brian Friel’s classic play Dancing at Lughnasa has opened at the National Theatre in London. Telling the story of the five Mundy sisters, two of the actors, more recently on our screens in Derry Girls – newly-Bafta nominated Siobhan McSweeney (AKA Sister Michael) and Louisa Harland (AKA Orla McCool) - join Nuala McGovern in the Woman’s Hour studio. UN experts have warned the UK government that its treatment of unaccompanied asylum seeker children is increasing the risk that they could be trafficked and is breaching international law. A statement issued yesterday expressed concern about the fate of children who had gone missing and has urged that the government does more to protect them. Siobhán Mullally is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking.Laura Trevelyan and 6 members of her family earlier this year travelled to Grenada to issue a public apology to the people of the Caribbean Island for her family’s links to the slave trade. The Trevelyan family is donating more than £100,000 in reparations. Now Laura is campaigning full time on the Caribbean’s fight for reparatory justice. And later this month she is launching a new group composed of families in Britain, with similar backgrounds, ancestors who were slave owners. Yesterday a 19-year-old who stabbed another teenager to death in a quiet Somerset town was found guilty of murder. Joshua Delbono stabbed 16-year-old Charley Bates in Radstock, Somerset, on 31 July last year. It was Delbono's mother Donna who called the police and told them her son had killed Charley. This is a very serious crime which perhaps made it a clear cut decision for Donna Delbono to call the police but what about when it comes to other issues, if you knew your teenage child was taking or dealing drugs, stealing, or maybe drink driving - Would you ever call the police on your child? If, so at what point would you do it? Former detective superintendent Shabnam Chauhdri and former Conservative MP, parent and now criminal barrister Anna Soubry discuss.You may well have heard of Emmeline Pankhurst who was a leading figure in the suffragette movement, which called for the right for women to vote….But what about Kitty Marshall - one of Emmeline Pankhurst’s bodyguards? Emelyne Godfrey’s new book Mrs Pankhurst’s Bodyguard shines a light on Kitty Marshall and how she helped Mrs Pankhurst to evade the clutches of the authorities as a member of the Women’s Social and Political Union’s elite team ‘the Bodyguard’.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

The writer Hadley Freeman stopped eating when she was 14, and spent the next three years in and out of hospital, battling with anorexia. Now in her mid-forties, she says she didn’t completely close the door on the disease until relatively recently. In Good Girls – A Story and Study of Anorexia, she gives an unflinching account of what happened to her and looks at what happens to girls who become anorexic now; what we know and what we don’t about the mental illness. Did you know there are 36 new romantic comedy films coming out this year? From big blockbusters like Your Place or Mine featuring Reece Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher to smaller budget hits like Rye Lane. So, are we having a rom com revival? We speak to film director Elizabeth Sankey, whose film Romantic Comedy looked at the history of the genre, and TV and film critic Rhianna Dhillon.The Iranian police force have said that they plan to use smart technology in public places to identify and then penalise women who violate the country’s strict Islamic dress code. This comes a week after a video on social media showed a man throwing yoghurt over two women for not wearing a hijab. Nuala is joined by Faranak Amidi, the BBC’s Near East Women's Affairs correspondent to discuss. Alexis Strum is an actress and sketch comedian. Twenty years ago she had a record deal and achieved her dream to make an album, but then it was pulled. She walked away from music – until now. A few weeks ago someone asked her to put her music up on Spotify and now she has finally launched her album including the song - Bad Haircut – which was inspired by a breakup, and has had 1 million views on TikTok. She joins Nuala to discuss becoming a pop star at nearly 46.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

How is the rapid progress in AI technology going to impact women? The Financial Times’ Artificial Intelligence Editor Madhumita Murgia joins Nuala McGovern to talk us through the issues of gender bias, legal grey areas and possible dangers for women as AI becomes more and more central to our lives.Have you ever heard an interview with a robot on the radio? Nuala speaks to the world’s first ultra-realistic artist robot, Ai-Da. Ai-Da will tell us about her latest art project, as well as what she feels about people’s fears around artificial intelligence. Her creator, Aidan Meller, will also join the conversation to tell us why Ai-Da is so ground-breaking.Where does the UK stand when it comes to AI progression? The government have recently released their ‘White Paper’, setting out investment aims for the technology industry. Verity Harding, visiting fellow at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, to talk us through what’s in the plan for the future. Plus, hear how such investments can truly change the way we live, as Sarah Kerruish, Chief Operating Officer at Kheiron Med, tells us about MIA, the new artificial intelligence that helps radiologists identify 13% more breast cancers.Does Artificial Intelligence really pose a threat to our jobs? And how will it impact women in the workplace? Professor Gina Neff, Executive Director of the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy at Cambridge University, talk about the risk for women and what needs to be done to level the playing field when it comes to AI in the workplace.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lottie Garton

The climate justice activist Mikaela Loach, who took the UK government to court for giving tax breaks to fossil fuels companies, discusses her new book It's Not That Radical: Climate Activism To Transform Our World. Who is 'Stevenage Woman'? The Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer is being urged to focus on this female swing voter group in a new report by left-leaning think tank Labour Together. But how useful are these profiles and why are they used? With Rosie Campbell, professor of politics and Patrick English, associate director at YouGov.The lawyer turned DJ Kavita Varu, who won the Inspiring Indian Women 'She inspires Rising Star' award. It's 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement was signed - Aoife Smith, the programme manager for Community Dialogue, an organisation which aims to build trust amongst people who hold opposing political, social and religious views and Hilary Copeland who is the Director of Fighting Words NI, an arts and education charity for children and young people discuss their work to ensure that peace continues in Northern Ireland.Are you afraid of the big, bad wolf? Where does this fear come from? Author Erica Berry was determined to find out after researching wild wolves in her home state of Oregon. In her book Wolfish she searches through folklore and literature to see how wolves have become the symbol of predatory men and how that has shaped our fear.The popular 1980s trend of ‘getting your colours done’ is back. The hashtag #colouranalysis has had over 800 million views on TikTok. The journalist Kat Brown who is a big believer in the power of colour, and Nisha Hunjan, founder of Style ME UK, who uses colour analysis discuss. Presenter: Jessica Creighton Producer: Dianne McGregor

Unbeaten for 30 games, last night the Lionesses won Finalissima. Jess Creighton discusses with Tom Garry, who talks about the game last night, the Lionesses road to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and Wales beating Northern Ireland in Cardiff last night.Today marks 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement was signed - bringing peace to Northern Ireland after 30 years of conflict. To mark this Jess Creighton is joined by two women working to continue that peace. Aoife Smith is the programme manager for Community Dialogue, an organisation which aims to build trust amongst people who hold opposing political, social and religious views and Hilary Copeland who is the Director of Fighting Words NI, an arts and education charity for children and young people. Tanya Sarne was the woman behind the fashion brand Ghost. Launched in 1984, it became one of the biggest independent fashion brands in the 90s, famous for its outrageous parties and incredibly wearable but beautiful clothes. An only child to refugee parents, Tanya fell into fashion as an unemployed single mother of two, desperately trying to make a living. She's now written about her extraordinary life in a memoir, Free Spirit.The civil rights group Black Equity Organisation is launching legal action following the Home Secretary's decision to drop three recommendations from the independent Windrush inquiry. The recommendations in question are the establishment of a Migrants’ Commissioner, an increase in the powers of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration and the running of reconciliation events. We discuss the reasons behind the judicial review with the CEO of the Black Equity Organisation, Dr Wanda Wyporska.Angie Thomas is the global bestselling author of the novel The Hate U Give which was published in 2017, it became a best-seller and a film. Now, she has turned her hand to writing for younger readers with her new book Nic Blake And The Remarkables. Angie joins Jess Creighton to discuss.Presented by Jess Creighton Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Beverley Purcell

Kavita Varu is a lawyer from Sheffield and a single mother of two who hit rock bottom just as we went into lockdown three years ago. She decided to learn how to DJ, bought some decks and taught herself. She started doing live sessions on social media, has since played in Ibiza and Amsterdam and recently won the Inspiring Indian Women She Inspires Rising Star award.Scientists believe that they have found a new way to administer a drug to prevent post-natal haemorrhage, which is thought to cost the lives of seventy thousand women a year globally. This makes it one of leading causes of maternal deaths worldwide. Tranexamic acid, which is used to control bleeding after giving birth, is usually given intravenously. But after conducting trials in Pakistan and Zambia, researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that it worked well if injected into the body via a muscle.Academic and former international footballer Professor Laura McAllister has made history as the first Welsh woman to be elected to UEFA's executive committee. With a background in sports governance, Laura McAllister says she's on a mission to use her seat at the table to modernise the game and reflect the growth of the sport.Iconic red-carpet looks from Lizzo and Phoebe Waller-Bridge go on display alongside the historic frocks that inspired them this spring. Crown to Couture at Kensington Palace gives audiences the exclusive chance to see Lizzo's spectacular 2022 Met Gala dress and Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Monique Lhuillier gown from the 2019 Emmys alongside original Georgian couture like the Silver Tissue Gown worn at the court of Charles II. We hear from Polly Putnam the curator of the exhibition. Romantic Comedy is the new novel from bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld. Sally, a successful comedy writer in her own right meets Noah a global celebrity and she is thrown into turmoil. Can a 'normal' person date a superstar? It seems to work for her male colleagues who regularly step out with accomplished, beautiful women, so why is Sally so plagued with insecurities? Curtis Sittenfeld joins Anita. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey

She is best known for her role as the Poplar-based midwife Trixie Franklin, in Call the Midwife. Helen George has also been a star of Strictly Come Dancing, sung with Elton John and at Buckingham Palace to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day. She now brings all her theatrical skills together by stepping into Deborah Kerr's shoes to play the part of Anna in a UK tour of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I.Is ‘Stevenage Woman’ the new ‘Mondeo Man’? The Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer is being urged to focus on this female swing voter group in a new report by left-leaning think tank Labour Together. But how useful are these profiles and why are they used? And from ‘Workington Man’ to ‘Essex Man’, why are they typically male? We discuss with Rosie Campbell, Professor of politics and Patrick English, Associate Director at Yougov.A House for Alice is the new novel by Diana Evans, a sequel to the much acclaimed Ordinary People. It is a multigenerational portrait of a black British family, and explores the impact of matriarch Alice’s decision to return to the country of her birth, Nigeria, to live out her later years. Diana joins Nuala in the studio to discuss the inspiration behind the novel. Did you ever flick through Carole Jackson’s hit book ‘Colour Me Beautiful’ to “find your season”? The popular 1980s trend of ‘getting your colours done’ is back. The hashtag #colouranalysis has 766million views on TikTok and you can even find a filter to work out your colours for yourself. So, as we are once again asking ‘what season am I?” We talk to Journalist Kat Brown who is a big believer in the power of colour, and Nisha Hunjan, founder of Style ME UK, who uses colour analysis.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

On the Woman’s Hour Power List this year, sports reporter Fiona Tomas joins Nuala to discuss the change in kits for the England Women’s football team and her work as a journalist. Climate justice activist Mikaela Loach took the UK government to court for giving tax breaks to fossil fuel companies. Her urgent new book ‘It’s Not That Radical: Climate Action to Transform Our World’ makes the case for tackling the climate crisis in tandem with other inequalities, offering a more hopeful future through practical action. Women affected by the state pension age changes have scored what's been hailed as a major victory in their legal challenge for more compensation. The Government watchdog conceded that part of the investigation into how increases to the state pension age were communicated was flawed and must be reconsidered. The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign represents the 3.6 million women who, in lots of cases, only got 12 months' notice of a six year increase to their State Pension age. Angela Madden, the chair of WASPI joins Nuala. In the next in our series about narcissistic mothers we hear the story of a woman we are calling 'Scarlett'. She cut off all contact with the mother she believes is a narcissist and has no regrets. Alison Kinnaird was rejected by Edinburgh Art School when she applied as a teenager. Now she’s one of the world’s leading glass artists – and says that rejection was the best thing that ever happened to her. She joins Nuala to explain why and to talk about some of the remarkable things she’s created.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

Nuala McGovern talks to Costanza Hermanin from the European University Institute in Florence and Sarah De Lange from the University of Amsterdam about the success of this new breed of female leader.In Afghanistan, the new school year has started. But for the second year running, a Taliban ban is keeping teenage girls out of school. The BBC World Service has launched a brand-new education series for children in the country aged 11-16 who are deprived from school, including girls whose secondary education has been stopped by the ruling Taliban. It's called Dars, which means 'lesson' in Dari and Pashto, the two national languages in Afghanistan. It is the first multi-platform educational programme for Afghan youth. We hear from one of the presenters of the programme Shazia Haya and one of its producers, Mariam Amam.Are you afraid of the big, bad wolf? Where does this fear come from? Author Erica Berry was determined to find out after researching wild wolves in her home state of Oregon. In her book ‘Wolfish’ she searches through folklore and literature to see how wolves have become the symbol of predatory men and how that has shaped our fear. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Bob Nettles

The Conservative MP Miriam Cates said in the House of Commons that children were being exposed to “graphic” and "age inappropriate" material during their sex education classes. The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has decided to bring forward a review of the Department for Education’s Relationships and Sex Education guidance in England. Two parents, Fiona, a listener and parent of four and Clare Page who was concerned about what her daughter was being taught discuss. Sian Richardson from Pembrokeshire in Wales is Number 12 on our Woman’s Hour Power List 2023. Sian started The Blue-tit Chill Swimmers nearly 10 years ago, a cold water swimming community which now boasts an incredible 100,000 members world-wide. She explains why she’s encouraging people to get in the water and enjoy the outdoors.Leah Williamson, who took the Lionesses to victory at the Euros in 2022, tops the Woman's Hour Power List 2023. She explains what role her mum plays in her success and talks about male allies in women’s football.Money and Love: An Intelligent Roadmap for Life’s Big Decisions, is written by Stanford professor emeritus Myra Strober, who is an early feminist economist and Abby Davisson, one of Myra's former pupils who is now a social innovation expert. They give detailed advice about navigating the crossroads of finances within a relationship at different life stages.Pessimism is for Lightweights is a new collection of poems by the celebrated performance poet Salena Godden. Salena discusses the collection, how poetry can confront misogyny and injustice, and why she personified death as a woman in her debut novel Mrs Death Misses Death.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Paula McFarlane Editor: Lucinda Montefiore

Taiwan's first female president, Tsai Ing-Weng, arrived in New York yesterday to criticism from China. She is stopping over in the US on her way to Central America, but may meet with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on her return. China says that if it goes ahead, it could lead to a 'serious confrontation'. To find out more about Tsai Ing-Wen and the significance of this trip, Anita speaks to Tessa Wong, the BBC's Asia digital reporter who regularly reports on China.Pessimism is for Lightweights is a new collection of poems by the celebrated performance poet Salena Godden. It consists of 30 poems written to celebrate courage and resistance, including poems responding to the Women's march, period poverty and everyday sexism. Salena joins Anita to discuss the collection, how poetry can confront misogyny and injustice, and why she personified death as a woman in her debut novel Mrs Death Misses Death.Tracey Stevenson describes her experience of using a gambling site. In 2017 she was sent to prison after stealing £1.7 million from the company she worked for, in order to help fund her online gambling addiction. She also works for the St. Giles Trust helping women in the criminal justice system.We have recently heard from two sisters - we are calling them Charlotte and Louise. One had a revelation in therapy that their mother was a narcissist and the realisation has changed her life. The other is more cautious - she knows their mum could be 'volatile' but she has empathy for her.Ena Miller talk to the two sisters together. What impact has all of this had on their relationship? Can they move forward?Kelsie Grieg, or Kels as she's known in the gaming world, made history recently when she became the first woman to qualify for the Call of Duty Challengers Elite tournament. She explains how swapped the football pitch for video games after an injury forced her to give up a promising career on the pitch. Presented by Anita Rani Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Beverley Purcell

New figures show that there is still a huge backlog of criminal cases waiting to get to court. And the worst delays are for rape and sexual offences. Reporter Melanie Abbott talks to a man who will wait 6 years after reporting he was raped in 2018, and the impact it has had on him and his mother who has been fighting to help him. We hear from Rape Crisis about their report Breaking Point, which shows a record high of sexual offence cases waiting to be heard, and outlines possible solutions for reducing them.Anita talks about women, money and love with the authors of a new self help book. Money and Love: An Intelligent Roadmap for Life’s Big Decisions, is written by two American women, Stanford professor emeritus Myra Strober, who is an early feminist economist and Abby Davisson, one of Myra's former pupils who is now a social innovation expert. They give detailed advice about navigating the crossroads of finances within a relationship at different life stages. Why does everyone want to go viral? And what happens when you do? Anita speaks to writer Julia Boggio who has managed to go viral three times in her life. One of which landed her on the Oprah Winfrey show. But, when Julia wanted to publish her debut novel, Shooters, she was told that she didn’t have enough followers on social media. So, she decided to take matters into her own hands and tried to get her book viral. And it worked. She tells Anita how she managed it.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Hanna Ward Studio Manager: Bob Nettles

She talks to Nuala McGovern about how she’s learned to cope with the condition in the elite sports world as well as the work she’s been doing to support other neurodivergent athletes to fulfil their potential.There’s a new book out, The Equal Parent: how sharing the load helps the family thrive. Paul Morgan-Bentley, head of investigations at The Times, explores why it’s still so rare in this country for parents to spread or split the responsibility of parenthood, particularly early parenthood, and why it’s still expected that women should shoulder this pretty much alone. With him to discuss this and to explore ways the parental load could or should be spread more equally is writer and journalist Nell Frizzell who also has a book out: Holding the Baby: Milk, sweat and tears from the frontline of motherhood.Lexi is an NHS nurse and mum of four, who succeeded in challenging ‘no kids’ barriers in the private rental market on the grounds that such bans disproportionately affect women. Going forward, the Property Ombudsman has determined that blanket bans on renting to families are in breach of its Code of Practice. This news comes as the charity Shelter publishes data which shows 1 in 5 parents in England have been unable to rent somewhere they wanted in the last five years because they have children. Lexi tells her story and we hear from the solicitor Jo Underwood.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Sue Maillot

The Woman's Hour Power List 2023 reveal show is here! This is your chance to hear from the women on our list, showcasing the 30 most remarkable women in sport in the UK right now. Join Nuala McGovern, our judges Jessica Creighton, Ebony Rainford Brent and a studio audience live from the Radio Theatre.Producers: Emma Pearce and Alex Webb Presenter: Nuala McGovern

Earlier this month, the Conservative MP Miriam Cates said in the House of Commons that children were being exposed to 'graphic' and 'age inappropriate' material during their sex education classes. The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has decided to bring forward a planned review of the Department for Education’s Relationships and Sex Education guidance in England. To shed light on what is being taught in schools, and what this review may cover, Nuala McGovern speaks to a range of stakeholders, including headteacher and President of the Association of School and College leaders Evelyn Forde, director of the Sex Education Forum Lucy Emmerson, academic Dr Sophie King-Hill, and Tanya Carter from the Safe Schools Alliance. We also hear from parents and listeners including young people themselves.

Baroness Louise Casey has published the final report on her review into the Metropolitan Police. A female metropolitan police officer and Deputy Commissioner of the Met, Dame Lynne Owens, discuss the findings.Known for shows like Love Island and The Only Way is Essex, social media influencer Georgia Harrison talks about her new TV documentary. It follows her successful legal battle against her former partner who filmed and shared a sex video of the two of them without her consent on the OnlyFans website.Suzi Ruffell is on a mission to find the lighter moments in life as she navigates motherhood, touring the country and anxiety. The comedian's latest show Snappy is a series of confessional stories about settling down, living life with her "bossy toddler" and worrying about absolutely everything. Mabel Constanduros was a trailblazing female broadcaster and comedian on BBC Radio in the early days of the corporation. She created the sitcom as a genre and brought soap operas to the UK. So why has history forgotten her? Mabel’s great-great nephew Jack Shillito and the academic Jennifer Purcell discuss.Presenter Anita Rani Producer: Paula McFarlane Editor: Beverley Purcell

It’s fifty years since six newly elected female traders entered the floor of the London Stock Exchange for the first time after 200 years of exclusion. The number of women working in finance reached a peak in 1997 at almost six-hundred-thousand, but has dropped by more than thirty percent to around four-hundred-thousand last year. Half a century after the first women were allowed onto the floor at the London Stock Exchange, the ‘inequity’ that has held women back in the industry has still not been fully redressed. We talk to Julia Hoggett, CEO of the London Stock Exchange and Beryl Gayler, one of the first female dealers there.Soaps and dramas are increasingly making mainstream issues an integral part of their storylines. Take the current Eastenders storyline following Lola Pearce’s terminal brain tumour diagnosis or Jean Slater’s battle with ovarian cancer in 2019. But what about a drama series that explores a cancer diagnosis through conversations on a social media app? The charity Breast Cancer Now has created the UK’s first group messaging series which consists of voice notes, messages and videos sent between four close friends as they navigate an unexpected breast cancer diagnosis together. Anita is joined by two of the women who inspired the story, Kelly Short and Lurline Thomas, as well as the Associate Director of Nursing and Health Information at Breast Cancer Now, Sally Kum, to discuss whether this could be Wea new way of supporting women with cancer. Suzi Ruffell is on a mission to find the lighter moments in life as she navigates motherhood, touring the country and anxiety. The comedian's latest show Snappy is a series of confessional stories about settling down, living life with her "bossy toddler" and worrying about absolutely everything. Suzi Ruffell joins Anita Rani. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Duncan Hannant

Taking any type of hormonal contraception could increase your risk of getting breast cancer, according to a new study by the Cancer Epidemiology Unit at Oxford Population Health, which is part of the University of Oxford. It’s one of the first big studies into this type of birth control assessing the risk of breast cancer. But headlines like this will be alarming, so, what do we need to know and do? Dr Charlotte Porter, Vice President of Speciality at the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Karis Betts, Senior Health Information Manager at Cancer Research UK talk to Anita.More than 140,000 schoolchildren in England were officially "severely absent" in the summer term of 2022, according to official Department of Education figures, and the number of these pupils, missing at least 50% of classes, is growing. So what can be done about it, and how can the individual contributions of headteachers and teachers make a difference? Anita is joined by Caroline Walker a headteacher in Barrow and Alice Wilcock, Head of Education for The Centre for Social Justice.What are the traits of a narcissistic mother? In the second of a Woman's Hour series, 'Narcissistic Mothers,' reporter Ena Miller meets 'Louise' and talks to her about her late mother. Louise's sister 'Charlotte' thinks their mother was a narcissist, but 'Louise' isn't so sure.Mabel Constanduros was a trailblazing female broadcaster and comedian on BBC Radio in the early days of the corporation. She created the sitcom as a genre and brought soap operas to the UK. So why has history forgotten her? Anita Rani speaks to Mabel’s great-great nephew Jack Shillito and the academic Jennifer Purcell.Presenter: Anita Rani Studio manager: Duncan Hannant

On a special phone in edition of Woman's Hour we look at trust in the police following the review by Baroness Casey into a toxic culture at the Met Police. She found the 'the force has lost the trust and confidence of the people it is supposed to keep safe' and gave shocking examples of sexism, racism and homophobia. The report was commissioned in the aftermath of the rape and murder of Sarah Everard by PC Wayne Couzens, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Since then, we’ve also had the sentencing of former police officer David Carrick, who pleaded guilty to 85 serious offences, including rapes, sexual assaults, false imprisonment, and coercive and controlling behaviour. He is now serving time in jail, for a minimum of 32 years. We want to hear your views - do you trust the police? Would you think twice about asking for help as a woman of colour or if you'd been sexually assaulted? Call Nuala McGovern to have your say on 03700 100 444. Lines open at 0830 Wednesday.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Mangaer: Gayl Gordon

Baroness Louise Casey has today published the final report on her review into the Metropolitan Police. Joining Nuala McGovern to discuss the findings are a female metropolitan police officer, Deputy Commissioner of the Met Police Dame Lynne Owens and London Victim's Commissioner, Claire Waxman, who works alongside the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure that victim's voices are heard and discriminatory barriers are tackled.The music journalist Emma Warren has written Dance Your Way Home - part-cultural history, part-memoir – which looks at the ordinary dancing we might do in our kitchens when a favourite tune comes on and speaks to the heart of what it is that makes us move. She joins Nuala to discuss why dance is a language that connects and resonates across time and space.In the first of a new series 'Narcissistic Mothers' Ena Miller meets 'Charlotte' who had a revelation in therapy - she now believes her late mother was a narcissist. How did that shape her life? Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

Known for shows like Love Island and The Only Way is Essex, social media influencer Georgia Harrison talks to Nuala McGovern about her new TV documentary. It follows her successful legal battle against her former partner who filmed and shared a sex video of the two of them without her consent on the OnlyFans websiteA couple’s creative bus stop marriage proposal has captured the hearts of social media users, after Nuala spotted and shared it last week. We hear from Alice Ehrlich who tweeted her to say “this bus stop is where it’s at”  after she got on a bus from that same stop and sat next to a man she'd go on to marry... At the heart of the debate on whether transgender women athletes should compete in women's sport involves the complex balance of inclusion, sporting fairness and safety. It's likely to be firmly under the spotlight again in the coming weeks as World Athletics is expected to make a much anticipated decision on whether they will continue to allow transgender women to compete in female international track and field events. The BBC’s Alex Capstick will give us the latest and Nuala is joined by Dr Seema Patel from Nottingham Trent University and former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies to discuss. In 2007, when she was just 19 years old, Reyhaneh Jabbari was sentenced to death for the murder of the man who tried to rape her. She spent seven years on death row, dying at the age of 26. She is heralded as a symbol of resistance for women in Iran and now a new documentary tells her story. ‘Seven Winters in Tehran’ brings together secretly filmed footage, and testimonies from family and friends Nuala talks to the director of the film Steffi Niederzoll and Reyhaneh’s mother Shole Pakravan. Presenter Nuala McGovern Producer Beverley Purcell

Paris Hilton has been called ‘the first influencer’ and is known for being an ‘it-girl’. But behind the paparazzi pictures there’s a darker story. Now for the first time, Paris is telling her story in her own words in her new book Paris: The Memoir. She joins Anita Rani to talk about her life, why she wanted to write her story now, and being a new mother. A major report has been published looking into the experiences of survivors of FGM in accessing post-FGM healthcare in the UK. Nuala McGovern speaks to Dr Laura Jones, University of Birmingham, one of the lead authors on the report; Mama Sylla, a survivor of FGM who has been recognised by the government for her work in raising awareness of FGM and Juliet Albert, Specialist FGM Midwife at Imperial College.Multi-award winning singer-songwriter Annie Lennox has been using her voice for activism for the last 15 years. Now, she is fighting to get garment workers across the world a living wage. In a Woman’s Hour exclusive, Anita Rani speaks to her about her charity, The Circle, her belief in Global Feminism, and what it was like to meet Joni Mitchell. They are joined by Kalpona Akter, an ambassador for The Circle who worked in a garment factory when she was just 12 years old. Ward Thomas are an English modern country-pop duo, composed of twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy. They join Nuala McGovern to talk about their UK tour and brand new album, Music In The Madness, as well as the stigma around country music and how it’s changed.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lottie Garton

Anita and Annie are joined by Kalpona Akter, an ambassador for The Circle who worked in a garment factory when she was just 12 years old. The government’s first Menopause Employment Champion Helen Tomlinson joins the programme to discuss how she will advise employers on improving workplace support for women experiencing menopause symptoms. And we hear about a revival of Tennessee Williams’s 1947 drama of passion, delusion and mental illness – A Streetcar Named Desire. Following a run at the Almeida Theatre in January it has transferred to the West End and opens at the Phoenix Theatre in London on Monday. The play dramatizes the experiences of Blanche DuBois, a former Southern belle who, after encountering a series of personal losses, leaves her once-prosperous situation to move into a shabby apartment in New Orleans rented by her younger sister Stella and brother-in-law, Stanley. Patsy Ferran and Anjana Vasan, who play Blanche and Stella respectively, join Anita Rani to discuss their characters and the sisters’ relationship.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Tim Heffer

Paris Hilton, reality TV star, so-called 'inventor of the selfie,' and business woman, joins Anita to talk about her new book 'Paris: The Memoir.' The former socialite first appeared on-screen in the early noughties with her hit reality TV show, The Simple Life.  Now she’s opening up about her life in the spotlight.Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has unveiled the contents of the Spring Budget in the House of Commons. What has changed for women? Anita is joined by Sarah Pennells, Consumer Finance Specialist at Royal London and Claer Barrett, Consumer Editor at the FT to discuss the Chancellor’s plans to tackle the cost of living crisis, reform childcare, pensions and benefits. Some NHS maternity units in England have suspended the use of gas and air, also known as Entonox, in labour wards, after air quality tests showed unsafe levels of nitrous oxide on some maternity wards. Gas and air has been used for decades to help women in labour reduce their pain. But air quality tests have raised the risk of long-term effects for the midwives, nurses and doctors who are exposed to it for a long period of time in often-unventilated labour wards. Gaby Hinsliff, The Guardian columnist has been looking into this developing story.Nearly 30 years after she last donned her legendary jumpsuit, TV presenter Anneka Rice is back on TV screens with a new series of Challenge Anneka. The original programmes aired in the late 1980s and early 1990s and saw her working on more than sixty huge scale projects, including renovating an orphanage in Romania and building a suspension bridge in Cornwall. She joins Woman's Hour to explain how this work changed the image of women on TV, and to discuss some of her fresh, epic challenges.

Today’s budget announcement is expected to include an expansion of free childcare provision for working parents in England for one and two-year-olds. The plans will be outlined by the Chancellor in full later today. Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies Paul Johnson joins Nuala McGovern to talk through what the changes could mean for parents looking to get back to work. A major report has been published today, looking into the experiences of survivors of FGM in accessing post-FGM healthcare in the UK. Nuala speaks to Dr Laura Jones, University of Birmingham, one of the lead authors on the report; Mama Sylla, a survivor of FGM who has been recognised by the government for her work in raising awareness of FGM and Juliet Albert, Specialist FGM Midwife at Imperial College.Are children being exposed to inappropriate materials during sex education classes? Nuala discusses with BBC Education Correspondent, Elaine Dunkley.How were the origins of Empire and the British arrival in India in the 17 century shaped by the women in the Mughal Harem? The new book Courting India tells the story of the first English embassy to India, with a focus including the children and the women both in and outside of the Mughal Harem that played a significant role behind the scenes. Nuala speaks to it author, Nandini Das, Professor of Early Modern English Literature and Culture at Oxford University.,Ward Thomas are an English modern country-pop duo, composed of twin sisters Catherine and Lizz.y. They first visited Nashville at the age of 17. They will soon set off on a UK tour, and have a new album, Music In The Madness, which includes themes of Love, family, unity and the healing power of music. They join Nuala to talk about their music and to perform live the song Love Does.Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

Nicola Williams’ new novel Until Proven Innocent sees the return of Lee Mitchell, a young barrister from a working-class Caribbean background, who is strong-armed into defending a supposedly corrupt racist police officer charged with the death of a 15-year-old pastor's son. Nicola served for many years as a criminal barrister, one of the few black women in that job, and draws on her experience of the criminal justice system in her writing. She joins Nuala to discuss juggling being a part-time Crown Court judge with writing, and how she draws on her legal experience in her books.Complaints about police officers' treatment of women are highly unlikely to result in action, according to new police data for England and Wales. The National Police Chiefs' Council says nine in 10 complaints were dropped in the six months to March 2022. We hear from Maggie Blyth, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for violence against women and girls, and Nuala speaks to Sir Peter Fahy, former Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police.The House of Commons recently approved the introduction of exclusion zones around abortion clinics, and now some experts are recommending that the mandatory authorisation of abortions by two doctors should be dropped. To find out more, Nuala McGovern is joined by Fiona de Londras, Professor of Legal Studies at the University of Birmingham, and Professor Kaye Wellings, co-author of a new London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine abortion study.Last year, an NHS Digital survey found that 31 per cent of 17 to 24-year-old women had depression and anxiety. What can be done to help them? A new Policy Centre for the Wellbeing of Young Women and Girls is being set up at a Cambridge University college. Dorothy Byrne is the president of all-female Murray Edwards College and the former head of news at Channel 4 Television. She joins Nuala to explain how and why she created this centre.

As a new Channel 4 documentary is released, Nuala McGovern hears more about her life from director Charlie Russell.Who were the female winners at the Academy Awards last night? What were the surprises and omissions? Who gave the best acceptance speeches? We talk to the film critic Karen Krizanovich and speech writer Heidi Ellert-McDermott.Five women who say they were denied abortions despite risks to their lives are suing the State of Texas. In June last year the US supreme court overturned Roe v. Wade, the law that had made abortion a constitutional right for Americans for nearly half a century. Since the court’s ruling, a dozen states have made abortion illegal and many others have restricted it. We talk to the BBC’s reporter in Washington Holly Honderich about this issue and also hear the latest on the fallout over access to a widely use abortion pill which is becoming increasingly difficult to get. And women in Berlin will soon be allowed to swim topless in public pools after a ruling by the city’s authorities. Will it catch on elsewhere?Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Michael Milham.

What happens when a friendship breaks down? How can you repair it? Should you even try?In this special Sunday podcast, Nuala McGovern brings together all the interviews from Woman's Hour's 'Forever Friends?' series.Annie and Lizzie first met at school, and Lizzie said she believed they were ‘kindred spirits’. But soon after Annie’s first child was born, Lizzie decided to cut off contact. They reflect on this period of silence and how their relationship has changed since they have rekindled the friendship.Daniella and Nataliya – Nat and Dan - also met at school. An argument caused by gossip when they were both 17 led to the break-up of their friendship, but they reunited years later. They are now both in their thirties, living in London. They share their perspectives on how romantic relationships can impact close friendships. Nina is a Woman's Hour listener who contacted the programme after hearing the series. She wanted to share her experience of repairing a long-term friendship. Listener Christina was also inspired to reach out after hearing stories of friendship on Woman's Hour. Having ended contact with three close friends in four years, Christina wanted to ask if she was the reason her friendships kept falling apart. Presented by Nuala McGovern Compilation by Hatty Nash Features produced by Erin Riley

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani education activist and the world’s youngest Nobel Prize laureate. Since she was shot by a member of the Taliban at just 15, Malala has spent nearly a decade fighting for the educational rights of girls and women across the globe. Now she’s turning her attention to Hollywood, as Executive Producer of the short documentary film Stranger At The Gate. She shares why she’s made this move into the world of film.What happens if you and your partner disagree on whether or not to have children? If you have different opinions, do you walk away from an otherwise happy relationship? Relationship counsellor Val Sampson and Woman’s Hour listener Sarah discuss the healthiest ways to navigate the situation.As the selection of finalists for the Woman's Hour Power List 2023 gets well underway, we speak to one woman who’s been put forward for consideration. Yvette Curtis is the founder of Wave Wahines, a surf club for women and girls. She talks about the power of grassroots sport and the importance of diversity in surfing.One month after a powerful earthquake devastated parts of Turkey and Syria, hundreds of thousands of people still need adequate shelter and sanitation. But why are women and girls disproportionately feeling the aftershocks of the disaster? Novelist and political scientist Elif Shafak shares updates on the situation.Willie Mae Thornton, better known as Big Mama Thornton, wrote the hits ‘Ball N’ Chain’ and ‘Hound Dog’ which won Elvis Presley great acclaim. But why is her contribution to rock and roll rarely recognised? The poet, writer and performer Pamela Sneed discusses the life and legacy of Big Mama Thornton.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Hatty Nash

Singer-songwriter Mae Muller has been announced as this year’s British entry for Eurovision, she joins Krupa to discuss how excited she is to represent the UK.Watch out Notting Hill, there is a new romantic comedy in town… and this time it’s set in Peckham. It’s called Rye Lane, and it stars David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah as Dom and Yas, two twenty-somethings who are both reeling from bad break-ups. It is the directorial debut of Raine Allen-Miller. She joins Krupa to discuss her journey into directing, her love of South London and how to make an unapologetically happy film.What would you do if someone accused you of bullying them online and it wasn’t true? Well that is what happened to online business consultant and anti-bullying campaigner Lisa Johnson and she has recently won her High Court fight and has been awarded £25,000 in damages. Lisa speaks to Krupa Padhy to tell her story, alongside Lia Perin, a solicitor at Taylor Hampton, a firm specialising in privacy and defamation law.Krupa is joined by Yvette Curtis, founder of Wave Wahines, to discuss her all female surf club.Activist Leila Hassan Howe began her fight for racial justice in the early 70s inspired by the Black Panthers in America. She was a founding member of the Race Today Collective, worked for the Institute of Race Relations and became editor of the Race Today journal in 1986. She joins Krupa to talk about her journey as an advocate for the black community and the launch of Race Today’s on-line archive, which makes accessible a crucial resource for exploring the recent history of Black and Asian protest in Britain.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Emma Pearce

Emily Watson is starring in a new film ‘God’s Creatures,’ set in a remote Irish fishing village. She plays a mother torn between protecting her son and her own sense of right and wrong. When she provides an alibi for him, the lie rips apart their family and local community. Emily joins Woman’s Hour to talk about her character, women in the oyster farming industry and her career up to now. Krupa Padhy talks to academic Kathleen Stock about The Lesbian Project, a new organisation she is launching today alongside journalist Julie Bindel and the tennis star Martina Navratilova to combat “lesbian erasure” in the UK today. They say they’ve been subsumed into what they describe as “the expanding LGBTQ+ rainbow” which means they’ve lost their autonomous identity with distinct interests and needs. Willie Mae Thornton, better known as Big Mama Thornton, wrote the song ‘Ball and Chain’ which won Elvis Presley great acclaim. She is one of the architects of rock n roll that has been wiped from the performance canon. The poet, writer and performer Pamela Sneed joins Krupa to discuss the life and legacy of Big Mama Thornton.One month after a powerful earthquake devastated parts of Turkey and Syria, officials put the number of deaths in Turkey alone at almost 50 thousand, and in Syria, more than 6,000 people are known to have lost their lives. Hundreds of thousands of people still need adequate shelter and sanitation but it’s women and girls in Turkey who are disproportionately feeling the aftershocks, and stories of abuse are beginning to emerge. Krupa talks to Elif Shafak, a novelist and political scientist about the situation.The cost of childcare in England, Scotland and Wales has risen over the last year by 5.6%. On top of that, less than one in five local authorities in England have enough childcare provision for disabled children. Megan Jarvie, Head of Coram Family and Childcare talks to Krupa about Coram's Family and Childcare report out today, which is calling on the government to review and reform their childcare spending. Presenter: Krupa Padhy Studio Manager: Michael Millham

On International Women’s Day we talk to the foreign secretary, James Cleverly MP, as he travels to Sierra Leone to launch the UK’s new international women and girls strategy.Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton is one the most senior fire fighters in the UK. The current Chief Fire Officer of West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has in her 22 year career covered major incidents such as the London Bridge terror attack, the Finsbury Park terror attack and the aftermath of Grenfell. Last month on Woman’s Hour we discussed the fire service after recent reports hit the headlines of allegations of bullying and sexual harassment of female fire fighters at different services. Last year, an independent review found the London Fire Brigade to be institutionally racist and misogynistic. Just seven percent of fire fighters are women and there are even less in high leadership roles. Sabrina joins Nuala to talk about her new book The Gender Bias The Barriers That Hold Women Back, And How to Break Them, which unpicks why women are judged differently, and how we can tackle those biases, and also tells us whether she thinks the fire service has a problem with women. Sunday marked the end of the European Indoor Championships in Istanbul, a golden weekend for Team GB women. Keely Hodgkinson retained her 800m title before team captain Jazmin Sawyers won a long jump Gold, earning her a first major title of her senior career with a world-leading jump of seven metres. Jazmin now holds the British Indoor record and joins Nuala.What is it like to be a poet, a woman and a performer of poetry at this particular moment in time? Kim Moore aims to answer this question in her new book Are You Judging Me Yet? Poetry and Everyday Sexism. The book contains poems from her collection All the Men I Never Married, for which she won the Forward prize last year. She explains to Nuala McGovern why poetry is the perfect medium for exploring sexism.

On last night’s Panorama, Twitter insiders told the BBC that the company is no longer able to protect users from trolls, following lay-offs and changes under the owner Elon Musk. Lisa Jennings Young is the former head of Content Design at Twitter, and worked on safety features aiming to protect users from online hate, including misogyny. In October 2022, Lisa's entire team was laid off, and she herself chose to leave in late November. To find out more about her time at Twitter, and how proactive design can protect women and girls on social media, Nuala speaks to Lisa from her home in San Francisco.Heidi Thomas is best known as the writer and creator of Call The Midwife. Her newest project is a film adaptation of the Alan Bennett play Allelujah. Set in a much-loved geriatric hospital in Yorkshire – The Beth - that’s been earmarked for closure, it stars Jennifer Saunders as the formidable sister in charge. Heidi joins Nuala in the Woman’s Hour studio to talk about what it’s been like to go from writing about the start of life to the end.Feminism isn’t as modern as we might think, and the patriarchy is more fragile than it appears. That’s the basis of a new book by science journalist Angela Saini. In The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule, Angela uncovers stories of female-led societies, and tells Nuala the lessons they might teach us.Young women are using codewords to describe their experiences of sex, and in some cases assault, on social media platform TikTok. The hashtag ‘Mascara’ has racked up more than 100 million views over the past month or so, and is the latest code that’s developed to avoid TikTok’s censorship filters. Sophie Smith Galer joins Nuala to discuss this latest trend.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani education activist and the world’s youngest Nobel Prize laureate. Malala was just 15 when, on the way home from school, a member of the Taliban boarded her bus, asked for her by name, and shot her in the head. In the decade since, Malala has continued to fight for the educational rights of girls and women across the globe through her charity, the Malala Fund. Now she’s turned her attention to Hollywood, most recently as Executive Producer of the short documentary film Stranger At The Gate – which has been nominated for the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film.The line-ups for this summer’s festivals are being announced – and there’s a noticeable absence of headlining women. Glastonbury has three men headlining, as does Latitude Festival. Why is there such an imbalance when it comes to female artists and big gigs? What needs to be done to change it? CEO and owner of Green Man Festival Fiona Stewart joins Nuala alongside creator of the F-list directory of female musicians, Vick Bain.When should you bring up the topic of whether or not you want children with a partner? If you have different opinions, do you walk away from an otherwise happy relationship? Nuala is joined by Relationship Counsellor Val Sampson and listener Sarah to discuss the healthiest way to go about it.The Bristolian comic and star of last year’s Strictly Come Dancing, Jayde Adams has written a brand new show ‘Men, I Can Save You,’ to explore her relationships with men and learn from how she has been treated in the past. She talks to Woman’s Hour about how she wants to guide men to salvation with humour.Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

Five women. Five inspirational stories. Earlier this year, Woman’s Hour spoke to women from all different backgrounds and professions about the moment they found their voice. When was the moment they realised they had to speak up? And how did it change them? For International Women’s Day, Anita Rani brings you all of the interviews from the ‘Finding My Voice’ series, in a one-off special episode of the Woman’s Hour podcast. Elika Ashoori was an actor and baker who rarely kept up with politics. That is, until 2017 when her father, Anoosheh, was detained by the Iranian authorities while visiting his mother. Over the next five years, she and her family fought for his release and she was forced to go through what she calls a ‘crash course’ in human rights campaigning. Her father was flown back the UK on the same plane as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in March 2022. Since then, Elika has dedicated herself to campaigning for the rights of women and girls in Iran, including cutting off her hair on ITV’s Lorraine. Milly Johnson had always known she wanted to write novels but says, ‘I didn’t think that ordinary girls like me got those sorts of jobs.’ She was a 40-year-old single mum when she got her first publishing deal and now, 21 novels later, she’s a Sunday Times best-selling author and her books have sold over 3 million copies. She describes how she found her voice the moment she started putting the everyday experiences of Yorkshire women into her writing. Moud Goba fled her home country of Zimbabwe at the age of 20 due to harassment she faced over her sexuality. She is now the Chair of the Board of Trustees for UK Black Pride and has spent over a decade helping other LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers to integrate into their new communities. She explains how she found her voice as an activist once she was finally able to express her sexuality freely. Shekeila Scarlett was excluded from school when she was 12 years old. Although she was reinstated at the school just 2 months later, the experience made her realised how distant young pupils were from the governors who made decisions about their school. At 26, she’s now the Chair of Governors at Stoke Newington School in Hackney, making her one of the youngest chairs of a school governing board in the UK. In 2020, Liz Roberts chose to report the sexual assault she suffered at the hands of her brother 50 years previously, when she was just eight years old. During the legal proceedings, she chose to waive her right to anonymity – a right which is automatically granted to victims of sexual offences in the UK. She explains the choice to use her name and why, since her brother’s sentencing, she’s continued to speak publicly about her story. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Hatty Nash

Schoolgirls in Iran have been admitted to hospital this week after reportedly being poisoned by gas whilst at school. Many Iranians suspect the poisonings are a deliberate attempt to force girls’ schools to close, although the government has not confirmed. Faranak Amidi, BBC Near East Women's Affairs correspondent and Azadeh Pourzand, human rights researcher at SOAS discuss.In new book Womb: The Inside Story of Where We All Began, NHS midwife Leah Hazard seeks to explore the organ she describes as 'woefully under-researched and misunderstood'. She shares what she has learnt from looking into the womb’s past, present and possible future.Actor and singer Cynthia Erivo discusses her role in the upcoming film, Luther: The Fallen Sun, where she appears opposite Idris Elba. She shares her experience working on the movie version of the musical Wicked, playing the lead role of Elphaba, her 2020 oscar-nominated performance as Harriet Tubman, and her new found liberation in expressing her bisexuality.Jo Cheetham was studying for a PhD and working as a nanny in London when she read news of an upcoming protest. Before she could talk herself out of it, Jo joined the No More Page 3 campaign team. We discuss her new memoir, Killjoy. Jo talks to us about the power of a grassroots campaign and everyday people doing extraordinary things.On Monday, the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act came into effect, raising the age of marriage and civil partnership to 18 in England and Wales. It's what campaigners against child and forced marriage have worked towards for many years. We reflect on this social change with two listeners, Judith and Jeanette who willingly got married at 16.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Surya Elango Editor: Louise Corley

Actor, Bukky Bakray, who at 19, became the youngest BAFTA Rising Star Award recipient as well as one of the youngest 'Best Actress in a Leading Role' nominees for her critically acclaimed performance in the film Rocks. Bukky makes her stage debut in the coming of age play Sleepova in which four Black teenage friends explore sexuality, identity, relationships and family as they head towards adulthood while struggling to maintain their friendships. Bukky joins Anita in the studio to talk about her career and the power of female friendship.Dozens of schoolgirls in Iran have been admitted to hospital this week after reportedly being poisoned by gas whilst at school. Over 1,000 girls have been affected by this since November and many Iranians suspect the poisonings are a deliberate attempt to force girls’ schools to close. The government hasn’t said whether it believes they are premeditated. We hear from Faranak Amidi, BBC Near East Women's Affairs correspondent and Azadeh Pourzand, Human Rights Researcher at SOAS. So-called 'TikTok protests' have continued to take place in Britain's schools as hundreds of pupils rebelled against teachers over new rules with some clips attracting millions of views. Although the specific grievances vary from school-to-school, the social media trend appears to be spreading, with children in Southampton, Blackpool and Essex staging demonstrations in the last few days that were posted on the platform. Protests over a ban on school skirts at an Oxfordshire school led to police being called and the school being forced to temporarily close. That school has now U-turned on its uniform policy. So where is the balance between standing up for your rights and breaking school rules? Can the two ever be compatible or always at odds. And how can girls and young women in particular learn to find their voice and be listened to? Technology and innovation journalist and author, Becca Caddy, Sangeeta Pillai- the founder of Soul Soutras, and activist, and founder of Love Your Period, Molly Fenton discuss.It has been 40 years since Karen Carpenter died. The singer and drummer was one half of soft-rock group The Carpenters, whose hit songs became the backdrop to the 1970s. Her death at 32 years of age from anorexia nervosa shocked the world. But did her early death overshadow her musical legacy? Lucy O’Brien has looked back over Karen’s life to write a biography, Lead Sister: The Story of Karen Carpenter.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Diana Parkes, the mother of a woman killed by her pilot husband more than a decade ago has called on the Justice Secretary to intervene over his possible release from prison in November.  Anita talks to Diana Parkes, Joanna's best friend Hetti Barkworth-Nanton and the former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland. Why do breast injuries in sport appear to go under-reported and what are the potential consequences? And can a well-fitting sports bra prevent a woman’s breasts from bouncing a reported 10,000 times during an hour-long run? World leading breast expert Associate Professor Deirdre McGhee from University of Wollongong, Australia joins Anita to discuss breast health and exercise. When the wealthy financier Charles Vance Millar died, he left no direct heirs, so he decided to leave today’s equivalent of $9 million to the woman who had the most children over the next 10 years. This sparked what became known as “The Great Stork Derby”, a so-called contest that created a media frenzy. It’s the inspiration behind Caroline Lea’s new novel ‘Prize Women’. She speaks to Woman’s Hour about the real historical event.Jo Cheetham was studying for a PhD and working as a nanny in London, when she read news of an upcoming protest. Before she could talk herself out of it, Jo officially joined the No More Page 3 campaign team. Over three years, Jo protested up and down the country, contended with trolls, gave a group performance on the West End stage and spoke at the Scottish Parliament. In her memoir 'Killjoy' Jo describes everyday people doing extraordinary things and the power of a grassroots campaign.Presenter: Anita Rani Studio manager: Bob Nettles

People with eating disorders are being repeatedly failed by the system and radical changes need to be made to prevent further tragedies. That’s according to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman UK, Rob Behrens. He says little progress has been made in the six years since the publication of a report which highlighted serious failings in eating disorder services. Rob joins Nuala to talk about what those failings are, and what needs to be done.In her memoir Outside the Sky is Blue, writer and journalist Christina Patterson tells her story of what it's like to grow up with a sibling who is mentally ill. Her older sister, Caroline, had her first breakdown when she was fourteen and Christina was nine. Later, Caroline was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was heavily medicated for the rest of her life. Christina joins Nuala to discuss growing up in a family in the shadow of mental illness. Actor, singer, songwriter, and all round South London superstar Cynthia Erivo joins Nuala to speak about her role in the upcoming film, Luther: The Fallen Sun, where she appears opposite Idris Elba. She’ll also talk about making the movie version of the musical Wicked, where she is playing the lead role of Elphaba, and being one step away from an EGOT (an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony) award winner.Would you want to know if you were going to get cancer? Journalist Hilary Osborne was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. She regrets not finding out sooner whether she carries the BRCA2 gene. Whereas comedian Michelle Brasier has been told by doctors she has a 97% chance of developing cancer, and is living life to the full. So, how do you face the stark reality of living with a hereditary and life-shortening illness? Hilary and Michelle join to Nuala to talk about their experiences. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lottie Garton

As teachers strike again over pay this week we talk to the BBC's Education Editor Branwen Jeffreys. As awards season continues we want to know - who should win best performance by a jumper? Mark Darcey’s reindeer jumper? Cameron Diaz’s knitwear in The Holiday? Fashion journalist Naomi Pike talks to Woman’s Hour about the most iconic knitwear in film - and we also hear from the creator of the most talked about jumpers of the moment. Delia Barry is 83 and personally knitted the jumpers you can see in the Oscar-nominated movie ‘Banshees of Inisherin’. She tells Nuala how she came to knit for films, and what it’s like to be the woman behind the new ‘it’ jumper. The laws surrounding fertility treatment and embryo research in the UK have remained largely unchanged for thirty years. Today a new consultation being held by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) opens. They want to hear from people who have been impacted by fertility treatment. Julia Chain, chair of the HFEA, joins Nuala. There have been accusations of Russian soldiers using sexual violence as a weapon of war during the current conflict in Ukraine. Progress is being made to bring the perpetrators to justice, but it’s slow. Nuala is joined by Anna Mykytenko, senior legal advisor to Global Rights Compliance, and Anna Orel, who works for the Andreev Foundation. In her new book Womb - The Inside Story of Where We All Began NHS midwife Leah Hazard seeks to explore the organ she describes as “woefully under-researched and misunderstood”. She shares with Nuala what she has learnt from looking into the womb’s past, present and possible future. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore Studio Manager: Gayl Gordon

At least 59 migrants, including 33 women and 12 children, have died and dozens more are feared missing after their boat sank in rough seas off southern Italy. The vessel broke apart while trying to land near Crotone on Sunday. A baby was among the dead, Italian officials said. Bodies were recovered from the beach at a nearby seaside resort in the Calabria region. Nuala speaks to Caroline Davis, BBC Pakistan Correspondent and Annalisa Camilli, journalist for Internazionale magazine in Rome.A new report from the Howard League of Penal Reform looks at the links between women, gambling and crime. They say women are being let down by a lack of awareness and action to tackle the problem by police, probation and prisons - leaving them without the support they need. Dr Julie Trebilcock, senior Lecturer in Criminology at Brunel University London, and one of the researchers on the project, joins Nuala, along with Tracey whose gambling addiction resulted in a 13 month prison sentence.We speak to author Sara Barnes, about the challenge she set herself to mark her sixtieth birthday, sixty swims with sixty different people.Today the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act comes into effect, raising the age of marriage and civil partnership to 18 in England and Wales which means 16 and 17-year-olds will no longer be able to marry or enter a civil partnership under any circumstances, including with parental or judicial consent. It's what campaigners against child marriage have worked towards for many years. We thought it would be interesting on this day of change in the marriage laws in England and Wales, to look back at the experiences of some of you who got married willingly at 16. Nuala talks to listeners Judith and Jeanette.The Taliban's severe restrictions on women's rights in the country are having a negative impact on the already struggling economy. That's the conclusion of a study by the International Crisis Group – an independent organisation that works on conflict and policy. Since women were barred from university education and work in offices, including NGO's, cuts to foreign donor funds have become more likely, as many western politicians fear their voters will not accept the idea of their taxes helping a country ruled by the Taliban. Nuala is joined now by the BBC's Zarghuna Kargar.

Dame Melinda Simmons, the British Ambassador to Ukraine, joins Hayley Hassall to mark one year on from the Russian invasion. She talks about the impact the war is having on women and girls in the country, as well as the strength and heroism women are showing as they adapt their lives to exist in a constant state of war.Who decides what’s reasonable or unreasonable? And how do we agree as a society on what is ‘reasonable’ behaviour? Dr Kirsty Sedgman speaks to Nuala McGovern about her new book, ‘On being Unreasonable: Breaking the rules and making things better’, which addresses societal divides over what is, or isn’t, reasonable. New research from Cancer UK has shown that Black women from Caribbean and African backgrounds are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at later stages. To talk about why this happens and what needs to be done to help black women get diagnosed earlier, Nuala McGovern speaks to Kruti Shroti from Cancer Research UK and Adobea Obeng, who tried three times to get medical help before being diagnosed with incurable breast cancer. Irish singer-songwriter Eleanor McEvoy joins Nuala McGovern to talk about her newest album, ‘Gimme Some Wine’ and her UK tour. She explains how lockdown gave her time to heal and reflect on her life while creating new music, and how a purple AGA helped her to get over a particularly bad break-up!Averil Mansfield qualified as a surgeon in the early 1970s, a time when female medics were outnumbered my men eight to one. When she told her consultant she was getting married, his reply was: ‘what a pity!’. She joins Hayley Hassall to talk about her inspirational career and her thoughts on the current state of the NHS.Presenter: Hayley Hassall Producer: Lottie Garton

It is a year since Russian forces invaded Ukraine. The war has severely impacted social cohesion, community security and the resilience of local communities, especially women and girls. Approximately 5.4 million people have been displaced inside Ukraine, and 8 million people have registered as refugees across Europe. Woman’s Hour speaks to the UK ambassador to Ukraine, Dame Melinda Simmons her only UK interview on this first anniversary.Leicester Cathedral is celebrating having a fully female clergy team in what it believes might be a first for England. Hayley Hassall speaks to one of the team of 5, the canon pastor Reverend Canon Alison Adams at Leicester Cathedral. What do you do when something amazing happens to you whilst someone you love is going through something terrible?…a sibling, a best friend…or even a twin. That is what happened to twin sisters Chloe and Lydia. When Chloe was days away from giving birth, Lydia experienced her second miscarriage and it tested their bond to the limit. They join Hayley to share their story. Do you sew or quilt? ‘The New Bend’ is the name of an exhibition running at the Hauser and Wirth gallery in Somerset until 8 May. It showcases the work of 12 contemporary artists and quilters whose work pays homage to the enduring legacy of the women of the Gee’s Bend Alabama quilters, who were quilting as early as the 19th century in the Alabama Black Belt in America. Hayley is joined by Ferren Gipson - art historian, textile artist and author of ‘Women’s Work: From Feminine Arts to Feminist Art’ to discuss quilting and reclaiming the idea of ‘women’s work’ within the history of art.Presented by Hayley Hassall Producer: Louise Corley Studio Engineer: Bob Nettles

Averil Mansfield was the UK’s first woman vascular surgeon and first female professor of surgery. She qualified as a surgeon in the early 1970s, at a time when only two per cent of her colleagues were female – and was often met with disbelief bordering on amusement when telling people what she did. She talks to Woman’s Hour about her medical achievements, which she downplays to, ‘It’s just glorified plumbing,’ as detailed in her memoir ‘Life in Her Hands.’A a new app to block child abuse images has received £1.8m pounds of EU funding, with the aim to help combat what has been described as a "growing demand" for child abuse images. According to the NSPCC, child abuse image offences have reached record levels with more than 30,000 reported in the last year. It also revealed that the police have recorded the first child abuse crimes in the metaverse, with eight instances recorded last year. We hear from Rani Govinder, Senior Child Safety Online policy officer from the NSPCC and John Staines, former police officer from E-Safety Training who goes into schools to educate children and teens about online safety. Dada Masilo is a South African choreographer, who is known for her re-working of classic stories to reflect black female identity. Her latest show is called Sacrifice, inspired by Stravinksy’s iconic ballet Rite of Spring is on a national tour of the UK, and will be performed at the Sadler’s Wells in London this weekend. Plus the new study from the Cambridge Centre for Family Research which shows that having an older sibling helped keep children well-adjusted during lockdown. Prof Claire Hughes joins Nuala to discuss how older siblings can provide protection from stress.Presenter Hayley Hassall Producer Beverley Purcell

New research from Cancer Research UK and NHS Digital has revealed that Black women from Caribbean and African backgrounds are more likely to be diagnosed with certain types of cancer at later stages, when treatment is less likely to be successful. This study is the first to show that ethnicity is a significant factor in late-stage diagnosis for women with breast, ovarian, uterine, non-small cell lung cancer and colon cancer. Nuala speaks to Kruti Shrotri, Head of Policy Development at Cancer Research UK and Adobea Obeng who sought medical help three times over two years before she was diagnosed with incurable breast cancer.Eleanor McEvoy is one of Ireland's foremost songwriters and has worked with the likes of U2, Sinead O'Connor and Mary Black. She is the composer and co-performer of A Woman's Heart, the title track for the best-selling Irish album in Irish history, and one of Ireland's favourite folk songs, which recently featured in the award winning Derry Girls. One of Eleanor's songs, Sophie, is used in treatment centres to treat patients with eating disorders. She joins Nuala live in the studio to discuss her UK tour, the inspiration behind the tracks of her most recent album Gimme Some Wine and to perform the track South Anne Street.In 2014, thousands of Yazidi women and girls were captured as part of an Islamic State Group genocide. While many of the men were shot, women and girls were forced into sex slavery for IS. Today, many of these women and children still live in camps in Iraq as they have nowhere else to go. Now, the Iraqi government says they’re going to close the camps. Nuala McGovern is joined by journalist Rachel Wright and CEO of Bellwether International Rachel Miner to talk about the conditions in the camps and what more needs to be done.Judges from the Special Immigration Appeals Commission have today decided the removal of British citizenship from Shamima Begum, who left the UK as a 15-year-old schoolgirl to join Islamic State, was lawful. In the hearing last year challenging the decision, her legal team said it ignored the fact that she may have been trafficked into Syria.  Nuala is joined by BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Daniel Sandford.In 1838 a middle-class Victorian woman, Mrs Anne Sykes, was given a diary on her wedding day which she filled over the years with snippets of clothes and household fabrics, carefully annotating each one. Nearly two hundred years later Kate Strasdin, a fashion historian, came across the scrapbook. She spent six years researching the materials she found stuck to the album’s pages and created her own book The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Skyes about this unique record of the lives of Victorian women.

We discuss the statement released by Nicola Bulley's family following the sad news that that the body found in river Wyre had been formally identified as Nicola Bulley who had been missing for over 3 weeks. They expressed their pain on how their loved ones were treated throughout this ordeal. They called for accountability, and for another family not to go through what they had gone through. Joining Nuala is Zoe Billingham, former head of the inspectorate of Constabulary, Ellen Milazzo from Victim Support and Baroness Helen Newlove, former victim's commissioner for England and Wales. Up to 9 in 10 first-time mothers who have a vaginal birth will have some sort of tear. So, it’s no wonder that tearing is a big worry for expectant mums. Marie Louise, also known as The Modern Midwife, explains to Nuala why tears happen, and what to really expect. Plus, midwife turned inventor, Malene Hegenberger, explains how she created a retractor to help her see tears better when suturing. Why are women from diverse background much less likely to be able to swim than white women? And what can be done about it? Team GB’s first black female swimmer Alice Dearing helped to found the Black Swimming Association along with journalist Seren Jones – they join Nuala to discuss. As London Fashion Week draws to a close today, the Times fashion director, 51-year-old Anna Murphy, reflects on feeling like the only woman of her age in the front row who has not had work done on her face. What she calls the normalisation of ‘tweakments’ is one of the topics explored in her new book Destination Fabulous. She tells Nuala about the changing trends in tweakments, why she finds the term problematic and how to embrace ageing naturallyPresenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

Who gets to decide about social norms, about what's reasonable and unreasonable behaviour? Is it OK to breastfeed in public, to let your children play in the garden while others are working from home? Can we come together and talk about these things reasonably? According to Dr Kirsty Sedgman, the author of a new book, On being Unreasonable: Breaking the rules and making things better, we're living in an age of division. If she asks, we reimagined the rules of public togetherness, what would get better? What would change for the worse? And for whom?As MPs return to parliament today, they come back to a new set of proposals by the Standards Committee. It has recently published a report recommending that MPs arrested for serious offences should be banned from the parliamentary estate. We discuss with Esther Webber, Senior UK Correspondent for Politico, and Westminster parliamentary aide and GMB representative Jenny Symmons .Half of state-funded schools in England for children with special educational needs and disabilities are oversubscribed, new BBC research has found. Schools have been forced to convert portable cabins and even cupboards into teaching spaces due to a lack of space. Head teachers say this puts pressure on staff and makes pupils anxious. Parents say their children are missing education while they wait for places. BBC correspondent Elaine Dunkley who has led the investigation and produced an Iplayer documentary, ‘SEND help’, explains how this situation has arisen.Nadine Benjamin MBE is a celebrated Soprano. But if it wasn’t for the words of an encouraging high school music teacher, she would never have considered a career in Opera. Now, she’s played in the UK’s most prestigious Opera Houses in shows including La Bohème, Madama Butterfly and the Marriage of Figaro. Last year she performed for the new King. Nadine joins Nuala to talk about her journey into the industry and performs from Songs of Joy which brings together stories told through song and spoken word, celebrating the lived experiences of black and mixed-race composers.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Giles Aspen

Actor Aimee Lou Wood is best known for her role in Netflix’s Sex Education. Her character - also called Aimee - was at the heart of some of the most iconic storylines that came out of the first three seasons of the show. Now she’s taking to the stage as Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club in London’s West End. She talks about performing in the show and her recent BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination.The former police officer, Wayne Couzens, who raped and murdered Sarah Everard two years ago, has admitted three counts of indecent exposure. Now academics and criminologists are calling for a change in the way indecent exposure is seen – saying we need to stop the perception of it as a so-called ‘nuisance offence’ and take it more seriously. Jennifer Grant from the University of Portsmouth and the BBC’s Home Affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani discuss allegations against Wayne Couzens that go back to 2015. A new Netflix series from Executive Producer Jada Pinkett-Smith tells the stories of African Queens. The first focuses on Queen Njinga, a powerful woman who led Ndongo, modern day Angola, through the slave trade and invasions by the Portuguese. One of the writers and former British High Commissioner to Mozambique, Nne Nne Iwuji-Eme explains why it’s so important to hear her story.Woman's Hour is in the process of putting together our Power List for 2023 - this year focussed on finding 30 of the most powerful women in sport. But what about the power of sport itself? Hayley Compton and Jessica Morgan who say sport got them through very difficult times in their lives explain why.Coleen Greenwood spent almost two and a half years in a relationship with a man she knew as James Scott. He said he was a divorced firefighter who wanted to marry and go into business with her - but it was all based on a lie. Her story is the subject of a new BBC podcast series Love-Bombed with Vicki Pattison. Coleen talks about the impact the relationship had on her. She is joined by Chris Bentham, who investigated the case.Nell Mescal is a singer songwriter who writes Indie Folk songs. She’s a rising star whose featured in Rolling Stone Magazine and has been named as an artist to watch by NME. She performs her single ‘Graduating’ live in the studio.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Paula McFarlane Editor: Emma Pearce

Ricky Reel’s body was discovered in the River Thames 25 years ago, a week after he had gone missing following a racist attack when he was on a night out with friends. His case was never solved, the police initially believed he had run away from an arranged marriage and later that his death was an accident. The case is now being re-examined by the Met Police’s major inquiries specialist casework team, due in part to Sukhdev Reel’s relentless campaigning on behalf of her son. She tells Anita why she has never given up on getting justice for her son.Actor Aimee Lou Wood is best known for her role in Netflix’s Sex Education. Her character - also called Aimee - was at the heart of some of the most iconic storylines that came out of the first three seasons of the show. But now she’s taking to the stage as Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club in London’s West End. She joins Anita in the studio to talk about performing in the show and her recent BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination.Anita Bhagwandas is an award-winning beauty journalist who describes the beauty industry as one she adores but a place that has ‘never loved [her] back’.Her new book Ugly: Giving Us Back Our Beauty Standards unearths why the word has such power and how we can reclaim it for ourselves. A blend of manifesto and memoir, the book explores how racial, class, and social prejudices shape what society deems ‘beautiful’. She joins Anita to discuss life as a beauty journalist, overcoming self-hatred, and the beauty standards set by Disney princesses.With movements like Dry January growing in popularity, many women want to question their relationship with alcohol, while also maintaining the possibility of moderation. Anita is joined by the journalist Roisin Kelly who shares what she learned while sober dating, and Ruby Warrington, the author who inspired the sober curious movement, who discusses the art of mindful drinking.

As Scotland’s First Minister announces her resignation after nearly a decade in the job we consider her legacy, the reasons for and the timing of her decision to go and consider who might take over with the Scotsman’s Political Editor Alistair Grant and journalist Ruth Wishart.The musical Sylvia has just opened at the Old Vic celebrating the life of Sylvia Pankhurst – feminist, activist, pacifist, socialist, rebel who was at the heart of the Suffragette movement, with her sister Christabel and mother Emmeline. Actor, singer and musical theatre performer Sharon Rose who plays this lesser-known Pankhurst discusses her role.Woman's Hour is in the process of putting together our Power List for 2023 - this year focussed on finding 30 of the most powerful women in sport. But what about the power of sport itself? Hayley Compton and Jessica Morgan who say sport got them through very difficult times in their lives explain why.What is Europe doing to tackle the issue of femicide? Since the start of 2023, there has been a wave of news coverage in Europe on violence against women, and specifically, femicide, the act of killing a woman because she is a woman. The Spanish government has called its second emergency meeting of domestic violence experts after the murder of six women and a young girl since the start of January. And in France, 18 women have been murdered this year, according to the organisation ‘Femicide by a partner or ex partner’. This is despite both countries having introduced measures to fight against gender based violence. Mélina Huet, a journalist at the French news channel LCI and director of the documentary on femicides ‘Protect the Living, Honour the Dead’ and Susana Pavlou, the director of the Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies join Anita to discuss.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty StarkeyInterviewed Guest: Alistair Grant Interviewed Guest: Ruth Wishart Interviewed Guest: Sharon Rose Interviewed Guest: Hayley Compton Interviewed Guest: Jessica Morgan Interviewed Guest: Melina Huet Interviewed Guest: Susana Pavlou

The former police officer, Wayne Couzens, who raped and murdered Sarah Everard two years ago, has admitted three counts of indecent exposure, one of which happened just four days before he kidnapped and killed Sarah Everard. Now academics and criminologists are calling for a change in the way indecent exposure is seen – saying we need to stop the perception of it as a so-called ‘nuisance offence’ and take it more seriously, as in some cases it can lead to far more serious crimes. Nuala talks to BBC’s Home Affairs correspondent, Dominic Casciani and Jennifer Grant from the University of Portsmouth. What are your thoughts on children’s sleepovers? Are they a rite of passage or just a big headache? Well, #nosleepovers was trending on social media recently after an American influencer and mum of two, Tara Huck, shared her unpopular parenting opinion: she doesn't allow her children to attend sleepovers. When Netmums did a poll of their UK parents - 63% said they ban sleepovers. So is it the end for sleepovers? Victoria Richards is Editor of Indy Voices at the Independent and hosts multiple sleepovers a year, whereas parenting columnist for Velvet Magazine, Emily Martin, is trying to avoid them for as long as possible.A new Netflix series from Executive Producer Jada Pinkett-Smith is out today, telling the stories of African Queens. The first focuses on Queen Njinga, a powerful woman who led Ndongo – modern day Angola – through the slave trade and invasions by the Portuguese. To find out more about Njinga, and why it’s so important to hear her story, Nuala McGovern is joined by one of the writers and former British High Commissioner to Mozambique, Nne Nne Iwuji-Eme.Scientists say that an on-demand, non-hormonal contraceptive pill for men may be a real possibility after successful trials stopped sperm from being able to swim. Tests in mice suggest that it stuns sperm long enough to stop them from reaching the egg. Further tests are needed, but if successful, it could provide a reliable oral contraception. Michelle Roberts is the BBC's Digital Health Editor. The republican Nikki Haley has announced that she will be running for president next year in the US. She's the first Republican to challenge Donald Trump for the party's presidential nomination. Nikki Haley first made her way onto the political scene back in 2010, when she became the youngest governor in the USA at the age of 39, securing a victory against an all-male field to become South Carolina's first female and Asian-American governor. Since then she has been hailed as a rising star who could potentially change the Republican party's male-dominated image. So what does this announcement mean for American Politics? Daniel Lippman is a reporter for Politico covering the White House in Washington.

Nell Mescal is a singer songwriter from Ireland who writes Indie Folk songs. She’s a rising star whose featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, has been named as an artist to watch by NME and is preparing for a summer of live gigs. She joins Nuala McGovern to talk about what inspires her songs, being a young woman in the music industry and performs her single ‘Graduating’ live in the studio. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been photographed five times over recent months alongside his adolescent daughter. The latest photos show a beaming Kim Ju-Ae, who is aged between 9 and 10, standing with her father at a lavish military parade, where at least 11 intercontinental ballistic missiles were shown. So, why is Kim Jong Un revealing his daughter now? There is speculation that she is to be his successor, but is there any truth to that claim? Nuala talks to Professor Hazel Smith is Professorial Research Associate in Korean Studies at SOAS, University of London and BBC Correspondent Jean MacKenzie who is based in South Korea. Fern Brady is a comedian and writer who has appeared on 8 Out of 10 Cats, Live at the Apollo, and the most recent series of Taskmaster. She has also co-hosted three series of the Wheel of Misfortune podcast for BBC Sounds with fellow comedian Alison Spittle. In 2021, Fern received a diagnosis for autism. In her new book, Strong Female Character, she explores how this has impacted her life, and what it means to be an autistic working-class woman. We talk about plans to regulate the buy now pay later credit industry with Stella Creasy MP and Claer Barratt from the Financial Times.And BBC LGBT & Identity Correspondent Lauren Moss reports on a new book which claims that 97.5 per cent of children seeking help at the Gender Identity Development Service (Gids) based at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, had autism, depression or other problems that might have explained their unhappiness. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Gayl Gordon

Coleen Greenwood spent almost two and a half years in a relationship with a man she knew as James Scott. He said he was a divorced firefighter who wanted to marry and go into business with her - but it was all based on a lie. Her story is the subject of a new BBC podcast series Love-Bombed with Vicki Pattison. Ahead of its launch we speak to Coleen about the impact the relationship had on her; and to DC Chris Bentham, who investigated the case.A boy and girl, both aged 15, have been arrested on suspicion of murder following the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey at a park in Warrington. This follows on from an incident last Monday, where a teenage girl was injured in what police have described as a "serious racially aggravated assault". Recent statistics from the Ministry of Justice show that there were 3,500 proven knife and offensive weapon offences committed by children between 2020 and 2021. We hear the latest from BBC's Rowan Bridge in Warrington and from Zoe Cooke, a campaigner against knife crime whose son Byron was stabbed to death in 2021. Do writers of memoirs focusing on traumatic events need protection? Does the publishing industry need to come up with guidelines to protect writers? Terri White, author of the memoir Coming Undone and Kit de Waal author of Without Warning & Only Sometimes: Scenes from an Unpredictable Childhood discuss. Plus who are you at work? Workplace consultant Gabriella Braun explain how psychoanalysis can reveal some hidden truths behind our behaviour. From interactions with your boss triggering feelings about your parents, to colleagues setting off old issues of sibling rivalries, Presenter Nuala McGovern Producer Beverley Purcell

Danielle Deadwyler's extraordinary portrayal of the civil rights activist Mamie Till-Mobley in Chinonye Chukwu’s ‘Till’ has earned her a BAFTA nomination for Best Leading Actress. The film tells the true story of Mamie’s pursuit of justice after her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, was tortured and lynched in 1955. Danielle discusses grief, Mamie’s legacy, and the ongoing fight for civil rights.Dorset Police are investigating allegations of abuse in Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service. Nazir Afzal, the former chief prosecutor for North West England & Zoe Billingham, former head of the Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue consider if the fire service has a problem with its culture, and in particular women.European Champion and Queen of the Jungle, Jill Scott, is one of the most decorated footballers in the country and after announcing her retirement from the sport last year she's turned her attention to the next generation. On Friday she opened a new football pitch in her hometown in South Tyneside. She tells us what she wants the Lionesses' legacy to be.Salma Hayek Pinault broke barriers in the 90’s as one of the first Latina actresses to establish a successful career in Hollywood. She tells us about her new role as a strong female lead starring opposite Channing Tatum in ‘Magic Mike’s Last Stand’.We explore the complexities of disabled parenting with Eliza Hull, an Australian musician & disabled parent and Nina Tame. We hear about their new anthology of stories, ‘We’ve Got This’.What is audio porn? Caroline Spiegel, the founder of an erotic audio app called Quinn and Dr Caroline West, consent educator at University of Galway discuss.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Surya Elango Studio Manager: Bob Nettles Editor: Lucinda Montefiore

Anita is joined by the European Champion and Queen of the Jungle Jill Scott. Jill is one of the most decorated footballers in the country and after announcing her retirement from the sport last year she's turned her attention to the next generation. Today she is opening a new football pitch in her hometown in South Tyneside and tells Anita what she wants the Lionesses' legacy to be. The gang-rape of a woman in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, sparked protests yesterday with women calling out the country’s ‘rape epidemic’. The 24-year-old woman was walking with a male colleague in the city’s largest park at 8pm last week when she was attacked and raped by two armed men. The police have said that investigations were ongoing but in a statement warned people to avoid unlit areas of the park in the evening. We hear from Aisha Sarwari, columnist and co-founder Women’s Advancement Hub based in Islamabad and Caroline Davies, the BBC's Pakistan CorrespondentSalma Hayek Pinault is a Mexican American actress, director and producer who broke barriers in the 90’s as one of the first Latina actresses to establish a successful career in Hollywood, appearing in several Robert Rodriguez films including From Dusk Til Dawn. She was Oscar-nominated for her role in Frida, about the life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, a film which she also produced. Now she is starring opposite Channing Tatum in Magic Mike’s Last Stand, which perhaps surprisingly, is set mostly in a London theatre. Salma joins Anita in the Woman’s Hour studio to talk about being the strong female lead, and power dynamics in Hollywood.Being a parent for the first time is challenging for anyone. But when you’re a disabled parent, it brings with it many more complexities, including discrimination from society and medical professionals alike. Eliza Hull, an Australian musician and disabled parent, realised that there was no positive literature around being a disabled parent – so she created it herself. ‘We’ve Got This’ is an anthology of stories from disabled parents about how they’ve overcome challenges to become parents, and how much they love it. We hear from Eliza herself alongside one of the authors, Nina Tame.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty StarkeyInterviewed Guest: Jill Scott Interviewed Guest: Aisha Sarwari Interviewed Guest: Caroline Davies Interviewed Guest: Salma Hayek Pinault Interviewed Guest: Eliza Hull Interviewed Guest: Nina Tame

The number of women watching porn is on the increase, according to one of the world’s most popular sites. They say around a third of its viewers are female and growing. There’s also a new type of porn that is said to be gaining popularity among some women – audio porn. You might wonder, what it is and why it might appeal to women. Caroline Spiegel is the founder of an erotic audio app called Quinn, one of many apps out there, and Dr Caroline West, consent educator at University of Galway and host of the Glow West sexual wellness podcast.The earthquakes in southern Turkey and northern Syria have killed nearly 16,000 people. As rescuers work to save people still trapped in the rubble, the World Health Organisation has raised concerns that without shelter, water, fuel or electricity, many more lives are at risk. Today the Disasters Emergency Committee launched its appeal to raise funds to provide aid to the survivors. Racha Nasreddine, Director for ActionAid in the Arab Region tells Anita how women and girls are being affected.On yesterday’s Woman’s Hour we briefly discussed the Church of England’s decision not to back a change in teaching to permit clergy to conduct same-sex marriages. Listener Suzanne Elvidge contacted the programme to share her recent letter to her Bishop and her local clergy explaining why she felt she had no choice but to leave the Church after a lifelong membership. She joins Anita to discuss her decision.For our series Girl's World, Ena Miller took her dog-eared teenage diary to a school in Glasgow to talk to Saskia, Francesca and Olivia, who are all 14, about changing attitudes to sex and gender.Six years after her acclaimed debut novel Stay With Me was shortlisted for the Baileys Prize for Women’s Fiction, Nigerian writer Ayòbámi Adébáyo joins Anita to talk about her highly-anticipated second work of fiction, A Spell Of Good Things, a state-of-the-nation story exploring the divide between rich and poor, as Nigeria transitioned back into democracy in 2000.

Nuala McGovern talks to Irish actor Jessie Buckley about her new role as one of an extraordinary ensemble cast in the new film Women Talking. Based on the novel by Miriam Toews, it follows the women of an isolated religious community as they grapple with a huge decision they have to make, as a collective, following the discovery of male violence. Could God go gender neutral in the Church of England and no longer be referred to only as "he" but also as "they" and "she"? Rev Martine Oborne chair of Women and the Church which campaigns for "gender justice" in the church and journalist Anne Atkins discuss.Research estimates 1 in 5 women will lose a pregnancy in their lifetime and 1 in 20 will go through it more than once, but no official record is kept of how many miscarriages happen each year. After losing four pregnancies in the space of two years, with no obvious cause, Jennie Agg set out to understand why miscarriage remains such a profoundly misunderstood, under researched and under acknowledged experience. She has written about it in Life, Almost, which documents her path to motherhood and her search for answers. Dorset Police are investigating allegations that firefighters at Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service had taken photos of women who had died in car accidents and shared the images on a Whatsapp group. In the group, male firefighters are alleged to have made degrading comments about the victims. Several female firefighters also spoke of sexual harassment, including claims a male firefighter demanded sexual favours at the scene of a fire. Nazir Afzal, the former chief prosecutor for North West England who carried out an independent review into the London Fire Brigade last year and Zoe Billingham, former head of the Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue consider if the fire service has a problem with its culture, and in particular women.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Donald McDonald

Former Police Officer David Carrick will be sentenced this morning. BBC correspondent Helena Wilkinson joins Nuala. Shamima Begum left the UK in 2015. Now, for the first time, we have a better idea of what she might have been doing in the four years between then and her re-appearance in a camp in Syria in 2019. We know that she has married an IS fighter, had three children and lost three children in the last eight years – but what else happened? Nuala McGovern is joined by the BBC’s Josh Baker, host of the podcast I’m Not A Monster: The Shamima Begum Story and Dr Gina Vale, a lecturer of Criminology at the University of Southampton who specialises in terrorism. Danielle Deadwyler's extraordinary portrayal of the civil rights activist Mamie Till-Mobley in Chinonye Chukwu’s Till (2022) has earned her a BAFTA nomination for Best Leading Actress. The film tells the true story of Mamie’s pursuit of justice after her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, was tortured and lynched in 1955. Danielle joins Nuala McGovern to discuss grief, Mamie’s legacy, and the ongoing fight for civil rights. As low-slung trousers come back into fashion and high-waists are all the rage we ask how fashion, age and generation determine where our trousers sit and how we feel about it. Hannah Rogers Assistant Fashion Editor for The Times joins Nuala. In 1993, aged twenty, Carmel Mc Mahon left Ireland for New York, carrying $500, two suitcases and a ton of emotional baggage. It took years, and a bitter struggle with alcohol addiction, to unpick the intricate traumas of her past and present.  Carmel has now written a book, In Ordinary Time: Fragments of a Family History.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

Is the world of Young Adult (YA) Fiction getting too dark for our teenagers? Nuala McGovern speaks to YA authors Julia Golding (Finding Sky) and Holly Bourne (The Places I’ve Cried in Public) to discuss where teenagers can find joy and uplift in their reading today, as well as why it’s important to address some of the darker themes in young adult literature.The latest from Iran where tens of thousands of prisoners have been pardoned with Abbie Cheeseman from The Telegraph.Commentators Ella Whelan and Rachel Williams debate whether Welsh Rugby Union were right to ban choirs from singing "Delilah" at games.The Board of Control for Cricket in India – the governing body of the sport - announced last week that the five teams that make up the new Women’s Premier League have been sold to local investors for more than £465 million. This is a remarkable amount, even in India where men’s cricket teams command staggeringly high valuations and life changing for India’s women cricketers who have struggled financially to make ends meet. We hear from BBC Mumbai Sports Reporter Janhavee Moole how it could also change the game for women cricketers around the world.If you were listening to Woman's Hour last Wednesday you will have heard me speaking to two of our judges for the Woman's Hour Power List - one of Britain’s most celebrated British Paralympians of all time, Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson and Cricket World Cup winner turned broadcaster Ebony Rainford-Brent. Today you will hear from our third judge Sam Quek - Sam was as part of the squad who won Britain’s first ever hockey gold medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016. She was also won gold at the European Championships in 2015. Now she is a team captain - the first female team captain - on BBC1's Question of Sport. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager

Helena Bonham Carter tells us about playing Noele Gordon, "the Queen of the midlands", in new ITV drama 'Nolly' written by Russell T Davies. The actress starred in the hugely popular TV soap Crossroads for 18 years until she was sacked very suddenly in 1981. The TV drama Happy Valley has captured the public’s imagination with the final episode of the final series airing this Sunday. We hear from one listener who contacted Woman’s Hour about how as a kinship carer she has felt “heard” by the drama and Anita also speaks to Dr Lucy Peake the chief executive of Kinship – the UK’s largest charity for kinship carers.We speak to actor and comic, Emily Atack who is standing up against the men who cyber-flash her daily. Having received unsolicited, unwanted, abusive messages, dick pics and crude images for years she has made a documentary “Emily Atack: Asking for it?” for BBC 2. It’s 20 years in England since the repeal of section 28 – a law that came in from 1988 to 2003 to ban the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ in UK schools. Professor Catherine Lee of Anglia Ruskin University is a lesbian and taught in schools for every year of section 28. We discuss how this law affected gay or lesbian teachers and students.Women are able to recall details of sexual assault and rape with accuracy, even if they have drunk – moderate amounts of alcohol, according to a new study from the University of Birmingham. Heather Flowe, Professor of Psychology who led the study tells us about its significance.The comedian Sophie Duker is on a mission to reclaim the term 'hag' in her new UK stand-up tour of the same name. She tells us about growing up with ‘the princess myth’, embracing ageing and our sexualityPresenter: Anita Rani Producer: Surya Elango Editor: Lucinda Montefiore

A new report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons on conditions at Eastwood Park women’s prison has been released today. We speak to Sandra Fieldhouse, lead for women’s prisons at HMI Prisons about the findings. The TV drama Happy Valley has captured the public’s imagination with the final episode of the final series airing this Sunday. Catherine Cawood played by Sarah Lancashire is the policewoman who we see bringing up her grandson Ryan after her daughter took her own life. We hear from one listener who contacted Woman’s Hour about how as a kinship carer she has felt “heard” by the drama and Anita also speaks to Dr Lucy Peake the chief executive of Kinship – the UK’s largest charity for kinship carers. The Grammy's will be held on Sunday in Los Angeles and Beyoncé leads the pack with nine overall nominations. She has also announced her first tour in seven years, which led to the ticket website crashing. The UK concerts are part of a 43-date world tour in support of her Grammy-nominated Renaissance album. Anita discusses her success with Jacqueline Springer, curator Africa and Diaspora: Performance at the Victoria and Albert Museum and music journalist.China and Japan are seeing a marked reduction in their birth rates which will have a major impact on how their societies function in the next decades. With ageing populations and a birth rate well below the 2.1 replacement level observers are predicting significant problems ahead. By the end of the century China is predicted to drop from more than a billion to around 800 million and Japan’s population will drop from 123 million today to around 75 million. Anita Rani discusses the reasons and implications with Dr Yu Jie, Senior Research Fellow on China Asia Pacific Programme at Chatham House; and Yoko Ishikura an independent business consultant, professor emeritus at Hitotsubashi University who is working with the Japanese Government’s Digital Agency. Presented by Anita Rani Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Karen Dalziel

Women are able to recall details of sexual assault and rape with accuracy, even if they have drunk – moderate amounts of alcohol .A study conducted at the University of Birmingham demonstrated that women who had drunk alcohol up to the legal limit for driving were able to recall details of an assault in a hypothetical scenario, including details of activities to which they had, and had not, consented. Heather Flowe, Professor of Psychology led the study.A year ago, British Army officer and physiotherapist Captain Preet Chandi (AKA Polar Preet) made history as the first woman of colour to complete a solo expedition in Antarctica. Now she’s just broken another world record: the longest ever solo and unsupported Polar ski expedition. The 33-year-old travelled 922 miles across Antarctica, beating the previous record of 907 miles set by Henry Worsley, a retired Lieutenant Colonel, in 2015. Having spent over 70 days on her own, trekking in temperatures as cold as -50C, she speaks to Anita Rani about how she endured such a physical and mental challenge.Is your partner’s ex a significant person in your life? Are they someone you tolerate - or are they someone whose company you genuinely enjoy? Would you even go so far as to call them a friend? Or even a best friend? The friendship between popstar Katy Perry and the model Miranda Kerr attracted attention this week. Why…because Katy Perry is engaged to Orlando Bloom - who Miranda used to be married to.  Katy Perry posted about her friend on Instagram calling her her “sister from another mister” and stating “I love our modern family”. So how realistic or welcome is it to be friends with your partner’s ex? We hear from the journalist Esther Walker.Adding higher levels of folic acid (otherwise known as vitamin B9) to all flour and rice would stop hundreds more UK babies being born with lifelong disabilities. That's what a group of leading scientists are saying. Women in the UK are advised to take a daily folic supplement before becoming pregnant, to reduce the risk of giving birth to babies with severe abnormalities called neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. But many don't. Anita Rani is joined by Neena Modi, Professor of Neonatal Medicine at Imperial College London.Best known more recently for her portrayal of River Song, the wife and occasional companion of Dr Who, actor Alex Kingston is currently on stage in Stratford-upon-Avon as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of The Tempest. Women playing what are regarded as traditionally male roles on stage is not unusual these days but Alex explains to Anita why making Prospero a woman and mother surviving exile on a small island makes that role much more powerful. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty StarkeyInterviewed Guest: Professor Heather Flowe Interviewed Guest: Preet Chandi Interviewed Guest: Esther Walker Interviewed Guest: Professor Neena Modi Interviewed Guest: Alex Kingston Photographer: Ikin Yum

Helena Bonham Carter is one of our best known actors – she’s played everyone from Princess Margaret in The Crown and Elizabeth the Queen Mother in The King's Speech, to Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter films, and more recently Enola Holmes’ formidable mother in the Netflix films with Milly Bobby Brown. Helena is now taking on a very different role, that of the Queen of the Midlands Noele Gordon, or Nolly as she was known to her friends; the actress who starred in the hugely popular TV soap Crossroads for 18 years until she was sacked very suddenly in 1981. Russell T Davies has written the three part drama which is released on ITV X on Thursday 2 February. Helena joins Nuala in the studio.Researchers in Canada estimate that approximately one in eight women are likely to be suffering from an unrecognised brain injury related to domestic violence. Millions of dollars are spent each year in Canada studying the impacts of traumatic brain injuries on professional male athlete’s brains, such as hockey players, whilst very little is known about the injuries suffered by female victims of intimate partner violence. Nuala speaks to Karen Mason, co-founder of the Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury Through Research project, and a former executive director of the Kelona Women’s Shelter in Canada, and Dr Paul van Donkelaar, a clinical neuroscientist at the University of British Columbia who specialises in concussion research.There's just one more week to get your submissions in for the Woman's Hour Power List, this year focussing on women in sport. It's not just football where the women's game has seen big success - Great Britain’s women’s curling team won a gold medal in Beijing, the 2022 Tour de France Femmes broke records, England and Wales have been confirmed as hosts of Women’s T20 World Cup in 2026 and the list goes on. Nuala is joined by two of our Power List judges Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, one of Britain’s most celebrated British Paralympians of all time, winning 16 medals across five Games, now a cross bench peer in the House of Lords, and Ebony Rainford-Brent, the World Cup winning cricketer and broadcaster.1500 people who received treatment from jailed breast surgeon Ian Paterson are being recalled by Spire Healthcare, a private hospital company, after their details were recovered from an old computer database. Described as 'one of the biggest medical scandals ever to have hit this country' the man at the centre of it became known as 'the butchering breast surgeon'. Joining Nuala is Jane Kirby, PA Media Health Editor.

Actor and comedian, Emily Atack has decided to stand up against the men who cyber-flash her daily. Having received unsolicited, unwanted, abusive messages, dick pics and crude images for years she has made a documentary “Emily Atack: Asking for it?” for BBC 2. Emily joins Nuala to discuss why men do this and why she's chosen to speak about it publicly and call for change. Baroness Catherine Ashton is a Labour peer who served as Europe’s most powerful diplomat between 2009-2014, a turbulent period by anyone’s standards. It was her job to co-ordinate and lead on the EU's response to international crises, including the Arab Spring, Somali pirate attacks, the Iran nuclear deal and the Ukraine uprising followed by Russia’s annexation of the Crimea. Behind the scenes and in front of the cameras she criss-crossed the globe trying to get lasting deals done. Catherine has documented all of this in a new book called And Then What? Inside Stories of 21st Century Diplomacy, and joins Nuala.What comes to your mind when you think of the word 'hag'? The comedian and recent Taskmaster champion Sophie Duker is on a mission to reclaim the term in her new UK stand-up tour of the same name. She tells Nuala about growing up with ‘the princess myth’, embracing ageing and why it’s so important to be open about sex and sexuality.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce Credit: BBC/Little Gem Productions/Richard Ansett

Hilary Grime’s daughter Phoebe, a student at Newcastle university, took her own life in June 2021. Hilary has since come together with other bereaved families to form the Learn Network with the aim of preventing future deaths of students by suicide. One of their first targets is to ask the government to legislate for a statutory duty of care for students in Higher Education. Hilary joins Nuala to talk about her daughter Phoebe and why she thinks it's so essential to get a statutory duty of care.Japan's decluttering and tidying expert Marie Kondo has admitted to 'kind of giving up' on tidying up after having her third child. Joining Nuala to discuss whether to ignore the mess or try to keep on top of it, comedian Helen Thorn, one half of the Scummy Mummies podcast. In her latest book, Crazy Old Ladies - The Story Of Hag Horror, Caroline Young explores the subgenre of horror movies in the 1950s and 1960s that cast iconic movie stars in often grotesque roles. She joins Nuala McGovern to explain hag horror or 'hagsploitation' and to discuss how actresses were treated in Hollywood as they got older. It’s 20 years in England since the repeal of section 28 – a law that came in from 1988 to 2003 to ban the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ in UK schools. Professor Catherine Lee of Anglia Ruskin University is a lesbian and taught in schools for every year of section 28. During that time she was a PE teacher in inner-city Liverpool before moving into special educational needs and pastoral leadership in rural Suffolk. So how did this law affect her other gay or lesbian teachers and her students who identified as lesbian or gay? Catherine has written a book Pretended: Schools and Section 28: Historical, Cultural and Personal.

Lesley Paterson is a five times world champion triathlete. She’s also a successful screenwriter, who has just been nominated for an Oscar and a BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film All Quiet on the Western Front. It’s taken her sixteen years to get the film made. A woman no stranger to endurance, she explains how she used her prize money from her sporting career to help fund the film. An independent review into Zara Aleena's murder found a catalogue of errors by the probation service. We speak to HM Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell who conducted the review, along with Zara Aleena's aunt Farah Naz.The Woman's Hour Power List for 2023 is here! Last year was a game-changer for the visibility and perception of women in sport in this country and we want to showcase inspirational women – both on and off the field – who are spearheading and building on this momentum. The chair of judges Jessica Creighton launches the Power List and explains how you can make your suggestion.What is the role of a best friend at a deathbed? We All Want Impossible Things is a new novel by Catherine Newman exploring the topic. She reveals how her personal experience inspired the book. During World War Two, a house in Tynemouth was used as a sanctuary for more than 20 Jewish girls fleeing Nazi persecution. They had come to the UK on the Kindertransport. After a BBC investigation, a blue plaque was unveiled there yesterday, Holocaust Memorial Day, celebrating the house's forgotten past and those that found sanctuary there. Two of the girls who lived in the house were Ruth David and Elfi Jonas. We speak to their daughters, Margaret Finch and Helen Strange, about their mothers and their visit to the house.

During World War Two, a house in Tynemouth was used as a sanctuary for more than 20 Jewish girls fleeing Nazi persecution. They had come to the UK on the Kindertransport. After a BBC investigation, a blue plaque will be unveiled there today, Holocaust Memorial Day, celebrating the house's forgotten past and those that found sanctuary there. Two of the Girls who lived in the house were Ruth David and Elfi Jonas. Anita speaks to their daughters - Margaret Finch and Helen Strange about their mothers and their visit to the house.Mary Nighy began her acting career at the age of 17, starring in films such as Marie Antoinette and Tormented. The daughter of actors Bill Nighy and Diana Quick, she has since turned director, of TV shows like Industry and Traces but she has just released her directorial debut Alice Darling. The film, starring Anna Kendrick, explores what it might feel like to be trapped inside a coercive, controlling and psychologically abusive relationship. Mary joins Anita Rani to talk about the themes of the film, female friendship and working behind the camera.Big employers including Tesco, Asda, Natwest and the country's most senior family judge are supporting a scheme that gives time off to parents who are splitting up. A survey of 200 workers by the Positive Parenting Alliance showed that 90 per cent of respondents said that their work was adversely affected. Anita speaks to XY and Sara Davison a divorce coach and author. How do you differentiate between symptoms of menopause and dementia and when should you be worried? A new brain check-up tool kit from Alzheimer’s Research UK is encouraging people to do more to look after their brains to try to reduce their dementia risk. Research shows that women are generally at a greater risk of dementia - outnumbering the number of men who get the disease by 2:1 worldwide. But as women get older and experience the menopause, they may notice a decline in their memory, feel confused and get brain fog. We also hear about an early study which suggests that HRT may reduce the risk of some women developing Alzheimer's disease.

The Woman's Hour Power List for 2023 is here! Last year was a game-changer for the visibility and perception of women in sport in this country and we want to showcase inspirational women – both on and off the field – who are spearheading and building on this momentum to elevate women’s sport. We need your suggestions! The chair of judges Jessica Creighton joins Anita Rani to launch the Power List and explains how you can make your suggestion. Lesley Paterson is a five times world champion triathlete. She’s also a successful screenwriter, who has just been nominated for an Oscar and a BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film All Quiet on the Western Front. It’s taken her sixteen years to get the film made. A woman no stranger to endurance, she explains how she used her prize money from her sporting career to help fund the film. It’s now one of this year’s biggest contenders at the Oscars and BAFTAs. A transgender woman in Scotland has been convicted of raping two women in attacks carried out before changing gender. Isla Bryson is now in custody and facing a lengthy jail term - but where that sentence should be served is the subject of heated debate. It has led to concerns about the safety of any women held alongside Bryson in a female prison. The Scottish Prison Service says the decision on where transgender prisoners are housed is taken on a case-by-case basis after appropriate risk assessments. Catriona Renton has been following the case for BBC Scotland News and joins Anita.Claudia Jones, the woman described as the 'founding spirit' of Notting Hill Carnival, is to be commemorated with a blue plaque this year. The feminist, journalist and political activist is one of five women whose achievements and legacy will be marked by English Heritage. Currently, about 14 per cent of the nearly 1,000 blue plaques honour women. Anita finds out more from the freelance journalist and Editor of Soho House, Sagal Mohammed.WFH, or the hybrid working week, has become the new norm for many of us in the paid workforce since Covid. But how does this affect the amount of unpaid domestic labour and the sharing of daily chores in UK households? Who does the most in your home – men or women? How happy are you with the division of work? What has changed since the lockdowns? Shireen Kanji, Professor of work and organisation at Brunel University and Oriel Sullivan, Professor of Inequalities of Gender, at the Centre for Time Use Research, University College, London discuss a hypothetical chore calculator; what chores are being inputted daily and what’s the emotional result? Presented by Anita Rani Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Karen Dalziel

The conservatives and Labour party appear to be agreed on one issue on the political agenda – that is childcare. Both parties realise it will be a key battleground in the general election with polling suggesting it is of particular concern in some of the red wall seat which the conservatives need to hold onto if they are to stay in government. The UK’s childcare system is one of the most expensive in the world and ranked one of the least effective according to a recent report by UNICEF. Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson joins Nuala McGovern in the studio to discuss her party’s plans for reform which she says will compare with Aneurin Bevan’s creation of the National Health Service.What is the role of a best friend at a deathbed? ‘We All Want Impossible Things’ a new novel by Catherine Newman is funny and rude as well as very sad and it’s a celebration of all sorts of love. Ash's best friend is dying and her heart is breaking but life does go on, until it stops. Catherine Newman joins Nuala to explain what inspired the bookWhen she was 19, Chanel Contos was playing a drinking game with friends. Someone asked ‘what’s the kinkiest thing you like to do during sex? Her 17-year-old friend replied, ‘It’s not really that kinky, but I guess choking.’ Now 24, and listed as one of the BBC’s 100 Women, Chanel wants to challenge the normalisation of sexual choking (and other acts such as spitting or slapping). She’s joined on the programme by writer Rachel Thompson, author of Rough: How Violence Has Found Its Way Into the Bedroom and what We Can Do about it. They discuss why these acts are so prevalent, and whether women and girls are feeling pressured into them.Could the state pension age be raised again from 67 to 68 and what would it mean for women? We talk to the former pensions minister and conserative peer Baroness Ros Altmann.And we hear the latest about female nominations at the Oscars with film critic Karen Krizanovich.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Donald McDonald

An independent review into Zara Aleena's murder found a catalogue of errors by the probation service. HM Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell who conducted the review joins Nuala McGovern along with Zara Aleena's aunt Farah Naz. According to new research being single comes at a price. Single people pay, on average, £860 a month more than people living in couples. So why does it cost an extra £10k per year to live as a single person? And is the independence and freedom that some single people feel worth the price tag? Nicola Slawson is a journalist and founder of The Single Supplement. There's been a long running campaign for working women going through the menopause to get better protection. This morning the government has announced it won't make the menopause a protected characteristic, in the same way things like age and sex are - despite a recommendation from MPs that it should be. The government is commissioning more research into the subject, and cheaper and better access to HRT. But is this enough? Reporter Melanie Abbott gives us the full details of the government's response to calls for more protection. And campaigner Helen Garlick from Henpicked tells us she is calling for more action. A new study will examine the disproportionate number of female teachers developing asbestos related diseases. Backed by teaching unions, it’s hoped the findings will put more pressure on the government to take action on asbestos in school buildings. Nuala will be talking to Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, and one woman who lost her mother – a teacher for many years - to asbestos related lung cancer, mesothelioma. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

The Brits scrapped their best male and best female awards last year in favour of gender-neutral prizes. This year no women are on the shortlist for best artist - won by Adele last year - though are nominated in other categories. Social media has been awash with fans of musicians like Charlie XCX, Florence Welch, Mabel and Ella Henderson asking why they'd been overlooked. We hear from journalist Laura Snapes the Guardian's music editor and Vick Bain who's worked in the music industry for 25 years, was the CEO of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers & Authors and founder of The F-List directory of UK female musicians. Several former employees at the Welsh Rugby Union have told the BBC about a ‘toxic’ culture of sexism at the organisation. Nuala McGovern is joined by former Wales rugby international and Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi. Do you ever wonder why you’re being shown particular adverts online? Nuala speaks to one woman, Hannah Tomes, who is being advertised egg donation banks despite having no interest in this – she wonders if she’s being advertised to because of her gender – we will seek to find out if she’s right and speak to the BBC’s Technology Editor Zoe Kleinman. Figures from the ONS show that there are now twice as many women giving birth over the age of 40 as there are having children under the age of 20. But does the age you become a mother change the way you experience parenting? We hear from two women who had children at very different points in their lives…Lucy Baker the founder of the blog Geriatric Mum and Lauren Crosby Medlicott a freelance journalist who has written about her experience as a young mum.Presenter Nuala McGovern Producer Beverley Purcell

The award-winning actor Michelle Williams discusses her new role in Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical film, The Fabelmans. She plays Mitzi, a concert pianist who’s put her artistic ambition aside to raise a family, and is struggling to play a supporting role to her computer genius husband. Michelle explains why she was attracted to the role, and how her work in Dawson's Creek as a teenager set her up for Hollywood success. On Thursday, the New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced her shock resignation. We discuss with BBC Diplomatic Correspondent James Lansdale, former Prime Minister Helen Clark and the political scientist Lara Greaves from Auckland University.Wendy Warrington is an NHS nurse and midwife who has been giving medical help and support to women and children in Ukraine since March last year. She tells us about the impact of the war on maternity services in the country. Afghan police have confirmed that a former Afghan MP and her bodyguard have been shot dead at her home in the capital Kabul. Mursal Nabizada was one of nine out of 69 female MPs who chose to stay in the country after the Taliban returned to power. We speak to Fawzia Koofi, Afghanistan's First Woman Deputy Speaker of Parliament.The Oscar-nominated actor and Downton Abbey star Elizabeth McGovern shares her experience of playing Martha in a new production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?‘Lucky girl syndrome’ is a new trend taking over TikTok with over 80 million views of the hashtag. The journalist Róisín Lanigan from i-D magazine and psychologist Catherine Hallissey discuss whether it’s just a new take on positive thinking, and whether there is any psychological basis for it.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lucy Wai Editor: Lucinda Montefiore

The Hollywood actor Michelle Williams began her career aged 16 on the TV drama Dawson’s Creek. Now, at 42, she’s starring in Steven Spielberg’s new film The Fabelmans, based on his own family. She plays Mitzi, a concert pianist who’s put her artistic ambition aside to raise a family, and is struggling to play a supporting role to her computer genius husband. But the crucial relationship portrayed in the movie is the one between Mitzi and her son, Sammy. Michelle joins Anita to explain why she was attracted to the role.There are an estimated 2.1 million people in the UK experiencing self-reported long covid, according to data from the Office for National Statistics which affects women more than men. But in the NHS priorities and operational planning guidance for 2023-24, no mention was made of Long Covid. Dr Binita Kane is a Consultant Respiratory Physician in Manchester. She also has a daughter with long covid and knows the challenges that causes and is worried that Long Covid has been deprioritised. She is joined by Dr Melissa Heightman, clinical lead for Post Covid services at University College Hospital London, and the National speciality advisor with the long covid programme for NHS England.Some outfits grab all the attention. Think Lady Gaga's meat dress, Madonna's Cone bra or J Lo in her plunge neck green Versace dress. Well Monday night saw the return of the ITV dating show Love Island but it was the outfit worn by the new host Maya Jama that got everyone talking. It was sexy, and red, and - you might be surprised to know - crocheted. The person who made it is the young designer Sierra Ndagire who joins Anita.It’s been 25 years since Goodness Gracious Me graced our television screens on BBC 2. It was the first comedy sketch show conceived, written and performed by British Asians. Anita Rani chats with the multi-hyphenate artists, Meera Syal and Nina Wadia from the original ensemble cast. They discuss how they birthed a new “Asian Comedy” genre and its role today, getting spotted in a restaurant by George Michael, and some of their infamous sketches that added a new lens to British women.

When art historian Joanna Wolfarth was pregnant with her first child, she assumed she would breastfeed, as her mother had fed her. This didn’t go according to plan. In a bid to understand her own feelings and attitudes about feeding her baby, she has just published a new book called Milk: An Intimate History of Breastfeeding . We discuss the shock resignation of New Zealander Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with BBC Diplomatic Correspondent James Lansdale, former Prime Minister Helen Clark and the political scientist Lara Greaves from Auckland University.The premier league and the football association has been spelling out what they'll do to attract more women both as players and fans. But critics say women players are still too often thought of as an afterthought when it comes to both resources and facilities. And that fans are put off because they are badly catered for and misogyny can be rife in football stadia. We hear from football corrrespondent Jacqui Oatley and Shaista Aziz from the campaign group The Three Hijabis and the Academic Dr Stacey Pope from Durham University. Do you consider yourself to be a lucky person? ‘Lucky girl syndrome’ is a new trend taking over TikTok with over 80 million views of the hashtag. The concept involves telling yourself that you are the luckiest person in the world, that everything always works out for you - and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The journalist Róisín Lanigan from i-D magazine and psychologist Catherine Hallissey join Anita to discuss whether it’s just a new take on positive thinking, and whether there is any psychological basis for it.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Bob Nettles

(Photo Amy Ní Fhearraigh by Kip Carroll)Rosemary Kennedy has often been referred to as the "missing Kennedy". She was the sister of former US President John F. Kennedy and despite been part of one of the most famous families in American politics, very little was known about Rosemary. Until recently. Her story has been brought to life by the Irish National Opera in Least Like the Other – Searching for Rosemary Kennedy at the Royal Opera House. Director Netia Jones and soprano Amy Ní Fhearraigh join Jessica Creighton to discuss the production and its themes.The First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, told CNN news that it is the women in Ukraine who are bearing the brunt of the war, caring for their children and older relatives, and keeping things going. Someone who knows this only too well is Wendy Warrington, an NHS nurse and midwife who has been going out to give medical help and support to women and children in Ukraine since March last year. She joins Jessica to talk about the situations that she sees every day, and how women really are at the heart of it all.The Queen of Reinvention, Madonna, has announced her first ever greatest hits tour to mark 40 years since her breakout single, Holiday. She'll be playing 35 dates around the world. Performing hits from her 1983 self-titled debut album to 2019's Madame X. Jess dicusses her influence with Fiona Sturges, Arts writer for The Guardian and the Financial Times.Yesterday serial rapist David Carrick was formally dismissed by the Metropolitan Police. He pleaded guilty to 24 rapes and multiple sexual offences. Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, has apologised to his victims for the force’s failings. The force is currently investigating 1,000 sexual and domestic abuse claims involving about 800 of its officers. For survivors hearing about these cases in the news can be very difficult. Jess speaks to Nicola Brookes who was groomed by a police officer. The independent office of Police conduct said he “knowingly targeted and exploited” her.During the Covid 19 lockdown, the writer Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett decided - like many of us - to get a pet. She acquired Mackerel, a kitten, whose antics over one year helped her examine her desire and fears about becoming a mother and inspired her to write her latest book ‘The Year of the Cat’. Jessica Creighton asks Rhiannon about cat ladies and the extraordinary cat characters of her childhood, and the deeper themes of her book - anxiety and recovery from trauma, family love and why she used to say, “I’m not sure I want children.”Presented by Jessica Creighton Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Beverley Purcell

Elizabeth McGovern was Oscar nominated for her portrayal of Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime and, by the age of 21, had played leading roles in Once Upon A Time In America followed by The Handmaid’s Tale and The Wings of the Dove. She is probably best known though for playing Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey. She is now on stage starring in Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? The actress and musician joins Jessica to discuss her varied career so far and what drew her to the role of Martha.A misconduct hearing today will formally dismiss David Carrick from the Metropolitan Police, after he admitted twenty-four counts of rape and multiple sexual assaults. Carrick was finally stopped when one woman reported him in October 2021. Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, has apologised to Carrick's victims, and says the force is currently also investigating 1,000 sexual and domestic abuse claims involving about 800 of its officers. Jessica is joined to discuss by Shabnam Chaudhri, who served as an officer in the Met for 30 years.Tomorrow will see the start of a second round of strikes by the Royal College of Nursing. The RCN says that this will be the biggest walkout so far, affecting 55 trusts in England - that's 11 more than last month. They are calling for a pay rise of 5% above inflation, with inflation currently sitting at 14%. The government says the demands are unaffordable and pay rises were decided by independent pay review bodies. NHS staff in England and Wales - including nurses - have already received an average increase of 4.75%. The union says that there will be a further two strikes in February in England and Wales, unless there is movement on pay by the end of this month. Pat Cullen is the General Secretary and Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing, and joins Jessica.Today marks the 250th anniversary of the UK in the Antarctic following the first voyage of James Cook in 1773. In contrast to Cook’s all-male crew in the 18th century, the UK’s current polar leadership includes several women. What is it like to be a female leader in this field? Jessica Creighton is joined by Jane Rumble, the Head of Polar Regions Department at the UK Foreign Office, Professor Dame Jane Francis, the Director of the British Antarctic Survey and Captain Milly Ingham, the Captain of HMS Protector, The Royal Navy’s ice patrol ship to find out.One of literary history’s favourite characters – Alison the Wife of Bath – from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales is re-examined in a new book by Professor Marion Turner from Oxford University. Marion tells Jessica how the lusty life story of the medieval Alison who married five times has inspired other writers from Shakespeare to Zadie Smith.