Ten people have been found guilty of cyber-bullying Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, by a Paris court, but that is not the end of the lawsuits. Next up, it's the Macrons against the controversial right-wing podcaster Candace Owens in a US civil court. They've accused her of mounting “a campaign of global humiliation”. Nuala McGovern speaks to Sophie Pedder from The Economist, in Paris, and BBC journalist Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty.Dr Miriam Stoppard has been writing books for five decades now - maybe one has helped you through a relationship, or a pregnancy, or with your parenting or your grand parenting, many of you will have loved her column as an agony aunt. Today she wants to talk about our sex lives as we grow older. Her new book is Sex, Drugs and Walking Sticks. In our new series Going it Alone, we are hearing from three women about their experiences of having a child without a partner. These are women who are having donor-conceived children, which is different to single mums who may have split up with the child’s father. Statistics show that more women than ever in the UK are choosing to become solo mums by choice. Today we hear Jay's story.Lynley is a new TV adaptation of Elizabeth George’s much-loved Lynley detective series novels on BBC One. Central to this four-part series is the relationship between Detective Inspector Tommy Lynley, played by Leo Suter, who is the son of an Earl, and the working class, no-nonsense Detective Superintendent Barbara Havers, who’s been assigned to work with him. Barbara Havers is played by actor Sofia Barclay, who joins Nuala in the studio. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Helen Fitzhenry

In our new series Going it Alone we are hearing from three women about their experiences of having a child without a partner. These are women who are having donor conceived children, which is different to single mums who may have split up with the child’s father. Statistics show that more women than ever in the UK are choosing to become solo mums by choice. Today Lucy tells us her story. We also hear a discussion about the legal and practical implications of this with Nina Barnsley, Director of the Donor Conception Network and Clare Ettinghausen, a Director at the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.Today Delcy Rodriguez will be sworn in as Venezuela's president after the capture of Nicolas Maduro, who has been in charge of the country since 2013. And she is not the only woman in the spotlight following this weekend's events. Cilia Flores, who is the wife of Maduro and a political force in her own right, was taken with her husband and is now set to appear in a New York court in the coming hours. Attention is also on Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel peace prize winner. The BBC's South America correspondent Ione Wells and Professor Rebecca Jarman from Leeds University, an expert in Venezuelan politics and history, discuss.There are over 100,000 children who have at least one parent serving in the British military. Louise Fetigan was a serving army officer when she had her first child in her early 20s. She had been posted to Germany, was looking after a newborn and her husband had been deployed to Iraq. She has set up the charity Little Troopers to provide specific support for the children of military families. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Since her big break in Muriel’s Wedding 30 years ago, actor Toni Collette has graced our screens in a huge list of standout roles from The Sixth Sense to Hereditary, Little Miss Sunshine to Mickey 17. She joined Kylie Pentelow to discuss her latest film, Goodbye June. The emotional directorial debut from Kate Winslet tackles themes of love, loss and Christmas as a fractious family come together to sit vigil for the family matriarch, played by Helen Mirren.From the very beginning of the NHS in 1948, Irish women were actively recruited to staff British hospitals. By the 1960s, there were around 30,000 Irish-born nurses - making up roughly one in eight of all nurses – yet their contribution has often gone unrecognised. A new book aims to change that. Based on dozens of interviews, it tells the story of Irish nurses in their own words. We hear from co-author of Irish Nurses in the NHS: An Oral History, Professor Louise Ryan, who spent years researching Irish migration and from Ethel Corduff, who came to England to train as a nurse, a career she spent 40 years in.Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, or RED-S as it's known, was once framed as a concern only for elite athletes. But as running culture intensifies alongside weight-loss jabs and healthy eating trends, RED-S has become more widespread. It's often hard to spot, but the long-term consequences can be devastating, impacting immune function, growth and fertility. Sports dietitian Renee McGregor and Jodie Pearlman, who experienced the condition first hand, joined Kylie to talk about the condition.Why can adults seem to regress to childhood or teenage behaviours at Christmas? We discuss family dynamics and the kinds of behaviour that can re-surface with everyone under the same roof again. Guardian columnist Elle Hunt shares her own experience alongside Woman's Hour listeners, and psychotherapist Julia Samuel offers advice.It's 75 years since The Archers first launched. Woman's Hour broadcast from Ambridge to celebrate the female characters who have helped this programme tackle some of the most challenging, contentious and sensitive issues affecting women. Nuala McGovern joined Felicity Finch, who plays Ruth Archer, for a behind-the-scenes tour, along with Technical Producer Vanessa Nuttall.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Annette Wells

A new report out from UNICEF has revealed some devastating figures on the prevalence of sexual violence against children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nationwide data indicates that more than 35,000 cases of sexual violence against children were recorded from January to September of 2025. It is understood that the true number is likely to be higher than these figures, with the crime being underreported due to fear and stigma. Kylie Pentelow is joined by UNICEF’s Chief of Child Protection, Ramatou Touré, to discuss the report. Maintaining friendships in adulthood can feel like a full-time job, especially when calendars clash, energy runs low, and “let’s catch up soon” becomes a recurring loop. We revisit The Woman’s Hour Guide to Life episode on friendships to explore why staying connected is so challenging in a busy life. Nuala McGovern speaks to journalist Claire Cohen, psychotherapist Dr Julia Samuel, and the psychologist Dr Marisa G Franco, who share expert insights, relatable stories, and advice you’ll genuinely want to put into practice.Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, or RED-S as it's known, was once framed as a concern only for elite athletes. But as running culture intensifies alongside weight-loss jabs and healthy eating trends, RED-S has become more widespread. It's often hard to spot, but the long-term consequences can be devastating, impacting immune function, growth and fertility. Sports dietitian Renee McGregor and Jodie Pearlman, who experienced the condition first hand, tell Kylie more about the condition.It’s peak time for university applications at the moment, with the deadline looming in mid January. UCAS’ data for 2025, shows that 31% of 18 year olds in the UK are planning to live at home this year, which is a record high compared to 22% a decade ago. So if almost a third are staying at home, what is student life like today and how does it compare to the student experience of the past? Discussing this with Kylie are Sakithya Nathan, a first year student at Birkbeck University in London, Daisy Depledge-Kittle, a third year student at Leeds Trinity University, and Dr Aimee Quickfall, Head of the School of Education and Childhood at Leeds Trinity University. Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Andrea Kidd

It's 75 years to the day since The Archers first launched. Woman's Hour has come to Ambridge to celebrate the female characters who have helped this programme tackle some of the most challenging, contentious and sensitive issues affecting women.Nuala McGovern is joined in The Archers studio at BBC Birmingham by writer Sarah Hehir, Dr Cara Courage from Academic Archers, who studies the social history behind the programme, Sunny Ormonde, who plays Lilian Bellamy, and we also hear from Emerald O'Hanrahan, who plays Emma Grundy. Times columnist and long time fan of The Archers Libby Purves shares a condensed history of the women of Ambridge. Nuala also gets a behind the scenes tour from Felicity Finch, who plays Ruth Archer, and Technical Producer Vanessa Nuttall.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Simon Richardson

Since her big break in Muriel’s Wedding 30 years ago, actor Toni Collette has graced our screens in a huge list of standout roles from The Sixth Sense to Hereditary, Little Miss Sunshine to Mickey 17. She joins Kylie Pentelow to discuss her latest film, Goodbye June. The emotional directorial debut from Kate Winslet tackles themes of love, loss and Christmas as a fractious family come together to sit vigil for the family matriarch, played by Helen Mirren. It’s the last day of the year and always a good time to reflect on the inevitable ups and downs that any year can hold for all of us. But what about the people in your life who have particularly impacted you this year. Who have been the women – close to you or maybe not – who have been significant for you? Friends, family, public figures? Kylie is joined by Olympic rower Dame Katherine Grainger – currently the chairwoman of the British Olympic Association (BOA), Helen Lewis, staff writer at The Atlantic and Natalie Haynes - author of six novels and broadcaster in her own right.We all have to juggle money, but are we spending it in ways that actually bring us joy or cause us anxiety? We revisit The Woman’s Hour Guide to Life episode on Challenging Your Money Mindset and dig into spending habits and explore how to align your money choices with the life you really want. Nuala McGovern speaks to journalist and author Anniki Sommerville, Claer Barrett, Consumer Editor at the Financial Times and host of the Money Clinic podcast, and Abigail Foster, chartered accountant and author of The Money Manual.With the Christmas school break in full swing, perhaps your house has been full of children. But what do you do when someone else’s child begins to act up? Do you tell them off or simply put up with the behaviour until you can hand them back to their parents? Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Corinna Jones

Beyoncé has been declared a billionaire by Forbes, making her the fifth musician to join its list of the world's wealthiest people with 10 figure fortunes, including Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Bruce Springsteen and Beyoncé's husband Jay Z. Clare McDonnell speaks to Jacqueline Springer, music journalist and Curator of Africa & Diaspora: Performance at the Victoria & Albert museum, about what makes Beyoncé such a successful businesswoman, and the challenges along the way.Why can adults seem to regress to childhood or teenage behaviours at Christmas? We discuss family dynamics and the kinds of behaviour that can re-surface with everyone under the same roof again. Guardian columnist Elle Hunt shares her own experience alongside Woman's Hour listeners, and Psychotherapist Julia Samuel offers advice. Madelaine Thomas works as a professional dominatrix. When her own images were shared online without her consent, she decide to develop a tool that could allow images to be tracked, and abusers identified. Image Angel was the result, offering forensic image protection for platforms, and she's now trying to get businesses in the adult entertainment industry on board. Do we need to re-think our attitudes to ageing, as we age? As we approach 2026, we consider how to shed a negative attitude towards ageing, and embrace growing older and wiser, by revisiting an episode of the Woman’s Hour Guide to Life: How to make ageing your superpower. Therapist Emma Kirkby-Geddes shares how she’s been struggling to accept the passage of time. Gerontologist Dr Kerry Burnight, and Jacqueline Hooton, a personal trainer and ‘ageing well’ coach, offer advice. Research tells us that girls tend to disengage from politics before the age of 16, just as boys seem to grow in confidence. Academics at Roehampton University have looked into this and have created a programme aimed at Year 9 students, in an attempt to re-engage teenage girls in issues that matter to them and boost their confidence to speak politically. Professor Bryony Hoskins has created G-EPIC (Gender Empowerment through Politics in the Classroom) and Rachel Burlton is a teacher at Mulberry School for Girls in London who has been teaching the programme.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Helen Fitzhenry

Yesterday, the women's tennis number one, Aryna Sabalenka, faced Nick Kyrgios, ranked 671st in the men's game, in a match that was dubbed the new 'Battle of the Sexes'. She lost in straight sets. The title references the 1973 game when the best women’s player in the world, Billie Jean King, beat Bobby Riggs in straight sets. But how relevant is this for the game now and what if anything has it achieved for women's sport? Clare McDonnell is joined by BBC Sport journalist Jonathan Jurejko, and Flo Clifford, Sports Reporter for the Independent. From the very beginning of the NHS in 1948, Irish women were actively recruited to staff British hospitals. By the 1960s, there were around 30,000 Irish-born nurses - making up roughly one in eight of all nurses – yet their contribution has often gone unrecognised. A new book aims to change that. Based on dozens of interviews, it tells the story of Irish nurses in their own words. We hear from co-author of Irish Nurses in the NHS: and Oral History, Professor Louise Ryan, who spent years researching Irish migration. And from Ethel Corduff, who grew up in Tralee before coming to England to train as a nurse, a career she spent 40 years in.We discuss the women stepping onto the dohyo - the sacred circle used for Sumo wrestling. There has been a surge of interest in the UK—so what’s drawing more women to this ancient sport? Especially as in Japan they are still banned from competing professionally. We’ll hear from British competitor Toraigh Mallon and from Lance Wicks from Southampton Sumo. Did you manage to switch off from work over Christmas? Is your mind already turning to setting some big life goals for 2026? If you struggled to strike the right balance in 2025, we have just the thing to help you reset your relationship with work and success for the year ahead. The Woman’s Hour Guide to Life features a whole episode on ambition, burnout, and how to stay driven while also being kind to yourself. TV chef and author Lorraine Pascale and Dr Claire Ashley, the author of The Burnout Doctor, discuss.Could AI be the answer to treating age-related diseases – or could it reinforce gender biases that sideline women’s health? Dr Carina Kern is a geneticist and biotechnology scientist who specialises in ageing. She joins Clare in the studio to discuss the potential risks and benefits of using AI in medical research and ageing. Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Kirsty Starkey

On Woman’s Hour Christmas Day programme, Nuala McGovern and Anita Rani discussed the rituals and traditions that we do at Christmas. Some passed down across the generations and some adapted through in-laws or friends. With a recent YouGov poll saying that 89% of Brits celebrate Christmas and most of the preparation and work that goes into this festive season is done by women, what role do women play in the making and maintaining of these rituals? Nuala and Anita find out about the importance of nostalgia and why we love to do the same thing year after year. Dr Audrey Tang, author and a chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society, explains the importance of the rituals we do and why we do them.Woman’s Hour celebrates the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth. Her novels have been translated into almost every major language and there are societies of Austen lovers and scholars in every corner of the globe, from Australia to Argentina and Iran to Italy. To tell us why Austen still captivates readers in their parts of the world, Nuala McGovern was joined by Laaleen Sukhera, founder of the Jane Austen Society of Pakistan and the founding member of the Austen Society of Japan, and researcher at the University of Southampton, Dr. Hatsuyo Shimazaki.We've just had the shortest day of the year, and the most amount of darkness. But how do women live their lives in the dark today? You might have to work at night, or find it the best time to be productive. Or you might harness darkness as a time to think and meditate. Anita Rani speaks to two people who have considered the pros and cons of darkness in very different ways. Lucy Edwards is a Blind Broadcaster, Journalist, Author, Content Creator and Disability Activist. Arifa Akbar is theatre critic for the Guardian whose investigations into the dark formed her book, Wolf Moon.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells

NB: The music in this broadcast has been removed from the podcast for rights reasons.We've just had the shortest day of the year, and the most amount of darkness. But how do women live their lives in the dark today? You might have to work at night, or find it the best time to be productive. Or you might harness darkness as a time to think and meditate. Anita Rani speaks to two people who have considered the pros and cons of darkness in very different ways. Lucy Edwards is a Blind Broadcaster, Journalist, Author, Content Creator and Disability Activist and Arifa Akbar is theatre critic for the Guardian whose investigations into the dark formed her book, Wolf Moon, which came out this summer. Earlier this month we asked you for your night time experiences and were contacted by listener Catherine Smeeth who is a 55-year-old newly qualified class 1 HGV driver which is the heaviest you can get at 44 tons. She does a 300 mile round trip in an articulated lorry with a double decker trailer. Catherine got her licence 3 months ago and says the night roads are "great for a newbie getting to grips with the road". She works 12 hour shifts overnight, and recorded one of them for us. Dame Maggie Aderin Pocock is a legend when it comes to the night sky. She is a space scientist and educator, having presented the Sky at Night and she is presenting this year’s Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. She has written books for adults and children, presented TV film 'Do we really need the Moon?', received a Damehood in 2024 for services to science education and diversity and in 2023 had a Barbie doll made in her name. So who better to ask about how the night sky can inspire and comfort us? We’ve heard about darkness and fear and overcoming that and how the lights in the sky can be both awe inspiring and comforting. But what about the past? What kind of relationship have women had with the dark over time? To help answer that, Anita is joined by archaeologist Dr Marion Dowd and Professor Jane Hamlett.Moving on from the past to modern day celebrations at night. And where better than with nightclubs and music. Anita is joined by Woman’s Hour’s resident Boxing Day DJ Jamz Supernova who suggests some tracks for getting the party started and keeping it going. Presenter Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

On this Christmas Day’s Woman’s Hour Nuala McGovern and Anita Rani are discussing the rituals and traditions that we do at Christmas. Some passed down across the generations and some adapted through in-laws or friends that make this time of year so special and unique to us all. Do you always receive presents in a stocking? Perhaps it’s a bracing Christmas walk or plunge into the sea, or maybe it’s matching Christmas pyjamas.With a recent YouGov poll saying that 89% of Brits celebrate Christmas and most of the preparation and work that goes into this festive season is done by women, what role do women play in the making and maintaining of these rituals? And Nuala and Anita will be finding out about the importance of nostalgia and why we love to do the same thing year after year. Liza Frank, author of Household Lore - folklore, traditions and remedies for every room in your home, and Beverley Cook, Social History Curator, London Museum, discuss the origins of our treasured rituals and traditions.Dr Audrey Tang, author and a chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society explains the importance of the rituals we do every year and why we do them.Cookery writer Syke McAlpine, author of The Christmas Companion, delves into our food rituals and shares her own Christmas traditions, which span between the UK, Italy and Australia.Author and book coach Penelope Wincer tells us about Friendsmas, hosting friends rather than families at Christmas, and what it’s like to embrace and create new traditions together.Travel journalist Jessica Vincent talks us through some of the rituals that happen across the world, from throwing dough at the ceiling and hoping it sticks, to roller skating to Midnight Mass. And there’s live music from Alexis Strum, who writes a Christmas song every year. Her song for 2025 is called I won’t be lonely this Christmas.Presenters: Nuala McGovern and Anita Rani Producer: Andrea Kidd Editor: Karen Dalziel

The US Department of Justice released another batch of documents related to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Many of the pages are heavily redacted and represent only a fraction of the number held by the FBI. Marina Lacerda met Epstein when she was 14 years old in New York around 2002 and was abused by him. She gave her reaction to the last Friday's release of documents. South Asian women have long been underrepresented in the DJ scene - largely due to a combination of cultural expectations and gender stereotypes but that’s starting to change. Every Saturday, Asian Network’s DJ Kizzi bring us a House Party show. This Saturday - the final one of 2025 - she’s ending the year in style with a special House Party featuring five South Asian female DJs in back-to-back sets. They will be representing the different diasporas and Asian cultures, from Punjabi and Pakistani to Bengali and Tamil. DJ Kizzi and DJ Manara join Krupa to talk about what it means to be a female South Asian DJ in a male-dominated industry and why they’re passionate about championing female DJ talent.‘Fly girls love planes’ - that’s the motto of Gloria Amponsem, founder of a plane spotting group for women. After her videos went viral on social media, The Plane Spotting Club has organised group socials and built an online community with hundreds of women. Founder Gloria and member of the club Michelle Fradgley join Krupa to discuss why they love plane spotting and how their group is challenging stereotypes.Brahmacharini Shripriya Chaitanya, a spiritual leader at Chinmaya Mission London, shares the wisdom of Advaita Vedanta, the Hindu philosophy of non-duality that teaches all existence is one interconnected reality. After studying in India, she returned to the UK and has spent seven years guiding her community through talks, writings, and her podcast, as well as appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Prayer for the Day. This festive season, her message is simple - pause, practise mindfulness and gratitude, and reconnect with the stillness within to find calm and light amid the celebrations.As Noel Coward’s funny, shocking play Fallen Angels is revived one hundred years after it was first performed, actress and singer Janie Dee joins Krupa to talk about how the play almost didn’t make it past the censors, and Noel Coward cabaret night, plus she performs a Noel Coward song live in the studio. Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Dianne McGregor

Women and babies have become targets in conflicts around the world, according to an investigation by The Guardian. Along with data collected by the NGO Insecurity Insight, it identified nearly 300 attacks on and disruptions to maternity care facilities, staff and pregnant women over the past three years and at least 119 incidents involving direct strikes on hospitals and delivery wards. Datshiane Navanayagam is joined by Liz Cookman, Europe Correspondent at The Observer and freelancer at The Guardian and Times, who worked on the story.For the Sun After Long Nights is an on-the-ground exploration of the Woman, Life, Freedom protests in Iran, one of the country's largest uprisings in decades, after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. Journalist Nilo Tabrizy discusses writing the book with fellow Iranian journalist Fatemeh Jamalpour, keeping in touch while Fatemeh was in Tehran, and why she thinks it's important to show the history of the Iranian women's rights movement.As Soho jazz club Ronnie Scott's prepares to open its newly revamped upstairs space, Ronnie Scott’s head of music Sarah Weller and resident singer Natalie Williams join Datshiane to talk about the history of the venue, the iconic musicians who have played there from Nina Simone to Ella Fitzgerald, and how the role of women in jazz has changed over six decades. Plus, Natalie treats us to a rendition of the Christmas classic, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, live in the studio. And with many generations getting together over the festive period, what can we do to ensure the older members of our families feel cherished and included in the celebrations? Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, and Louise Blezzard, a former nurse who runs a care service looking after older people in their homes, join us.Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Simon Richardson

Christmas parties, Christmas dinners, Christmas Day: this time of the year can be full of hosting duties and opportunities. But for many women, hosting can be the source of stress and worry, whether it’s the house, the food or the relationships between our family and friends. To discuss what our worries reveal and what you can do to enjoy hosting more and stress a bit less, Datshiane Navanayagam is joined by psychotherapist and author Philippa Perry and content creator Matilda Bea.Thousands of pages of documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's abuse were released by the US Department of Justice last Friday and dominated headlines over the weekend. The DOJ then removed at least 13 files from the website without explanation by Saturday because of concerns raised by victims, according to the deputy attorney general. One of the images removed included a photograph of US President Donald Trump. Datshiane Navanayagam is joined by BBC Correspondent, Joe Inwood to hear more. The government has announced that next year it will cease funding its flagship international programme to prevent FGM, or Female Genital Mutilation. A recent report published by a group of MPs says access to services for survivors in the UK is a postcode lottery and they are often not provided with the appropriate counselling services. To discuss this, Datshiane Navanayagam is joined by Sema Gornall, CEO of The Vavengers, a UK-based charity committed to ending Female Genital Mutilation, and Christine Jardine, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West and member of the Women and Equalities Committee.Christmas shopping is stressful at the best of times, but what about for those working in retail? Women account for 66% of jobs in the sector, and a recent study by the retail trust found three quarters have experienced abuse this year, with 43% wanting to quit their jobs as a result. The rate of shoplifting has also gone up by 13% from last year, the highest for 20 years. We hear from retail worker Stephanie Michelle and Chris Brook-Carter, chief executive of the Retail Trust. Presented by: Datshiane Navanayagam Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

This week the Government set out its strategy to deal with violence against women and girls. This makes up nearly 20% of all recorded crime in England and Wales. Over the last year alone, one in every eight women was a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking, according to Home Office figures. Educating boys on misogyny is a key aim of the strategy and figures show that nearly one in five boys aged 13 to 15 are said to hold a positive view of the self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate, according to a YouGov poll. Alex Davies-Jones, the minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, joins Anita Rani to discuss the Government's strategy.Hollywood actor Kate Hudson’s latest movie Song Sung Blue is based on the real life story of Wisconsin couple Mike and Claire Sardina. Kate plays Claire, who along with her husband Mike, played by Hugh Jackman, finds local fame in the 1990s as a Neil Diamond tribute act. Kate tells Anita about the appeal of the role and how she’s now found empowerment and her voice.Woman’s Hour celebrates the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth. Nuala McGovern delves into the world that Jane was born into in 1775. She is joined by the author Gill Hornby, President of the UK Jane Austen Society, and by Dr Zoe McGee whose book Courting Disaster explores the issue of consent in Regency literature.According to a survey in the press this week, nearly half of younger women surveyed said they are confident in painting and decorating, compared with just 28% of young men. The stats are from the motoring and cycling firm Halfords who said its study revealed a reversal from previous generations. We hear from Vickie Lee, DIY YouTuber known online as The Carpenter's Daughter, alongside Caroline Henn, founder of bePractical DIY in Bristol, who runs courses aimed at making DIY accessible.We celebrate the phenomenon of female tribute acts to male bands. Gobby Holder, aka Danie Cox of Slady and Lolo Wood of The Fallen Women and Ye Nuns discuss.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

Hollywood actor Kate Hudson’s latest movie Song Sung Blue is based on the real life story of Wisconsin couple Mike and Claire Sardina. Kate plays Claire, who along with her husband Mike, played by Hugh Jackman, finds local fame in the 1990s as a Neil Diamond tribute act. Kate tells Anita Rani about the appeal of the role and how she’s now found empowerment and her voice. Set up in 2015, the Undercover Policing Inquiry is one of the most complicated, expensive and delayed public inquiries in British legal history. At its heart is a series of very serious allegations of systematic abuses by undercover policing units over 40 years, which involved spying on tens of thousands of activists and led to relationships with women who did not know they were being spied on. The BBC's Ayshea Buksh has been following the inquiry closely and joins Anita to explain the latest revelations. Sophie Blake is a former TV presenter and now a campaigner for cancer charities. She is also a single mother living with stage 4 cancer. She joins Anita, along with her teenage daughter, Maya, to talk candidly about parenting through incurable cancer, what this means for their relationship and why time together, especially around the Christmas holidays, is that much more valuable.We hear a lot about young men moving to the Right politically, but at the last election young women swung just as strongly, if not more so, to the Left. Why is this so little discussed and what does it mean for the UK’s political future? Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff has been exploring these issues in a new Radio 4 documentary, Left Out: the political radicalisation of young women - and the silence surrounding it. She and Scarlett Maguire from political pollsters, Merlin Strategy, join Anita.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

Today the Government sets out its strategy to deal with violence against women and girls. This makes up nearly 20% of all recorded crime in England and Wales. Over the last year alone, one in every eight women was a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking, according to Home Office figures. Educating boys on misogyny is a key aim of today’s strategy and figures show that nearly one in five boys aged 13 to 15 are said to hold a positive view of the self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate, according to a YouGov poll. Alex Davies-Jones, the minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, joins Anita Rani to discuss the Government's strategy.With the long, cold and dark evenings, now feels like the perfect time to curl up indoors and get lost in a book. Well, if you’re looking for something cosy to read over Christmas, look no further than Jenny Colgan. Her books have been Sunday Times & New York Times bestsellers, selling more than 15 million copies worldwide. Jenny tells Anita about her latest novel, The Secret Christmas Library, set in the snowy landscape of the Scottish Highlands.In England almost two thirds of people are considered obese or overweight. An estimated 1.5 million people in the UK, are using weight-loss injections, or GLP1s. But what happens when you decide to stop, or have no choice but to come off them? A BBC News documentary on iPlayer, What Happens When, asks just that. To find out more Anita is joined by Dr Emma Anders who, after a short break, has decided to continue using weight loss jabs, and the GP, Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi. Amara Okereke has been taking the musical theatre world by storm, with roles including Cosette in Les Misérables and Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. She’s currently singing and dancing across the stage as American model Dale Tremont, in the Irving Berlin’s 1930s musical Top Hat at London’s Southbank Centre. She tells Anita about the role and her love of musical theatre.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Andrea Kidd

A man believed to be the UK’s most prolific romance fraudster, who conned a number of women into giving him almost a million pounds, has been jailed for seventeen years - the longest sentence ever handed down for romance fraud in the UK. Anna Rowe, founder of Catch the Catfish and a former victim of romance fraud joins Nuala.It’s 50 years this month since the Sex Discrimination Act was passed - a cause and campaign which united women across classes and generations. Historian Dr Lyndsey Jenkins tells us about the struggle to make it law, and the impact it had on women’s lives.This morning we reveal that the Home Office is planning to expand a pilot scheme where domestic abuse specialists are embedded in police 999 control rooms to advise officers handling calls. They listen in, provide feedback, run training sessions for call handlers and ensure victims are pointed to support services. This pilot was introduced earlier this year under "Raneem's law" after Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola Saleem were murdered by Raneem's ex partner. Raneem had called West Midlands police 14 times to report concerns about her safety. Her aunt Nour Norris has campaigned for this change and joins Nuala in the studio.We celebrate the phenomenon of female tribute acts to male bands. Gobby Holder, aka Danie Cox of Slady and Lolo Wood of The Fallen Women and Ye Nuns tell us how their audiences have grown.

Woman’s Hour celebrates the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth. Nuala McGovern delves into the world that Jane was born into in 1775 to explore why her writing has such a following around the world and still feels so relevant to women today. She is joined by the author Gill Hornby, President of the UK Jane Austen Society, and by Dr Zoe McGee whose book Courting Disaster explores the issue of consent in Regency literature, to discuss the life, the novels and the extraordinary characters that have made Jane such an enduring figure.They are joined by Rachel Parris whose new novel Introducing Mrs Collins extends the story of Charlotte Lucas, the character in Pride and Prejudice who does what Lizzie Bennet simply couldn't do and accepts the marriage proposal Mr Collins. As well as being an author, Rachel is a comedian, actor and presenter, not to mention a founding member of Austentatious, a hugely successful live show which improvises a new Jane Austen novel in every performance.Jane Austen’s novels have been translated into almost every major language and there are societies of Austen lovers and scholars in every corner of the globe, from Australia to Argentina and Iran to Italy. Joining us to tell us why Austen still captivates readers in their parts of the world are Laaleen Sukhera, founder of the Jane Austen Society of Pakistan and the founding member of the Austen Society of Japan and researcher at the University of Southampton, Dr. Hatsuyo Shimazaki.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Laura Northedge

The Government is set to unveil its long-awaited Violence Against Women and Girls strategy later this week. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has described violence against women and girls as a 'national emergency'. Some early releases of what will be in the strategy have been reported in the press over the weekend, including establishing specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams in every police force across England and Wales by 2029. Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, and Harriet Wistrich, founder and Director of the Centre for Women's Justice, join Nuala McGovern to talk about what we know so far. According to a survey in lots of the papers today, nearly half of younger women surveyed said they are confident in painting and decorating, compared to just 28% of young men. The stats are from the motoring and cycling firm Halfords who said its study revealed a reversal from previous generations. Vickie Lee, DIY YouTuber known online as The Carpenter's Daughter, joins us, alongside Caroline Henn, founder of bePractical DIY in Bristol, who runs courses aimed at making DIY accessible. Food is a ‘form of conversation between people, between generations of the same family, or between members of local and global communities’, says Alissa Timoshkina, a food writer and historian, whose family has a Ukrainian-Jewish lineage. At the start of Hanukkah, Alissa - author of new recipe book Kapusta - joins Nuala to talk about why she believes food is the language of unity.The Midlothian singer-songwriter Brooke Combe first came to prominence with her singalong, handclapping debut single, Are You With Me? Her early cover songs found mass appeal, particularly her rendition of Baccara’s Yes Sir, I Can Boogie, the Scotland international football team’s anthem in summer 2021. She has performed at Glastonbury and opened for Benson Boone on his American Heart World Tour. She joins Nuala to discuss her music and debut album, Dancing at the Edge of the World.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Simon Richardson

Baroness Amos, who was appointed by the Health Secretary to lead an independent rapid investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal care in England, has said nothing prepared her for the scale of 'unacceptable care' that women and families have received. Presenter Krupa Padhy is joined by the BBC’s Social Affairs correspondent Michael Buchanan and Theo Clarke, former Conservative MP who also chaired the UK Birth Trauma Inquiry and hosts the podcast, Breaking the Taboo, to discuss the review and what comes next.Wages for housework was a feminist mantra in the West in the 1970s – feminist campaigners arguing for recognition of the economic value of domestic labour. The debate has been revived in India over the last decade with an estimated 118 million women across 12 states now receiving unconditional cash transfers from their governments. Devina Gupta, a reporter based in Delhi, and Professor Prabha Kotiswaran from King’s College in London unpick the impact of ‘wages for housework’ on women’s lives and the Indian economy.When Kaitlin Lawrence was just 22 years old, she collapsed whilst playing netball for the then Super League side Surrey Storm. She was eventually diagnosed with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), a genetic condition she never knew she had. Following this, she was forced to give up her dream of playing professionally for Scotland and has gone on to successfully campaign to get cardiac screening introduced in the Netball Super League next season. She tells Anita her story. They were joined by Presenter Gabby Logan, whose younger brother died suddenly at the age of 15 years old from an undiagnosed heart condition. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.A new report highlights the crucial role of strength training and exercise for people on weight loss drugs. Data gathered by fitness professionals, Les Mills and the not-for-profit industry body, ukactive, shows the impact of weight loss drugs on skeletal muscle mass. Their report says that 20-50% of weight loss is lean body mass, which poses significant health risks such as frailty, disability, reduced metabolism, and increased mortality. Physiotherapist Lucy McDonald and Dr Sarah Jarvis join Krupa to discuss the importance of strength training to mitigate muscle loss.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

The Government has announced a £3 billion investment to create around 50,000 new specialised places for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The aim is to speed up support for families and improve provision in both mainstream schools and bespoke facilities. To discuss what that means in practice, Anita Rani is joined by the BBC's Education Correspondent Vanessa Clarke and Sharon Smith, co-director of Special Needs Jungle, a parent-led UK website and resource hub providing news, information, and advocacy for families with children with special educational needs.One of the unexpected stars of this year's Celebrity Race Across The World has been Anita's Dad, Bal, with many people commenting on their touching father/ daughter relationship. Since reaching the finish line, he's now discovered his wanderlust and Anita catches up with him on a Christmas cruise to look back at their time travelling together. The Government’s long-delayed strategy to tackle violence against women and girls is set to be unveiled next week. According to the Movember Foundation, two-thirds of young men regularly engage with masculinity influencers online. A new campaign, Same Side, launched today by UN Women UK, is aiming to counter that with the help of some leading sports stars. One is the former Manchester City and QPR defender Nedum Onuoha. He joins Anita along with Tabitha Morton, Executive Director of UN Women UK.Have you already overindulged at a few parties? Could you imagine getting though the festive season without booze? Well Laura Antonia Jordan hasn't had a drink, or even a mildly tipsy Christmas, for 10 years now. A journalist, she's written about navigating the festive season completely sober after years of living by, as she calls it 'the doctrine of hedonism'. She tells Anita why the cultural pressure can be tough, but dry December does not have to be boring.Boudoir photography, stripping down into lingerie and posing for a photographer may sound like something from the world of supermodels and glossy magazines, but there are lots of women from all walks of life who are choosing to pay for professional intimate photos, as gifts for partners, or just to feel good about themselves. Joining Anita to discuss this increasingly popular world are boudoir photographer Laura Slater and Joley Gordon, who booked herself a session two years ago and has never looked back. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Andrea Kidd

Venezuelan politician and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado was met with cheers on a hotel balcony in Norway in the middle of the night this week. It was the first time that she has been seen in public since January, after being forced into hiding. She also gave an exclusive interview to BBC News and spoke about the significance of this moment. So who is Maria Corina Machado? To find out, Anita Rani was joined by Norberto Paredes who is a journalist with BBC Mundo, the BBC's news service for the Spanish speaking world.When Kaitlin Lawrence was just 22 years old, she collapsed whilst playing netball for the then Super League side Surrey Storm. She was eventually diagnosed with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), a genetic condition she never knew she had. Following this she was forced to give up her dream of playing professionally for Scotland and has gone on to successfully campaign to get cardiac screening introduced in the Netball Super League next season. She tells Anita her story.As 2025 draws to a close, it’s clear this has been a landmark year for women’s sport. From the UEFA Women’s Euros to the Rugby World Cup, record-breaking attendances and soaring TV audiences have put female athletes firmly in the global spotlight. One person who’s been at the heart of that story is Gabby Logan. Part of the all-female presenting team for BBC Sports Personality of the Year - returning next week - Gabby has also had a standout year herself, stepping into one of football’s most iconic roles as a new presenter on Match of the Day. She joins Anita live.Yesterday, we heard the very sad news about author Sophie Kinsella, who has died at the age of 55. Her real name was Madeleine Wickham and she wrote more than 30 books for adults, children and teenagers, which sold more than 50 million copies in more than 60 countries - they have been translated into more than 40 languages. She joined Nuala in October 2024, when she spoke about her last novel, What does it feel like? She described how her personal experience had heavily influenced the novel: the protagonist had brain cancer, a hugely supportive husband and five children, exactly like Sophie. You can listen to Sophie's final Woman's Hour interview on BBC Sounds - it's the episode from 8 October 2024. A new BBC report looks into the uses of AI in schools, from generating lesson plans to marking and even deepfake teachers. Anita speaks to BBC Education reporter Hayley Clarke about what she found and how it could help with the pressures that teachers are under, plus we hear from CEO of the Great Schools Trust Shane Ierston about the ways they've been putting AI tools to use in the classroom.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

John Smyth is believed to be the most prolific serial abuser associated with the Church of England. In 2024, an independent review carried out by Keith Makin found that Smyth abused 30 boys and young men in the UK, and around 85 in Zimbabwe and South Africa. A new Channel 4 documentary, See No Evil, reveals the scale of Smyth's abuse and features testimony from victims and survivors, the journalists who uncovered the story, and from Smyth's family. Fiona Rugg, John Smyth's daughter, is part of the documentary and joins Nuala in the studio. Woman's Hour also hears from Madeleine Davies, Senior Writer at the Church Times, who has followed this story closely.As the government announces plans to spend £500m on youth services in England, what is the state of youth work today? Nuala is joined by Abbee McLatchie, Deputy CEO of the National Youth Agency, who has been working in and around youth services for 25 years, and Letitia Simms, a youth worker for the charity Cranstoun in the Routes youth advisory hub in Dudley in the West Midlands.Wages for housework was a feminist mantra in the West in the 1970s – feminist campaigners arguing for recognition of the economic value of domestic labour. The debate has been revived in India over the last decade with an estimated 118 million women across 12 states now receiving unconditional cash transfers from their governments. Devina Gupta, a reporter based in Delhi, and Professor Prabha Kotiswaran from King’s College in London unpick the impact of ‘wages for housework’ on women’s lives and the Indian economy.

Baroness Amos, who was appointed by the Health Secretary to lead an independent rapid investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal care in England, has said nothing prepared her for the scale of "unacceptable care" that women and families have received. Presenter Krupa Padhy is joined by the BBC’s Social Affairs correspondent Michael Buchanan and Theo Clarke, former Conservative MP who also chaired the UK Birth Trauma Inquiry and hosts the podcast, Breaking the Taboo, to discuss those initial reflections and what comes next. We examine a new report which highlights the crucial role of strength training and exercise for people on weight loss drugs. Data gathered by fitness professionals, Les Mills and the not-for-profit industry body, ukactive, shows the impact of weight loss drugs on skeletal muscle mass. Their report says that 20-50% of weight loss is lean body mass, which poses significant health risks such as frailty, disability, reduced metabolism, and increased mortality. Physiotherapist Lucy McDonald and Dr Sarah Jarvis join Krupa to discuss the importance of strength training to mitigate muscle loss. Yesterday, nurse Sandie Peggie, who objected to sharing a female changing room with a transgender doctor, won part of her employment tribunal against NHS Fife. She was suspended from her job after she confronted Dr Beth Upton in 2023. The tribunal ruled she was harassed by NHS Fife but other allegations of discrimination and victimisation were dismissed. We hear more from Lorna Gordon, the BBC's Scotland Correspondent, who has been following the case. From Kate Garraway’s iconic jumper on The Celebrity Traitors to Lily Allen’s album launch dress, bows are everywhere right now. But are they practical or a deliberate gesture of femininity? And why have we seen this resurgence of bows in fashion? The Guardian’s fashion and lifestyle editor Morwenna Ferrier and Dr Sarah Grant from the V&A join Krupa to discuss the history and sudden popularity of bows. Presented by: Krupa Padhy Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Have you heard of Freebirthing? It’s giving birth without any medical help or intervention. A new podcast by The Guardian has investigated an American organisation – the Free Birth Society or FBS – a multimillion-dollar business which professionals claim promotes some dangerous views. Nuala McGovern is joined by Sirin Kale who undertook the investigation along with her colleague Lucy Osbourne. Dr Claire Feeley, midwife and senior lecturer at Kings College London who has done research into freebirthing, discusses the free birth picture here in the UK.Today marks a year since the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. For more than half a century the Assad family ruled Syria with an iron fist and when it came to an end after 13 years of war, many women hoped for a new era. So what's the situation for women in the country 12 months on? We hear from Lina Sinjab, the BBC's Middle East correspondent, who is Syrian and currently in Aleppo.As part of Radio 4’s annual Christmas Appeal, we hear from NHS Clinical psychologist Sarah Phillips and former Rowan Alba supported-accommodation resident Elvira about how a revolutionary in-house psychologist team is helping homeless women in supported housing in Edinburgh and why they think this model should be rolled out across the UK.Sarah Mughal Rana is a #BookTok personality and the co-host of On the Write Track podcast. Her debut novel - Dawn of the Firebird -has just been published. It’s an epic, action-packed fantasy story, embracing rich Islamic culture. Sarah joins Nuala to discuss the main protagonist, the discarded daughter of an emperor, who is described as: Daughter, Assassin, Traitor, Saviour. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

When Jacinda Ardern became Prime Minister of New Zealand in 2017 at the age of 37, she was the youngest female head of government in the world. She also made history as only the second elected leader to give birth while in office. She resigned in 2023 after more than five years in post saying she no longer had enough in the tank and, since then, has engaged in global work focused on empathy in leadership and the prevention of online extremism. As a new documentary film, Prime Minister, is out in cinemas now, Jacinda talks to Kylie Pentelow.The government has just unveiled its new HIV Action Plan with the stated goal of tackling stigma and to end transmissions in England by 2030. Public Health Minister Ashley Dalton discusses the policy along with Ellie Harrison, who was diagnosed HIV positive when she was 21.Are friendships with exes a bad idea or a sign of growing up? Journalist Olivia Petter and comedian Rosie Wilby join Nuala McGovern to explore how relationships with ex-partners evolve after a breakup, and why staying in touch can look different in straight and LGBTQ+ communities.Columnist Sarah Vine started losing her hair as a teenager and was eventually diagnosed with female pattern baldness, a hormonal condition. But now she has decided, after 15 years of wearing wigs, to reveal her own hair on the front cover of a national newspaper. She speaks about her decision to bare all.We examine new data that reveals the number of teachers leaving the profession after becoming parents. We explore why, and what’s being done about it. Emma Shepherd is the founder of the Maternity Teacher Paternity Teacher Project and Branwen Jeffries is the BBC's Education Editor.Do you like everything to be perfect for dinner party hosting – the spotless house, the elaborate menu, the Instagram-worthy table setting? But what if the secret to a great dinner party isn’t perfection, but scruffy hosting – a trend that is apparently transforming the way we gather together and makes stress-free dinner parties more attainable - perhaps a one-pot dinner, mismatched cutlery, toys under the table or children running around screaming. Helen Thorn, Comedian, Podcaster and one half of Scummy Mummies tells Nuala why she embraces this type of hosting.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Dianne McGregor

The last year has seen the election of several women to positions of political leadership: Sanae Takaichi as Prime Minister of Japan, Catherine Connolly as President of Ireland, and Jennifer Geerlings-Simons as President of Suriname. But, a recent report has suggested that trust in women leaders is declining globally. The Reykjavik Index For Leadership measures how women and men are perceived in terms of their suitability for leadership, not just in politics but across many sectors of society. So is this part of a trend of declining trust in women in positions of power? Kylie Pentelow is joined by Lois Taylor, Global Marketing Director of Verian Group who published the report, and BBC business journalist and presenter of Moneybox Live Felicity Hannah to discuss.Columnist Sarah Vine started losing her hair as a teenager and was eventually diagnosed with female pattern baldness, a hormonal condition. But now she has decided, after 15 years of wearing wigs, to reveal her own hair on the front cover of a national newspaper. She spoke to Kylie about her decision to bare all. According to a recent poll by US analytics firm Gallup, 40% of American women aged 15 to 44 would move abroad if they had the opportunity, with the desire to migrate among younger American women quadrupling in the past decade. Kylie talks to Josephine Harmon, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Northeastern University in Boston, and Bonnie Medina – now 45 with two young children - who lives in London having left Seattle one-and-a-half years ago.Four-time Olivier Award-winning actress, singer and director Maria Friedman is still best known to many as the narrator in the film of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. But this Christmas, her hugely acclaimed Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical Merrily We Roll Along, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff, is coming to cinemas. And Maria also stars in Tinsel Town, which sees Kiefer Sutherland play a washed-up Hollywood actor who ends up in a small town pantomime. Maria joins Kylie to talk about more than three decades on stage and screen, and spreading joy at Christmas. A quirky new romcom novel set against the sapphic dating scene is out. My Ex-Girlfriend’s Wedding is about Hope, a folk musician who feels that she has nothing going for her: She's in a job she hates, has had to quit her band after losing the ability to play guitar; her very recent ex-girlfriend is now getting married. And so, she resolves there’s nothing for it, but to accept an invitation to the wedding and try to win back the love of her life. Kylie asks Sophie Crawford about relationships with an ex, dating within the queer community and magic- all themes in her book.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Corinna Jones

When Jacinda Ardern became Prime Minister in 2017 at the age of 37, she was the youngest female head of government in the world. She also made history as only the second elected leader to give birth while in office. She resigned in 2023 after more than five years in post saying she no longer had enough in the tank and, since then, has engaged in global work focused on empathy in leadership and the prevention of online extremism. As a new documentary film, Prime Minister, comes out out in cinemas, Jacinda tells Kylie Pentelow about the highs and lows of trying to lead with empathy. We examine new data that reveals the number of teachers leaving the profession after becoming parents. We’ll ask why, and what’s being done about it. Emma Shepherd is the founder of the Maternity Teacher Paternity Teacher Project and Branwen Jeffries is the BBC's Education Editor.British Olympic and Paralympic athletes are being offered a new form of artificial intelligence-based protection from online abuse for the first time. UK Sport has signed a contract worth more than £300,000 to allow thousands of athlete's access to an app which detects and hides abusive posts sent by other users on social media. BBC Sport Correspondent Natalie Pirks and Olympic badminton player Kirsty Gilmour discuss. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced he is launching an independent review into rising demand for mental health, ADHD, and autism services in England. Women's historic underdiagnosis has started to improve in recent years. What role might this play in the increase that the government now plan to examine? We hear from Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais - senior lecturer in psychology at Queen Mary's University in London who researches girls and women with ADHD.

Justice Secretary David Lammy has announced plans for a sweeping range of reforms to criminal courts in England and Wales. The proposals include scrapping jury trials for cases where sentences are likely to be less than three years and for trials involving ‘particularly technical and lengthy fraud and financial offences’. They will only be kept for the most serious offences, including murder, robbery and rape. However there are fears that the proposed changes will have a disproportionate impact on women, whether as victims or when accused of a crime and then particularly for women of colour. Nuala McGovern discusses the reforms with Fiona Rutherford, Chief Executive of legal reform charity Justice, barrister Emma Torr, Co-chief of Appeal, a law practice dedicated to challenging wrongful convictions, and Val Castell, Deputy National Chair of the Magistrates’ Association. A petition has been launched calling for a national endometriosis registry to track and audit data on diagnosis, treatment and surgery outcomes. It's been spearheaded by Jessica Smith, who, like an estimated one and a half million women in the UK, suffers with endometriosis, a condition which occurs when the tissue, similar to the lining of the uterus, grows in other places, such as the ovaries and the fallopian tubes. Campaigners say the level of care is a post code lottery, with long wait lists and that by streamlining this information some of the gaps in care could be eliminated. Jessica joins Nuala along with Professor Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians.The Women's Institute has announced a big change - from next April it will no longer offer membership to transgender women. The UK Supreme Court earlier this year ruled that the legal definition of a woman can only be based on biological sex. This comes the day after it was announced that transgender girls can no longer join the Girl Guides, Brownies or Rainbows. The Women's Institute says it's decision comes with the ‘utmost regret.’ Melissa Green, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes explains why they came to this decision. The BBC's political correspondent Phil Sim gives the background.Do you like everything to be perfect for Christmas dinner party hosting – the spotless house, the elaborate menu, the Instagram-worthy table setting? But what if the secret to a great dinner party isn’t perfection, but scruffy hosting – a trend that is apparently transforming the way we gather together and makes stress-free dinner parties more attainable - perhaps a one-pot dinner, mismatched cutlery, toys under the table or children running around screaming. Helen Thorn, Comedian, Podcaster and one half of Scummy Mummies tells Nuala why she embraces this type of hosting. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

Are friendships with exes a bad idea or a sign of growing up? Journalists Olivia Petter and comedian Rosie Wilby join Nuala McGovern to explore how relationships with ex-partners evolve after a breakup, and why staying in touch can look different in straight and LGBTQ+ communities.Global Leaders for Ending Gender-Based Violence (GBV) dedicated to preventing violence against women and girls have come together to form the All In Coalition. This new group is made up of global leaders and survivor advocates including Harriet Harman, the UK's Special Envoy for Women and Girls, and Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement. We hear from Dr Emma Fulu, who set this up, and Sima Samar, former Minister for Women's Affairs in Afghanistan.There is new data out today from the charity Surviving Economic Abuse which reveals that 27% of mothers (with children under the age of 18) have experienced economic abuse in the past year. We’ll hear more about this common yet often hidden form of abuse and control. Pichaya Soontornyanakij has been named as the world’s best female chef by a panel of more than a thousand food and restaurant experts. She’s the first Asian women to be awarded this title. Known as Chef Pam, she’s also a TV host and culinary judge in her native Thailand. She started out by converting her family home in Bangkok into a restaurant and since then she’s gone on to obtain a coveted Michelin star. And all by the age of 36.  Chef Pam joins us from the Thai capital.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Sanna Marin is the former Prime Minister of Finland who made history as the youngest female head of government in the world. She went on to become the longest-serving female prime minister of Finland, leading a coalition government entirely headed by women. Sanna talks to presenter Clare McDonnell about her rise to the top, leading her country through the challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as dealing with enormous criticism when her personal life becoming very public – all themes in her new memoir Hope In Action.It’s World Aids Day and the government has just unveiled its new HIV Action Plan with the stated goal of tackling to stigma and end transmissions in England by 2030. Public Health Minister Ashley Dalton joins us to discuss the policy along with Ellie Harrison, who was diagnosed HIV positive when she was 21.With the rise of no and low alcohol drinks on supermarket shelves, a new survey from the University of Plymouth has been talking to expectant mothers about their relationship with these drinks and their understanding of what constitutes a safe percentage. To hear more, Clare is joined by Dr Kate Maslin, Senior Research Fellow in Maternal and Child Health School of Nursing and Midwifery at Plymouth University, who led the study.Filmmaker Shih Ching Tsou’s debut feature Left Handed Girl tells the story of a single mother, Shu-Fen, and her two daughters who move to Taipei, Taiwan to open a night-market stall. When I-Jing, the younger, five-year old daughter – who is left-handed - is forbidden from using what her traditional grandfather dubs her ‘devil hand,’ a chain of events is set in motion, which eventually unravels a family secret. Tsou joins Clare to talk about directing and co-writing the drama which is inspired by her own childhood, cultural superstition about the left hand and the lives of working-class Taiwanese women.Presented by: Clare McDonnell Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Australia’s under-16 social media ban comes into force soon. From 10th December, platforms must take 'reasonable steps' to stop under-16s from opening accounts and remove accounts that already belong to them. Companies who fail to comply could face fines of up to £25m. BBC Sydney correspondent Katy Watson has been talking to teenagers in the state of Victoria. She explains how we got here and updates us on a new legal action being brought to challenge the ban.Cassa Pancho founded Ballet Black in 2001, aged 21, in response to there being no black or Asian women performing in any of the UK’s ballet companies. This week Ballet Black conclude their UK tour of SHADOWS at London's Sadler's Wells and features as part of its double bill Cassa's adaptation of Oyinkan Braithwaite’s international bestselling novel, My Sister, The Serial Killer.Have you heard of rage rooms? Or even visited one? Turns out demand for them is surging, and 90% of the UK customers are women. Believed to have started in Japan in the early 2000s, rage rooms are places where people can smash up items such as electronics, white goods and crockery. Nuala McGovern is joined by Jennifer Cox, psychotherapist and author of Women are Angry: Why Your Rage is Hiding and How To Let It Out, and culture journalist Isobel Lewis who has visited a rage retreat.Camille O’Sullivan has toured with the Pogues and was chosen by Yoko Ono to perform at Meltdown festival in the Royal Festival Hall – now the Irish-French singer is bringing her hit show to the Soho Theatre in London. LoveLetter is a personal response to the loss of the artists who inspired her - particularly her late friends Shane McGowan and Sinéad O’Connor. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells

The complex needs of adopted children are leaving parents at breaking point as they say they are being denied support then blamed by authorities when they can no longer cope, a BBC investigation has found. A BBC Freedom of Information request revealed the scale of the crisis, and the number of families that are returning their children to the care system. Anita Rani is joined by BBC special correspondent Judith Moritz and Fiona Wells who runs PATCH, Passionate Adopters Targeting Change with Hope, a support group for adoptive parents.For the last two years, the mystery of exactly what happened at Erin Patterson's dining table had gripped the world. And then in September this year, after a nine-week trial, Erin Patterson was jailed for life - with no chance of release for at least 33 years. Her crime: murdering three relatives by intentionally poisoning them with wild mushrooms and trying to kill another. Dubbed the ‘Mushroom Murders’, Anita speaks to Sarah Krasnostein, who wrote a book about Erin’s trial, and Dr Stephanie Brown, a historical criminologist, to understand the public view of women who poison.Camille O’Sullivan has toured with the Pogues and was chosen by Yoko Ono to perform at Meltdown festival in the Royal Festival Hall. Now the Irish-French singer is bringing her hit show to the Soho Theatre in London. LoveLetter is a personal response to the loss of the artists who inspired her, particularly her late friends Shane McGowan and Sinéad O’Connor. The second part of the hugely popular film Wicked - called Wicked: For good, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, continues to take the UK and the world by storm. It's already taken over $226m at the global box office. Telling an alternative version of the Wizard of Oz, it explores how our perception of good and evil can be distorted. It's also the story of the unlikely friendship between Elphaba and Glinda and the tensions that can be put on that friendship. Anita is joined by the Independent's chief album critic Helen Brown and film critic Leila Latif to discuss why Wicked has been so successful and what it tell us about female friendships today. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

The Italian Parliament has voted unanimously to introduce the crime of femicide, the murder of a woman motivated by gender, as a distinct law to be punished with a life sentence. It makes Italy one of very few places in the world to categorise femicide as a distinct crime. The BBC's Senior Reporter Laura Gozzi tells Anita Rani why this has been voted in. There was a lot of anticipation and debate about what the Budget would include for women and how it would affect them. There has been a close watch on the two-child benefit cap, which it's been announced will be lifted, pensions and of course the cost of living. Now the final numbers are in, Anita discusses the Budget with Sarah Pennells, consumer finance specialist with the Royal London pensions and investment company, and Erin Mansell from the feminist economics group The Women's Budget. Pam Hogg, the legendary Scottish fashion designer, known for her eccentric and outlandish designs, has died. She dressed everyone from Rihanna, to Bjork to Lady Gaga. Her family, said in a statement that the trailblazing designer’s creative spirit and body of work has ‘touched the lives of many.’ Anita is joined by journalist Kate Hutchinson to discuss her style and her legacy. Cassa Pancho founded Ballet Black in 2001. She was 21 at the time and it was in response to the fact that no black or Asian women were performing in any of the UK’s ballet companies. This week Ballet Black conclude their UK tour of SHADOWS at London's Sadler's Wells and features as part of its double bill Cassa's adaptation of Oyinkan Braithwaite’s international bestselling novel, My Sister, The Serial Killer. Grace Walker is the author of a new speculative dystopian novel, The Merge. It's set at a time when the Earth’s resources have been pushed to breaking point and there’s a new controversial procedure in which two people’s consciousness can be combined to exist in one body. Grace explains to Anita where the idea came from and her love of dystopian fiction. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Andrea Kidd

Australia’s under-16 social media ban comes into force soon. From 10th December, platforms must take 'reasonable steps' to stop under-16s from opening accounts and remove accounts that already belong to them. Companies who fail to comply could face fines of up to £25m. BBC Sydney Correspondent Katy Watson has been talking to teenagers in the state of Victoria. She explains how we got here and updates us on a new legal action being brought to challenge the ban.Ever wondered what your bottom says about your health? A new study of over 60,000 people reveals that subtle changes in the shape of your buttock muscles can reveal when people are heading towards type two diabetes. The study was carried out by the University of Westminster. Louise Thomas, Professor of Metabolic Imaging who is the senior author of the study, joins us alongside personal trainer Jacqueline Hooton.We talk to the author of a review of how the justice system treats girls. They can no longer be sent to Young Offenders Institutes as a result of Susannah Hancock's recommendations, but she says there is still plenty of work to be done and much of the remaining custodial accommodation needs improvement. Pippa Goodfellow, Deputy Director of Policy, Communications and Strategy at the National Children’s Bureau, who will serve on the government’s new advisory board on these matters, also joins us.A new exhibition, ‘Learning to See,’ by the abstract artist Bridget Riley has opened at Turner Contemporary in Margate. There are 26 of her most recent works on show - large canvases, studies and works painted directly on the wall. To talk about Bridget’s life so far and the significance of her work, Nuala McGovern is joined by artist Dame Tracey Emin, Melissa Blanchflower, senior curator of the exhibition and Dr Frances Follin, author of Embodied Visions: Bridget Riley, Op Art and The Sixties.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Procuer: Simon Richardson

What should tech companies be doing to prevent online abuse of women and girls? Ofcom's Chief Executive, Dame Melanie Dawes, joins Nuala McGovern to discuss their new guidance. It's urging tech firms to go much further to prevent the harm caused by misogynistic pile-ons, online stalking and intimate image abuse. They've also teamed up with Sport England to highlight the toll such abuse is taking on women in sport. Have you heard of rage rooms? Or even visited one? Turns out demand for them is surging, and 90% of the UK customers are women. Believed to have started in Japan in the early 2000s, rage rooms are places where people can smash up items such as electronics, white goods and crockery. Nuala is joined by Jennifer Cox, psychotherapist and author of Women are Angry: Why Your Rage is Hiding and How To Let It Out, and culture journalist Isobel Lewis who has visited a rage retreat.Isabelle Kyson, 17, is a national-level sprint hurdler and passionate advocate for girls in sport. Today, she releases her documentary, Out of the Race, on YouTube which explores why so many girls drop out of sport during puberty. Research shows that more than two-thirds of teenage girls quit sport by the age of 16 or 17—a trend Issey has been campaigning to change for some time, including lobbying government for action. She has also launched a new toolkit for schools, developed in partnership with the Association for Physical Education. Issey joins Nuala along with Kate Thornton-Bousfield, Chief Executive Officer of the Association for Physical Education.We discuss acting and AI as the actor Olivia Williams discusses why she wants actors to have more control over the data that is obtained from scans of their body. Many actors contracts now include a clause granting producers ownership of an actor’s ‘likeness’ across all platforms, forever. This can cover photos, drawings, figurines, and the full body scans captured with advanced technology. In a recent article in The Guardian, Olivia suggested that something similar to a 'nudity clause' should be added to contracts. She joins Nuala along with consultant solicitor, Kelsey Farish, who advises actors and performers on AI clauses. Presented by: Nuala McGovern Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Are you excessively tired with your hair falling out, nails always breaking, brain often foggy or sometimes, despite having youth on your side, maybe forgetting how to form a sentence? These are amongst the symptoms of iron deficiency, often underdiagnosed. Nuala McGovern will be speaking to Dr Sue Pavord, Consultant Haematologist and President of the British Society for Haematology, and freelance journalist Rose Stokes.The Royal College of Pathologists say that a shortage of consultants means that "1 in 5 families are now waiting 6 months or more, and some longer than 12 months" for post mortems. The 'paediatric and perinatal pathology workforce' report said there were no paediatric or perinatal pathology consultants in the South West, the Midlands or Northern Ireland. Dr Clair Evans, the chair of the college’s advisory committee - a Consultant Paediatric and Perinatal pathologist explains the situation further. At lunchtime on Wednesday the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, will unveil her much anticipated second budget. How could this budget affect the lives of women in 2026? We’re joined by the BBC’s Cost of Living correspondent Colletta Smith, to talk us through what we might see in the red briefcase on Wednesday. A self-portrait by Frida Kahlo has just sold for $55 million in New York. It is the highest price ever paid for a work by a female artist. To illustrate the magnitude of the difference, a painting by Klimt was also sold recently for $236m. Professor Renee Adams is a professor of finance at Oxford Saïd business school and researches the role of gender in the art market, where women’s works generally achieve much lower values. She explains why and what needs to change. As part of the BBC 2 Civilisations series, tonight’s programme looks at the rise and fall of the Aztec Empire and the part that a young woman played in its demise. She was called Malintzin and acted as translator at the momentous first meeting in 1519 between Montezuma, the ruler of the vast Aztec Empire, and the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. To find out more about Malintzin and her role in Mexican history and culture Nuala is joined by Dr Elizabeth Baquedano, from the Institute of Archaeology at University College London and Dr Jessica Fernández de Lara Harada from the University of Oxford.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Former US magazine editors-in-chief Laura Brown and Kristina O'Neill were both ‘let go’ from their respective jobs. They felt blindsided, devastated and temporarily lost their identities - until, united, they learnt how to make a comeback. They joined Nuala McGovern to share their experiences as set out in their new book, All the Cool Girls Get Fired, about how they let go of the shame of ‘being fired’, a term they like to use, and how a career setback can become the best thing ever.Suzanne Edwards is currently taking part in ground-breaking medical trials that involve her learning how to move her legs using neural implants. Suzanne has been a sportswoman for decades, both before and since a life-changing accident 14 years ago, and she explains to Anita Rani how this training has informed her approach to taking part in medical research.Back in 1995 a call went out looking for women to take part in a landmark scientific study exploring the links between what we eat and our health. Thirty-five thousand middle-aged women signed up to be part of the UK Women’s Cohort Study. It went on to look at the impact our diet can have on our risk of developing cancer and other chronic diseases, as well as other areas of women’s health from our bones to the menopause. Professor Janet Cade from the University of Leeds joined Nuala to discuss what it was like launching the study 30 years ago and some of its key takeaways for women.The Independent Commission on UK Counterterrorism has just published its report after three years. A long and detailed report, it estimates there are up to 70 UK-linked individuals, mostly women and children—most under 10 years old—believed to still be in camps or other detention centres in Iraq and Syria. Professor of Religion, Gender and Global Security, Katherine Brown, is one of the 14 commissioners. She explains why the women and children remaining in these camps is "unsustainable" and why an organised programme of return, rehabilitation, and integration is, they believe, the best long-term option for managing the risk to public safety. They are joined by Frank Gardner, the BBC's Security Correspondent.Francesca Hennessy is the 21-year-old shaking up women’s boxing. Nicknamed the 'Billion Dollar Baby', she’s unbeaten in her first six professional fights and will be fighting on the bill when boxing returns to BBC primetime TV, free-to-air on a Saturday night for the first time in 20 years later this month. She’ll face former world champion Fabiana Bytyqi, marking the biggest test of her career. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

The Covid Inquiry led by Baroness Hallett has concluded that the UK did too little too late in response to Covid-19, that the lockdown could have been avoided if steps such as social distancing and isolating had been introduced earlier. Joining Anita Rani to give their response to the findings and tell their stories of that time, are musical theatre actor Ruthie Henshall, whose mother died in a care home during Covid and Naomi Fulop, from Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK, who also lost her mother during this time. Another chance to hear a shortened version of an interview Anita recorded last month with Melinda French Gates, the most well known and powerful woman in philanthropy. In 2000, Melinda co-founded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has - to date - donated over one hundred billion dollars to charitable projects. She and Bill Gates married in 1994 and divorced in 2021, after 27 years of marriage. Melinda has since left their joint enterprise and set up her own, Pivotal Ventures, which has one purpose: to put power into the hands of women. In a new report 'Care, courage, change,' the World Health Organisation has conducted analysis of the various health and support policies for survivors of violence in the 53 countries of the WHO European Region. The report reveals that almost one in three women and girls aged 15-years and older, will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime - but countries' health sectors are failing nearly one in three survivors. Anita Rani talks to Melanie Hyde, WHO Europe’s Gender, Equality and Human Rights Technical Officer, author of the report.Poetry, love and an incurable cancer diagnosis are the themes of a new film looking at the relationship between the acclaimed spoken word poet and activist Andrea Gibson and their wife, writer Megan Falley. Megan joins Anita along with the documentary's producer Jessica Hargrave to talk about the film and her late wife. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Francesca Hennessy is the 21-year-old shaking up women’s boxing. Nicknamed the 'Billion Dollar Baby', she’s unbeaten in her first six professional fights and will be fighting on the bill when boxing returns to BBC primetime TV, free-to-air on a Saturday night for the first time in 20 years later this month. She’ll face former world champion Fabiana Bytyqi, marking the biggest test of her career. Francesca joins Anita Rani along with BBC Boxing reporter Kal Sajad to discuss what this means for women’s boxing. Figures just released by the ONS show the number of NEETS - young people 'not in education, employment or training' - remains at a concerning level. In next week's Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to give more details on how the Government is planning to tackle these rising numbers. Historically, more women than men have been NEET, but in recent years that trend has reversed, with young men more likely than young women to be NEET. But with one in eight people aged 16 to 24 in the UK now believed to be NEET, what does it mean to be one? And what is being done to bring the number of NEETS down? To unpick this, Anita is joined by BBC's Employment Correspondent Zoe Conway.Scottish painter Caroline Walker explores the realities of motherhood in her exhibition, Mothering, at the Pallant House Gallery in Chichester. She began painting maternal themes after becoming a mother in 2019. Her work includes Birth Reflections paintings which depict maternity care in hospitals and the domestic scenes of early motherhood. Walker’s paintings show everyday details such as breast pumps, baby grows and unfinished drinks, highlighting the unseen labour of modern parenting. Her art has become increasingly autobiographical, featuring her children and family life in Scotland. Caroline Walker joins Anita to discuss identity shifts, domestic realities, and the value of caregiving. Suzanne Edwards is currently taking part in ground-breaking medical trials that involve her learning how to move her legs using neural implants. Suzanne has been a sportswoman for decades, both before and since a life-changing accident 14 years ago, and she explains how this training has informed her approach to taking part in medical research. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

Childminders play a vital role in the early years of children’s lives, offering care, stability and a familiar face during those formative years. But their numbers are in sharp decline. Many are no longer able to offer places for three and four year olds, citing government funding pressures. Today, Ofsted have released new figures on how many childminders are leaving and joining the profession. Childminder Georgina Young joins Nuala McGovern to share her experience of the joys and challenges of childminding, and what the future might hold for the profession.Saskia Reeves is the theatre, film and TV actor known for her many roles including Katherine Standish in the hit Apple TV series Slow Horses. She’s now back at the National Theatre, in a new play, End – the last in a trilogy of plays by David Eldridge - Beginning and Middle – with Clive Owen, exploring love and relationships. Saskia joins Nuala to discuss. The Independent Commission on UK Counterterrorism has just published its report after three years. A long and detailed report, it estimates there are up to 70 UK-linked individuals, mostly women and children—most under 10 years old—believed to still be in camps or other detention centres in Iraq and Syria. Professor of Religion, Gender and Global Security, Katherine Brown, is one of the 14 commissioners. She explains why the women and children remaining in these camps is "unsustainable" and why an organised programme of return, rehabilitation, and integration is, they believe, the best long-term option for managing the risk to public safety. Frank Gardner, the BBC's Security Correspondent, joins them to discuss.Coroners’ advice and concerns on maternal deaths in England and Wales are being ignored despite them raising repeated issues, a new study has found. Dr Georgia Richards, the founder of the Preventable Deaths Tracker at Kings College London who is on the line from New Zealand, discusses the findings.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Over a third of women could face poverty in retirement due to a growing gender gap in private pensions, according to a report from Scottish Widows, with women's finances being hit by caring responsibilities and career gaps. YouGov carried out the reseach for the Scottish Widows annual Women and Retirement Report, asking 4,000 women from across the UK about their pensions and retirement planning, as well as savings, investments and career breaks. Nuala McGovern talks to Lily Megson-Harvey, the Policy Director of retirement finance company My Pension Expert. A third of all rape trials in Wales and England last year were postponed at least once, often on the day of trial, according to a new report published by the charity Rape Crisis England and Wales. Ten years ago in 2015 the figure was one in 10. Their report, Living in Limbo, finds rape and sexual abuse survivors are being retraumatised by the criminal justice system. Nuala is joined by Maxime Rowson, the charity's Head of Policy and Public Affairs. Back in 1995 a call went out looking for women to take part in a landmark scientific study exploring the links between what we eat and our health. Thirty-five thousand middle-aged women signed up to be part of the UK Women’s Cohort Study. It went on to look at the impact our diet can have on our risk of developing cancer and other chronic diseases, as well as other areas of women’s health from our bones to the menopause. Professor Janet Cade from the University of Leeds joins Nuala to discuss what it was like launching the study 30 years ago and some of its key takeaways for women. Families are calling for a change in the law after they say their babies' dead bodies were kept inappropriately at a funeral director's home. The case highlights a lack of regulation in funeral services in England and Wales. Nuala speaks to Zoe Ward, one of the parents affected, who recently met with Victims Minister Alex Davies Jones to call for new laws, and to Zoe’s MP, Mark Sewards. Harriet Lane’s new novel, Other People’s Fun, explores modern life and the lies we tell others – and ourselves – on social media. It follows an unlikely and uneasy friendship between the unnoticed Ruth and the Instagrammable Sookie. Harriet joins Nuala in the studio to discuss why female friendships and ‘everyday horror’ has always intrigued her. Presented by: Nuala McGovern Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Former US magazine editors-in-chief Laura Brown and Kristina O'Neill were both ‘let go’ from their respective jobs. They felt blindsided, devastated and temporarily lost their identities - until, united, they learnt how to make a comeback. They join Nuala McGovern to share their experiences as set out in their new book, All the Cool Girls Get Fired, about how they let go of the shame of ‘being fired’, a term they like to use, and how a career setback can become the best thing ever.Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death. She is currently living in exile in India, so was tried in her absence by a court in Dhaka. Hasina was Bangladesh's longest-serving prime minister, who began her political career as a pro-democracy icon, but fled mass protests against her rule in August 2024. Today she - along with her former Interior Minister and Police Chief - was found guilty of allowing the use of lethal force against protesters and failing to prevent atrocities against them. The UN say that 1,400 protestors died. Hasina has called the court's decision biased and politically motivated. BBC correspondent Devina Gupta updates us on the story.When BBC Technology Editor Zoe Kleinman shared a post on social media about dealing with brain fog, she had no idea it would be viewed hundreds of thousands of times and resonate with so many women who are going through the menopause. Following a long day of reporting and feeling tired, along with the fear of not being able to remember key words, Zoe used notes on the BBC News At Ten for the first time ever. Zoe joins Nuala to explain why it was important to share her experience of perimenopause and brain fog. Dr Shema Tariq, menopause researcher at University College London, talks about what causes brain fog and how women can protect their brains from cognitive decline.Nuala is joined by the Emmy award-winning American composer Laura Karpman. Her music can be heard on films such as American Fiction and The Marvels, to TV hits like Down Cemetery Road. Her opera, called Balls, is based on the iconic 1973 ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, and will be having its UK premiere later this week as part of the Philharmonic Orchestra’s 80th anniversary season.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Simon Richardson

Caroline Flack was a Bafta-winning TV presenter, host of shows including Love Island and The X Factor. In February of 2020, she took her own life ahead of a court case in which she was charged with the assault of her then boyfriend, after weeks of press scrutiny. Her mother Christine Flack tells Clare McDonnell about spending the past five years uncovering documents from the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service to try to find out more about the events around Caroline’s death and she also questions the role of the press. That journey is documented in a two-part documentary out on Disney+ called Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth.This week, Women’s Super League Football officially unveil Design Guidelines for the Delivery of Elite Women’s Stadiums in England – a world first framework supporting clubs, local authorities, and architects in building or upgrading venues specifically for their women’s teams. They say the rapid growth of the women’s game has demonstrated that football venues, historically built and designed for male players and fans, need to be better equipped to cater towards the specific needs of female athletes and supporters. Hannah Buckley, Head of Infrastructure, Safety and Sustainability for WSL football and Suzy Wrack, women’s football correspondent for the Guardian discuss.Pelvic Girdle Pain, also known as pubic symphysis dysfunction, affects an estimated one in five pregnant women. It is often mild but can sometimes be debilitating and it's been highlighted by a BBC news report that has come out today. It's not harmful to the baby, but it can affect simple things like the mother's mobility. Kylie Pentelow spoke to Victoria Roberton, who experienced Pelvic Girdle Pain during her first pregnancy - she is now coordinator at the Pelvic Partnership, and Dr Nighat Arif, a GP specialising in women's health.As part of the Radio 4 Fatherhood season, Clare McDonnell and her guests discuss the role of fatherhood in men’s lives. Darren Harriott is a 37-year-old comedian and presenter of Father Figuring. Darren has now lived longer than his dad, who took his own life while in prison, and he is questioning would he be a good dad? What even makes a good dad? They were joined by Dr Robin Hadley who has written a book looking at why men, like himself, do not become fathers.Eleanor of Castile was England’s Queen as wife of Edward I. When she died in Lincoln in 1290, heartbroken Edward brought her body back to London with a 200 mile funeral cortege, commissioning 12 elaborate crosses to be created at every place her body rested. Historian Alice Loxton retraced the walk last year on the anniversary of the procession, a mere 734 years later. She joined Kylie Pentelow to tell her why.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Annette Wells

Pelvic Girdle Pain, also known as pubic symphysis dysfunction, affects an estimated one in five pregnant women. It is often mild but can sometimes be debilitating and it's been highlighted by a BBC news report that has come out today. It's not harmful to the baby, but it can affect simple things like the mother's mobility. Kylie Pentelow speaks to Victoria Roberton, who experienced Pelvic Girdle Pain during her first pregnancy - she is now coordinator at the Pelvic Partnership, and Dr Nighat Arif, a GP specialising in women's health.It’s been one month since the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire began, aimed at halting the war, returning hostages, and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the truce. Despite the fragile ceasefire, some see hope for lasting peace. Kylie is joined by Layla Alsheikh from the West Bank, and Mor Ynon from Tel Aviv - both are members of the Parents Circle Families Forum, a group of bereaved families working for reconciliation.Witches are haunting London’s Kiln Theatre for a brand new, all-female musical about the 1633 Pendle Witch Trials. Co-composer of Coven, Rebecca Brewer, and one of its stars, Diana Vickers, join Kylie to talk about sisterhood, survival and whether their show could be the next SIX.There’s a brand new podcast launching today: CBeebies Parenting Download. It will focus on topical parenting stories, hearing real life experience along with expert advice and parenting dilemmas. Kylie is joined by its presenters: Radio 1 host, author and mum Katie Thistleton, and award-winning rapper and dad of two, Guvna B. Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Corinna Jones

Runa Khan is a globally recognised leader in social innovation. She founded Friendship in 2002, an NGO helping marginalised communities in Bangladesh. Last week, the organisation won the Earthshot Prize in the Fix Our Climate category. Founded by Prince William, the prize is the world’s most prestigious and impactful environmental award. They will use the £1 million awarded to scale up their projects to repair the climate and deploy solutions that are replicable across the globe. We discuss a new drama about the impacts of social media on girls. Nicôle Lecky is the creator and one of the stars of Wild Cherry, a series that launches on BBC One and iPlayer this Friday. It’s the story of a group of mothers and teenage daughters growing up in the super privileged, (imagined) gated community of Richford Lake. A global review has found that high blood pressure in children has nearly doubled over the last 20 years, driven by unhealthy diets and inactivity. The study found that more than one in 20 children, across 21 countries under the age of 19 had high blood pressure in 2020. We talk to Dr Simon Russell from the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health who specialises in obesity research alongside Nichola Ludlam-Raine, dietitian and nutritionist.Eleanor of Castile was England’s Queen as wife of Edward I. When she died in Lincoln in 1290, heartbroken Edward brought her body back to London with a 200 mile funeral cortege, commissioning 12 elaborate crosses to be created at every place her body rested. Historian Alice Loxton retraced the walk last year on the anniversary of the procession, a mere 734 years later. She joins us to tell us why.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Simon Richardson

As part of the Radio 4 Fatherhood season, Clare McDonnell and her guests discuss the role of fatherhood in men’s lives. Darren Harriott is a 37-year-old comedian and presenter of Father Figuring. Darren has now lived longer than his dad, who took his own life while in prison, and he is questioning would he be a good dad? What even makes a good dad? They are joined by Dr Robin Hadley who has written a book looking at why men, like himself, do not become fathers.In 2016 Natalie Queiroz was stabbed 24 times by her partner while she was eight months pregnant. He is currently nine years into an 18 year sentence for attempted murder and attempted child destruction. Natalie and her unborn daughter nearly died. Earlier this year she learned that changes by the Ministry of Justice meant that her attacker could be transferred to an open prison many years earlier than she had expected.  She's been campaigning against this but has recently learned his application for a transfer has been approved. Clare hears from Natalie and Ellie Butt from Refuge.Laura Mulvey, filmmaker and pioneering feminist theorist, first coined the term ‘the male gaze’. The British Film Institute’s Fellowship is a pretty starry list – Bette Davis, Martin Scorsese, Judi Dench, Tilda Swinton, Christopher Nolan, Tom Cruise....to name a few and now Laura has been added to that prestigious list. Tomorrow Women’s Super League Football will officially unveil Design Guidelines for the Delivery of Elite Women’s Stadiums in England – a world first framework supporting clubs, local authorities, and architects in building or upgrading venues specifically for their women’s teams. They say the rapid growth of the women’s game has demonstrated that football venues, historically built and designed for male players and fans, need to be better equipped to cater towards the specific needs of female athletes and supporters. Hannah Buckley, Head of Infrastructure, Safety and Sustainability for WSL football and Suzy Wrack, women’s football correspondent for the Guardian discuss. Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Kirsty Starkey

The UK's medicines watchdog has said criminal gangs in the UK have started making their own weight-loss drugs, with packaging and branding designed to look like legitimate products. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned that the new trend poses a significant threat. Presenter Clare McDonnell is joined by Sukhi Basra, vice chair of the National Pharmacy Association who also runs a weight loss practice, to dicuss the risks. 'Buy now, pay later' credit schemes are increasingly being used to pay for everyday items like food, bus passes and school uniforms. Leading debt advisors have told the BBC that more women are juggling these debts as they struggle to cope with the cost of living. BBC Yorkshire investigations reporter, Stephanie Miskin, and Rebecca Routledge from debt advice organisation Money Wellness talk to Clare. Jackie Clune is an actor, writer and performer whose eclectic career has included a Karen Carpenter tribute act, Shakespeare, Mamma Mia! and most recently the narrator in a UK tour of The Rocky Horror Show. On screen, she’s familiar to many as Motherland's school secretary Mrs Lamb, but she’s also written novels and a memoir about unexpectedly becoming a mum to triplets at 39 and finding herself with four children under 19 months. She’s now on stage in The Meat Kings! (Inc.) of Brooklyn Heights at London’s Park Theatre, playing a tough, no-nonsense boss fighting to keep the family business afloat. She joins Clare to discuss the play, parenting and grief. A rare 500-year-old English parchment birth scroll is to be shown in the UK for the first time following recent pioneering analysis that confirmed its use during pregnancy and childbirth. The medieval scroll is central to Expecting: Birth, Belief and Protection at the Wellcome Collection exploring the protective practices and beliefs around pregnancy, childbirth and infertility that existed in medieval times. Dr Elma Brenner, Research Development Lead at Wellcome Collection and Professor Valerie Worth, Fellow of Trinity college oxford who holds a research grant from the Leverhulme Trust talk to Clare.Presented by: Clare McDonnell Produced by: Dianne McGregor

Caroline Flack was a Bafta-winning TV presenter, host of shows including Love Island and The X Factor. In February of 2020, she took her own life ahead of a court case in which she was charged with the assault of her then boyfriend, after weeks of press scrutiny. Her mother Christine Flack tells Clare McDonnell about spending the past five years uncovering documents from the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service to try to find out more about the events around Caroline’s death and she also questions the role of the press. That journey is documented in a two-part documentary out on Disney+ called Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth.A new schools inspection system begins in England today. Overall judgements, such as 'good' or 'requires improvement,' have been scrapped and schools will now be given one of five grades in several different categories. The changes were prompted by the death of the head teacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life in January 2023 whilst waiting for the publication of an Ofsted report she knew would grade her school as "inadequate." Clare speaks to the BBC Education Reporter Vanessa Clarke and Tom Middlehurst, Deputy Director of Policy at the Association of School and College Leaders.Louise Penny is the multi award-winning Canadian crime novelist. Her books have sold over 18 million copies worldwide and this year marks the 20th anniversary of her hugely popular Inspector Gamache series. Her latest novel is called The Black Wolf and follows on from her previous one The Grey Wolf. Gamache has foiled a plot to poison Montreal’s drinking water, but has discovered that this is simply phase one of a dark master plan and he needs to take on not only an organised crime syndicate, but also delve into the murky depths of government and power to discover who the black wolf is. There is a brand new podcast out from a familiar voice - Emma Barnett: Ready to Talk, in which Emma invites listeners into her world for bold, honest, and deeply human conversations about the experiences in life that shape and connect us. In the first episode Emma talks to her friend, the journalist and presenter Kate Thornton, about something she’s never spoken about publicly before: perimenopause. In the UK, 13 million women are currently experiencing the perimenopause, or menopause, but information about what it is and what can help can be hard to find. Emma tells Clare about her own experience.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Andrea Kidd

In Margaret Atwood’s 64-year career she has published world-renowned, prescient novels like The Handmaid’s Tale, Cat’s Eye, Alias Grace and Blind Assassin, and now a memoir. Margaret joins Nuala McGovern to discuss Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts and reflect on her life, her work and the power of knowing her own mind.Pornography featuring strangulation or suffocation - often called choking - is due to be criminalised across the UK as part of government plans to tackle violence against women and girls. It follows an independent review which found depictions of choking were "rife" on mainstream porn sites and had helped normalise the act among young people. Gemma Kelly, policy consultant on the review, and Professor Clare McGlynn, leading expert on VAWG and gender equality, discuss. The Mercury Prize-nominated singer-songwriter Cat Burns has also just released her new album, How to Be Human. She joins Nuala to discuss her new album and taking part in Celebrity Traitors. Writer and producer Nova Reid joins Anita Rani to talk about the late Dame Jocelyn Barrow, the race relations campaigner and the first black female governor of the BBC whose story Nova tells in her new podcast, Hidden Histories with Nova Reid. The interview includes a clip of Jocelyn from 2017 sharing her thoughts with The University of Law on what she considered to be the greatest improvements in diversity.Is having a boyfriend now embarrassing? Writer Chanté Joseph recently explored this idea in an article for Vogue and on social media, observing a noticeable shift in how people - particularly heterosexual women - present their relationships online. Instead of posting clear photos of their romantic partners, many are choosing subtler signals: a hand on a steering wheel, clinking glasses, or even blurring out faces in wedding pictures. But why the change? Anita hears more from Chante. A grande dame of musical theatre, Elaine Paige made her West End debut in the 1960s and shot to fame in 1978 playing Eva Perón in Evita, going on to star in Cats, Chess, Sunset Boulevard and many more. Elaine talks to Anita about her damehood, fostering the next generation of talent and having stage fright. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

NB: The music in this broadcast has been removed from this podcast for rights reasons.A grande dame of musical theatre, Elaine Paige made her West End debut in the 1960s and shot to fame in 1978 playing Eva Perón in Evita, going on to star in Cats, Chess, Sunset Boulevard and many more. She talks to Anita Rani about becoming an actual Dame this week, and how she’s fostering the next generation of talent.American author Gish Jen and her mother never got along. In her latest novel Bad Bad Girl, Gish tries to figure out why that was. Reconstructing, then fictionalising her mother’s life as she moves from a wealthy childhood in China to an up-and-down immigrant existence in the US. Gish joins Anita to talk about the real life events behind her book.Restaurant chain McDonald's has announced it will bring in new sexual harassment training for managers. These are strengthened measures that were agreed with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to protect McDonald's staff from abuse. A BBC investigation that started two years ago found that workers as young as 17 were being groped and harassed. Anita gets an update from BBC reporter Noor Nanji.Writer and producer Nova Reid joins Anita to talk about the late Dame Jocelyn Barrow, the race relations campaigner and the first black female governor of the BBC whose story Nova tells in her new podcast, Hidden Histories with Nova Reid. The interview includes a clip of Jocelyn from 2017 sharing her thoughts with The University of Law on what she considered to be the greatest improvements in diversity.Pauline Collins, the star of the film Shirley Valentine, for which she was Oscar nominated in 1990, has died at the age of 85. Her career spanned stage and screen but she will be best remembered for her portrayal of disgruntled housewife Shirley, in the award-winning film, based on the stage play by Willy Russell. It won Pauline a Golden Globe and a BAFTA. We hear a clip of Pauline Collins playing Shirley in Lewis Gilbert's 1989 film, Shirley Valentine, distributed by Paramount Pictures, and also part of an interview Pauline recorded with Jane Garvey on Woman's Hour in 2017. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

NB: The music in this broadcast has been removed from this podcast for rights reasons.You might recognise Cat Burns from The Celebrity Traitors, where she’s been cunning and inscrutable as a Traitor, winning over audiences with her strategic gameplay. The Mercury Prize-nominated singer-songwriter has also just released her new album, How to Be Human. Ahead of the show’s final, Cat joins Anita Rani in the studio.Mahnoor Omer is a young lawyer taking the Pakistan government to court over its unfair ‘period tax’ which she says adds 40% to their costs. She wants to create public pressure on them to make sanitary products affordable in a country where they cost too much for most women. Mahnoor joins Anita to discuss her campaign.Goalkeeper Mary Earps played a pivotal role in England’s Euro 2022 win and helped the Lionesses reach the final of the 2023 World Cup, earning the Golden Glove after standout performances, including a heroic penalty save against Spain. In May 2025, just weeks before the Lionesses began their defence of the Euros, Mary announced her retirement from international football. Twice named FIFA’s Best Women’s Goalkeeper and BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023, she’s now shared her story in her autobiography, All In: Football, Life and Learning to be Unapologetically Me.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

In Margaret Atwood’s 64-year career she has published world-renowned, prescient novels like The Handmaid’s Tale, Cat’s Eye, Alias Grace and Blind Assassin, and now a memoir. Margaret joins Nuala McGovern to discuss Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts and reflect on her life, her work and the power of knowing her own mind. We also reflect on the impact Margaret Atwood has had on writers and academics. Author Naomi Alderman and academics Dr Rosamund Portus and Dr Megan Douglas join Nuala to discuss how Margaret has encouraged and inspired their work across literature, science and beyond. Health Secretary Wes Streeting in an interview in The Guardian today says an “ugly” racism reminiscent of the 1970s and 1980s has become worryingly commonplace in modern Britain and NHS staff are bearing the brunt of it. In recent weeks, organisations representing nurses, social workers and carers - many of those being areas are dominated by women - have been sounding the alarm saying their members are encountering unprecedented levels of racism. We talk to Patricia Marquiss, Director for England at the Royal College of Nursing, Nadra Ahmed, Executive Chairman of the National Care Association and Harvey Gallagher from the Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers.Is having a boyfriend now embarrassing? Writer Chanté Joseph recently explored this idea in an article for Vogue and on social media, observing a noticeable shift in how people - particularly heterosexual women - present their relationships online. Instead of posting clear photos of their romantic partners, many are choosing subtler signals: a hand on a steering wheel, clinking glasses, or even blurring out faces in wedding pictures. But why the change? Even Zohran Mamdani, the new Mayor of New York, was asked whether it’s still okay to use the term boyfriend. Chanté joins us.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Simon Richardson

A survey of boys in secondary schools by Male Allies UK has found that just over a third said they were considering the idea of an AI friend. With growing concern about the rise of AI therapists and girlfriends, Lee Chambers, the founder and chief executive of Male Allies UK, and feminist sociologist Professor Jessica Ringrose, join Nuala McGovern to discuss the potential effect these AI companions could have on the mental health of teenage boys.Pornography featuring strangulation or suffocation - often called choking - is due to be criminalised across the UK as part of government plans to tackle violence against women and girls. It follows an independent review which found depictions of choking were "rife" on mainstream porn sites and had helped normalise the act among young people. Gemma Kelly, policy consultant on the review, and Professor Clare McGlynn, leading expert on VAWG and gender equality, discuss.The latest edition of the popular Football Manager video game features female football players and managers for the first time in its history. The game has been played by 19 million people and has origins that go back 30 years. We hear from Tina Keech, head of women's football research at Sports Interactive, the company behind Football Manager. Over the past 25 years Pulitzer Prize-winning war photographer Lynsey Addario has covered almost every major conflict of the modern era. She’s been kidnapped twice - once in Iraq and once in Libya - yet continues to return to the frontlines, driven to tell the stories of those caught in conflict. A new documentary, Love + War, follows her extraordinary career and what it’s like returning home at the end of an assignment to ‘normal’ life with her partner and two children. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

World Health Organisation figures say one in six people are affected by infertility. Fertility Matters at Work, who provide training for fertility support in the workplace, have published a cost analysis. They have explored the economic impact of not providing time off for fertility treatment - not only on those people directly involved in seeking help, but on businesses and the economy more widely. To discuss further, Nuala McGovern is joined by Alice Macdonald, MP for Norwich North, who will be asking MPs if they agree that a legal right should be given to people to take paid time off work to attend medical appointments for fertility treatment, and Natalie Silverman, co-founder of Fertility Matters at Work.Bella Culley was freed by the Tbilisi City Court today. The 19-year-old, who is eight months pregnant, is from Billingham in Teesside. She was arrested at Tbilisi airport after police found drugs in her luggage and had been held in Georgia on drug trafficking charges since May. Before news of her release, Nuala spoke to Rayhan Demytrie, BBC News Caucasus correspondent, outside the court.The case of Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing US health insurance CEO Brian Thompson, is one of the most closely followed legal cases of recent years. The 26-year old-was arrested in December and accused of shooting Mr Thompson, a father of two, outside a Manhattan hotel. He faces the charges of murder and stalking, charges which Mangione denies. While the case continues, something else has been happening. Mangione has attracted an intense, mostly female online following: people sharing pictures of him, writing letters, posting fan edits and memes, and debating his appearance and behaviour in forensic detail. So why does a man accused of violence become the object of fascination and even desire to some women? And what does that say about the digital age we’re living in? Nuala talks to Professor David Wilson, criminologist and former prison governor, and Faye Curran, journalist at The New Statesman, who has immersed herself in Mangione’s online fandom.Anyone watching Celebrity Traitors at the moment, or indeed the previous Traitors series, has probably noted Claudia Winkleman’s iconic looks that seem to sum up both chilly Scottish castle chic and punk power dressing with a smidge of sinister gothic Victorian melodrama thrown into the mix. Claudia's stylist, Sinead McKeefry, has a huge following online by people keen to pick up tips. The power of social media is such that when items are worn by Claudia and flagged online, it can have quite an impact, as small-business owner Lauren Aston found when one of her designs appeared on the show. She joins Nuala to explain what has happened, as does Alison Lynch, head of content at Good Housekeeping Magazine, who has not only written about the Claudia fashion phenomenon, but has even dressed as Claudia in the Traitors herself for a week.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

Thrust onto the public stage at 15 years old after the Taliban’s brutal attack on her life, Malala Yousafzai became an international icon for resilience and bravery. Described as a reflection on a life of a woman finally taking charge of her destiny, her memoir Finding My Way has just been published. She joins Anita Rani in the Woman’s Hour studio.There's a call to compensate women caught up in the scandal of faulty breast implants manufactured by a French company. The PIP scandal happened in 2012 when it emerged that the implants were filled with industrial silicone instead of medical grade silicone. The implants are far more likely to rupture than others. MPs on the Women’s and Equalities Committee have been hearing calls for compensation during their inquiry into the health impacts of breast implants and other cosmetic procedures. Jan Spivey from PIP Action Campaign and Professor Carl Heneghan from The Centre for Evidence Based Medicine join us to discuss this.What if all your dreams come true and you still find yourself a bit grumpy? That’s the brilliantly blunt question at the heart of Laura Smyth's stand-up tour, Born Aggy. Laura’s journey into comedy wasn’t exactly textbook. She left behind a career in teaching, was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer that same year and - just two weeks after finishing treatment - was on stage in Live at the Apollo. She joins Nuala McGovern in the studio.Choreographer and artist Amina Khayyam tells Anita about her new dance-theatre work, Bibi Rukiya’s Reckless Daughter, which opens soon in London after a national tour. It explores how patriarchy is enforced not only by men, but across generations of women, within family structures.Singer, actor and performer, Petula Clark’s career has spanned over eight decades. She sang to wartime troops in the 40s, was a 1950s child star, became a European musical icon before conquering America with her No 1 hit Downtown. She starred in Hollywood movies alongside Fred Astaire and performed on stage in musicals including The Sound of Music, Sunset Boulevard and most recently Mary Poppins. Her autobiography - Is That You, Petula? is out now and she joins Nuala to look back at her long career.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Simon Richardson

NB: The music in this broadcast has been removed from this podcast for rights reasons.Thrust onto the public stage at 15 years old after the Taliban’s brutal attack on her life, Malala Yousafzai became an international icon for resilience and bravery. Described as a reflection on a life of a woman finally taking charge of her destiny, her memoir Finding My Way has just been published. She joins Anita Rani in the Woman’s Hour studio.Anita talks to sport correspondent FFion Wynne about the Indian women's cricket team win against Australia in the Women's Cricket World Cup, and up and coming player Jemimah Rodriques. She set a women's one day international record - a remarkable achievement.Briana Corrigan shot to fame in the 1990s with the BRIT award-winning band, The Beautiful South. After leaving the band, she’s had several successful albums of her own and now, after 10 years away from the music industry, she’s back with an upcoming album and tour. She performs her single Sweet Songbird live in the studio. A new study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology in which researchers looking at how the use of explanation marks relates to gender. Their findings suggest that the use of explanation marks is associated more with women than men. But is this true and if so in what ways are women affected more than men and what are the implications? Anita is joined by the linguist, Professor Deborah Cameron and the author and journalist Melanie McDonough to discuss. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

The French parliament has just ratified an amendment to add consent to the legal definition of rape and sexual assault. The issue gained national attention following the Pelicot rape trial. Gisèle Pelicot had been drugged unconscious by her former husband, Dominique. He and 46 other men were found guilty of aggravated rape, two were convicted of attempted rape, and two were found guilty of sexual assault. The change to include consent still needs to be signed off by France's President, but it will bring French legislation in line with other European countries. Anita Rani talks to the BBC's Laura Gozzi and Blandine Deverelanges, founder of the radical feminist group Les Amazons D'Avignon, about the significance of this amendment. Irish novelist Chloe Michelle Howarth discusses her latest book Heap Earth Upon it, set in the dark winter months of mid 1960s rural Ireland. It follows the O’Leary family, siblings Tom, Jack, Anna and their much younger sister Peggy, as they arrive in a new village, hoping to leave behind the secrets that are haunting them.There has been a project by the University of Bournemouth called Nourish the New You, which has been helping women who are recovering from alcohol dependency. It includes cookery lessons in order to reconnect them with healthy foods and help their bodies repair after the damage done by alcohol, followed by art workshops. Anita talks to Dr Chloe Casey who has set up the scheme and Katherine, one of the women who took part.Choreographer and artist Amina Khayyam tells Anita about her new dance-theatre work, Bibi Rukiya’s Reckless Daughter, which opens soon in London after a national tour. It explores how patriarchy is enforced not only by men, but across generations of women, within family structures.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Andrea Kidd

The BBC has discovered widespread delays in a scheme designed to tell people whether their partners have a history of being abusive. Known as Clare's Law, people can ask police if their partner has a history of abuse. Home Office guidelines say officers should provide relevant information within 28 days. But Police responses to a BBC News Freedom of Information request suggest some in England and Wales have waited more than two years for responses. Isabella Lowenthal-Isaacs, from Women’s Aid, tells Krupa Padhy about her disappointment in the figures.There's a call to compensate women caught up in the scandal of faulty breast implants manufactured by a French company. The PIP scandal happened in 2012 when it emerged that the implants were filled with industrial silicone instead of medical grade silicone. The implants are far more likely to rupture than others. MPs on the Women’s and Equalities Committee have been hearing calls for compensation during their inquiry into the health impacts of breast implants and other cosmetic procedures. Jan Spivey from PIP Action Campaign and Professor Carl Heneghan from The Centre for Evidence Based Medicine join us to discuss this. In some areas of the UK more women than men are going to ice hockey matches. Teams like Coventry Blaze say 60% of their new season ticket holders this year are female. So what’s behind the surge in female fandom? Some say it’s down to an unexpected influence; romance novels featuring ice hockey players. Titles like Icebreaker and Behind the Net, while niche, are proving popular. Sports presenter Katie Shanahan and ice hockey fan Emily Laycock tell us why they think more women are discovering the sport. Historian and presenter Matthew Sweet discusses his new discovery - unpublished personal diaries of Queen Victoria’s obstetrician that throw light on the inner life and mental health of one of Britain’s most researched monarchs. These mental health struggles come just after the birth of her second child – Bertie - Albert Edward, Prince of Wales – in 1841. Do the descriptions in the diaries indicate Victoria could have been experiencing postpartum psychosis? Sarah Taha, consultant perinatal psychiatrist, gives us her views.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Melanie Abbott

Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, has accused ten people of posting malicious comments about her, claiming she was a born a man, something Macron says is completely untrue. Her case is in court in France today and, if found guilty, the eight men and two women standing trial could face up to two years in prison. Sophie Pedder, Paris Bureau Chief at The Economist and Sarah Ditum, columnist at The Times, explain the significance of the trial.A study in Sweden has found that some adults who have had a diagnosis of autism or ADHD as children would like to be considered for a de-diagnosis due to stigma and sometimes restrictions associated with the condition. Nuala McGovern talks to Dame Uta Frith, Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Development at University College London, and psychologist Sebastian Lundström, from the University of Gothenberg, who is one of the study’s researchers.What if all your dreams come true and you still find yourself a bit grumpy? That’s the brilliantly blunt question at the heart of Laura Smyth's stand-up tour, Born Aggy. Laura’s journey into comedy wasn’t exactly textbook. She left behind a career in teaching, was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer that same year and - just two weeks after finishing treatment - was on stage in Live at the Apollo. She joins Nuala in the studio. The safety of some manicures has been called into question after the EU banned the use of TPO, a key ingredient in many gel polishes, due to fertility risks in animal trials. Melissa Wright tells us about producing her own line of gel nail products that don't contain TPOs and Dr Naila Dinani, Consultant Dermatologist at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, explains the risks.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Simon Richardson

Singer, actor and performer, Petula Clark’s career has spanned over eight decades. She sang to wartime troops in the 40s, was a 1950s child star, became a European musical icon, before conquering America with her No 1 hit Downtown. She starred in Hollywood movies alongside Fred Astaire and performed on stage in musicals including The Sound of Music, Sunset Boulevard and most recently Mary Poppins. Her autobiography - Is That You, Petula? is out now and she joins Nuala McGovern to look back at her long career.There were two big leadership contests over the weekend, both of which saw two female candidates going head to head. In the UK Lucy Powell beat Bridget Phillipson to become the Deputy leader of the Labour Party, while in Ireland Catherine Connolly won the Presidency over Heather Humphries. So what does this say about political leadership in both countries and what impact will this have on women. Una Mullally, columnist at the Irish Times and Eleanor Langford, political reporter at the I newspaper discuss.A new BBC podcast tells the story of a shadowy online community known as 764. It's triggered alarm among several international law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, who are actively investigating its activities as representing a danger to all children. 764 recruits teenagers online through mainstream chatrooms, where they are coerced into live-streaming rituals, engaging in self-harm, and participating in conversations that promote suicide and acts of violence. Nuala speaks to BBC journalist, Jo Palmer, host of the podcast, and Megan Hinton, Victim and Survivor Advocate at the Marie Collins Foundation, which works to tackle technology-assisted child sexual abuse.How did you feel when your alarm went off this morning? Dazed, confused or refreshed? As the clocks go back and we return to Greenwich Mean Time, there is a suggestion that women’s wellbeing may be impacted more negatively than men’s according to new research that surveyed 10,000 people this time last year. Ruth Ogden, Professor of the Psychology of Time at Liverpool John Moores University shares her findings.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

The Essex witch trials represent one of the darkest chapters in British history. A new Sky History series, Witches of Essex, revisits the real lives of women accused of witchcraft in the 16th and 17th centuries, drawing on newly examined court records and the latest historical research. Historian Dr Eleanor Janega joins Nuala McGovern to discuss.A landmark change to the Family Courts has been announced this week - the court will no longer work on the presumption that having contact with both parents is in the best interest of the child. Domestic abuse campaigners have said the move will save children's lives. Nuala talks to Claire Throssel MBE, one of the campaigners who has driven this change. In October 2014, her two sons, Jack, who was 12, and Paul, who was nine, were deliberately killed by their father. He had been awarded five hours weekly access to the boys despite Claire's warnings that he was a danger to them.After 165 days at sea, two British women have just made history becoming the first pair to row non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific Ocean, from South America to Australia. Jess Rowe, 28, and Miriam Payne, 25, set off from Lima in May and arrived in Cairns in Australia on Saturday, completing more than 8,000 miles in their nine-metre boat, Velocity. Along the way they faced storms, broken equipment, and even navigated by the stars when their systems failed - they join Anita Rani to talk about the highs and lows of their Pacific adventure.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Simon Richardson

50 years ago today - in 1975 - 90% of women in Iceland took part in a nationwide protest over inequality. Instead of going to the office, doing housework or childcare, 25,000 women took to the streets, forcing factories and banks to close. It was known as the 'Women's Day Off' and fifty years on, Iceland still leads the world in gender parity, topping the Global Gender Gap Report for the 16th straight year. Anita Rani is joined by Tatjana Latinović, President of Icelandic Women's Rights Association and on the organising committee of today's strike, and Kristín Ástgeirsdottir, former Women’s Alliance MP and former director of the Icelandic Centre for Gender Equality. Tiggy Walker was married to the legendary BBC broadcaster Johnnie Walker, for 23 years before his death last year. Johnnie presented his 'Sounds of the 70s' show on Radio 2 right up until two months before he died. Tiggy was his full-time carer and joins Anita to talk about the emotional toll of caring for her soulmate Johnnie after his terminal diagnosis, as described in her new book, Both Sides Now.Former NASA astronaut Anna Fisher talks about becoming the world’s first ‘mom in space’. In 1978 Anna, an American emergency doctor, was accepted by NASA onto their astronaut programme, during the space agency’s largest and most diverse recruitment drive. In 1984, Anna took off on the Space Shuttle Discovery, leaving behind her 14-month-old daughter. Anna joins Anita to talk about how that decision triggered intense media scrutiny and looks back on her trailblazing career, as featured in a new BBC 2 documentary, ‘Once Upon a Time in Space.’Stephanie Travers is a trailblazer with an impressive list of firsts during her career. She became the first black female trackside fluid engineer in Formula 1 after beating 7,000 other applicants. She is also the first black woman to stand on an F1 podium after being personally invited by the team to collect the Constructor's Trophy at the 2020 Styrian Grand Prix. Today, she’s moved into a new role as Senior Impact Manager at Mission 44, Sir Lewis Hamilton’s foundation which is focused on diversity and inclusion. Stephanie joins Anita to discuss diversifying motorsports and making STEM and motorsport careers more accessible to young people from underrepresented backgrounds.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting joins Anita Rani to announce new government policy on women’s health. Anita speaks to Amy Wallace, the writer and journalist who worked with Virginia Giuffre on her posthumously published memoir Nobody’s Girl. After two years of conversations, emails and extensive fact-checking, the book lays bare the life-wrecking impact of power, corruption and industrial-scale sex abuse, but it is also the story of how a young woman survived and became an advocate for sex trafficking survivors and continued to work toward justice.The Government have announced that the SEND White Paper expected this autumn is delayed until next year. BBC Education reporter Kate McGough joins Anita to tell us more.After 165 days at sea, two British women have just made history becoming the first pair to row non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific Ocean, from South America to Australia. Jess Rowe, 28, and Miriam Payne, 25, set off from Lima in May and arrived in Cairns in Australia on Saturday, completing more than 8,000 miles in their nine-metre boat, Velocity. Along the way they faced storms, broken equipment, and even navigated by the stars when their systems failed - they join Anita to talk about the highs and lows of their Pacific adventure.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

We’ve heard about the placebo effect, when belief in a treatment makes us feel better, but what do you know about the nocebo effect? It’s when our negative expectations of a treatment, medicine or procedure - or even mistrust of our health care services - can actually make us feel worse. And it’s a growing area of scientific research. Professor Giuliana Mazzoni from the Department of Psychodynamics and Clinical Psychology at the University of Rome and Dr Annabel Sowemimo, NHS Consultant in Sexual & Reproductive Health tell us more. A landmark change to the Family Courts has been announced today - the court will no longer work on the presumption that having contact with both parents is in the best interest of the child. Domestic abuse campaigners have said the move will save children's lives. Nuala McGovern talks to Claire Throssel MBE, one of the campaigners who has driven this change. In October 2014, her two sons, Jack, who was 12, and Paul, who was nine, were deliberately killed by their father. He had been awarded five hours weekly access to the boys despite Claire's warnings that he was a danger to them. Earlier this month, for the first time, every match across England’s top two tiers of women’s football was photographed exclusively by female photographers. So how important is it that breakthrough moments in women's sport are captured and told through the eyes of women? We speak to Eileen Langsley, a pioneering sports photographer who has captured moments from some of the world’s biggest sporting events over the last five decades, and Morgan Harlow, who was part of the all-female photography team for the Women's Super League.Long queues for the toilets are something women are very used to, whilst often watching the men dash in and out quickly. We speak to two women who are trying to resolve this issue, Amber Probyn and Hazel McShane, who have invented flat packed ‘female urinals’. They have already been deployed at Glastonbury and the London Marathon. They've just secured almost £1m investment, enabling them to take their invention around the world.

Two sexual abuse survivors have resigned from their roles on the national inquiry into grooming gangs. Fiona Goddard and Ellie Reynolds both stood down from the victims' liaison panel which was overseeing the process. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced in the summer that there would be a full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs covering England and Wales. Ellie Reynolds joins Nuala McGovern.Lily King is the award winning writer of six novels. She talks to Nuala about her latest work - a love story set on a university campus exploring early experiences of romance, emotional risk, temptation and loss.  Women’s health academics at University College London are calling for an education programme to combat misinformation and unregulated advice on the menopause.Their study found that millions of women are being exploited by what they call the ‘menopause gold rush’ amid a lack of reliable information. The lead author of the study is Professor Joyce Harper, from UCL’s Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health - she and presenter and journalist Kirsty Wark discuss.'Ice Queen' Eve Muirhead is considered a titan of British Sport. She became the first woman to captain a British team to Olympic Gold in curling and is the Chef De Mission for Team GB at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. She discusses the significance of this being the first time a British team has reached 47% female participation and she also talks about her recently published memoir.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

The government has announced an independent inquiry into repeated failings in maternity services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Earlier this year, a BBC investigation revealed that the deaths of at least 56 babies and two mothers over the past five years at the Trust could perhaps have been avoided. BBC correspondent Divya Talwar joins Nuala McGovern, alongside Lauren Caulfield and Amarjit Kaur Matharoo, who both tragically lost their babies while receiving care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. This month, the Ironman World Championships were held in Kona, Hawaii, where Britain’s Kat Matthews won silver. The men’s and women’s championships, previously held simultaneously, were split into separate events in 2023. However, they are set to reunite next year. Questions have been raised about the impact this change may have on female competitors. To discuss the championships and celebrate Kat’s achievement, Nuala is joined by Kat Matthews and Jordan Blanco, a contributor to Triathlete magazine who attended the event. A new report reveals that progress towards gender equity in the architecture profession still remains too slow. Inequalities remain deeply rooted — with pay disparities, toxic and exclusionary workplace cultures, and half of female respondents surveyed said they had been bullied, and a third had experienced sexual harassment at work. Nuala hears from Valerie Vaughan-Dick, Chief Executive of Royal Institute of British Architects, and Helen Lee who was the project architect on a social housing development in London for the elderly which has just won this year’s Stirling Prize for Architecture. The Essex witch trials represent one of the darkest chapters in British history. A new Sky History series, Witches of Essex, revisits the real lives of women accused of witchcraft in the 16th and 17th centuries, drawing on newly examined court records and the latest historical research. Historian Dr Eleanor Janega joins Nuala to discuss.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Dianne McGregor

Half of working dads feel nervous asking for time off to care for their children, more than 20% have been asked ‘where’s your wife/partner?’ when requesting flexibility and 44% say employers treat mothers more favourably in terms of flexible working. These are the findings of a new study ‘Barriers to Equal Parenting’ by the charity Working Families. Nuala McGovern is joined by Elliott Rae founder of Parenting Out Loud and Penny East, chief executive of the Fawcett Society.Tilda Swinton is one of the UK’s most singular and celebrated performers. Over four decades she has delivered unforgettable and varied screen performances, notably Orlando, The Chronicles of Narnia, Michael Clayton and Asteroid City and collaborated with artists and filmmakers. She joins Anita Rani to talk about a new exhibition in Amsterdam celebrating her work and the enduring relationships that have inspired her.There is a new film out now in cinemas called I Swear. It is inspired by the life and experiences of John Davidson, and charts his journey from a misunderstood teenager in 1980s Britain to a present-day advocate for greater understanding of Tourette syndrome. John was also featured in a BBC documentary back in 1989 called John's Not Mad. There is more recognition of the syndrome now, singers Lewis Capaldi and Billie Eilish have both openly talked about living with Tourette's and it's estimated over 300,000 children and adults in the UK have it. The key features are tics which cause people to make sudden, involuntary sounds and movements. To hear more about the condition and how it impacts women and girls Nuala talks to Wilamena Dyer, musician and Tourette syndrome advocate and Dr Tara Murphy, Consultant psychologist in the NHS, and Trustee of the support and research charity Tourettes Action.Karen Carney is one of the most capped female footballers for England. The former Lioness joins Anita to talk about how she is using Strictly to help her 'rebuild confidence' after being 'crushed' by the sexist abuse she faced as a football pundit and her vision to improve women’s sport.Bobbi Brown is a make-up artist turned entrepreneur who created her now famous eponymous line in 1990. Her fresh-faced approach went against 80s and 90s trends at the time for bright colour and contouring and instead aimed to celebrate and enhance women’s natural beauty. She made millions selling her brand to Estée Lauder and has gone on to create a new multimillion brand. On the release of her memoir, she joins Nuala to talk about her life and work.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Simon Richardson

Tilda Swinton is one of the UK’s most singular and celebrated performers. Over four decades she has delivered unforgettable and varied screen performances, notably Orlando, The Chronicles of Narnia, Michael Clayton and Asteroid City and collaborated with artists and filmmakers. She joins Anita Rani to talk about a new exhibition in Amsterdam celebrating her work and the enduring relationships that have inspired her.According to the latest data, homelessness is rising. Over 130,000 households were in temporary accommodation in June, up 7.6% from last year. Charities warn that women are underrepresented in the data, as they often face different challenges to men. The Women’s Rough Sleeping Census, now in its fourth year, aims to address this. Rebecca Goshawk, Director of Business Development at Solace Women's Aid, joins Anita to discuss it. Named after pioneering racing driver Gwenda Stewart, Gwenda’s Garage was a real place: where three female mechanics defied the odds by setting up their own garage in Sheffield in the 1980s. Their inspiring story is now a musical on stage in Sheffield which is based on these true events, of women fighting everyday sexism, homophobia and Section 28. Anita is joined by Roz Wollen, one of the co-founders of the original Gwenda’s Garage and Val Regan, the production’s composer and musical director.The FCA has called on banks and payment firms to bring in stricter controls protecting customers from romance fraud after a study showed a number of missed “red flags” that led to people losing huge sums of money to people creating fake online profiles. They found that women tended to sustain these relationships for longer which could mean a bigger scam. Anita speaks to Beth Harris, Head of Financial Crime at the Financial Conduct Authority to ask how we can be aware of these scams and avoid them, and what banks should be doing to assist.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

A major UK group litigation has been launched against Johnson & Johnson, involving approximately 3,000 claimants who allege they developed cancers due to asbestos-contaminated talc products. The company is accused of negligence and deceit. Johnson & Johnson deny the allegations. The BBC Health reporter, Chloe Hayward, joins Anita Rani to talk about what is known so far.Surrogacy and its impact is the subject of a new report by the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem. In 2023, the global surrogacy market was valued at nearly $15 billion and is projected to reach almost $100 billion in the next eight years. Here in the UK commercial surrogacy is illegal - surrogacy has to be altruistic, meaning only expenses are paid for and the motivation behind it is typically helping someone else. It is legal, however, to have a child in another country where the rules may differ. To discuss the ethics of the practice, Anita is joined by Reem Alsalem and Sarah Jones, CEO of Surrogacy UK.Karen Carney is one of the most capped female footballers for England. The former Lioness joins Anita to talk about how she is using Strictly to help her 'rebuild confidence' after being 'crushed' by the sexist abuse she faced as a football pundit and her vision to improve women’s sport.Children with special educational needs from low-income families are facing major inequalities in access to support, according to a new report out today from the Sutton Trust. Anita is joined by Charlotte O’Regan, Senior Schools Engagement Manager at the Sutton Trust, lead author of the report Double Disadvantage, to talk about its findings. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Only about 20% of UK tech workers are women. That's from a study by WeAreTechWomen & management consultants Oliver Wyman, which also found between 40,000 and 60,000 women leave the UK’s tech sector every year, costing the economy an estimated £2 to £3.5 billion annually. Across the UK this week, a series of events is taking place celebrating British women in tech and Nuala McGovern talks to Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Liz Kendall, as well as the BBC Technology Editor Zoe Kleinman, to discuss the state of the industry with regards to women. There is a new film out now in cinemas called I Swear. It is inspired by the life and experiences of John Davidson, and charts his journey from a misunderstood teenager in 1980s Britain to a present-day advocate for greater understanding of Tourette syndrome. John was also featured in a BBC documentary back in 1989 called John's Not Mad. There is more recognition of the syndrome now, singers Lewis Capaldi and Billie Eilish have both openly talked about living with Tourette's and it's estimated over 300,000 children and adults in the UK have it. The key features are tics which cause people to make sudden, involuntary sounds and movements. To hear more about the condition and how it impacts women and girls Nuala talks to Wilamena Dyer, musician and Tourette syndrome advocate and Dr Tara Murphy, Consultant psychologist in the NHS, and Trustee of the support and research charity Tourettes Action. It's taken a few hundred years but we may now know the identity of the Girl with the Pearl Earring. It is one of the world's most recognisable paintings and art historian and critic Andrew Graham-Dixon has been on a quest, which we find out about in his new book, Vermeer: A Life Lost and Found. He spent years exploring the archives of Vermeer’s home town in the Netherlands and tells Nuala what he has discovered. A three-year study has found that specially designed singing classes can help treat mothers with postnatal depression. Scientists at King's College London analysed the effects of a ten-week singing programme in south London on women at risk of the condition, and found they continued to see long-term benefits compared with those attending other play classes. Researchers say the groups could be a cost effective NHS treatment when mental health services are stretched. Nuala is joined by Professor Carmine Pariante from King's College who led the research and Jay Hayson, mum of 8 month old Ezra who finished the 10 week course run by Breathe Melody for Mums in August this year. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

Bobbi Brown is a make-up artist turned entrepreneur who created her now famous eponymous line in 1990. Her fresh-faced approach went against 80s and 90s trends at the time for bright colour and contouring and instead aimed to celebrate and enhance women’s natural beauty. She made millions selling her brand to Estée Lauder and has gone on to create a new multimillion brand. On the release of her memoir, she joins Nuala McGovern to talk about her life and work.The family courts are failing to take domestic abuse seriously despite it featuring in nine out of 10 cases, according to a new report. The report reviewed hundreds of cases and found that judges sent children to stay with a potentially unsafe parent in more than half of them. It said safeguarding concerns were often downplayed or ignored in court. Nuala speaks to Nicole Jacobs, domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales, who instigated this research.A powerful new short film, 22+1, premieres tonight at the BFI London Film Festival during Baby Loss Awareness Week. Written by Pippa Vosper and directed by Pippa Bennett-Warner, it follows Ruby, played by Bennett-Warner, as she loses her baby 22 weeks plus one day into the pregnancy. Drawing on Vosper’s personal experience of baby loss and Bennett-Warner’s lived experience as a black woman, the film shines a light on the inequalities faced by black women in maternity care. They both join Nuala in the studio.Last week, we looked at what impact the Women's Summer of Sport could have on grassroots participation. Today we look at the economic impact. Can women's sport call itself big business now? Something that many say will be crucial to its continued growth whilst others say it may risk losing its heart that makes different from men's sport. Joining Nuala to discuss is Dr Christina Philippou, associate professor in accounting and sport finance at the University of Portsmouth, and Sam Agini, sports business correspondent at the Financial Times.

Half of working dads feel nervous asking for time off to care for their children, more than 20% have been asked ‘where’s your wife/partner?’ when requesting flexibility and 44% say employers treat mothers more favourably in terms of flexible working. These are the findings of a new study ‘Barriers to Equal Parenting’ by the charity Working Families. Nuala McGovern is joined by Elliott Rae founder of Parenting Out Loud and Penny East, chief executive of the Fawcett Society.In 2012, Agnes Wanjiru, a 21-year-old Kenyan woman and mother, was found dead in a septic tank near a British army base in central Kenya. More than a decade later, no one has been charged with her killing. Last month, a Kenyan High Court issued an arrest warrant for a British national suspected of her murder. We hear from Agnes’ niece, Esther who is here in London today meeting with the Ministry of Defence calling for answers and for someone to be held responsible. Today would have been Baroness Margaret Thatcher’s 100th birthday. Britain's Prime Minister for almost 12 years, she was the first woman ever to hold that position. Adored and revered by many, grudgingly respected by others, reviled by some on the left & criticised by feminists for doing little for women, can her legacy be clearly defined? To discuss Nuala is joined by Baroness Gillian Shephard who served in the ‘Iron Lady’s’ first government and Sarah Childs, Professor of Gender and Politics at the University of Edinburgh.Over the weekend, we heard that the Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton died at the age of 79. Bette Midler called her "brilliant, beautiful, extraordinary", Goldie Hawn said "You never liked praise, so humble, but now you can’t tell me to ‘shut up’ honey. There was, and will be, no one like you.” They were two of her co-stars in the huge 1996 film the First Wives Club.... but Diane Keaton made her name decades before in American film classics such as Annie Hall, The Godfather, Reds. Victoria Moss, freelance fashion and lifestyle journalist and Leila Latif, film critic, discuss her impact.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

100m sprinter Bebe Jackson, 19, won a bronze medal on her debut at the IPC World Para Athletics Championships in Delhi, India, last week. Bebe was born with congenital talipes equinovarus, widely known as club foot, and when she’s not competing for Britain, she works nights caring for children with complex disabilities. She tells Anita Rani how she does it.In Sally Wainwright’s new BBC drama Riot Women, a group of women in mid-life escape the pressures of caring for parents and kids - and the menopause - by forming a rock band. Rosalie Craig stars as the incredible singer that brings them together. Anita Rani talks to Sally and actor Rosalie about the power of female friendship.Nuala McGovern talks to the French philosopher Manon Garcia. Manon watched the court proceedings of the Pelicot case in France, in which Dominique Pelicot and 46 other men were found guilty of the rape of Dominique’s wife Gisèle. In her book Living with Men, she examines French and other societies in light of the case and questions what more needs to be done.When you think about music from 500 years ago, you might picture monks chanting, or the voices of choirboys, but what’s been largely forgotten over the course of history is that some of the most striking music during this time was being written and sung by nuns, hidden away in convents across Europe. Nuala speaks to Laurie Stras, Director of Musica Secreta, an all-female renaissance ensemble.Elon Musk's Artificial Intelligence company xAI recently introduced two sexually explicit chatbots. He's a high-profile presence in a growing field where developers are banking on users interacting and forming intimate relationships with the AI chatbots. Nuala McGovern speaks to journalist Amelia Gentleman, who has just returned from an adult industry conference in Prague, where she saw a sharp rise in new websites offering an increasingly realistic selection of AI girlfriends, and Gina Neff, Professor of Responsible AI at the Queen Mary University of London, who tells us what this means for women.EastEnders actor Kellie Bright took part in a Woman’s Hour special last year which asked whether the SEND system is working for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Tonight Kellie presents a special one-hour BBC Panorama. Drawing on her own experience as the mother of an autistic son, she investigates how parents navigate the complex system to secure the right help at school. Kellie joins Nuala McGovern to talk about what she found.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Simon Richardson

A court in southern France has increased the jail term of the only man who challenged his conviction for raping Gisèle Pelicot. Gisèle was drugged by her then-husband Dominique for over a decade and raped by dozens of men he recruited on the internet. Of the 51 men convicted of abusing Gisèle, 44-year-old Husamettin Dogan was the only one who appealed against his verdict. Anita Rani speaks to Angelique Chrisafis, Paris Correspondent for the Guardian, who was in the court at Nîmes.In June this year, Lucy Guo, a 30-year-old American tech entrepreneur, became the youngest self-made female billionaire, according to Forbes. With a reported net worth of almost $1.3 billion, she overtook Taylor Swift to land at number 26 on Forbes’ annual ‘America’s richest self-made women’ list. Anita spoke to Lucy from her home in Los Angeles.100m sprinter Bebe Jackson, 19, won a bronze medal on her debut at the IPC World Para Athletics Championships in Delhi, India, last week. Bebe was born with congenital talipes equinovarus, widely known as club foot, and when she’s not competing for Britain, she works nights caring for children with complex disabilities. She tells Anita how she does it.What’s it like to be a female travel writer today? Some writers would argue it’s now all about the smartphone and hashtags. But the new Ilse Schwepcke Prize, named after the pioneering German publisher who championed female travel writers, is pushing back and celebrating reflective travel writing by women. Journalist and writer Viv Groskop, shortlisted for her memoir, One Ukrainian Summer, and Dr Barbara Schwepcke, daughter of Ilse and founder of Haus publishing, join Anita to discuss the history of travel writing by women and how it’s changing. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

NB: The music in this broadcast has been removed from this podcast for rights reasons.In Sally Wainwright’s new BBC drama Riot Women, a group of women in mid-life escape the pressures of caring for parents and kids - and the menopause - by forming a rock band. Rosalie Craig stars as the incredible singer that brings them together. Anita Rani talks to Sally and actor Rosalie about the power of female friendship. The ongoing Covid-19 inquiry is currently looking into the impact of the pandemic on children and young people, from education, health to social wellbeing. Alison Morton, the CEO of the Institute of Health Visitors, told the inquiry this week that the NHS's decision to redeploy health visitors meant that 'children were harmed' and there were 'life-ending consequences.' The BBC's Education Reporter Vanessa Clarke has been following the inquiry and joins Anita to talk about the latest news.As part of the BBC’s Nature Week, we’re encouraging you to get outside and connect with nature. Writer, advocate and skilled bike mechanic Vicky Balfour talks to Anita about how nature has become both a sanctuary and a source of strength for her as a parent of children with SEND. She describes how short moments outdoors can have a profound impact on mental and physical wellbeing, providing sensory regulation, confidence-building and resilience. Vicky also sheds light on the barriers SEND families face in accessing nature and calls for a more inclusive outdoor culture.Singer-songwriter Tanita Tikaram shot to fame in the late 1980s aged just 18 with her debut album Ancient Heart, which sold millions and featured iconic hits such as Twist in My Sobriety, (World Outside My Window) and Good Tradition. 37-years later, Tanika considers her latest album LIAR (Love Isn’t A Right), a sequel to the one that made her a household name. She talks to Anita about making this tenth album which revisits themes of identity and belonging.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

As Kemi Badenoch prepares to address Conservative Party conference for the second time this week, Nuala McGovern reflects on her first year as leader of the party and Leader of the Opposition, with BBC political correspondent Georgia Roberts and Conservative peer Baroness Kate Fall.The People's Tribunal for Women in Afghanistan is convening in Madrid this week to investigate Taliban crimes against women. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Afghan women and girls have endured a significant rollback of their fundamental human rights. What will this tribunal - which has no legal authority - achieve for them? We hear from Shaharzad Akbar, former head of Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission, and Director of Rawadari, one of the organisations behind the Tribunal. Nuala talks to the French philosopher Manon Garcia.  Manon watched the court proceedings of the Pelicot case in France, in which Dominique Pelicot and 46 other men were found guilty of the rape of Dominique’s wife Gisèle. In her book Living with Men, she examines French and other societies in light of the case and questions what more needs to be done.The visual artist Joy Gregory's retrospective exhibition Catching Flies with Honey opens at the Whitechapel Gallery today. As an artist Joy explores identity, history, race, gender and societal ideals of beauty all while pushing the possibilities of photography and other media. She discusses her life and work.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Elon Musk's Artificial Intelligence company xAI recently introduced two sexually explicit chatbots. He's a high-profile presence in a growing field where developers are banking on users interacting and forming intimate relationships with the AI chatbots. Nuala McGovern speaks to journalist Amelia Gentleman, who has just returned from an adult industry conference in Prague, where she saw a sharp rise in new websites offering an increasingly realistic selection of AI girlfriends, and Gina Neff, Professor of Responsible AI at the Queen Mary University of London, who tells us what this means for women.Sanae Takaichi has been elected as the new leader of Japan’s ruling conservative party, the Liberal Democratic Party, known as the LDP. Parliament is expected to confirm her as Japan’s first female Prime Minister on 15 October, two days after the 100th anniversary of the birth of Takaichi’s personal political inspiration – Margaret Thatcher. A former government minister, television host and drummer in a heavy metal band, she recently told a group of schoolchildren that her goal was “to become the Iron Lady.” To find out what she means by this and how she is likely to lead her country, Nuala is joined by Mariko Oi, journalist and presenter of the BBC’s soon-to-be launched World Service podcast Asia Specific.At the turn of the 20th century in a small village in Hungary, a midwife, known as Auntie Zsuzsi, was more than a care giver, she was a confidante. Over a period of 20 years, she was central to helping women poison their abusive husbands, killing up to an estimated 300 people in the region. In her book, The Women Are Not Fine - the dark history of a Poisonous Sisterhood, journalist Hope Reese investigates what happened in that Hungarian village and tells Nuala why these women went to such extremes, and how they got away with it for two decades. Following the death of romance author Jilly Cooper yesterday, we hear part of her Woman's Hour interview from November 2023 in which she talked about setting her novel Tackle in the world of sex and football. When you think about music from 500 years ago, you might picture monks chanting, or the voices of choirboys, but what’s been largely forgotten over the course of history is that some of the most striking music during this time was being written and sung by nuns, hidden away in convents across Europe. Nuala speaks to Laurie Stras, Director of Musica Secreta, an all-female renaissance ensemble.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

EastEnders actor Kellie Bright took part in a Woman’s Hour special last year which asked whether the SEND system is working for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Tonight Kellie presents a special one-hour BBC Panorama. Drawing on her own experience as the mother of an autistic son, she investigates how parents navigate the complex system to secure the right help at school. Kellie joins Nuala McGovern to talk about what she found.Friday marked a moment in history for the Church of England, as the role of Archbishop of Canterbury was given to a woman for the first time in its near 500-year history. Dame Sarah Mullally takes the helm during a difficult period for the Church, after its former leader - Justin Welby - resigned over a safeguarding scandal almost a year ago. To discuss the significance of her appointment we hear from Bishop of Derby, the Rt Revd Libby Lane, the first woman to become a bishop in 2015, and Sally Hitchiner, Rector of North Lambeth in London.As the glittering women's summer of sport in football and rugby transitions into the autumn of trophies, and the Women's Cricket World Cup is ongoing, what will the legacy be for women and girls' participation in grassroots sport? Nuala is joined by Sue Day, Director of Women's Football at the Football Association, and Stephanie Hillborne, CEO of Women in Sport.Flooding caused by this year’s monsoon season in Pakistan has affected the lives of over four million people in the country. Millions of people have been evacuated from the Punjab region and around 1,000 people have been reported to have died. The water has still not receded, and the situation remains difficult for many people, including pregnant women, many of whom can’t get access to the healthcare they desperately need. BBC World Service Urdu reporter Tarhub Asghar, who has been visiting some of the women affected, joins us.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Melinda French Gates is on a crusade to boost research into women's health. She co-founded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000 which has, to date, donated over $100 billion to charitable projects. Since her divorce from Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, she has left their joint enterprise and set up her own, Pivotal Ventures, which has one purpose: to put power into the hands of women. She joined Anita Rani in the Woman's Hour studio.Gloria Allred is one of the best known women’s rights lawyers in the US. She tells Nuala McGovern what has happened to victims' voices amongst the continuous revelations in the press from the Epstein Files. We then hear from bestselling author and leading feminist thinker Rebecca Solnit, who says the released documents are reminders of a culture that decades of feminism have started to dismantle.The conservationist and primatologist Dame Jane Goodall died this week aged 91. According to the Jane Goodall Institute, she died of natural causes in California where she was staying as part of a speaking tour in the US. There have been tributes from around the world. Wildlife biologist, National Geographic Explorer and President of the Wildlife Trust, Liz Bonnin, joins Anita Rani to remember this ground-breaking conservationist who revolutionised the study of great apes. Jillian Miller who is the director of the Gorilla Organisation, which works to save gorillas from extinction also pays tribute.Many of us will remember the multi-award winning Tracey Ullman from her TV shows, A Kick up the Eighties, Three of a Kind, as well as The Tracey Ullman Show, which was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Tracey joins Nuala McGovern to discuss her latest role in the film, Steve, in which she plays the deputy head in a last chance reform school for troubled teenage boys.A ‘carent ’is an adult child who is caring for one or both of their ageing parents, in-laws or elderly relatives. Many ‘carents’ will be balancing work and family alongside. Dr Jackie Gray, a retired GP and founder of The Carents Room, joins Nuala McGovern to discuss, along with Kendra and Rachel who provide care for their parents.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Simon Richardson

Melinda French Gates is the most well known and powerful woman in philanthropy. The American co-founded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000 which has to date, donated over $100 billion to charitable projects. Since her divorce from Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, she has left their joint enterprise and set up her own, Pivotal Ventures, which has one purpose: To put power into the hands of women. She joined Anita Rani in the Woman's Hour studio.As you will have heard on the news, two men killed in an attack on a synagogue in Manchester have been named by police as Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz. The attack took place at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsell, Manchester, yesterday, on Yom Kippur, the most holy day in the Jewish calendar. We reflect on how the Jewish community are feeling, and in particular the impact of this attack on families and children. Anita is joined by Rabbi Baroness Julia Neuberger and Angela Epstein, who's the presenter of the podcast Jewish Mother Me. Last Wednesday, seven men were sentenced after being convicted in June of various child sex offences relating to two unnamed girls in Rochdale between 2001 and 2006. Woman’s Hour reflects on what this prosecution means for women who have experienced sexual abuse? Anita is joined by former Chief Crown Prosecutor for NW England, Nazir Afzal and Maggie Oliver, ex-Greater Manchester Police detective and chair of the Maggie Oliver Foundation supporting survivors of sexual abuse.If you've bought a piece of jewellery recently - perhaps a wedding ring or maybe something for a big birthday - you're probably aware the price of gold has reached record highs. That surge in the value of gold is reshaping the jewellery industry, from supply chains to design choices, while consumers are being nudged toward silver and other materials. To find out more about the impact of the jewellery industry, Anita talks to jewellery writer Rachael Taylor and designer and maker Sia Taylor.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

Secret filming by the BBC’s Panorama programme last night revealed evidence of racism, misogyny and officers revelling in the use of force at one of London’s busiest police stations. Panorama’s evidence suggests that a toxic culture still exists inside the Met and that racist and misogynistic attitudes haven’t been eliminated but have been driven underground. Anita Rani speaks to Matt Jukes, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.The secrets we keep reflect the conventions, taboos and laws of the outside world, and women have traditionally had the bigger burden of secrets, often unable to reveal things that could get them or others judged, in society or by law. Anita talks to Juliet Nicolson about her new book The Book of Revelations which explores secrets through social history, her own family and many case studies she spoke to. The conservationist and primatologist Dame Jane Goodall died yesterday, aged 91. According to the Jane Goodall Institute, she died of natural causes in California where she was staying as part of a speaking tour in the US. There has been tributes from around the world. Joining me Anita to remember this ground-breaking conservationist who revolutionised the study of great apes is wildlife biologist, National Geographic Explorer and President of the Wildlife Trust, Liz Bonnin, and Jillian Miller who is the director of the Gorilla Organisation who work to save gorillas from extinction.From gowns buried underground to transforming fabrics with melted bandages, fashion has a history of exploring the aesthetics of dirt and decay. A new exhibition at the Barbican, Dirty Looks, explores 50 years of designers from Vivienne Westwood to Alexander McQueen, who used dirt and distress to make statements about luxury, beauty, class and the environment. The exhibition also looks at waste as fashion is now one of the most polluting industries in the world. Anita is joined by the exhibition’s curator, Karen Van Godtsenhoven, and artist and designer, Michaela Stark, whose work challenges ideas of imperfection.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Gloria Allred is one of the best known women’s rights lawyers in the US. She tells Nuala McGovern what has happened to victims' voices amongst the continuous revelations in the press from the Epstein Files. We then hear from bestselling author and leading feminist thinker Rebecca Solnit, who says the released documents are reminders of a culture that decades of feminism have started to dismantle.Today Blaise Metreweli becomes the the first woman to lead the Secret Intelligence Service, or MI6, in its 116-year history. Nuala speaks to two women who’ve met her, Helen Worrell from the Financial Times and Telegraph Senior Commissioning Editor Lebby Eyres, who has rowed competitively against Blaise for years.The Taliban has imposed an internet shutdown across Afghanistan, to last indefinitely. Mahjooba Nowrouzi from the BBC Afghan service tells Nuala how women and students who relied on online learning have been affected.Mimi Nation-Dixon's one-woman play Sit or Kneel transfers to The Other Palace in London this October. Mimi plays Margot, a young female vicar trying to lead a rural parish while grappling with dating, grief, identity and questioning her faith. Mimi joins Nuala to explain how her own theology dissertation on the Vicar of Dibley inspired the piece.

World Cup winner and nominee for World Rugby Player of the Year, Meg Jones, joins Nuala McGovern. Following the Red Roses' win at the weekend, many have named Meg their player of the tournament. Meg reflects on the big win and how the death of both of her parents last year powered her on. A ‘carent ’is an adult child who is caring for one or both of their ageing parents, in-laws or elderly relatives. Many ‘carents’ will be balancing work and family alongside. Dr Jackie Gray, a retired GP and founder of The Carents Room, joins Nuala to discuss, along with Kendra and Rachel who provide care for their parents. Award-winning actor Andrea Riseborough is one of five women portraying Mary Page Marlowe on stage at the Old Vic in London. The play is described as a “time-jumping mosaic” that spans 70 years in the life of an accountant and mother of two from Ohio. Andrea joins Nuala to discuss sharing the role with Susan Sarandon, and how this seemingly simple story of an ordinary woman invites audiences to reflect on our own lives. Author Bridget Collins discusses her latest novel, The Naked Light, a haunting gothic tale of ancient darkness, and a love that defies convention. It's set in England and focuses on three “surplus women” after the first world war.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Dianne McGregor

The Rugby World Cup has been the culmination of a stellar summer of women's sport and a second huge win for an England women's side. And there's lots to celebrate for the other home nations too. The final broke records across the board - it was the most watched women's rugby match ever on UK television and had a record-breaking number of spectators in the stadium too. Nuala McGovern is joined by Maggie Alphonsi, who was part of the England squad that won the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup in France, Deborah Griffin, organiser of the first Women's Rugby World Cup back in 1991, now the first female President of the Rugby Football Union, and Sarah Massey, Managing Director of the tournament. Many of us will remember the multi-award winning Tracey Ullman from her TV shows A Kick up the Eighties, Three of a Kind, as well as The Tracey Ullman Show, which was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Tracey joins Nuala to discuss her latest role in the film Steve, in which she plays the deputy head in a last chance reform school for troubled teenage boys. Janet Skinner fell victim to the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, and was temporarily paralysed after the stress of her ordeal. She was wrongly convicted of false accounting in 2007 and sentenced to nine months in prison after the faulty software said £59,000 had gone missing from her branch account in Hull. Janet has now received an offer of full financial redress, which is 15% of her compensation claim. Janet shares her story and her reaction to that offer with Nuala. As people across the country celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen, a new retelling of her book Emma is currently on at the Rose Theatre in Kingston upon Thames. It swaps drawing room duets for dance floor fillers and this Emma Woodhouse is fresh from failing at Oxford University and back in her Essex hometown for the summer, along with her closest friend Harriet, a total dating disaster. It's been written by Ava Pickett who tells Nuala about her modern retake of this Austen classic.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

Journalist Mary McCarthy has been avoiding motorways for years, even planning her life around how to dodge them. She's discovered it’s a far more common problem than you might think, especially among women in mid-life.The multi award-winning singer, songwriter and Global Feminist Activist Annie Lennox OBE has been part of the musical landscape for almost 50 years, from her days in The Tourists, to the Eurythmics and then going solo. Now at the age of 70, Annie has brought out a book of photographs called Annie Lennox: Retrospective, and tells us about her life and career.Punch is a play that looks at the ripple effects of a single punch, thrown by a teenager on a night out in Nottingham with fatal consequences. It is on stage in London and the mother of the young man killed, Joan Scourfield, is played by Julie Hesmondhalgh. Both Julie and Joan join Anita to discuss this remarkable story of restorative justice. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Simon Richardson

Penny Lancaster is a special constable, TV personality and photographer. She’s also married to rock legend Rod Stewart. Penny talks to Anita Rani about her life so far - from being bullied at school and living with severe dyslexia, to her IVF journey and educating her boys about the menopause. Penny also shares insights into her marriage to Rod and how for the past four years she has served as a Special Constable with the City of London Police.We examine the part that women’s safety is playing in protests about immigration in the UK. Reflecting the range of opinion from women who are protesting outside asylum hotels and forming street patrols they say to protect girls, to women’s organisations who believe that violence against women and girls is being weaponised for political gain.  Anita speaks to the BBC's Senior UK correspondent Sima Kotecha.Punch is a play that looks at the ripple effects of a single punch, thrown by a teenager on a night out in Nottingham with fatal consequences. It is on stage in London and the mother of the young man killed, Joan Scourfield, is played by Julie Hesmondhalgh. Both Julie and Joan join Anita to discuss this remarkable story of restorative justice. It's the Women's Rugby World Cup Final on Saturday between England and Canada. For the first time in history, an all-female grounds management team will be prepping the pitch for the Women’s final. It’s groundbreaking: only 2% of grounds managers are women, and there’s a recruitment crisis looming. Anita is joined by Cheryl Hill, part of the team at Twickenham stadium and Jennifer Carter of the Grounds Management Association. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

More than 100 Labour MPs are calling this morning for the Government to put up gambling taxes to pay for scrapping the two child cap on universal credit. Lifting the cap would cost an estimated £3 billion a year. Chancellor Rachel Reeves already has a £20 to £30 billion deficit to try and balance in the November budget. So, should she do it? Anita Rani talks to Iain Watson, BBC Political Correspondent, and Director of policy, rights and advocacy at Child Poverty Action Group, Sara Ogilvie. Professor Edith Heard is the new Director of the Francis Crick Institute, the UK’s flagship biomedical centre. Passionate about women’s biology, she's taking over at a time when debates over science seem to get hotter by the day. Resources are under strain too, not just money in the midst of high inflation but also the pressure to keep the best scientists working here in the UK. She tells Woman’s Hour about how she got here and her plans for the future.The Librarians is a new documentary examining the rise of campaign groups calling to ban books from school and public libraries in the USA. Anita talks to film maker Kym Snyder and librarian Amanda Jones.Oyinkan Braithwaite’s debut novel My Sister the Serial Killer was nominated for the Women’s and Booker prizes in 2019. Now she’s back with another novel on similarly dark themes but explored in a markedly different way. Cursed Daughters is about a legacy of heartache and broken relationships that comes to define one family in Nigeria. She joins Anita.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

There has been a renewed conversation regarding sex after childbirth following a recent episode of the CBeebies Parenting Helpline podcast which tackled the topic of libido in the time after having a baby. It can be a very confusing time when it comes to your relationship with your body, so how do you navigate those ‘blurred lines’ between your roles as mother, partner, and sexual being. Nuala McGovern is joined by journalist and author Nell Frizzell, who's written about her own experiences, and consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Karen Joash.Ruby Tui was the star of the last Women's Rugby World Cup, held in her native New Zealand in 2021. She's now regarded by many to be the star of the BBC's coverage of this year's World Cup, held in England. The tournament has broken records, from viewership to ticket sales and reflects the rapidly rising profile of the women’s game. Ruby Tui reflects on the tournament and her own journey to the top of the sport.A form of family violence which receives minimal attention and is arguably the most hidden form of abuse within the home is known as CAPVA. This stands for child and adolescent to parent violence and abuse. Today the charity Action for Children has released a report with insights from their parenting support services, which suggests there has been a marked uptake in need for support on this issue. Nuala hears from Martha Hampson, Senior Policy Advisor on Early Help with Action for Children, and Dr Nikki Rutter, assistant professor in the department of sociology at Durham University and child parent violence researcher.Award-winning actor Juliet Stevenson takes the lead in a new play at the National Theatre, The Land of the Living. She plays Ruth, a UN relief worker in post-war Germany, trying to reunite children stolen by the Nazis from Eastern Europe, with their families. With one particular child it becomes a very personal mission. Juliet tells Nuala why she wanted to play this part.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

The multi award-winning singer songwriter Annie Lennox has been part of the musical landscape for almost 50 years, from her days in The Tourists, to the Eurythmics and then going solo. Now at the age of 70, Annie has brought out a book of photographs called Annie Lennox: Retrospective, and talks to Nuala McGovern about her life and career.President Trump has said that pregnant women should avoid paracetamol because of the risks of autism and that US doctors will soon be advised not to prescribe Tylenol, as paracetamol is known in the US, to pregnant women. However he didn't provide any scientific evidence for this. UK health officials have stressed that paracetamol remains the safest painkiller available to pregnant women, and Health Secretary Wes Streeting has told women to ignore Trump's comments. Nuala is joined by Dr Alex Tsompanidis, senior research associate at the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University and the BBC's Health reporter, Jim Reed.It’s a year since the death of Alice Webb, the first woman in the UK to die from complications after a liquid Brazilian butt lift, a non-surgical procedure injecting filler into the buttocks. You don’t need to have any medical qualifications to carry out the procedure. We talk to Sasha Dean who had terrifying complications after a liquid BBL and to David Sines from the JCCP, which runs a voluntary regulator for practitioners.Are you guilty of ‘phubbing’? It’s the process of snubbing the person you are with in person by looking at your phone. New research shows that these phone snubs can have a huge impact on relationships. Dr Claire Hart, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Southampton, tells us about her findings and Dr Kaitlyn Regehr, University College London and author of Smartphone Nation, discusses the impact parental phubbing can have on children.

Journalist Mary McCarthy has been avoiding motorways for years, even planning her life around how to dodge them. She tells Kylie Pentelow how she discovered it’s a far more common problem than you might think, especially among women in mid-life.England are through to the Rugby World Cup final. They face Canada next Saturday but who will we see lift the trophy? Former player Kat Merchant gives her view.Who is Erika Kirk? Kylie speaks to Anne McElvoy, executive editor at Politico and host of the Sam and Anne political podcast, about the wife of Charlie Kirk, American activist and influencer, who was shot dead on 10 September. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks discusses her new adaptation of The Harder They Come, based on the classic 1972 film whose legendary soundtrack brought reggae to the world. She joins Kylie to explain her process for adapting classic stories and how she rewrote the rules for language and structure in theatre.The UK’s first ever exhibition dedicated to the life of the French Queen Marie Antoinette has just opened at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Marie Antoinette Style explores the lasting influence of the fashionable icon, showcasing more than 250 objects, some of which have never been seen outside of Versailles. So, who was this ill-fated queen and how does her style still resonate with us today?

How well does the law serve women? That’s a question Nuala puts to Brenda Marjorie Hale, The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Hale of Richmond, DBE a former judge who served as the first female President of the Supreme Court. She was the first woman and the youngest person to be appointed to the Law Commission, where she led the work on what became the 1989 Children Act. In 2019 she announced the Supreme Court’s judgement that the prorogation of Parliament was ‘unlawful, void and of no effect’. She discusses her new book, With the Law on Our Side – How the law works for everyone and how we can make it work better.BBC Celebrity Race Across the World will soon be back on our screens as four celebs pair up with a friend or family member and travel from a starting point anywhere in the world to another BUT with no phones or flights allowed and only the cost of the flight as money for the entire trip. Woman's Hour had the privilege of revealing one of the pairings: none other than Woman's Hour presenter Anita Rani and her father Balvinder Singh Nazran.To so many women the symptoms of pregnancy are instant, intense and unmistakeable; however some make it the full nine months without having any idea they’re even pregnant. This phenomenon is known as cryptic pregnancy, and the British Medical Journal suggests it’s more common than triplets. Nuala was joined by two women who have experienced this first-hand, plus Professor of Midwifery, Helen Cheyne to discuss.Patricia Lockwood is a poet, memoirist and novelist whose work straddles the literary world and the wilds of the internet. Patricia first went viral with her traumatic poem Rape Joke, while her memoir Priestdaddy, about being the daughter of a Catholic priest, has been called a modern classic. She talked to Nuala McGovern about her new book, Will There Ever Be Another You, which explores the surreal disorientation of illness, memory and recovery in the wake of Covid.Sudanese women and girls are bearing the brunt of a civil war that is entering its third year. The relentless conflict has triggered the world’s worst humanitarian crisis for 6 million displaced women and girls. Cases of conflict-related sexual violence remain hugely under-reported, but evidence points to its systematic use as a weapon of war. Yousra Elbagir, Sky News’ Africa Correspondent talked to Anita about the impact on women and also the role women play in providing support to the displaced.Are you a fan of words, their meanings and origins? The lexicographer Susie Dent, best known as the queen of Dictionary Corner on C4’s Countdown, has created a whole year’s worth of words, most of which you most probably never knew existed, in a freshly published almanac. It is called Words for Life and each day you can read an entry, digest its meaning and maybe laugh at its sound. Susie gives Anita some examples and explains her interest in words.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Andrea Kidd

If your doctor or surgeon was convicted of rape you might expect them to be struck off. But that isn't always the case according to new research out today. The study by the Royal College of Surgeons looked at decisions by the medical practioners tribunal service, which rules on misconduct cases and decides on the sanctions. In a quarter of cases, they were more lenient than recommendations from the General Medical Council. They looked at 46 cases. In 11, the doctor was suspended instead of being struck off. Mei Nortley, a consultant vascular surgeon, is the lead author of the study and joins Anita Rani to explain more.Are you a fan of words, their meanings and origins? The lexicographer Susie Dent, best known as the queen of Dictionary Corner on C4’s Countdown, has created a whole year’s worth of words, most of which you most probably never knew existed in a freshly published almanac. It is called Words for Life and each day you can read an entry, digest its meaning and maybe laugh at its sound. Susie gives Anita some examples and explains her interest in words. There's been growing concern in the fashion industry about the increasing prominence of what industry experts say are very thin, European models becoming the beauty standard. While there has been a push for body positivity and diversity in the past, many - including Edward Enninful, the former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, are now questioning whether the rise in ultra-thin models signals a shift back to outdated ideals. To discuss, Anita speaks to Alex Fullerton who is a fashion writer, author and stylist.73-year-old Sushila Karki has recently been sworn in as Nepal’s interim prime minister, the first woman to hold that office. This is after anti-corruption protests, when GenZ movement, as it’s been called, ousted the government, and more than 70 people were killed in the clashes with riot police. Normally the position is held by a member of parliament, but Sushila isn’t a politician, she was the country’s chief justice before her retirement. Anita is joined by Sanjaya Dhakal, a journalist with the BBC Nepali Service to find out why she was appointed and what difference people think she can make. Edel Murphy, the CEO of University of Atypical, an organisation that develops and promotes the work of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists in Northern Ireland talks about the arts festival Bounce, which will be taking place in Belfast and Derry/Londonderry in early October, featuring many female performers and artists.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

A group of cross-party MPs has called for root and branch transformation of the way mainstream education caters for children and young people with special educational needs and disablities, including new statutory minimum standards. One of the recommendations of the Education Select Committee is that individual care plans for children with special educational needs EHCPs should NOT be scrapped in England. The Government is expected to publish its plans on how to reform SEND provision in England this autumn. Joining Anita Rani to discuss the latest issues is the BBC's Education Reporter Kate McGough.Sudanese women and girls are bearing the brunt of a civil war that is entering its third year. The relentless conflict has triggered the world’s worst humanitarian crisis for 6 million displaced women and girls. Cases of conflict-related sexual violence remain hugely under-reported, but evidence points to its systematic use as a weapon of war. Yousra Elbagir, Sky News’ Africa Correspondent talks to Anita Rani about the impact on women and also the role women play in providing support to the displaced.BBC Celebrity Race Across the World will soon be back on our screens as four celebs pair up with a friend or family member and travel from a starting point anywhere in the world to another BUT with no phones or flights allowed and only the cost of the flight as money for the entire trip. Woman's Hour has the privilege of revealing one of the celebrity pairings: No other than BBC Woman's Hour presenter Anita Rani and her father Balvinder Singh Nazran.The US and UK are expected to sign a civil nuclear cooperation deal today as part of President Trump’s state visit to the UK. But some surveys suggest that there is less support from UK women for the power source than from men and only 22% of the current nuclear workforce are women. Anita talks to Julia Pyke, joint Managing Director at the new Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station and KP Parkhill, Associate Professor in the Department of Environment and Geography at the University of York who studies public attitudes to nuclear about whether nuclear power has a so-called women problem.Last night the finale of TV drama The Summer I Turned Pretty hit our screens. It’s a coming-of-age tale, packed full of teen romance and at its centre, a juicy love triangle. According to the New York Times, its main audience is 25 to 54-year-old women, and it’s not the only teen drama that has caught the attention of this age group. So, what’s the draw? Journalists Edaein O'Connell and Hannah Betts join Anita to discuss the appeal.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

To so many women the symptoms of pregnancy are instant, intense and unmistakeable; however some make it the full nine months without having any idea they’re even pregnant. This phenomenon is known as cryptic pregnancy, and the British Medical Journal suggests it’s more common than triplets. Nuala McGovern is joined by two women who have experienced this first-hand, plus Professor of Midwifery, Helen Cheyne to discuss.Actor Karen Pittman earned an Emmy nomination for her performance as The Morning Show’s hardworking producer Mia Jordan, alongside co-stars including Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston. As the newsroom drama returns to Apple TV+ for a fourth season, Karen joins Nuala to discuss the show’s themes, from truth and deepfakes, to women in the workplace. Karen also featured in the Netflix adaptation of Judy Blume’s teen romance Forever and is known to fans of Sex and the City spin off, And Just Like That, as Dr Nya Wallace.Poet Nikita Gill tells Nuala about her latest book Hekate the Witch. She is the Greek goddess of magics, the crossroads, keys and necromancy. Nikita retells Hekate's story, from being an orphaned child brought up in the Underworld to becoming a powerful goddess seeking revenge for her family.A Kenyan High Court has issued an arrest warrant for a British national, suspected of killing a 21-year-old Kenyan woman, Agnes Wanjiru, more than a decade ago. Agnes was found dead in 2012 in the grounds of a hotel near an army base, nearly three months after she had allegedly spent an evening socialising with British soldiers. Hannah Al-Othman, a journalist for the Guardian who originally broke the story at the Sunday Times, and the BBC's Akisa Wandera, senior East Africa journalist based in Nairobi speak to Nuala.

As Donald Trump arrives in the UK for his second state visit, we examine how women feel about the US President now and how the Epstein scandal might feature in discussions as Keir Starmer faces more pressure about how he handled Lord Mandelson’s resignation. Nuala McGovern speaks to Katy Balls from The Times, women’s campaigner Alix Valentine and Mischa Smith, the news and features editor for Marie Claire UK. How well does the law serve women? That’s a question Nuala puts to Brenda Marjorie Hale, The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Hale of Richmond, DBE a former judge who served as the first female President of the Supreme Court. She was the first woman and the youngest person to be appointed to the Law Commission, where she led the work on what became the 1989 Children Act. In 2019 she announced the Supreme Court’s judgement that the prorogation of Parliament was ‘unlawful, void and of no effect’. She discusses her new book, With the Law on Our Side – How the law works for everyone and how we can make it work better. Hairdresser Emiola Lanlehin is the co-founder of Crowned with Care which is an event providing free hairstyling and barbering services for looked after black and mixed heritage children and teenagers. Her mother nominated her in the volunteer category of the Make a Difference Award – saying it was ‘for her courage, faith, commitment and determination to find a way of serving an underserved community’. Many children in care, especially those with Afro-textured hair, struggle to access proper grooming and cultural hair care. Emiola explains how free hair care can help black and mixed heritage children feel valued and celebrated. What are the issues that shape the lives of teenagers today? What are their concerns, pressures and influences? For their ‘Teen25 Summit’, BBC5 Live in collaboration with BBC Bitesize have conducted a survey of over 2,000 13–18-year-olds, and the data reveals some worrying statistics for the mental health of teenage girls today. Reporter Kristian Johnson talks us through the figures. And Professor Sonia Livingstone from the LSE analyses and gives advice to parents.

Patricia Lockwood is a poet, memoirist and novelist whose work straddles the literary world and the wilds of the internet. Patricia first went viral with her traumatic poem Rape Joke, while her memoir Priestdaddy, about being the daughter of a Catholic priest, has been called a modern classic. Patricia talks to Nuala McGovern about her new book, Will There Ever Be Another You, which explores the surreal disorientation of illness, memory and recovery in the wake of Covid. The list of hospital trusts that will be looked at as part of a rapid review of maternity care in England have just been announced. This is part of an independent, national, investigation into harm to hundreds of babies, that might have been prevented with better maternity care. However some of the families, whose cases will be part of it, have expressed concerns about its scope. Nuala is joined by BBC Social Affairs Correspondent Michael Buchanan to find out more about this review. Parents of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are heading to Westminster today. They are taking part in what they are calling a ‘Day of Action,' organised by parent support groups, which includes a rally at Parliament Square, MP drop-ins and a Parliamentary debate on SEND children’s rights. 18-year-old Katie Nellist, who has autism and struggled to attend school, will be giving a speech at the rally. Katie and her mother Ruth tell Nuala why they are taking part in this 'Day of Action'. The BBC Eye documentary and podcast called Death in Dubai has identified a former London bus driver running a sex ring exploiting young vulnerable Ugandan women. The programme has been told that hundreds of women are going to Dubai from Uganda, seeking their fortunes and ending up in sex work. Two of the women have died falling from tower blocks in Dubai. Nuala talks to the BBC Eye producer and reporter Runako Celina, who has spent two and a half years investigating this story. Kathrine Switzer was the first female to officially run the Boston marathon back in 1967, at that time considered a men’s-only race. However a race official tried to stop her mid-event when they discovered she was a woman. She went on to complete the course and she’s dedicated her life to enabling women to participate in the sport. Now in her late 70s, she’s run 42 marathons and is the co-founder of 261 Fearless, that aims to empower women through running. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

Davina McCall, one of TV’s most popular presenters has a new book out, Birthing, co-written with the midwife, Marley Henry. Davina joined Anita Rani to talk about her stellar career so far, including hosting Big Brother for 10 years, campaigning for better menopause care and building a fitness empire. What makes her tick? And what drives her forward to clear hurdles such as an usual childhood, drug addiction and most recently, brain surgery for a benign tumour that she nicknamed Jeffrey?As the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea's independence from Australia approaches later this month, we hear why the country is currently one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman. Two-thirds of women in PNG have experienced some form of sexual violence in their lifetime, which is almost twice the global average. Nuala McGovern was joined by Tahina Booth, a former elite athlete and founder of Grass Skirt Project who is trying to break the cycle of gender-based violence through sport and Joku Hennah, a journalist and activist.Jung Chang’s Wild Swans, the epic family memoir that followed the lives of Jung, her mother and grandmother through China's 20th century, was banned in mainland China, but was a smash hit worldwide upon publication in 1991. Now Jung’s sequel, Fly, Wild Swans, brings her family’s story up to date and she joined Nuala to talk about its themes. We’ve all heard of the fight or flight response in the face of danger, but there's also freeze, and then there's fawn, also known as people pleasing, or appeasing. Clinical psychologist Dr Ingrid Clayton has written about this in her new book, Fawning - Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves and How to Find our Way Back. Nuala spoke to Ingrid about her own experiences that made her want to help others overcome this form of trauma response and what fawning looks like in practice.In 2023 Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Murder on the Dancefloor went viral on TikTok after Emerald Fennell used it in a key scene in the film, Saltburn. That resurgence, along with her popular Kitchen Discos that got lots of us through the Covid lockdown set the scene for her new album, Perimenopop, which is released tomorrow, a celebration of womanhood in middle age. Sophie joined Anita in the Woman's Hour studio.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

Davina McCall, one of TV’s most popular presenters has a new book out, Birthing, co-written with the midwife, Marley Henry. Davina joins Anita Rani to talk about her stellar career so far, including hosting Big Brother for 10 years, campaigning for better menopause care and building a fitness empire. What makes her tick? And what drives her forward to clear hurdles such as an usual childhood, drug addiction and most recently, brain surgery for a benign tumour that she nicknamed Jeffrey.Funding of at least £2 million a year needs to be restored to help combat Female Genital Mutilation in the UK, according to a new report by the Women and Equalities Committee. It says that access to health services for FGM survivors in the UK is inconsistent and a postcode lottery. Anita hears from the Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, the Labour MP Sarah Owens and from Hibo Wardere, the educational lead and co-founder of the charity Educate Not Mutilate.Last month Scottish history was made at the Glenurquhart Highland Games as the World Female Heavy Events Championship was held for the first time. The Championship brought together women from across the globe to compete in the heavyweights, including tossing the caber. As we reach the end of the season, athletes Elizabeth Elliott and Emmerleigh Barter, who competed in the games, join Anita Rani to discuss how it felt to compete at this level on home soil.If you're making your way through Essex on the train in the coming days, you might notice poems being read over the PA system, with young women and girls sharing how they feel about their accent. It's part of a new project from the University of Essex and c2c Rail, celebrating the Essex accent. Anita is joined by Dr Tara McAllister-Viel who led the project and the comedian Esther Manito who is from Essex.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

For decades thousands of pregnant women across the UK were prescribed the drug Diethlystilbestrol or DES, a synthetic hormone that was meant to help prevent miscarriage. But the drug left a legacy of life-altering health problems for some of their children, including infertility and rare cancers. Anita Rani speaks to ITV Social Affairs Correspondent Sarah Corker who has investigated what they are calling a medical scandal that continues to devastate lives, talking to the women who say more must be done to help those exposed to the drug as new concerns emerge over the impact of DES on a third generation.   Author Heather Morris wrote The Tattooist of Auschwitz, which went on to become one of the bestselling books of the 21st century. Her new novel, The Wish, follows Jesse, a 15-year-old with terminal leukaemia who wants to have a digital 3D recreation of her life for her family and friends. To accomplish this, she connects with Alex, a lonely CGI designer. The book explores their unlikely friendship and its impact on both of their lives. Heather joins Anita to talk about mortality, family, healing through connection and what it means to be remembered.Last week we heard from three women who have had a loved one take their own life. They spoke honestly and movingly about what happened to them in the immediate and long term aftermath of such a loss. Today we are taking a look at the historical context of suicide. Anita speaks to BBC New Generation thinker Dr Stephanie Brown, who is Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Hull and doing research in this area. In 2023 Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Murder on the Dancefloor went viral on TikTok after Emerald Fennell used it in a key scene in the film, Saltburn. That resurgence, along with her popular Kitchen Discos that got lots of us through the lockdown set the scene for her bravely titled new album, Perimenopop, which is released tomorrow, a celebration of womanhood in middle age. Sophie joins Anita in the Woman's Hour studio.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

On 22 August, the High court rejected Noel Clarke’s claim that accusations against him by more than 20 women were false and part of a conspiracy. The writer, actor and producer of the Kidulthood trilogy sued the Guardian News & Media over seven articles and a podcast published between April 2021 and March 2022 in which women accused him of sexual misconduct. He was seeking £70 million in damages. In a high court judgment with a 220-page document, Mrs Justice Steyn rejected Clarke’s claims, and ruled the newspaper had succeeded in both its defences: of truth and public interest. Nuala McGovern is joined by Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief of The Guardian, along with Lucy Osborne and Sirin Kale, the investigative journalists who uncovered the story. Finding the perfect bra can be quite difficult at the best of times but what about after breast cancer? A study by Portsmouth Hospital and the university is looking at how to develop better bras to cope with changes after cancer surgery and radiotherapy. Associate Professor Edward St John is a breast surgeon at the hospital and an academic at the university. He joins Nuala along with Celeste Ingram, a patient taking part in the research. We’ve all heard of the fight or flight response in the face of danger, but there's also freeze, and then there's fawn, also known as people pleasing, or appeasing. Clinical psychologist Dr Ingrid Clayton has written about this in her new book, Fawning - Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves and How to Find our Way Back. Nuala spoke to Ingrid about her own teenage experiences that made her want to help others overcome this form of trauma response and what fawning looks like in practice.The Irish comedian Emma Doran is about to tour Ireland and the UK with a new stand up show, Emmaculate, and it's her third and biggest one yet, with new dates being added just this week. If you haven't caught Emma on stage you might know her from social media where her caustic takes on parenthood or schoolyard and workplace politics have hundreds of thousands of followers. She's a mother of three and she's also written a book called Mad Isn't it? which tells the story of how she got unexpectedly pregnant at 18, and after a decade of young parenthood eventually found her way into comedy. Emma joins Nuala in the Woman's Hour studio.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

Jung Chang’s Wild Swans, the epic family memoir that followed the lives of Jung, her mother and grandmother through China's 20th century, was banned in mainland China, but was a smash hit worldwide upon publication in 1991. Now Jung’s sequel, Fly, Wild Swans, brings her family’s story up to date. She joins Nuala McGovern.The Labour deputy leadership race could be an all-woman affair, with all current declarations coming from female MPs. Nuala gets the lowdown from Kitty Donaldson, chief political commentator for The i Paper.The All Party Parliamentary Group report on PCOS - or polycystic ovary syndrome - has found that women face prolonged delays in diagnosis, fragmented care, and limited access to treatments. The condition is also expected to undergo a name change later this year to more accurately reflect what it is. Nuala hears from Chair of the APPG, Labour MP Michelle Welsh and Caroline Andrews from PCOS charity Verity.Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck took her own life in 2021, after filing a complaint against Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber. He had pinned her down and tried to kiss her at a work social event. An inquest into her death earlier this year determined the Army's handling of the complaint played "more than a minimal contributory part in her death". Webber has now pleaded guilty to sexual assault at a pre-trial hearing, and is awaiting sentencing. Jaysley's inquest in February this year heard that her line manager also harassed her, with the Army failing to take action. Jaysley's mother Leighann McCready and her solicitor Emma Norton, from the Centre for Military Justice, join Nuala.Janet Willoner, aka the Tree growing granny, has grown more than 4,000 trees in her garden. She forages for seeds, grows them, and they eventually grow in forests in her local area of North Yorkshire. She has been nominated in the BBC’s Make a Difference Awards in the Green category. She speaks to Nuala.

The fallout from Angela Rayner's departure continues to dominate the headlines today as Labour's National Executive Committee is expected to meet to agree the timetable for the race to replace Rayner as the party's deputy leader. Since the reshuffle, women fill three of the four great offices of state for the first time, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Home Secretary, and the Foreign Secretary. To discuss the role of women in Labour’s reshuffled cabinet and the party's future leadership - as well as Rayner's legacy - Nuala McGovern is joined by Lucy Dunn, political correspondent at The Spectator, and Rachel Cunliffe, Associate Political Editor at The New Statesman   As the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea's independence from Australia approaches later this month, we hear why the country is currently one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman. Two-thirds of women in PNG have experienced some form of sexual violence in their lifetime, which is almost twice the global average. Tahina Booth is a former elite athlete and founder of Grass Skirt Project who is trying to break the cycle of gender-based violence through sport. Tahina joins Nuala along with Joku Hennah, a journalist and activist who regularly speaks out about all forms of gender-based violence - including domestic and sexual violence, and killings related to sorcery accusations.   Playwright Danusia Iwaszko has spent 17 years running writing workshops in high-security prisons. Her new play Penned Up draws on that work, following a teacher who helps a group of men find their voices through theatre. Over the course of the 10-week programme we see the humanity in these inmates, as well as the cracks in our criminal justice system.   You may have seen articles and social media posts branding creatine supplements as the ‘secret weapon’ for women, claiming they can ‘boost brainpower’, and ‘level up’ our lives, especially during the menopause or perimenopause. But what is creatine? Should we all be taking it - and what impact might it have? To find out more, Nuala is joined by GP Dr Fionnuala Barton and registered dietician Laura Clarke, who specialises in the menopause.   Presented by: Nuala McGovern Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Actor Robin Wright joined Nuala McGovern to discuss directing and starring in new series The Girlfriend, based on the book by Michelle Frances. Best known for her award-winning role in House of Cards and much-loved movies such as Forest Gump and The Princess Bride, Robin plays Laura in the psychological thriller, a protective mother who is deeply suspicious of her son’s new girlfriend Cherry, played by Olivia Cooke.Woman's Hour spoke to women who have had the experience of someone close to them taking their own life. They spoke frankly and honestly to reporter Jo Morris about what happened, both immediately in the aftermath of a death by suicide but also reflect on the long-term impact. We hear from Eloise, who was just 14 when her dad Damian took his life two years ago.Who was Scotland’s first, largely forgotten, female MP? The Duchess of Atholl had campaigned against votes for women but in 1923 she stood for election herself, and won. Her biographer Amy Gray joined Nuala to address the many contradictions of this pioneering politician. In her new book, Red Duchess: A Rebel in Westminster, Gray argues that Atholl hasn’t received the credit she deserves for championing the welfare of women and children at home and abroad and for challenging the appeasement of Nazi Germany - a decision which ended her political career.This week sees many children heading back to school and settling into a new school year and they might be reuniting with old friends, or even introducing you to new ones. But what if you don’t like your child’s friends? Anita is joined by comedian Ria Lina and parenting coach Sue Atkins to discuss.New research from Oxford University has revealed that teenagers who suffer moderate or severe period pain, are more likely to experience chronic pain as adults. What is the link at play and how can we treat women who suffer from their teen years into adulthood? We hear about the findings from Katy Vincent, Professor of Gynaecological Pain and Consultant Gynaecologist and explains what this can teach us about mitigating pain in sufferers.There's a new woman deciding what's hot and what's not in the world of fashion. Chloe Malle has been appointed as the head of US Vogue - the biggest job in the industry - replacing the formidable Dame Anna Wintour. Nuala was joined by Financial Times fashion editor Elizabeth Paton to discuss.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne MacGregor Editor: Andrea Kidd

In the last of our series on life after suicide, our reporter Jo Morris meets Stef whose mother took her own life when Stef was 19.  On experiencing severe depression as she approached the menopause herself, Stef found herself considering ending her own life. This has led her to thinking her mother’s death was also menopause related. So is there a link between menopause and women who choose to end their own life? Research in this area is all relatively new, but our guest Professor Pooja Saini, professor of suicide and self harm prevention at Liverpool John Moores University, joins Anita Rani to talk about the work she's done in this field.Italian fashion designer and billionaire brand owner, Giorgio Armani, has died at the age of 91. Known for helping to redefine both women’s and men’s suits for a modern audience and rewriting the rules of power dressing, how exactly did he empower and reshape the way in which women dress today? Fashion writer and biographer Justine Picardie tells Anita about the legacy he leaves behind. This week sees many children heading back to school and settling into a new school year and they might be reuniting with old friends, or even introducing you to new ones. But what if you don’t like your child’s friends? From playdates to birthday parties and encounters at the school gates, is there anything you can really do if you find yourself in this situation? Anita is joined by comedian Ria Lina and parenting coach Sue Atkins to discuss.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

It has been four days since the huge 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck the mountainous eastern region of Afghanistan, near the city of Jalalabad. Over 1,400 people are reported to have been killed by the initial quake and its aftershocks, with over 3,000 injured. While already living their lives under the restrictions imposed by the Taliban, how are women and girls affected by this disaster? Nuala McGovern talks to Mahjooba Nowrouzi, senior journalist for the BBC’s Afghan Service.After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, Afghan women judges set out to reform the country, tackling corruption and presiding over cases such as violence against women and children. When Western forces withdrew four years ago, these judges were targeted by the Taliban and many fled Afghanistan. In her new book, The Escape from Kabul, the journalist Karen Bartlett tells the story of some of those women and how international judges from around the world banded together to help them escape. Karen joins Nuala along with Fawzia Amini, one of Afghanistan’s leading judges and women’s rights campaigners, who came to Britain with her husband and four daughters after the Taliban returned. Is navigating friendships and the pressure not to be too demanding making women lonely? Journalist Chante Joseph talks to Nuala about how adopting the role of a “low maintenance friend,” once a source of pride, ultimately left her feeling isolated along with the journalist Claire Cohen. Two councils in South Yorkshire are introducing new policies to make night-time venues safer for women. In Sheffield, there will be a Women's Safety Charter, while in Rotherham, councillors are set to approve a new programme to tackle harassment and drink spiking. So how big a problem is the harassment and what is being done? Nuala is joined by Rob Reiss, a Sheffield city councillor and Kayleigh Waine project manager of Sheffield Safe Square and manager of Katie O’Brien's an Irish Bar in Sheffield City Centre.The play ‘Invasive Species’ is about a young woman attempting, for the sake of ambition and survival, to force herself into various moulds that do not fit who she truly is. Nuala talks to Maia Novi who stars in the London transfer of her own semi-autobiographical dark comedy in which she plays herself, an ambitious Argentinean actor who will stop at nothing to achieve the American dream. She joins Nuala to talk about the themes of the play. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Rebecca Myatt

There's a new woman deciding what's hot and what's not in the world of fashion. Chloe Malle has been appointed as the head of US Vogue - the biggest job in the industry - replacing the formidable Dame Anna Wintour. Financial Times fashion editor Elizabeth Paton tells Nuala McGovern more.Scotland Correspondent for BBC News, Lorna Gordon brings us an update on a landmark tribunal case this week involving nurse Sandie Peggie who objected to a trans woman doctor using the women’s changing room at an NHS Fife hospital. Sabrina Carpenter’s new album Man’s Best Friend has caused a stir recently due to its provocative artwork, plus nine out of the 12 tracks on the album are marked as explicit. We explore if it's still controversial for female pop stars to embrace their sexuality in this way with critics Jude Rogers and Jacqueline Springer.This week Woman's Hour is talking to women who have had the experience of someone close to them taking their own life. They speak frankly and honestly to reporter Jo Morris about what happened, both immediately in the aftermath of a death by suicide but also reflect on the long term-impact. Today we hear from Eloise who was just 14 when her dad Damian took his life two years ago. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Simon Richardson

New figures from the latest Femicide Census out are out today. It records the killings of women. It shows that 122 women, that’s more than 2 women a week, were killed by men and boys in 2022. Most women were killed by a current or former partner, but it also reveals that 10% were killed by their sons. To discuss the findings Nuala McGovern was joined by the co-founder of the Femicide Census, Dr Karen Ingala Smith.New research from Oxford University has revealed that teenagers who suffer moderate or severe period pain, are more likely to experience chronic pain as adults. What is the link at play and how can we treat women who suffer from their teen years in to adulthood? We hear about the findings from Katy Vincent, Professor of Gynaecological Pain and Consultant Gynaecologist and she explains what this can teach us about mitigating pain in sufferers.Eve Myles is a Welsh actress, whose television roles include Ceri Lewis in the BBC Wales drama series Belonging, Gwen Cooper in the BBC science-fiction series Torchwood and the formidable lawyer Faith Howells in the bilingually produced drama series Keeping Faith. Eve discusses her character Fran in The Guest - a new four-part, propulsive thriller on BBC One. It centres on the toxic and beguiling relationship between a successful business owner, Fran and her employee, Ria.Between 1949 and 1976, thousands of pregnant women and girls in the UK were sent away to "prison-like" homes run by the church and state and had their babies put up for adoption. This week sees ITV’s Long Lost Family Special: The Mother and Baby Home Scandal - which follows three families as they search for their relative. One of those is Jean who was 16 when she was sent to a mother and baby home in 1956. After giving birth she unwillingly handed over her baby for adoption. Jean’s eldest daughter, Cathy was found by the programme. We hear from Cathy and the programme’s director Helen Nixon.Who was Scotland’s first, largely forgotten, female MP? The Duchess of Atholl had campaigned against votes for women but in 1923 she stood for election herself, and won. Her biographer Amy Gray joins Nuala to address the many contradictions of this pioneering politician. In her new book, Red Duchess: A Rebel in Westminster, Gray argues that Atholl hasn’t received the credit she deserves for championing the welfare of women and children at home and abroad and for challenging the appeasement of Nazi Germany - a decision which ended her political career.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

The former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has added his voice to calls for an apology for what he has called the state's role in the "terrible tragedy" of historic forced adoptions. Between 1949 and 1976, thousands of pregnant women and girls in the UK were sent away to "prison-like" homes run by the church and state and had their babies put up for adoption. In 2021, an inquiry concluded that the State bore ultimate responsibility for the suffering inflicted on vulnerable women and their children, calling on the government to issue an official apology. Anna Foster was joined by Diana Defries, chair of the Movement for Adoption Apology and Karen Constantine, author of Taken, experiences of forced adoption, to give their reaction to the intervention by the former PM and whether they will be granted an apology.Paula Byrne, Jane Austen’s biographer and also a novelist, has spent 25 years researching and writing about the iconic author. In this 250th anniversary year of Austen's birth, she joined Kylie Pentelow to talk about her new novel, Six Weeks by the Sea, which is her first fictional treatment of Austen and tells the story of how she imagines the most famous romance writer of all time first fell in love.If you’ve been watching any of the Women’s Rugby World Cup you may have seen ‘high tech mouthguards being used. They will now flash red — signally potentially high impacts, requiring players to have a head injury assessment - a move aimed at improving player safety. So just how safe is it for women to play rugby? What are the risks of getting injured, and what is being done to mitigate those risks? We hear from Fi Tomas, women’s sports reporter at the Telegraph, Dr Izzy Moore, reader in human movement and sports medicine at Cardiff Metropolitan University and Welsh Ruby Union injury surveillance project lead, and Dr Anna Stodter, senior lecturer in sport coaching at Leeds Beckett University, former Sottish International player, who also coaches the university team.After learning about the threat to harvest mice in the UK, 13 year old friends Eva and Emily decided to breed 250 of them at home and release them into a local nature reserve - with the help of a crowdfunder and Chris Packham. Women who've been stalked, or had to take out a restraining order, have a much higher chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. It followed a group of over 66,000 women across 10 years, and found those who'd been stalked were 41% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, with those who'd taken out a restraining orders 71% more likely to have heart problems. Kylie talked to Dr Audrey Murchland, one of the lead researchers who carried out the study, about their findings.Justine Lee is a knitwear designer of 30 years who fell out of love with fast fashion. Her latest work focuses on helping to protect the future of British rare breed sheep. She works with shepherds and wool producers, mostly women, and has knitted swatches from all 62 rare-breed sheep to show the versatility of the wool. She joined Anita Rani to discuss her work with farmers, her knitwear designs and her new book which showcases the wool.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Corinna Jones

As of today, eligible working parents in England can access 30 funded hours of childcare – in term time only - for children aged nine months to four years. The government is doubling the amount of funded hours it offers, but there are concerns about availability and staffing. New research from Growth Spurt and Women in Data shows that more than half of parents can’t access the funding without restrictions, paying fees or meeting extra conditions. Nuala McGovern talks to Early Years Minister Stephen Morgan about the scheme and the challenges the government faces over nursery childcare. We're also joined by Joeli Brearley, founder and director of Growth Spurt, to discuss their research, along with a mother who shares her own experience of navigating the system as she returns to work. Actor Robin Wright joins Nuala in the studio to discuss directing and starring in new series The Girlfriend, based on the book by Michelle Frances. Best known for her award-winning role in House of Cards and much-loved movies such as Forest Gump and The Princess Bride, Robin plays Laura in the psychological thriller, a protective mother who is deeply suspicious of her son’s new girlfriend Cherry, played by Olivia Cooke. As part of a new Woman's Hour series this week about life after suicide, we'll hear from three women who've had the experience of someone close to them taking their own life. Sam Southern’s husband Glenn took his life five years ago in 2020, leaving her with a blended family of six children, including two who were very young. She talks to reporter Jo Morris about the impact it had on her at the time and how she now runs a charity supporting other families impacted by suicide where she lives in Blackpool. For anyone affected by the issues in this series, there are links to information and support on the BBC Action Line website. Presented by: Nuala McGovern Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

The former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has added his voice to calls for an apology for what he has called the state's role in the "terrible tragedy" of historic forced adoptions. Between 1949 and 1976, thousands of pregnant women and girls in the UK were sent away to "prison-like" homes run by the church and state and had their babies put up for adoption. In 2021, an inquiry concluded that the State bore ultimate responsibility for the suffering inflicted on vulnerable women and their children, calling on the government to issue an official apology. Anna Foster is joined by Diana Defries, chair of the Movement for Adoption Apology and Karen Constantine, author of Taken, experiences of forced adoption, to give their reaction to the intervention by the former PM and whether they will be granted an apology. Belinda Carlisle started her musical career as Dottie Danger, a drummer in a punk band. She gained fame as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She went on to have a prolific career as a solo artist with hits including Heaven Is a Place on Earth and Circle in the Sand. She joins Anna to discuss her new album, Once Upon a Time in California, which takes a deeply personal journey through the golden sounds of her youth. What happens when a woman earns more than her partner, or is the sole earner in a household? For some couples, it’s a practical arrangement that works well. For others, it can bring unexpected tensions, challenging traditional ideas about gender, identity and power. Listener Karla emailed the programme to say that she wanted to talk about what it means to be a female breadwinner. She joined Anita in a replay of the item from Listener Week, along with Melissa Hogenboom, author of the book Breadwinners.After learning about the threat to harvest mice in the UK, 13 year old friends Eva and Emily decided to breed 250 of them at home and release them into a local nature reserve - with the help of a crowdfunder and Chris Packham. We think of the coal mining industry as dark, dirty and macho, but was there a place for women or even, beauty queens? Jennifer Jasmine White recently curated an exhibition at the National Coal Mining Museum that looks at the women at the heart of coal mining industry and their creative contributions to those communities.Presenter: Anna Foster Producer: Emma Pearce

New ONS stats show that fertility rates are the lowest in England and Wales since 1938 when they were first recorded. Dr Bernice Kuona is researcher in fertility and family relationships at the University of Southampton and explains the research to Anita Rani.Ann Ming’s 22-year-old daughter Julie went missing in Billingham, County Durham, in 1989. The police launched an investigation but following a search of Julie’s house they failed to find her. Three months after Julie’s disappearance, Ann went to Julie’s house and stumbled across her daughter's remains. Ann’s 17-year fight for justice has now been turned into a four part ITV drama called I Fought the Law starring Sheridan Smith as Ann. Ann joins Anita to talk about her battle to overturn the 800-year-old British Double Jeopardy law and her determination to fight for justice. The World Athletics Championships starts in Tokyo on 13 September. Ahead of that, from next Monday, World Athletics will require all athletes competing in the female category to undergo a one-time test for the SRY gene, or ‘sex determining region Y’ gene. World Athletics says this test is ‘a reliable proxy for determining biological sex’. BBC Sports Editor Dan Roan explains the test, the reasons why World Athletics have introduced it, and the wider implications for the debates around biological sex and inclusion in sports.Justine Lee is a knitwear designer of 30 years who fell out of love with fast fashion. Her latest work focuses on helping to protect the future of British rare breed sheep. She works with shepherds and wool producers, mostly women, and has knitted swatches from all 62 rare-breed sheep to show the versatility of the wool. She joins Anita to discuss her work with farmers, her knitwear designs and her new book which showcases the wool.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

Ten child protection organisations have written an urgent letter to the home secretary expressing concern over the omission of child sexual abuse from the upcoming government strategy on violence against women and girls. A draft version of the strategy, due to be published in September, was leaked to Sky News's Mollie Malone, who first broke the story. She joins Nuala McGovern, along with Anna Edmundson from the NSPCC, one of the organisations that signed the letter.Miriam Robinson’s debut novel And Notre Dame is Burning tells how Esther, a mother, tries to pick up the pieces of her life after a miscarriage - while her marriage falls apart. It is written in short bursts, in fragments of notes and letters. Miriam joins Nuala to talk about the female experience of losing a baby, betrayal, break-ups and moving on.It's a love story, Taylor just said yes! Pop superstar Taylor Swift is engaged to her American footballer boyfriend Travis Kelce. In photos, which have been liked more than 18 million times, the pair are surrounded by roses, delphiniums and hydrangeas. Taylor's love life has been the inspiration for a huge amount of her music, and the subject of tabloid speculation for years. What does this moment mean and how could it impact her music? Joining Nuala to discuss is freelance journalist and author Olivia Petter and Guardian Deputy Music Editor Laura Barton. With maternity services stretched across the UK, a new startup called Kove aims to address some of the problems in midwifery by providing a pay-as-you-go service at £180 per hour. But why are women opting for private care, and is it a good idea? Nuala talks to Kove co-founder Alakina Mann and NHS midwife and author Leah Hazard. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

A new report, published yesterday, says Britain’s gender pay gap has been understated for two decades, casting doubt on the accuracy of official figures. It's news that might have big implications for women in the workplace and policymakers, from the Bank of England to ministers, who rely on these figures to make big economic decisions. Alex Bryson is Professor of Quantitative Social Science at University College London and worked on this research and Amy Borrett is a data journalist at the Financial Times. They join Nuala McGovern to discuss.Have you heard of 'spicy' fiction? Now worth £53 million annually, it's a genre that's booming, with sales of romance fiction up 110% between 2023 and 2024 in the UK. And it's mainly women reading these erotic novels, giving them chilli ratings depending on the level of explicit content, and sharing their across Instagram and TikTok. So, what's driving this trend? Nuala is joined by author Emma Lucy, who writes spicy fiction, and Stylist journalist Shahed Ezaydi to find out more.If you’ve been watching any of the Women’s Rugby World Cup you may have seen ‘high tech mouthguards being used. They will now flash red — signally potentially high impacts, requiring players to have a head injury assessment - a move aimed at improving player safety. So just how safe is it for women to play rugby? What are the risks of getting injured, and what is being done to mitigate those risks? We hear from Fi Tomas, women’s sports reporter at the Telegraph, Dr Izzy Moore, reader in human movement and sports medicine at Cardiff Metropolitan University and Welsh Ruby Union injury surveillance project lead, and Dr Anna Stodter, senior lecturer in sport coaching at Leeds Beckett University, former Sottish International player, who also coaches the university team.With queues leading out of the shops and reports of thefts, we look at the lengths to which some women will go to get their hands on the latest style must-have, Labubu dolls.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Sussex-born cellist Laura van der Heijden won the BBC Young Musician of the Year at the age of 15 in 2012. She's now been named as the Royal Philharmonic Society's Instrumentalist of the Year and will be the Artist in Residence at this year's Lammermuir Festival in Scotland. Laura tells Kylie Pentelow about her repertoire, her love of the outdoors, and plays live in the studio.Women who've been stalked, or had to take out a restraining order, have a much higher chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. It followed a group of over 66,000 women across 10 years, and found those who'd been stalked were 41% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, with those who'd taken out a restraining orders 71% more likely to have heart problems. Kylie talks to Dr Audrey Murchland, one of the lead researchers who carried out the study, about their findings.Paula Byrne, Jane Austen’s biographer and also a novelist, has spent 25 years researching and writing about the iconic author. In this 250th anniversary year of Austen's birth, she joins Kylie to talk about her new novel, Six Weeks by the Sea, which is her first fictional treatment of Austen and tells the story of how she imagines the most famous romance writer of all time first fell in love.New government guidance on sex education coming in next year doesn't include specific information on how children should be taught about menstruation, despite a new study showing children don't get enough lessons on the subject. Researchers from University College London claim children get at most two sessions on periods and they say boys and girls should be taught about it together. The study was led by Professor Joyce Harper from the UCL Institute for Women's Health. She joins Kylie along with Tina Leslie from the charity Freedom for Girls, which provides period education.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Andrea Kidd

Join Anita Rani as she broadcasts live from Blaydon Rugby Club in Gateshead ahead of the first game of the Women's Rugby World Cup. Tonight England kick off the tournament on home soil by facing the USA in Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. To preview tonight's game and the tournament to come, we are joined by former England player and World Cup winner Kat Merchant.We also hear from the Managing Director at World Rugby, Sarah Massey on how she hopes to ensure this World Cup is a success.Blaydon Rugby Club have a thriving women's side and they invited Anita to join them in a training session. KP, Hayley and Rosie, who play for the club, join Anita live to discuss not only being team mates but being family too!The England player Abbie Ward talks about her dream of finally lifting the World Cup trophy after being beaten in two finals. Abbie was the first player to benefit from the Rugby Football Union's landmark maternity policy for players. And tonight she will walk out at The Stadium of Light as she begins her dream of becoming world champion. She speaks to Anita about her hopes ahead of the World Cup.All four home nations have qualified for the Women's Rugby World Cup. Given England are hosting, it means fans from across Scotland, Wales, Ireland - who play with Northern Ireland - and of course England are within touching distance of one of the stadium's hosting. Four fans share their good luck messages for their teams.And with some saying rugby is the most accessible sport, why is it such a powerful tool for encouraging a positive body image? Joining Anita to discuss is Kat Merchant, now a personal trainer who celebrates her strength, and players of Blaydon Rugby Club.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Emma Pearce

Jess Folley has been a popstar for almost a decade and she's still only 22. At 14 she won The Voice Kids and later triumphed on X Factor: The Band, with pop group RLY. Since then she's been carving out a career as a songwriter and releasing music under her own name. Jess tells Datshiane Navanayagam about stepping into the corset and heels made famous by Christina Aguilera to play the lead role of Ali Rose in Burlesque the Musical in the West End. Women whose data was leaked after they signed up to a dating safety app have become the target of harassment online. Tea Dating Advice, or Tea as it’s known, was set up in the US with a view to allowing women-only-users to do background checks and share their experiences of men they had been dating. But a data breach has seen images, posts and comments from more than 70,000 women who signed up leaked. Datshiane speaks to BBC World Service reporter Jacqui Wakefield and sociologist Dr Jenny van Hooff about the risks of online dating.Research has been published which could pave the way for reducing the incidence of Alzheimer's in women. It shows women with the disease have lower levels of omega fatty acids than men. There's been debate about whether we should be taking fish oil supplements for some time, so will this answer the question? Datshiane is joined by Dr Cristina Legido Quigley, the lead researcher for this study from Kings College London and Dr Susan Kohlhaas from Alzheimer's Research UK which helped fund the work. Former journalist-turned-bestselling-author Elodie Harper has gained a reputation for re-drafting ancient history to centre the women hidden in the margins. Her trilogy The Wolf Den breathed life into the prostituted, enslaved women whose names can still be seen graffitied on the walls of the brothel at Pompeii. Elodie talks to Datshiane about her latest book, Boudicca's Daughter, in which she’s turned her imagination to ancient Britain and the women who rose up against Roman rule in the First Century AD, led by the warrior queen Boudicca.Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Andrea Kidd

Sister Bliss started out DJing on London’s gay club scene, before co-founding Faithless in 1995 and became one of the few women of her generation to help shape UK dance culture. Faithless have sold more than 20 million albums and amassed close to a billion streams. 30 years on from the hit dance anthem Insomnia, she joins Nuala McGovern to discuss their latest album - Champion Sound.Too many recommendations, not enough implementation - these are the findings of the latest report into maternity services in England, from the Health Services Safety Investigations Body. It has pressed pause on its own investigation to make way for a new government rapid review to be led by Baroness Valerie Amos. So why are the findings of multiple reports and reviews not yet leading to change? Nuala finds out with BBC Social Affairs correspondent Michael Buchanan, and maternity campaigner Emily Barley, who lost her own daughter due to maternity failings in 2022.Winner of the Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2022, Karis Kelly’s play Consumed is described as a pitch-black and twisted comedy of dysfunctional family dynamics, generational trauma and national boundaries set in Northern Ireland. Currently well-received on stage at the Edinburgh Festival, Karis explains why she chose to focus her story on the lives of four generations of women from the same family.You might love your local river, but enough to marry it? One woman felt so strongly about protecting the River Avon in Bristol that she took part in a wedding to it...she is part of a group of women bathers and activists who want the watercourse to have the right to be free from pollution. Megan Trump, or Mrs Meg Avon as she is now known, and Charlotte Sawyer are in the Woman's Hour studio.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

If you knew the world was about to end, what would you do? That’s the dilemma Karen Gillan’s character faces in new film, The Life of Chuck, in which she stars opposite Chiwetel Ejiofor. Karen tells Nuala McGovern about her latest role, her evolving relationship with the Marvel films and her hope to return to directing.'This report must act as a line in the sand…it should be read as a snapshot of what rock bottom looks like.’ That’s the warning from the Children’s Commissioner, two years on from her landmark report on the scale of children’s exposure to pornography online. Research out today from the Commissioner’s Office finds that more children are being exposed to pornography, with a growing number stumbling across it by accident, some younger than six. Much of the content children encounter is violent. The report also reveals troubling attitudes towards women and girls: nearly half of 16- to 21-year-olds agreed with the statement, 'Girls may say no at first but can be persuaded to have sex.' Joining Nuala in the studio is the Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza.As excitement builds ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, we hear from endurance athlete Lexi Chambers. The five-time world record holder is in the middle of another epic challenge, wheeling 322 miles from Twickenham Stadium to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light to deliver the official match whistle in time for Friday’s opening game between England and the USA. Lexi, who lives with multiple chronic pain conditions, is aiming to complete 10 ultramarathons in 10 days using her every day, non-sport wheelchair. She takes a break to fill Nuala in on her progress and explain why she’s taken on such a challenge.When Ukrainian President Zelensky went to the White House this week, he handed over a letter to President Trump. It was a message from his wife Olena Zelenska to Melania Trump, thanking the First Lady for the letter she had sent to Vladimir Putin highlighting the issue of the Ukrainian children removed by Russian forces. It’s believed that at least 20,000 Ukrainian children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory without the consent of their parents since the full-scale invasion. Nuala is joined by Ukrainian filmmaker Shahida Tulaganova and BBC Ukraine journalist Irena Taranyuk to discuss.

As Mounjaro increases its prices, there are fears that more women will turn to black market drugs. Nuala McGovern talks to pharmacist Sehar Shahid about how easy it is to swap brands of the weight loss drug, and to Jeanie Annan-Lewin, who buys the medicine privately, about whether she will still be able to afford it. If you pop into a nail bar in a big city in the UK, you may notice the technician might be Vietnamese – and they could be here illegally. UK Border Force has been carrying out a series of raids on nail bars here in the UK and there have been several arrests. We speak to journalist Shayma Bakht from The Times about her investigation into how the workers get here and a link between a nail academy in Vietnam and a smuggling ring. As The Real Housewives of London launches, we explore why the TV franchise is so successful, what it does for women, and why high drama, female friendships and expensive houses make such compelling viewing. The author of The Real Housewives: The Real Story Behind the Housewives, Brian Moylan, and Guardian columnist Sarah Ditum discuss what makes the show so popular. Kerry Evans is the disability liaison officer for Wrexham AFC. When Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney realised they had to win over the supporters of the football club they wanted to buy, Kerry was one of the people they called! She was born with cerebral palsy and suffered a brain bleed that left her in a wheelchair. Her memoir, Stronger Than You Think, tells how she found herself again through football, as a fan and then by providing a voice for football supporters with disabilities.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Melanie Abbott

Four years after Taliban fighters retook the capital Kabul on 15 August 2021, UN Women, the gender equality agency, is warning that the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan is increasingly untenable. They say without urgent action, this untenable reality will become normalised and women and girls will be fully excluded. To discuss further Anita Rani was joined by Fawzia Koofi, former deputy speaker of the Afghan Parliament & peace negotiator, and BBC senior Afghan reporter Mahjooba Nowrouzi, recently returned from Afghanistan.As rugby fans across the UK look forward to the Women’s Rugby World Cup, Anita speaks with rugby trailblazer Deborah Griffin. An amateur player since university, Deborah co-organised the first ever Women’s Rugby World Cup, held in Wales in 1991. Earlier this month, she became the first woman to take up the role of President of the Rugby Football Union.A woman in Wales who felt forced to terminate her pregnancy after being unable to access the anti-sickness medication she needed is calling for the drug to be made more widely available. Sarah Spooner was suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum which left her vomiting more than 20 times per day and unable to eat or drink. But she found it virtually impossible to access Xonvea, a medication which is recommended as a first-line treatment in England but not in Wales. Nuala McGovern hears Sarah's story, and speaks to Dr Caitlin Dean from Pregnancy Sickness Support about why there is a postcode lottery across the UK for women needing Xonvea.Emma Holten tells us we need a feminist revolution. The author has spent years investigating the true value of care - and how rethinking it could transform our societies. Her debut book, Deficit: How Feminist Economics Can Change Our World, examines how mainstream economics systematically undervalues care work and advocates for reshaping policy to reflect its true worth.England goalkeeper and Lionesses legend Hannah Hampton joins Nuala on Woman's Hour fresh from winning the UEFA European Women's Championship. Born with a serious eye condition, doctors told her she should never play football. She came into the recent Euros with questions over her ability to fill the gloves of recently retired Mary Earps. To add to that, she revealed her grandfather had died just days before the biggest tournament of her life began earlier this summer. Despite this, Hannah had an extraordinary tournament, particularly in those agonising penalty shootouts. She joined Nuala to chat all about it.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Emma Pearce

Four years after Taliban fighters retook the capital Kabul on 15 August 2021, UN Women, the gender equality agency, is warning that the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan is increasingly untenable. They say without urgent action, this untenable reality will become normalised and women and girls will be fully excluded. To discuss further Anita Rani is joined by Fawzia Koofi, former deputy speaker of the Afghan Parliament & peace negotiator, and BBC senior Afghan reporter Mahjooba Nowrouzi, recently returned from Afghanistan. The synth-pop visionary Alison Goldfrapp has had multi-platinum album sales, unforgettable Glastonbury performances, Brit and Grammy nominations. She received an Ivor Novello for Strict Machine as well as the Ivor’s Inspiration Award in 2021. Last year she completed a sold-out UK headline tour, cementing her reputation as one of the most compelling, dynamic and hypnotising live acts. Alison talks about her solo career and the idea behind her latest album Flux.Topshop is relaunching this weekend with Cara Delevigne walking a catwalk show in Trafalgar Square. But with River Island closing stores around the country and Claire's Accessories also under threat, how healthy is the high street as a fashion shopping destination? Retail analyst Catherine Shuttleworth looks at what high street shopping is really like these days, how brands are diversifying, and whether Topshop can make a success of a relaunch. Eighty years ago today, Japan unconditionally surrendered, following the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The war in Asia and Pacific ended, and World War Two was finally over. Tens of thousands of British, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers from across Britain’s empire had fought Japan. Thousands were taken as prisoners of war and held in appalling conditions. British civilians were also captured and interned. We learn about Shelagh Brown who was held captive for three and a half years, after fleeing her home in Singapore, then a British colony, when the Japanese invaded.The Women's Rugby World Cup, being held in England, starts a week today. The BBC's Rugby Correspondent Sara Orchard runs us through everything we need to know. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey Editor: Karen Dalziel

Rooprit Gill ran the Post Office in Handsworth, Birmingham, a business started by her father. But that came to an end when, like hundreds of other postmasters and mistresses, she was falsely accused of stealing money due to a faulty Post Office computer system. Rooprit — known as Roopie — joins Anita Rani on her first day back in the family Post Office after more than a decade. As rugby fans across the UK look forward to the Women’s Rugby World Cup, Anita speaks with rugby trailblazer Deborah Griffin. An amateur player since university, Deborah co-organised the first ever Women’s Rugby World Cup, held in Wales in 1991. Earlier this month, she became the first woman to take up the role of President of the Rugby Football Union. Annie & The Caldwells are a powerhouse gospel-soul family band from West Point, Mississippi, led by matriarch Annie Caldwell — a former member of the trailblazing 1970s gospel group Staples Jr. Singers. Formed in the 1980s with her guitarist husband Willie Joe Caldwell, the band was created to keep their children rooted in gospel music. They recorded their album Can’t Lose My (Soul) live in their hometown church. The Caldwells join Anita to talk about family, faith, and funky gospel soul. Filmmaker Victoria Mapplebeck discusses her new documentary, Motherboard. The film captures the highs and lows of motherhood, her son Jim’s adolescence, and the deep maternal bond they share — much of it filmed on her smartphone. Motherboard is in cinemas from tomorrow.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

As a heatwave grips the UK, we ask whether soaring temperatures impact women differently to men and what should be done about it. Professor Mike Tipton, Professor of Human and Applied Physiology at the University of Portsmouth, joins Nuala McGovern to explain. The author Paula Sutton has written her second novel, The Body in the Kitchen Garden. The interiors stylist and TV and social media personality talks to Nuala about creating plots to challenge her fictional detective Daphne Brewster, and her real-life passion for cottagecore and swapping city living for a cosy rural lifestyle. Several newspapers this morning are talking about the decision by Surrey Police to send undercover female officers out jogging to catch catcallers. They went running during rush hour to expose the frequency that women are harassed while exercising in public. A 2021 survey by Runner's World revealed that 84% of women had been harassed while jogging. Inspector Jon Vale, Borough Commander of Reigate and Banstead and Surrey's violence against women and girls safer spaces lead, joins Nuala. A woman in Wales who felt forced to terminate her pregnancy after being unable to access the anti-sickness medication she needed is calling for the drug to be made more widely available. Sarah Spooner was suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum which left her vomiting more than 20 times per day and unable to eat or drink. But she found it virtually impossible to access Xonvea, a medication which is recommended as a first-line treatment in England but not in Wales. Nuala hears Sarah's story, and speaks to Dr Caitlin Dean from Pregnancy Sickness Support about why there is a postcode lottery across the UK for women needing Xonvea. Sydnie Christmas captivated television audiences when she won Britain's Got Talent in 2024, becoming the first female singer to win the contest. With a background in musical theatre, the singer and actress impressed the judges with her powerhouse vocals. Since her win, she has released a debut album, topping the iTunes charts in the UK and US, and now she's starring as villain, Cruella De Vil in 101 Dalmatians, the musical at Eventim Apollo, London. Presenter: Nuala Mcgovern Producer: Emma Pearce

The chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing says their members are facing "abhorrent" levels of violence in accident and emergency departments. Nicola Ranger tells Nuala McGovern that their Freedom of Information request to hospital trusts in England found that there were more than 4,000 incidences of physical violence against staff in 2024, almost double the amount five years ago. She believes this could be linked to an increase in waiting times.Emma Holten tells us we need a feminist revolution. The author has spent years investigating the true value of care - and how rethinking it could transform our societies. Her debut book, Deficit: How Feminist Economics Can Change Our World, examines how mainstream economics systematically undervalues care work and advocates for reshaping policy to reflect its true worth.How is it possible to sail around the British Isles solo when you use a wheelchair, can’t swim and may suffer a seizure? Jazz Turner explains how she managed this in her yacht Fear. She has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which affects the joints but, in some cases like hers, can affect internal organs. Despite this life-limiting disease, Jazz now plans to sail around the world.Historian Dr Fern Riddell has written a book looking into the relationship between Queen Victoria and John Brown. It has been a source of gossip for over a hundred years, but Dr Riddell has found new evidence which might support the theory that they secretly married, and even had a child together.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Melanie Abbott

England goalkeeper and Lionesses legend Hannah Hampton joins Nuala McGovern on Woman's Hour fresh from winning the UEFA European Women's Championship. Born with a serious eye condition, doctors told her she should never play football. She came into the recent Euros with questions over her ability to fill the gloves of recently retired Mary Earps. To add to that, she revealed her grandfather had died just days before the biggest tournament of her life began earlier this summer. Despite this, Hannah had an extraordinary tournament, particularly in those agonising penalty shootouts. She joins Nuala McGovern to chat all about it. In June this year in Pakistan, Bano Bibi, a mother of five, and Ehsanullah Samalani, a father of three, were accused of having an affair and were shot - on the orders of a tribal leader, according to police. The event caused outrage, not just because it was another so-called ‘honour killing’, but because the authorities only took action after a video of the shootings went viral, more than six weeks later. Nuala is joined by Azadeh Moshiri, Pakistan Correspondent for BBC News, and Sheema Kermani, a woman's rights activist, dancer and theatre director who has been working with women in rural and marginalised communities for 50 years. Writer and director Celine Song’s semi-autobiographical debut Past Lives earned her two Oscar nominations and a host of other accolades when it was released in 2023. She talks to Nuala about her second film, Materialists, a romantic dramedy starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans, and how it was inspired by her own time working as a matchmaker for high-net-worth individuals in New York. Construction employs around 1.4 million people in Great Britain, according to the Office for National Statistics, but only around 15% of those people are women. And they don’t always have a positive experience, with 30% having reported sexual assault at work and 64% saying men were paid more for the same role. So, as the industry faces a recruitment crisis, how could it evolve to become a safer and fairer place to work and encourage more women into construction? Nuala explores the problems and the opportunities with Faye Allen, author of Building Women, and Dr Carol Massay of Unity for Construction, who’ve both worked in the industry for more than 30 years. And we remember long-serving Blue Peter editor Biddy Baxter, renowned for turning the children's show into a television institution, who has died at the age of 92.Presented by: Nuala McGovern Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

What happens when a woman earns more than her partner, or is the sole earner in a household? For some couples, it’s a practical arrangement that works well. For others, it can bring unexpected tensions, challenging traditional ideas about gender, identity and power. Listener Karla emailed the programme to say that she wanted to talk about what it means to be a female breadwinner. She joined Anita Rani along with Melissa Hogenboom, author of the book Breadwinners.After 30 years of marriage, Margaret Murphy moved from the family home in Australia to the UK—alone. Fifteen years later, she and her husband are still married, despite living on opposite sides of the world. She talks to Nuala McGovern about how she believes her later-life choices reflect a freer, more modern way to look at traditional married life. Listener Brenda wrote in about her situation: 'I would love to hear you talking about a mother's play-book or instruction manual for getting through cancer. I would love to know how others are doing it.' Ailsa McDonagh also got in touch after an on-air shout out. She has been living with cancer for almost ten years and received her diagnosis when her children were aged one and three. Both Brenda and Ailsa joined Anita to discuss.Mary-Havana Little is a traditional fibrous plasterer. She got in touch for Listener Week to suggest we talk about traditional crafts. Mary is one of the few women in the plastering world, working to create ornate decorative mouldings using techniques from hundreds of years ago. She joined Anita to speak about working in this male-dominated craft, and why she wants to inspire more women and girls into the industry.Listener Sally Ruffles describes herself as a 68-year-old woman with one daughter and no grandchildren. She got in touch with Woman's Hour for Listener Week to say: 'There’s this common assumption that having grandchildren is always a wonderful thing. But nobody really stops to think that not having them might also be okay—or even a positive thing for some people.' She joined Nuala with her daughter Hannah, who persuaded her mother to write to Woman's Hour, to discuss why it can be difficult to talk about not being a grandparent.To kick this week off, we heard from listener Melanie Williams. Melanie is forever having to adjust her seatbelt because of her bust size. She worries if she were to be in an accident she would end up choking or being strangled by her seatbelt rather than protected by it. Melanie joined Nuala, along with motoring journalist Maria McCarthy who has been looking into the issue.Jess wrote in to tell us about a poem she came across on social media about the post-partum period, calling it 'absolutely beautiful'. She added: 'There are hundreds of comments across Instagram and TikTok of mothers feeling exactly the same way. Please check it out, I would love to hear more from this poet.' We’ve tracked her down and her name is Amy Williams. She joined Nuala to perform the poem live in the studio.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

It's the final day of Woman's Hour's Listener Week, where all the topics in the programme have been decided by YOU!Listener Brenda wrote in about her situation: “I would love to hear you talking about a mother's play-book or instruction manual for getting through cancer. I would love to know how others are doing it.” Ailsa McDonagh also got in touch after an on-air shout out. She has been living with cancer for almost 10 years and received her diagnosis when her children were aged one and three. Both Brenda and Ailsa join Anita Rani to discuss. Therapist Cate Campbell joins Anita to offer advice to a listener considering radical solutions for her sexless marriage.Woman’s Hour listener Kudzai wrote to us about hybrid working. She has the option to work from home but she chooses to go in every day, and she’s been wondering what impact those choices have, especially for younger women just starting out in their careers. Kudzai speaks to Anita along with listener, El, who embraces the benefits of working from home. They’re also joined by Rebecca Florisson from the Work Foundation at Lancaster University. Listeners Yara and Davina are an art collective, working in a unique job share to create socially engaged public art. They contacted us to highlight their work and explore the issues that come alongside working in the non-commercial art sector, being mothers and working part time. And what is Pickleball? Listener Caroline got in touch to say that taking up the sport in her 40s has been “lifechanging”, helping her to navigate grief and build resilience and self-belief. It just so happens it is also the Pickleball English Open this weekend, so Caroline joins us along with Karen Mitchell from Pickleball England to discuss the sport and its growing popularity.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

Listener Week continues on Woman's Hour as we bring your stories, ideas and the issues you want to hear about to the air.What happens when a woman earns more than her partner, or is the sole earner in a household? For some couples, it’s a practical arrangement that works well. For others, it can bring unexpected tensions, challenging traditional ideas about gender, identity and power. Listener Karla emailed the programme to say that she wanted to talk about what it means to be a female breadwinner. She joins Anita Rani along with Melissa Hogenboom, author of the book Breadwinners.Lynne got in touch with the show to share her experience of being a stepmother and ask why people question the validity of her role and other her. Lynne explains that her bonds with her partner and her stepdaughter are incredibly strong, but expresses confusion and anxiety at how people react to her being a stepmum. Lynne talks to Anita and Professor Lisa Doodson, a chartered psychologist, author and stepmother herself, who has carried out research into this topic.After our recent series about women and gaming, listener Jacqueline got in touch to say, 'I use games to 'check out' of life and to cope with an overwhelming amount of stuff that I need to manage. The games are an escape, but all those issues just come rushing back afterwards. I don't know where to turn for help.' Jacqueline joins Anita to share her experience, alongside consultant psychiatrist Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones, founder and Director of the National Centre for Gaming Disorders.Last weekend Laura Hollywood was crowned Europe’s Strongest Woman at the Official Strongman European Championship. We heard about her achievements from her friend Helen, who is a Woman’s Hour listener. As well as being a ‘strong-woman’, Laura is also a strength coach, supporting women through the perimenopause, helping them to embrace their strength, enhance their performance, and build their best self. Laura joins Anita to explain what it take to become a ‘strong woman’.Mary-Havana Little is a traditional fibrous plasterer. She got in touch for Listener Week to suggest we talk about traditional crafts. Mary is one of the few women in the plastering world, working to create ornate decorative mouldings using techniques from hundreds of years ago. She joins Anita to speak about working in this male-dominated craft, and why she wants to inspire more women and girls into the industry.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Motor Neurone Disease is a condition that affects nerves found in the brain and spinal cord which tell our muscles what to do. The disease is life shortening and there is no cure. One listener, Diana Keys, was diagnosed in May 2023. She tells us about her experience and asks why does representation of MND in the media skew so heavily towards men? Diana is joined by Dame Pamela Shaw, an academic neurologist and world-leading researcher in MND.Listener Sally Ruffles describes herself as a 68 year old woman with one daughter and no grandchildren. She got in touch with Woman's Hour for Listener Week  to say: "There’s this common assumption that having grandchildren is always a wonderful thing. But nobody really stops to think that not having them might also be okay—or even a positive thing for some people."  She joins Nuala with her daughter Hannah, who persuaded her mother to write to Woman's Hour, to discuss why it can be difficult to talk about not being a grandparent.  We talk to women living full time on the UK’s waterways. Charlotte Ashman is an artist and print maker and Jo Bell is a writer and former UK Canal Laureate. They tell us about their lives, their work and the pros and cons of narrowboat living.Have you ever thought about going back to school? Recent graduates Sue Goldsmith & Rahat Ismail both returned to studying later in life. They join Nuala to discuss what took them back to education and the value of lifelong learning.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Listener Week continues on Woman's Hour as we bring your stories, ideas and the issues you want to hear about to the air.Carola got in touch to ask if we could find out more about the benefits of testosterone for post-menopausal women. Dr Joyce Harper, Professor of Reproductive Science at the Institute for Women’s Health at University College London, joins Nuala McGovern to discuss the evidence. When we think about children in situations of domestic abuse, it’s often young children we think of - but what about adult children? We received a letter from a listener telling us about a dilemma she is facing. After previously being in an abusive relationship with the father of her four adult children, she’s now considering whether to tell them that their parents’ relationship was coercive. Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, and coercive control expert Dr Gemma Katz join us to discuss the issues around a parent deciding whether to be honest with their grown-up children or continue to protect them from their reality. Jess wrote in to tell us about a poem she came across on social media about the post-partum period, calling it “absolutely beautiful”. She added: “There are hundreds of comments across Instagram and TikTok of mothers feeling exactly the same way. Please check it out, I would love to hear more from this poet.” We’ve tracked her down and her name is Amy Williams. She joins us to perform the poem live in the studio. Listener Sarah Hutchinson wants to know more about dreams. Specifically, why she has been having more vivid, memorable dreams during the recent heatwaves, and whether women’s experience of dreaming is linked to the menstrual cycle? Sarah joins Nuala along with Caroline Horton, Professor of Sleep and Cognition and director of the DrEAMSLab at Bishop Grosseteste University. And listener Heather tells us what it was like setting up one of the first dating agencies in the 1980s, aimed at helping people in rural communities find love. Presented by: Nuala McGovern Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths and Di McGregor

To kick this week off, we heard from listener Melanie Williams. Melanie is forever having to adjust her seatbelt because of her bust size. She worries if she were to be in an accident she would end up choking or being strangled by her seatbelt rather than protected by it. Melanie joins Nuala McGovern to discuss, along with motoring journalist Maria McCarthy who has been looking into the issue. How might the use of AI in recruitment be negatively impacting women's chances of finding work? Listener Valerie joins Nuala to talk about the challenges of being shortlisted for jobs. They are also joined by Judy Wajcman, Emeritus Professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science, she has written extensively on the relationship between gender, science and technology, and Lauren Spearman who is a careers content creator and brand consultant. After 30 years of marriage, Margaret Murphy moved from the family home in Australia to the UK—alone. Fifteen years later, she and her husband are still married, despite living on opposite sides of the world. She believes her later-life choices reflect a freer, more modern way to look at traditional married life—one that may appeal to listeners. Amy Ennion is a 32-year-old engineer from Surrey, who in her spare time, is an ultra-marathon swimmer. She has swum the English Channel, the length of Lake Windermere twice, she has swum Lac Leman in Geneva for 28 hours straight and just a few weeks ago she swam the length of Loch Ness! After her mother and partner wrote into Woman's Hour about her, Amy tells us what it’s like to swim for such an extreme period of time. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to stand in front of a room full of strangers and make them laugh? Listener Susan Warlock wanted to explore older women taking up stand-up comedy. At 66, she decided to try it herself – and after just one gig, she was completely hooked. She joins Nuala along with writer, performer & stand-up comedy teacher Rach Sambrooks. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Dianne McGregor

The Lionesses have made history by becoming the first England football squad to win a major trophy on foreign soil, they successfully defended their European title in Basel last night. The match went to extra time and penalties - Clare McDonnell got reaction and reflection from guests including 5Live commentator Vicki Sparks, BBC Sport correspondent Katie Gornall, chief executive of the Women's Professional League Nikki Doucet and star player Lucy Bronze's mum Diane.The BBC has found that five women who were exploited by so-called grooming gangs in Rotherham as children say they were also abused by police officers in the town at the time. One woman says she was raped repeatedly in a marked police car, and threatened with being handed back to the gang if she didn't comply. The BBC's Ed Thomas brings us the story and Clare hears from Professor Alexis Jay who is the author of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse and Zoë Billingham, former His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary.Actor Michelle Collins, best known as Cindy Beale in the BBC’s EastEnders, makes her Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut in Motorhome Marilyn, a dark comedy inspired by Michelle's real-life encounter with a woman Cindy saw in LA. The play reveals the toll of living in the shadow of an icon, exploring failure, ageing and the heartbreaking cost of unattained dreams. Michelle joined Datshiane from Edinburgh to talk about her debut.Hattie Williams lost her mother when she was 18 years old leaving her feeling anchorless and needing to embark on a self-exploratory journey to recover some stability. When she experienced motherhood, she felt that she had achieved that. She told Anita Rani how these experiences inspired her first novel, Bitter Sweet, which she wrote on her maternity leave.Sara Pascoe is a comedian, and her children don’t sleep, her kitchen won’t clean itself and her husband “doesn’t want to be in it”. Sara’s new show - I am a Strange Gloop – is on a UK tour. She stumbles stunned to the stage from the soft play area, with battle-hardened tales to tell on the front line of motherhood.Nicola Benedetti is a Grammy award winning violinist and ambassador for classical music. She is also director of the Edinburgh International Festival, which begins on Friday. In October she’s due to embark on her first solo tour in more than ten years. She joined Clare to discuss the repertoire, and how she will combine solo performances with storytelling, and share a selection of shorter works.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Corinna Jones

Hattie Williams lost her mother when she was 18 years old leaving her feeling anchorless and needing to embark on a self-exploratory journey to recover some stability. When she experienced motherhood, she felt that she had achieved that. She tells Anita Rani how these experiences inspired her first novel, Bitter Sweet, which she wrote on her maternity leave. The US has announced fresh tariffs on more than 90 countries. Lesotho is one of the countries being hit by a 15% tariff on its exported goods - this will come into effect on 7 August. Lesotho has become known as the "denim capital of Africa", with the country’s textile industry sitting at the heart of its economy, where more than 80% of workers are women. To discuss how will these tariffs affect women around the world, Anita speaks to BBC Africa journalist Shingai Nyoka and ODI Global Think Tank’s Prachi Agarwal .The family of a 25-year-old woman who’s dangerously ill with anorexia nervosa has won a legal battle to overturn a previous court decision. It is the first time the Court of Protection has reversed a case involving someone with an eating disorder. Reporter Carolyn Atkinson gives an update about this complex case. The Estate at the National Theatre in London follows a Sikh family in crisis over a disputed inheritance set against the backdrop of a political election. The play sees Angad - who is leader of the opposition - and his two sisters clash over who deserves the most compensation from their late father. It's the debut play of Shaan Sahota who is also a practicising doctor. She joins Anita in the studio.Presented by Anita Rani Producer: Louise Corley

The Women’s Open begins at Royal Porthcawl on the south coast of Wales where over the next four days the biggest names in women's golf will compete to win the fifth and final major of the year. Datshiane Navanayagam is joined by The Telegraph's golf correspondent James Corrigan. Actor Michelle Collins, best known as Cindy Beale in the BBC’s EastEnders, makes her Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut in Motorhome Marilyn, a dark comedy inspired by Michelle's real-life encounter with a woman Cindy saw in LA. The play reveals the toll of living in the shadow of an icon, exploring failure, ageing and the heartbreaking cost of unattained dreams. Michelle joins Datshiane from our Edinburgh studio.The Bishop of Monmouth - Cherry Vann - has been elected as the new Archbishop of Wales. She is the first female Anglican Archbishop to serve in the UK. She replaces Andrew John who has retired after the publication of reports highlighting safeguarding concerns at Bangor Cathedral. She is the first leader of the Church in Wales to be in a same-sex civil partnership. Datshiane is joined by Madeleine Davies, Senior writer for the Church Times, to discuss.Disability campaigners are calling on the Government to reform and protect the Access to Work scheme - which was set up over 30 years ago to offer financial support for disabled people in the workplace or trying to enter it. Datshiane is joined by disability campaigner and journalist Dr Shani Dhanda and Rachel Parker, a young woman with autism who had to shut her bakery business after delays and difficulties renewing her grant from the scheme. British Asian girl band Girl Like You, released their first Punjabi song and track this year, Best Friend, as part of a collaboration with Indian Music Artists. It made its way to number one for seven weeks on the Official British Asian music charts. Now, they’ve just released their much-anticipated lead debut single, Boy Bye. So, who are these young women and how are they breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes? Yasmin, Naveena and Jaya join Datshiane in the studio and sing live. Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Corinna Jones

The Lionesses have made history by becoming the first England football squad to win a major trophy on foreign soil, they successfully defended their European title in Basel last night. The match went to extra time and penalties - Clare McDonnell gets reaction and reflection from guests including 5Live commentator Vicki Sparks, BBC Sport correspondent Katie Gornall, chief executive of the Women's Professional League Nikki Doucet and star player Lucy Bronze's mum Diane.Nicola Benedetti is a Grammy award winning violinist and ambassador for classical music. She is also director of the Edinburgh International Festival, which begins on Friday. In October she’s due to embark on her first solo tour in more than ten years. She joins Clare to discuss the repertoire, and how she will combine solo performances with storytelling, and share a selection of shorter works.As part of our series taking a deep dive into the world of women and gaming, Nuala speaks to Cath Bowie, a 76-year-old grandmother from the north east of Scotland who spends her free time playing and streaming Fortnite.England's win over Spain to retain their Euros title has cemented Sarina Wiegman's status as one of the world's greatest football managers. This was her third successive European title, having also won it with her home nation, the Netherlands in 2017. What makes her such a successful manager? Clare speaks to Tom Garry, women's football writer for the Guardian.

The BBC has found that five women who were exploited by so-called grooming gangs in Rotherham as children say they were also abused by police officers in the town at the time. One woman says she was raped repeatedly in a marked police car, and threatened with being handed back to the gang if she didn't comply. The BBC's Ed Thomas brings us the story and Clare McDonnell hears from Professor Alexis Jay who is the author of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse and Zoë Billingham, former His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary. New mums are often inundated with advice, whether that's from their own mums or well meaning women in their lives. Increasingly though, given the sheer amount of our lives that takes place on social media the advice can come straight through our phones. It's led to what the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) is calling 'advice overwhelm'. They say two thirds of new mums surveyed felt being inundated with advice added to the pressures of motherhood. It also found a third of new parents feel it's 'self-indulgent' to seek therapy and support. Clare is joined by Georgina Sturmer from BACP and Emma Gould, a mum of three who has experience of this. Julie is a new play about Julie Livingstone, a 14-year-old girl who died after being struck by a plastic bullet fired from an Army Saracen in May 1981 in Belfast, at the height of the hunger strike crisis. It is written and performed by her niece, award-winning actress Charlotte McCurry, who wasn't born when the tragedy happened but has grown up with Julie's legacy. Charlotte joins Clare. With the women's Euro's over, talk has turned to what next for the women's game in this country. One club which often gets mentioned when looking at alternative ways of running a football club is Lewes FC in East Sussex. It gained national attention back in 2017 when it became the first club in the world to pay its men and women equally. It hasn't been smooth sailing and there are questions even now about its financial viability, but one of those who championed its move to gender equality is Karen Dobres. She's even written a book about it – Pitch Invasion, my story as a feminist on a Football Club Board. Karen joins Clare in the studio. Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Emma Pearce

Lynda La Plante joins Clare McDonnell to discuss her latest novel, The Scene of the Crime, which follows CSI Jessica Russell and her team as they investigate a high-profile robbery and assault in East London. Now in her eighties, the prolific author talks about the in-depth research behind her writing and what keeps her motivated to write. The family and friends of Simone White who died from alcohol poisoning, along with five others, after drinking shots at a hostel in Laos last year, have launched a successful campaign to introduce alcohol safety classes in schools. Clare speaks to Simone’s friend, Bethany Clarke, who was travelling with her, drank the same drinks and has been involved in the campaign. The Women’s Rugby World Cup is kicking off in just three weeks’ time. The tournament will be hosted in England, and there’s growing excitement across all four home nations. Clare finds out more from Katy Daley-McLean, who captained the Red Roses to World Cup victory in 2014.Grace Wolstenholme, a 22-year-old online content creator with cerebral palsy, had her own death faked on TikTok. In May, one of her videos was re-used without her consent in a gruesome 'death hoax'. Clare discusses with journalist Elliot Deady from BBC Essex, who has been following the story, and we hear from Grace herself about the deep impact this incident has had on her.Sara Pascoe is a comedian, and her children don’t sleep, her kitchen won’t clean itself and her husband “doesn’t want to be in it”. Sara’s new show - I am a Strange Gloop – is on a UK tour. She stumbles stunned to the stage from the soft play area, with battle-hardened tales to tell on the front line of motherhood.Presented by Clare McDonnell Producer: Louise Corley

Baroness Margaret Hodge joined Nuala McGovern to talk about why she thinks routine mammograms should be extended to women over 70. The former Labour MP was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 80. She requested a mammogram after realising she hadn’t been invited to have one in nearly a decade. Routine screening is currently only available in the UK for women aged 50-70.Dame Imelda Staunton, of Vera Drake and Harry Potter fame, and her daughter Bessie Carter, of Bridgerton fame, are starring as mother and daughter in Mrs Warren’s Profession by George Bernard Shaw, currently in the West End. The play explores the morals of earning money from prostitution. They joined Kylie Pentelow to talk about the relevance of the play today, and tell us what’s it like acting on stage together for the first time in their careers. There are still more statues of men called John than of women in the UK. But this imbalance is being redressed, mainly thanks to local campaigns to memorialise more female figures. A new book, London’s Statues of Women, documents all the current statues of, or to, women in the capital. Its author Juliet Rix joined Nuala along with Anya Pearson from Visible Women UK and Joy Battick who has been immortalised herself in bronze not once, but twice.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Corinna Jones

In July Woman's Hour took a deep dive into the world of women and gaming. It’s an industry worth more than music, TV and film combined, with women making up almost half of gaming audiences. So we explored all aspects of it by hearing from gamers, creators, leaders and gamechangers in the industry. Nuala McGovern discussed the current situation for women with games reporter Frankie Ward and Twitch streamer Alyska, headed out to meet some of the women from Black Girl Gamers to find out more about the impact games have had on their lives, and heard from two women working in the industry - Charu Desodt and Tara Mustapha. Plus, she was joined by 76-year-old Fortnite streamer Cath Bowie, to discuss breaking boundaries through gaming. Later on in the series, Anita Rani was joined by BBC Technology Reporter Zoe Kleinman and game designer Emily Mitchell to find out more about the wider influence of gaming in society and on conversations around mental health. Plus, she brought together a panel of industry voices - Marie-Claire Isaaman, Stephanie Ijoma and Nick Poole - to discuss what needs to change to make it a more inclusive and safe space. In this special podcast episode, Nuala McGovern brings you all the stories from throughout the series, so you can catch up on anything you might have missed. Presenters: Nuala McGovern + Anita Rani Producer: Erin Downes

From today, websites operating in the UK with pornographic content must ‘robustly’ age-check users. Under the Online Safety Act, platforms must protect young people from encountering harmful content relating to suicide, self-harm, eating disorders and pornography. Kylie discusses the issues with the BBC’s senior technology reporter Graham Fraser and Head of Policy and Public Affairs at CEASE, Gemma Kelly.Dame Agatha Christie, also known as the ‘Queen of Crime’ and the ‘Duchess of Death,’ is the best-selling novelist of all time with more than two billion books sold and translations in 104 languages. In her new book V is for Venom: Agatha Christie's Chemicals of Death, author and former chemist Kathryn Harkup uncovers the real science behind the fiction and the true crime cases that inspired Christie’s plots.Rape and other sexual violence is surging in Haiti as armed gangs expand their control across the capital Port-au-Prince and beyond. Medicine Sans Frontiers say cases of sexual violence have tripled in the past four years and that one in five victims are under the age of 18. BBC Correspondent, Nawal Al-Maghafi, has recently returned from Haiti and she describes what she witnessed.Director Elizabeth Lo’s new Mandarin-language documentary, Mistress Dispeller, follows the real-life story of one woman who hires a professional, Teacher Wang, to help break up her husband’s affair and save her marriage. It’s a compelling documentary about love, infidelity, pain and joy in modern-day Chinese society. Elizabeth joins Kylie in the studio to tell the story.A joint holiday with another family can be the perfect recipe for a memorable break - playmates for your children, shared responsibilities and enjoying other adult company. But different parenting styles and routines may lead to tension rather than relaxation. Genevieve Roberts, parenting columnist for the I newspaper, describes why she enjoys holidaying with another family and manages to stay friends afterwards. Presented by Kylie Pentelow Producer: Louise Corley

More than 100 international aid organisations and human rights groups are warning of mass starvation in Gaza and pressing for governments to take action. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Save the Children and Oxfam are among the signatories of a joint statement that says their colleagues and the people they serve are "wasting away". Israel, which controls the entry of all supplies into the territory, rejected the organisations' statement and accused them of "serving the propaganda of Hamas". Yolande Knell is the BBC's Middle East correspondent in Jerusalem and joined Kylie Pentelow for more on the situation there.Dame Imelda Staunton, of Vera Drake and Harry Potter fame, and her daughter Bessie Carter, of Bridgerton fame, are starring as mother and daughter in Mrs Warren’s Profession by George Bernard Shaw, currently in the West End. The play explores the morals of earning money from prostitution. They join Kylie to talk about the relevance of the play today, and tell us what’s it like acting on stage together for the first time in their careers.  Yasmin Khan is an award-winning food and travel writer. Her fusion of recipes and reportage combines the cuisines of the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean and her new book, Sabzi: Fresh Vegetarian Recipes for Everyday, is her first meat-free cookbook. It was born out of overcoming the struggles of early motherhood and breastfeeding in particular. She tells Kylie about finding solace in the sustenance and soothing properties of the Iranian food she grew up on and adapting it for health and climate-conscious modern living.Cyber flashing is when a stranger sends an unsolicited explicit image or video. When musician Anna Downes was sent naked photos and videos by a man called Ben Gunnery last year, she reported it to the police, who took a statement but were very slow to take it any further. In May, he was found guilty of intentionally sending the images to cause alarm, distress and humiliation and earlier this week Gunnery was given a two-year community order, including 150 hours of unpaid work. If he re-offends he’ll be sent to prison. Anna Downes joins Kylie along with Nicola Goodwin from BBC Midlands Investigations team.Producer: Corinna Jones Presenter: Kylie Pentelow

The government has revealed details of its plans to cut foreign aid, with support for women's health and children's education in Africa facing the biggest reductions. Nuala McGovern gets reaction from Hannah Bond, co-CEO of Action Aid UK and Lisa Wise, Director of Global Policy at Save the Children UK. There are still more statues of men called John than of women in the UK. But this imbalance is being redressed, mainly thanks to local campaigns to memorialise more female figures. A new book, London’s Statues of Women, documents all the current statues of, or to, women in the capital. Its author Juliet Rix joins Nuala along with Anya Pearson from Visible Women UK and Joy Battick who has been immortalised herself in bronze not once, but twice. The MHRA, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in the UK, has become the first global regulator to be given the green light when it comes to a new non-hormonal pill designed to alleviate menopausal symptoms in women who cannot, or do not wish to, take HRT. To find out about the drug and its benefits, Nuala is joined by Dr. Paula Briggs, Consultant in Sexual & Reproductive Health at Liverpool Women’s Hospital and Chief Investigator in the UK for Oasis 4, a clinical trial of Elinzanetant in breast cancer patients. Scientist and broadcaster, Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock presents a new season of BBC podcasts,13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle, which charts the story of some the world’s biggest and boldest journeys into space. In the 1970s, Nasa launched the Space Shuttle programme, which became a gamechanger for women, by expanding America’s astronaut programme to include black, Asian and female astronauts and changing the work culture. Star Trek actor, Nichelle Nichols, who played Lt Uluru, became the face of the recruitment programme. Maggie joins Nuala to discuss the new series and her love of space.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

Baroness Margaret Hodge tells Nuala McGovern why she thinks routine mammograms should be extended to women over 70. The former Labour MP was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 80. She requested a mammogram after realising she hadn’t been invited to have one in nearly a decade. Routine screening is currently only available in the UK for women aged 50-70. As England's Lionesses prepare for their Euro 2025 semi-final with Italy tonight, their efforts have been overshadowed by the racial abuse suffered by defender Jess Carter. The team's decided not to take the knee against racism in tonight's game, with coach Sarina Wiegman saying her players feel the gesture isn't 'good enough.' Now the head of Sport England, Chris Boardman, has written to Ofcom to express "deep concern" over the abuse directed at England's women's football team on social media. He joins Nuala, along with former Lioness and now pundit Lianne Sanderson. Campaigners in Northern Ireland want the way Victim Personal Statements are dealt with in courts there to change. At the moment people do not have the automatic right to read their own statements as part of the judicial process. Nuala talks to Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime Northern Ireland, Geraldine Hanna, and campaigner Julieanne Boyle, who didn’t get the opportunity to address the court during her case and wants to see a change for other victims. Georgina Moore’s second novel River of Stars is set in a floating community on the Thames. A romance and family saga spanning three generations of women, it was inspired by her own move from self-confessed ‘ageing party girl’ to houseboat mum. Georgina joins Nuala in the Woman’s Hour studio to talk about island life and writing on the water.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

The state of the UK’s water sector is barely out of the headlines at the moment and today a major review into the water industry in England and Wales said the regulator Ofwat should be scrapped. Sir Jon Cunliffe, who led the review, also warned that household bills will rise by 30% over the next five years. Nuala McGovern is joined by Esme Stallard, the BBC's climate and science reporter, and by two women campaigning for clean water on a local and a national level - Jo Robb, member of the Henley Mermaids wild swimming group and District Councillor for the Green Party in South Oxfordshire, and Erica Popplewell, Head of Communities at River Action, a UK-wide environmental campaign group.Harriet Webb is best known for her roles in Channel 4’s Bafta-winning series Big Boys, and Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You. She is back on our screens this week playing Kirsty in series two of the Bafta-winning Sky Original Mr Bigstuff, starring alongside Danny Dyer and the show’s creator Ryan Sampson. She joins Nuala to discuss why comedy can be the best place to discuss difficult issues like grief, trauma and, even, erectile dysfunction.In a new report, the community interest company Five Times More illustrate how black women in the UK continue to face disproportionately high risks during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period. Despite a growing body of research and increasing policy attention, the gap in outcomes between black and white women shows little sign of closing. Tinuke, the co-founder of Five Times More, explains what changes they had found since their first report three years ago and what still needs to happen.Molly Jong-Fast is an author and special correspondent for Vanity Fair. She is also the only child of Erica Jong, author of the 1970s feminist autobiographical novel - Fear of Flying. A sensual exploration of female sexual desire, it catapulted Erica to international fame. Molly has written a memoir, How to Lose Your Mother, and she talks to Nuala about growing up in the spotlight, their intense mother-daughter relationship and her mother’s heartbreaking descent into dementia.Economic abuse is at “national emergency” levels yet more than half of UK women don’t know anything about it - with a third only knowing ‘a little’ - this is according to a new report published today by the charity Surviving Economic Abuse. Sam Smethers, CEO of SEA, joins Nuala to explain the types of economic abuse they have uncovered, the implications of their findings and what they want the government to do.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

For over 40 years, Helena Bonham Carter has delighted us with roles including Lucy Honeychurch in Room with a View, Princess Margaret in The Crown and Harry Potter's much-loved villain, Bellatrix Lestrange. She joined Nuala McGovern to discuss her latest role in new film, Four Letters of Love, based on the bestselling book of the same name. Eight babies have been born in the UK using genetic material from three people to prevent devastating and often fatal conditions. The method, pioneered by UK scientists, combines the egg and sperm from a mum and dad with a second egg from a donor woman. The technique has been legal in the UK for a decade but this is the first proof it is leading to children born free of incurable mitochondrial disease, which is normally passed from mother to child. Anita Rani was joined by Kat Kitto who has two daughters, one of whom has mitochondrial disease, and Louise Hyslop, consultant embryologist at the Newcastle Fertility Centre to discuss.A new report by London’s Victims’ Commissioner, Claire Waxman, says that victims are being forced to quit the criminal justice system in huge numbers amid record court delays and traumatic process. She joined Nuala to explain why they are saying 'there is a near total failure in seeing offenders brought to justice', especially when it comes to female victims of violence. In the second part of our series about women and gaming, we find out more about the impact gaming can have on women’s lives. Nuala heads to the Virgin Media Gamepad at the O2 to meet some of the women from the Black Girl Gamers community, who have over 10,000 members around the world. The bestselling author Louise Candlish joined Anita to talk about her latest novel - A Neighbour's Guide to Murder - which explores the practice of sex for rent and a trial by social media. The American jazz singer Samara Joy has five Grammy awards to her name and is quickly gaining superstar status in the jazz world. She is making her debut at the BBC Proms tonight, where she will be backed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, in a special tribute to the Great American Songbook. The Prom will be also be live on Radio 3, on BBC Four and iPlayer.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Deiniol Buxton

Eight babies have been born in the UK using genetic material from three people to prevent devastating and often fatal conditions. The method, pioneered by UK scientists, combines the egg and sperm from a mum and dad with a second egg from a donor woman. The technique has been legal in the UK for a decade but this is the first proof it is leading to children born free of incurable mitochondrial disease, which is normally passed from mother to child. Anita Rani is joined by Kat Kitto who has two daughters, one of whom has mitochondrial disease, and Louise Hyslop, consultant embryologist at the Newcastle Fertility Centre, to tell us more. Hit ITV crime drama Karen Pirie returns to our screens for a second series this weekend, based on the Val McDermid series of novels about a young Scottish detective. Anita is joined in the studio by showrunner, screenwriter and actor Emer Kenny to talk about bringing a new cold case to life for Karen to solve, juggling series two with a newborn, and how she’s managed to combine acting and writing since landing her first big role as Zsa Zsa Carter in EastEnders at the age of 20.A Government review found that porn involving non-fatal strangulation was "rife" and its prevalence online was contributing to choking, filtering into some people's sex lives - particularly among young people. Last month it was announced that choking will be criminalised in an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill. To discuss, Anita was joined by Professor Clare McGlynn, Professor of Law at Durham University who contributed to the review, and Dr Jane Meyrick, Associate Professor of Health Psychology at the University of the West of England, who specialises in sexual health and sexual violence. This week, throughout our series on women and gaming, we’ve heard about the influence that games can have in society. We've spoken to women working in the industry, and found out more about the impact gaming can have on women, but we can’t shy away from the fact that there are still barriers stopping women from accessing games. Anita is joined by to Marie-Claire Isaaman, CEO of Women in Games, Nick Toole, CEO of Ukie, and Stephanie Ijoma, gamer and founder of NNESAGA, to discuss what still needs to change and how the industry can improve. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

The bestselling author Louise Candlish joins Anita Rani to talk about her latest novel - A Neighbour's Guide to Murder - which explores the practice of sex for rent and a trial by social media. Louise reflects on her career and explains why she’s so interested in writing about the homes and streets we live in.The Government has announced it will spend £53 million on a new programme to tackle domestic violence. Anita discusses the plans with Kyla Kirkpatrick, who works with the charity Safe Lives and is the Director of the Drive Partnership Programme that works with perpetrators, and Ellie Butt, Head of Policy at Refuge.The American jazz vocal powerhouse Samara Joy has five Grammy awards to her name and is quickly gaining superstar status in the jazz world. She is making her debut at the BBC Proms on Saturday 19 July, where she will be backed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, in a special tribute to the Great American Songbook. The Prom will be also be live on Radio 3, on BBC Four and iPlayer. In the next in our Women and Gaming series we look at the wider impact gaming can have on society. Anita talks to the BBC’s Technology Editor Zoe Kleinman, and Emily Mitchell, winner of the BAFTA Young Game Designer award in 2017, and creator of Fractured Minds, an immersive puzzle game which confronts the daily challenges of living with anxiety.Presented by Anita Rani Produced by Louise Corley

A new report by London’s Victims’ Commissioner, Claire Waxman, says that victims are being forced to quit the criminal justice system in huge numbers amid record court delays and traumatic process. She joins Nuala McGovern in the Woman’s Hour studio to explain why they are saying 'there is a near total failure in seeing offenders brought to justice'.What are your attitudes towards money and specifically saving it, rather than spending it? Are you confidently playing the markets or are you still tucking it away under the mattress for a rainy day? Traditionally women have been thought of as risk-averse when it comes to putting their money into stocks and shares. Is that about to change? And is there such a thing as the 'gender investment gap'? To discuss women's attitudes towards investing we hear from Dr. Sara Reis, deputy director and head of policy and research at the Women's Budget Group think tank. Actor Miranda Raison has played numerous stage, screen and TV roles including the iconic Jean Seberg and Anne Boleyn but now takes on the role of the legendary Victorian actress Ellen Terry in a new play by David Hare - Grace Pervades at the Theatre Royal Bath. It tells the story of her relationship with Henry Irving, played by Ralph Fiennes, the greatest stars of the Victorian stage. Miranda discusses her latest role.News of fresh guidance from the government for relationships, sex and health education in schools. Responding, to what it says, is an increase in the harmful and misogynistic content, children are exposed to online. According to recent research, when asked about just the past week, over a third of pupils aged 11-19 had heard comments that made them worry about girls' safety, and more than half witnessed comments they would describe as misogynistic. The BBC's Education Editor Branwen Jeffreys updates us.Despite making up almost half of gaming audiences, just 30% of games industry workers are women. In the next part of our series on women and gaming, we're finding out why this is and what can be done to get more women into the industry. Charu Desodt, who was the first female engineer at Sony's London studio in 1999, and Tara Mustapha, founder of Code Coven, discuss. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

The Invest in Women Taskforce, backed by the Department for Business and Trade, was set up last year with the aim of creating ‘the world’s biggest funding pot of £250 million’ to invest in female-led businesses. The Taskforce has been criticised by some MPs on the Women and Equalities Select Committee, suggesting that it is ‘lacking a sense of urgency.’ To respond to this and give context on the challenges and opportunities for female entrepreneurship in the UK, Nuala McGovern is joined by the co-chair of the Taskforce, entrepreneur and investor Debbie Wosskow OBE and the Chair of the Select Committee, Sarah Owen MP.The UK’s bestselling female crime writer in 2024, Holly Jackson, has just published her first thriller for adults. Up to now Holly has been known for her success in writing for Young Adults – she has sold more than 10 million YA books and last summer a TV adaptation of her debut, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, was a hit for both BBC3 and Netflix. Holly joins Nuala to talk about deciding to write for older readers with her latest novel, Not Quite Dead Yet, and her ambition to out-perform Richard Osman and Lee Child.In the second part of our new series about women and gaming, we’re finding out more about the impact gaming can have on women’s lives. Nuala heads to the Virgin Media Gamepad at the O2 to meet some of the women from the Black Girl Gamers community, who have over 10,000 members around the world, and neuroscientist Dr Faye Begeti tells us what actually goes on in our brains when we play video games.Yesterday saw the long-awaited verdict in the Constance Marten and Mark Gordon retrial. The couple have been found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence, more than two years after the body of their baby, Victoria, had been discovered in a shopping bag in Brighton. An earlier trial at the same court found them guilty of concealing the birth of a child, perverting the course of justice by not reporting her death, and of child cruelty. BBC News correspondent Helena Wilkinson has been following both trials. She joins Nuala to discuss the details.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

Last night England faced Wales in their final match of the group stage of the UEFA Women's Euro and England came out victorious - winning 6-1 and knocking Wales out of the tournament in the process. To discuss the result, Nuala McGovern is joined by England's top goal scorer and former Lioness Ellen White, and Laura McAllister, Vice-President of UEFA, who was previously the captain of Wales' women's team, gaining 24 caps for her country. For over 40 years, Helena Bonham Carter has delighted us with roles including Lucy Honeychurch in Room with a View, Princess Margaret in The Crown and Harry Potter's much-loved villain, Bellatrix Lestrange. She joins Nuala in the studio to discuss her latest role in new film, Four Letters of Love. Based on the bestselling book of the same name, she plays Margaret Gore, the wife of a poet living on a remote island in the West of Ireland in the 1970s. We bring you the latest on the excavation of a mass grave of babies and young children at Tuam in County Galway in Ireland, due to begin later today. The exhumations will be carried out at the site of an institution for unmarried mothers, which operated between 1925 and 1961. We speak to journalist Alison O'Reilly, one of the women who pushed to get this investigation underway. All this week we’re taking a deep dive into the world of gaming. It's an industry worth £6bn - more than music, TV and film combined - so we'll be exploring what impact it has on our lives (whether we realise it or not) and where women come into it. First up, we're joined by video game reporter and eSports presenter Frankie Ward and Twitch streamer Alyce, also known online as Alyska Plays, to discuss. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

It’s been 20 years since the 7/7 attacks in London, which claimed the lives of 52 civilians and injured almost 800. Krupa Padhy talked to Gill Hicks, who was on the Piccadilly line Tube that morning and lost her legs in the blast, and nurse Kate Price, who was working in intensive care at St Thomas’ Hospital. They discuss their memories of that day and the aftermath, as well as the lasting bond they have formed.An exhibition celebrating the life and work of renowned Australian artist Emily Kam Kngwarray has opened at the Tate Modern in London. Respectfully known as ‘the old lady’ by her community, Emily didn’t start painting on canvas until her 70s. Anita Rani talked to art curator Kelli Cole about Emily's paintings, which were inspired by her life as a senior Anmatyerr woman from the Sandover region of the Northern Territory of Australia.The TV presenter and autism advocacy campaigner, Christine McGuinness, is mother of three autistic children, and she received an autism diagnosis herself as an adult. She is highlighting new research that found that half of parents of children with disabilities surveyed said their child is excluded from play due to playgrounds being inaccessible to them. From Frank Sinatra to the Beatles, many of the biggest male stars built their early careers on the romantic appeal to young women. Bea Martinez-Gatell is author of Swoon, Fangirls, Their Idols And The Counterculture of Female Lust – From Byron To The Beatles. She joined Anita to explain that far from passive consumers, fangirls were actually tastemakers, visionaries and cultural disruptors.Fatima Timbo, known as Fats Timbo, is a content creator and comedian who has amassed an incredible 3 million followers on TikTok. Since appearing on TV show The Undateables in 2018, she's also been part of the team bringing us the Paralympics coverage from Paris last year. Born with achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, she shares her tips for succeeding in a world where it’s difficult to be different in her book Main Character Energy: Ten Commandments for Living Life Fearlessly. Katie Brayben is a two-time Olivier award winner for Best Actress in A Musical for Tammy Faye and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Now she is reprising the role of Elizabeth Laine in Girl From the North Country currently on stage at the Old Vic in London. Katie sang live in the studio. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Andrea Kidd

Katie Brayben is a two-time Olivier award winner for Best Actress in A Musical for Tammy Faye and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Now she is reprising the role of Elizabeth Laine in Girl From the North Country currently on stage at the Old Vic in London. Katie joins Anita Rani to explain what has drawn her back to this role.A third of women who died during or in the year after pregnancy were known to children’s social care, according to new research. The study by Kings College London, Oxford University and the charity Birth Companions, examined the data of nearly 1,400 women who died between 2014 and 2022. In particular, they looked at the 420 known to social services, half of those women died by suicide or from substance-related causes. Anita discusses the research with Kaat De Backer, Researcher King’s College London and Amy Van Zyl, Chief Executive, Her Circle.From Frank Sinatra to the Beatles, many of the biggest male stars built their early careers on the romantic appeal to young women. Bea Martinez-Gatell is author of Swoon, Fangirls, Their Idols And The Counterculture of Female Lust – From Byron To The Beatles. She joins Anita to explain that far from passive consumers, fangirls were actually tastemakers, visionaries and cultural disruptors.Actor Jane Birkin's original Hermes Birkin has sold for £7.4 million pounds - becoming the most valuable handbag to ever be sold at auction. What makes the bag so iconic? Justine Picardie, writer and former editor in chief of Harpers Bazaar, and Marisa Meltzer, who has written It Girl: The Life and Legacy of Jane Birkin, join Anita to discuss the story behind the bag and what makes a fashion accessory so alluring.

The Southport inquiry - the first phase of which took place in Liverpool this week - heard statements from the families of four girls who survived despite being seriously injured during the attacks on 29 July last year. The public inquiry heard testimony from one of the girls' mothers, who said her daughter 'fought like hell' to save herself and others. Anita Rani speaks to Judith Moritz, BBC Special Correspondent, about some of the eyewitness accounts.An exhibition celebrating the life and work of renowned Australian artist Emily Kam Kngwarray opens today at the Tate Modern in London. Respectfully known as ‘the old lady’ by her community, Emily didn’t start painting on canvas until her 70s. She went on to produce over 2,000 paintings and achieve huge critical acclaim before her death in 1996. Anita talks to art curator Kelli Cole about Emily's often monumental paintings, which were inspired by her life as a senior Anmatyerr woman from the Sandover region of the Northern Territory of Australia.Chief Inspector Helen Tebbit of Cambridgeshire Police joins Anita to talk about her role as senior investigating officer in a rape investigation which resulted in a sexual predator, Craig France, being jailed for more than 10 years - as featured this week in the Channel 4 TV series, 24 Hours in Police Custody.Camaron Marvel Ochs, known professionally as Cam, is an American country music singer songwriter. Her most successful single, Burning House, received widespread acclaim and went triple platinum. She has written for a range of artists including Sam Smith and Miley Cyrus, and last year she received a Grammy award for songwriting, production and backing vocals for Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album. Anita speaks to her about her career so far and her forthcoming album – All Things Light Up.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

The TV presenter and autism advocacy campaigner, Christine McGuinness, is mother of three autistic children, and she received an autism diagnosis herself as an adult. She is highlighting new research from Barrett Redrow which found that half of parents of children with disabilities surveyed said their child is excluded from play due to playgrounds being inaccessible to them. Christine joins Krupa Padhy to discuss the issue.After both England and Wales lost their opening matches at the UEFA Women's Euros, there's a chance they could be knocked out of the tournament today. England could be eliminated if they lose to the Netherlands, whilst Wales need at least a point against France. As defending champions there is a lot of pressure on the Lionesses. The Guardian's women's football correspondent Suzy Wrack, joins us from Zurich.Weight-loss injections have been hailed by some as game-changers in tackling obesity – but their rapid rise in popularity, especially online, has prompted serious concern. The Advertising Standards Authority has just issued a crackdown on how these drugs are marketed, banning social media posts by influencers, including Gemma Collins, for promoting prescription-only medicines in ways that break the rules. Charlotte Edwards, BBC business reporter explains.Marcia Grant was a 60-year-old grandmother and foster carer when she was killed in 2023, by a 12 year old boy in her care who ran her over with her own car. Last week, an inquest found that council failings contributed to the circumstances leading up to Marcia’s death. However, the coroner also made it clear that this was a "national issue." Jane Collins, foster carer and CEO of the Foster Support Membership Organisation discusses the systems and processes that could help existing foster carers feel safe while caring for vulnerable children and why she is called for a public inquiry. Dr Arlene Weekes a social work manager, academic and independent foster panel chair also takes part.How do you remember Princess Diana? Almost 30 years after her untimely death, the late Diana, Princess of Wales continues to be a source of fascination and fandom for many. A new, unconventional biography, Dianaworld: An Obsession, documents tales of everyday devotion to her by ordinary people and charts how the many and varied portrayals of the People’s Princess have seeped into public consciousness. We hear from the book’s author Edward White and the broadcaster and author Yasmin Alibhai-Brown.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Kirsty Starkey

In the 1970s and 80s, Caroline Eshghi was a young girl living in Bristol, Somerset, and Wiltshire. From the moment she was born until she ran away at the age of 15, Caroline was beaten, burned and starved by her mother. In May this year, Melanie Burmingham was jailed for 20 months for abusing her daughter more than 50 years ago. Caroline tells Krupa Padhy why she is now petitioning for a change to the law around historical cases that only allows a sentence available at the time of offending. The first malaria treatment suitable for babies has been approved for use. We speak to BBC Africa Health Correspondent Dorcas Wangira in Nairobi to find out how this may empower healthcare workers in the battle against the disease that takes the lives of hundreds of thousands of people each year.One of the key measures that Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is reported to be considering as part of her Sentencing Bill is a national rollout of drugs that suppress sexual arousal to try and tackle sex offenders. There is currently a working pilot in the South West of England, and several of the clinicians, psychiatrists and forensic psychologists have raised concerns about making such a scheme mandatory. Krupa talks to Don Rubin, Emeritus Professor in Forensic Psychology at Newcastle University, and a consultant to the pilot programme. Fatima Timbo, known as Fats Timbo, is a content creator and comedian who has amassed an incredible 3 million followers on TikTok. Since appearing on TV show The Undateables in 2018, she's also been part of the team bringing us the Paralympics coverage from Paris last year. Born with achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, she documents her experiences of being - as she describes it - ‘a little person', and now she's sharing her tips for succeeding in a world where it’s difficult to be different in her book Main Character Energy: Ten Commandments for Living Life Fearlessly. Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

It’s been 20 years since the 7/7 attacks in London, which claimed the lives of 52 civilians and injured almost 800. Krupa Padhy talks to Gill Hicks, who was on the Piccadilly line Tube that morning and lost her legs in the blast, and nurse Kate Price, who was working in intensive care at St Thomas’ Hospital. They discuss their memories of that day and the aftermath, as well as the lasting bond they have formed.Ministers are facing calls to keep education plans for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. An EHCP is a legally binding document which ensures a child or young person with special or educational needs gets the right support from a local authority. In a letter to the Guardian newspaper, charities, campaigners and parents have said that without EHCPs in mainstream schools, "many thousands of children risk being denied vital provision, or losing access to education altogether". Krupa is joined by Branwyn Jeffries, the BBC's Education Editor, to explain what's been happening.Writer Bolu Babalola hit the bestseller lists with her debut collection of short stories, Love in Colour, which remixed ancient love stories for a new audience. Bolu joins Krupa to talk about her latest novel, Sweet Heat, a sexy romance about Kiki, whose stable life is thrown into disarray just as her first love Malakai comes back into her life. She explains she’s a romance connoisseur and discusses the timeless appeal of the love story.There have been some shake-ups in the way netball is played in the UK recently. New teams, new rules, and a new venue for the Netball Super League Grand Final. The BBC’s lead netball commentator Lindsey Chapman talks to Krupa about what happened in that final, and what impact the recent changes to the sport have had on matches.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Andrea Kidd

Award-winning actor Fiona Shaw is best known for her roles in Killing Eve, Bad Sisters, Fleabag, True Detective: Night Country and even as Aunt Petunia in Harry Potter, among many other things. She’s now starring in a new film adaptation of Deborah Levy’s novel, Hot Milk, playing Rose, who goes to Almería in Spain with her daughter, Sofia, played by Emma Mackey, to try to find a cure for Rose’s mysterious paralysis at an experimental clinic. Fiona joined Nuala McGovern to discuss it.Jenny Evans was a young actress riding high on the success of her first feature film when she was sexually assaulted by someone who was in the public eye. When she later found the courage to report this crime to the police, details of what she had experienced were printed in a tabloid newspaper. Jenny decided to retrain as a journalist to try and figure out how this could have happened. She went on to help expose the abuses of power in the press and police that have become known as the 'phone-hacking scandal'. Nuala spoke to Jenny about her memoir Don't Let it Break You, Honey.The film director Gurinder Chadha has released a trailer to celebrate this summer's cricket fixtures between England and India's women's teams. She joined Datshiane Navanayagam to discuss why she's chosen to put women's cricket under the spotlight and the legacy of her last hit film about women's sport, Bend It Like Beckham.Amy Powney is the fashion designer best known for being the Creative Director at Mother of Pearl for 10 years until she left to set up her own label, Akyn, earlier this year. Amy’s mission to create a sustainable clothing line was explored in the documentary Fashion Reimagined which saw her trace clothes from field to runway and cemented her as an authority on this within the wider industry. Amy joined Kylie Pentelow in the Woman’s Hour studio.The Women’s Euros started this week, with teams from both England and Wales taking part. The Lionesses won the Euros in 2022 and much was made of the number of openly lesbian players both in the England squad and across the other teams. In a new graphic novel called Florrie a football love story, Anna Trench tells the story of the ground breaking women footballers from the end of the First World War and highlights the pioneering lesbians players of the past. Anna joins Nuala in discussion along with Rachael Bullingham, Senior Lecturer of Sport and Exercise at the University of Gloucestershire.Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

Laura McAllister is the Vice-President of UEFA. During her own football career Laura was the captain of Wales' women's team, gaining 24 caps for her country. Wales have qualified for this year's Euros for the first time and will play their debut match tomorrow, as will England who are defending their title after winning at Wembley in 2022. Laura joins Datshiane Navanayagam ahead of those first games. Award-winning playwright Beth Steel tells Datshiane how her working-class, northern roots inspire her hit play Till The Stars Come Down. Set at the wedding of Sylvia and Marek - the vodka flows and dances are shared, passions boil over and the limits of love are tested. She becomes the fifth female playwright to transfer from the National Theatre to the West End.The film director Gurinder Chadha has released a trailer to celebrate this summer's cricket fixtures between England and India's women's teams. She joins Datshiane to discuss why she's chosen to put women's cricket under the spotlight and the legacy of her last hit film about women's sport, Bend It Like Beckham. The musical icon Angélique Kidjo has become the first black African performer to be selected for a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame. Kidjo, who comes from the West African country of Benin, and has won five Grammy awards, was among the 35 names announced as part of the Walk of Fame's class of 2026 list. Music journalist Kate Hutchinson tells us more. Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Corinna Jones

The image of the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, crying in Parliament yesterday was picked up by various media. After PMQs, Ms Reeves' spokesperson said she had been dealing with a "personal matter" and Sir Keir insisted her tears had had "nothing to do with politics". Kylie Pentelow is joined by Times columnist Katy Balls and Kitty Donaldson, chief political commentator for the i Paper to discuss why her tears caused such a stir. Was it concern over political weakness and worries about political instability? Ms Reeves' very senior role in government? Or because she’s a woman and maybe people still don't understand that women cry for different reasons and in different circumstances to men?The government’s long-awaited NHS 10-year health plan is launched today. To make the NHS in England fit for the future, the plan will focus on three big shifts: moving care from hospitals to communities, making better use of technology, and preventing sickness - not just treating it. How should the NHS prioritise women’s health to achieve better results? Kylie is joined by Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Danielle Jefferies, Senior Analyst at The King’s Fund, and Lara Lewington, a technology journalist and author of a new book, Hacking Humanity.Esther Freud’s ninth novel, My Sister and Other Lovers, revisits characters from her very first book Hideous Kinky, which was made into a film starring Kate Winslet. In My Sisters and Other Lovers, the sisters come of age and try to come to terms with their past. Esther joins Kylie to talk about her writing and how despite having such famous men in her life – her father was the painter Lucien Freud and her great-grandfather was the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud - it’s the women in her family who inspire her work.Amy Powney is the fashion designer best known for being the Creative Director at Mother of Pearl for 10 years until she left to set up her own label, Akyn, earlier this year. Amy’s mission to create a sustainable clothing line was explored in the documentary Fashion Reimagined which saw her trace clothes from field to runway and cemented her as an authority on this within the wider industry. Amy joins Kylie in the Woman’s Hour studio.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Lots of boys have grown up wanting to be Superman but perhaps you grew up wanting to be award-winning journalist Lois Lane? Actor Rachel Brosnahan is known for her Emmy-winning portrayal of Midge Maisel in the TV series, The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel, her Emmy-nominated performance in House of Cards and her work on Broadway. Now she’s playing Clark Kent's love interest, Lois Lane in the upcoming DC Universe film, Superman. She tells Nuala McGovern about the unusual circumstances in which she found out she had the role and the difficulties of working with CGI. A British teenager who is currently held in prison in Georgia says she was 'tortured' into smuggling drugs. Bella Culley who is 19 and from Teesside, has appeared at a Tbilisi court this week. She has pleaded not guilty to charges of possession and trafficking a large amount of illegal drugs. The BBC's Caucasus correspondent Rayhan Demytrie tells Nuala what's been happening. Jenny Evans was a young actress riding high on the success of her first feature film when she was sexually assaulted by someone who was in the public eye. When she later found the courage to report this crime to the police, details of what she had experienced were printed in a tabloid newspaper. Jenny decided to retrain as a journalist to try and figure out how this could have happened. She went on to help expose the abuses of power in the press and police that have become known as the 'phone-hacking scandal'. Nuala speaks to Jenny about her memoir Don't Let it Break You, Honey. To mark the start of the UEFA European Women's Championship Nuala speaks to BBC Sport's Correspondent Katie Gornall live from Switzerland. She's also joined by DJ, author and podcaster Annie Macmanus who was so inspired by the Lionesses Euro's win in 2022 that she decided to take the sport up herself, in her 40's. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

Award-winning actor Fiona Shaw has starred in Killing Eve, Bad Sisters, Fleabag, True Detective: Night Country, Echo Valley and even as Aunt Petunia in Harry Potter, among many other things. She’s won and been nominated for several Laurence Olivier awards for her work on stage and she’s even directed opera. Now starring in a new film adaptation of Deborah Levy’s novel, Hot Milk, Fiona plays Rose, who goes to Almería, Spain with her daughter, Sofia, played by the brilliant Emma Mackey, to try to find a cure for Rose’s mysterious paralysis at an experimental clinic. Fiona joins Nuala McGovern live in the studio to discuss it.The Scottish Parliament is looking for opinions on a proposed bill which would change the laws on prostitution in the country. It targets those who buy sexual services by creating a new criminal offence of paying for a sexual act. If passed, it would criminalise those buying sex, while decriminalising those selling it. The woman behind the bill, MSP Ash Regan, speaks to Woman’s Hour about why she wants the change, and responds to criticisms that it could make sex work less safe. Today government ministers have launched a review of UK parental leave and pay to reset the system and speaking yesterday the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said people were scared of having children because of the high costs and she wanted “more young people to have children, if they so choose”. But getting to become a parent can sometimes require ongoing fertility treatment meaning time away from work. And Fertility Matters at Work are calling for those undergoing this support to have the legal right to take time off for their appointments. They've published a report on it and the author Becky Kearns joins Nuala. She's the co-founder and CEO of Fertility Matters at Work. A new production of Eugene O’Neill’s A Moon for the Misbegotten, starring Ruth Wilson, is on at the Almeida theatre in London. Nuala is joined by multi award-winning director Rebecca Frecknall to discuss the central character Josie, and why the father-daughter relationship at the heart of the play spoke to her. Women’s cricket in England has been through trials and tribulations recently. The team lost 16-0 to Australia in the Women's Ashes at the start of this year, and were knocked out of the T20 World Cup at the end of last year. But in June, after the appointment of a new coach and captain, had a clean sweep in their T20 series against the West Indies. Now they’re facing India in a series of T20 matches, and suffered a defeat in their first match. Player, commentator and podcast host Melissa Story shares her thoughts on the team’s performance, as well as what’s happening in women’s cricket on a local level. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Introduced in 2003, statutory paternity leave, allows most new fathers and second parents in the UK to take up to two weeks off work. As a result, according to a new report from the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Bath, women continue to shoulder most of the care burden after childbirth. The report calls on the UK government to introduce six weeks of well-paid paternity leave, arguing the move would promote gender equality, support working families and boost economic growth. Nuala McGovern is joined by co-author of that report Dr Joanna Clifton-Sprigg.This summer, women's sport takes centre stage across the BBC and especially here on Woman's Hour where we'll be keeping you up to date across all the action. The UEFA Women's Euro 2025 championship starts on Wednesday but today is the first day of the Wimbledon tennis championships. A total of 23 British players are competing in the men's and women's singles this year - that's the most since 1984. And the women's line is reported to be the strongest since the 80s. Playing today are British number 2 Katie Boulter and British Number One, Emma Raducanu who faces another Brit- 17 year old, Mimi Xu. Molly McEl-wee, tennis journalist and author of a new women's tennis book 'Building Champions' and Naomi Cavaday, former British player and part of the BBC commentating team at Wimbledon this year discuss.The French-Tunisian documentary filmmaker Hind Meddeb joins us to discuss her latest film Sudan, Remember Us. For four years she was embedded with Sudanese activists in the country capturing the start of a sit in protest at Army headquarters in Khartoum in 2019 which led to a massacre and subsequent civil war. She is joined by Yousra Elbagir, Sky News’ Africa Correspondent who will explain the significance of that sit-in in 2019 and why the war in Sudan shouldn’t be dismissed as just another civil war but as an uprising that affects us all more globally. The women’s Euros start this week, with teams from both England and Wales taking part. The Lionesses won the Euros in 2022 and much was made of the number of openly lesbian players both in the England squad and across the other teams. In a new graphic novel called Florrie a football love story, Anna Trench tells the story of the ground breaking women footballers from the end of the First World War and highlights the pioneering lesbians players of the past. Rachael Bullingham, Senior Lecturer of Sport and Exercise at the University of Gloucestershire joins the discussion.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

The Department for Education has just released the latest figures that show another rise in the number of Education, Health and Care Plans, or EHCPs, in England. These are the legal documents that outline what support a child or young person with special educational needs and disabilities is entitled to. The BBC’s education reporter Kate McGough, Jane Harris, vice chair of the Disabled Children's Partnership, and Jacquie Russell from West Sussex County Council joined Clare McDonnell.Christiane Amanpour has been at the forefront of international news for more than 40 years, reporting from all over the world as a journalist and war reporter as well as being CNN’s Chief International Anchor, steering the helm of several programmes including CNN International's nightly interview programme Amanpour. She’s now launched a podcast, Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex-Files with Jamie Rubin. It's a weekly foreign affairs show, co-hosted with Jamie, a former U.S. diplomat and Assistant Secretary of State and also her ex-husband. Christiane joined Clare to discuss.The musician, songwriter and actress, Rebecca Lucy Taylor, aka Self Esteem won the 2021 BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year Award and achieved a nomination for the Mercury Prize in 2022 with Prioritise Pleasure. More recently she has performed the lead role of Sally Bowles in the West End production of Cabaret. She talks to Anita Rani about her new album, A Complicated Woman, and performing on the Park Stage at Glastonbury this weekend.The bullet bra has made a recent return to the catwalk and to the cover of British Vogue, where singer Dua Lipa can be seen sporting a blush satin Miu Miu creation in the July issue. But will the silhouette, once favoured by Marilyn Monroe and Madonna, cut through to the high street? And what does that mean for the comfortable t-shirt bras that have been going strong since lockdown? Julia Hobbs, British Vogue’s contributing senior fashion features editor has recently road-tested the bullet bra. She joins Clare to discuss the experience, along with Karolina Laskowska, a lingerie designer and the director of The Underpinnings Museum.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

Woman's Hour is live from Worthy Farm. Anita is joined by BBC 6 Music's Jamz Supernova, who talks through the women she's most excited to see perform this year and discuss the meteroic rise of Doechii.The musician, songwriter and actress, Rebecca Lucy Taylor launched her solo career as Self Esteem in 2017, won the 2021 BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year Award and received a nomination for the Mercury Prize in 2022 with Prioritise Pleasure. She discusses her new album - A Complicated Woman – and what's planned for her performance tonight on the Park Stage. The American singer-songwriter Tift Merritt discusses the forthcoming reissue of her Grammy nominted album Tambourine, returning to music after taking time out to raise her daughter, and she performs live for Woman's Hour, ahead of her appearance on the Acoustic stage.Anita meets three generations of female festival goers who are all camping in the family field.Away from the live music performers there are a host of other activities on offer with more than 100 stages around the 900 acre site. Anita speaks Kaye Dunnings, the Creative Director of Shangri-La, which hosts performances, art and installations and has been reimagined this year to celebrate collective joy and awe. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Louise Corley

The Department for Education has just released the latest figures that show another rise in the number of Education, Health and Care Plans, or EHCPs, in England. These are the legal documents that outline what support a child or young person with special educational needs and disabilities is entitled to. The BBC’s education reporter Kate McGough, Jane Harris, vice chair of the Disabled Children's Partnership, and Jacquie Russell from West Sussex County Council join Clare McDonnell. It's the UN's International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. At the moment, sexual violence is not treated as torture, which makes it harder to prosecute. Clare talks to the UN's special rapporteur on torture, Dr Alice Jill Edwards.Kate Burton features in a new version of Somerset Maugham’s 1926 drawing-room comedy The Constant Wife in Stratford. Kate is known for many stage roles - at least 14 on Broadway - and screen hits including ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal - as well as for coming from a very famous family. She joins Clare to discuss the new production.Clare also talks to LGBTQ+ trailblazer Yehudis Fletcher, whose memoir Chutzpah! opens with Yehudis, aged six, observing the sabbath with her orthodox Jewish family and all her unanswered questions about the world and her place in it. By age 16, she had been silenced, abused and lost within the care system. By 20, she had been married twice. By 25, she had three children. At 26, she found her voice and stands up in court against her abuser. And at 31, she fell in love for the first time.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Corinna Jones

Christiane Amanpour has been at the forefront of international news for more than 40 years, reporting from all over the world as a journalist and war reporter as well as being CNN’s Chief International Anchor, steering the helm of several programmes including CNN International's nightly interview programme Amanpour. She’s now launched a podcast, Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex-Files with Jamie Rubin. It's a weekly foreign affairs show, co-hosted with Jamie, a former U.S. diplomat and Assistant Secretary of State and also her ex-husband. Christiane joins Clare to discuss.The government's proposed changes to the benefits system will have a 'devastating' impact on women, according to a group of charities and disabled people's organisations. They say tightening eligibility for Personal Independence Payments, or PIP, will have a disproportionately negative impact on women due to their higher personal care needs compared to men. Clare speaks to BBC Chief Political Correspondent Henry Zeffman about the 'major rebellion' that's brewing within Labour on this forthcoming Welfare Bill, and then to Alison Kerry from disability charity Scope about their concerns.Do you remember the case of Child Q? Back in December 2020, a 15-year-old black school girl was strip-searched at her school by Metropolitan Police officers in Hackney, London after teachers wrongly suspected her of carrying cannabis. The incident sparked protests in the city. Over the past few weeks a disciplinary hearing has been taking place involving the officers and is due to report very shortly. Adina Campbell, the BBC’s UK Correspondent, brings us up to date.American author Melissa Febos has written about a year of self-imposed celibacy in her new book The Dry Season - Finding Pleasure in a Year without Sex. Why did she do it, and what did she gain from it? Melissa joins Clare in the Woman’s Hour studio.

One in three adult pornography users are exposed to violent or abusive content online, with the majority backing new legislation to prevent publication of harmful content. That's according to a survey out today from the British Board of Film Classification. It's also the first meeting today of the Independent Pornography Review Taskforce led by the Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin. Four months on from the publication of her government commissioned review into the challenge of regulating online pornography, Baroness Bertin joins Clare McDonnell in the studio to discuss what's been happening. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said 'we must act now' as he announced a national investigation into maternity care in England. The inquiry, which will look at the ten worst-performing services in the country, as well as the entire maternity system, is designed to be a rapid review reporting by December this year. Families say they feel let down by a system that's supposed to care them and midwives have told us they dread going in to work because of pressures and lack of resources. So will this investigation bring about the lasting change that parents and professionals so badly want? Clare hears from BBC Investigative Journalist Divya Talwar and Clare Walton, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives.Cheetahs are the fastest land animals in the world with speeds of around 70 miles per hour. Over the past 100 years, the cheetah population has drastically reduced by 90 per cent and it’s estimated that there are less than 7,000 animals still left. Clare speaks to Dr Laurie Marker, who has made it her mission to ensure their survival. She’s the executive director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund based in Namibia. The bullet bra has made a recent return to the catwalk and to the cover of British Vogue, where singer Dua Lipa can be seen sporting a blush satin Miu Miu creation in the July issue. But will the silhouette, once favoured by Marilyn Monroe and Madonna, cut through to the high street? And what does that mean for the comfortable t-shirt bras that have been going strong since lockdown? Julia Hobbs, British Vogue’s contributing senior fashion features editor has recently road-tested the bullet bra. She joins Clare to discuss the experience, along with Karolina Laskowska, a lingerie designer and the director of The Underpinnings Museum. Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Andrea Kidd

Following the publication of Baroness Louise Casey’s highly critical report into grooming gangs involved in the sexual exploitation of children, we look at one of her 12 recommendations in detail. The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has committed to reviewing the criminal convictions of victims of child sexual exploitation, quashing the criminal records of victims who were “criminalised instead of protected”. Nuala McGovern speaks to Jade, who as a teenager was charged with a grooming offence and is trying to get that conviction overturned. Nuala also hears from Paula Harriott, the CEO of the charity Unlock. Students will spend an average of 25 years on their phones over their lifetime. The average person in school, college or university spends five hours and 30 minutes a day on their mobile, according to a new study by the app, Fluid Focus. Last year Ofcom found that across all adult age groups, women are spending more time online – that's on smartphones, tablets and computers – than men - clocking up an extra 33 minutes more each day. Nuala speaks to Sunday Times journalist Charlotte Ivers about her phone use. More than half of Heart Valve Disease (HVD) cases are women, yet less than half of heart valve surgeries and procedures are on women, according to new data from the charity Heart Valve Voice. Heart valve disease is when one or more of your heart valves do not work like they should. This can affect blood flow and put extra strain on the heart. How can women’s symptoms be taken more seriously? Nuala is joined by cardiologist Dr Alison Duncan and HVD patient Jaqueline, who was initially misdiagnosed with anxiety.Three years on since the war with Russia began, more and more young women are choosing to leave the country to continue their lives in Europe, either studying or working. Young men have been banned from leaving Ukraine after they turn 18 since the war broke out and martial law was introduced, but young women are free to leave. Freelance journalist Gabriella Jozwiak has been in the city of Lviv talking to young women about their plans for the future, and joins Nuala. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Natalie Fleet is the Labour MP for Bolsover whose path into politics has been far from typical. From a very young age, teachers told her she was destined for university – something almost unheard of in her Nottingham mining town. But her future took a different turn, when at fifteen, she became pregnant by an older man. At the time she had thought they were in a relationship - but as she grew older, Natalie says she realised she had been a victim of grooming and statutory rape. She's now speaking out to give a voice to those she feels have been made to feel they should be silent, and joins Anita Rani in the studio. Only 3.1% of PREP users in England are women. That's Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, a drug that reduces the risk of being infected with HIV. Many women don’t know that PREP exists, or don’t consider themselves at risk. Yet women accounted for 30% of new HIV diagnoses in England in 2023. This week, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has launched pilot programmes to increase women's access to PREP. Anita was joined by Dr Jenny Whetham, Consultant and Joint Clinical Lead, Sexual Health and HIV Medicine, Brighton and Anne Aslett, CEO of the Elton John AIDS Foundation to discuss.Trisha Goddard rose to fame as a TV journalist. She was the first black TV presenter in Australia and is best known in the UK for her eponymous TV show which aired on ITV and Channel 5 in the late 90s and 2000s, earning her a reputation as the British Oprah. She joined Anita to talk about her career, appearing on Celebrity Big Brother and why she chose recently to go public with her diagnosis for stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.BBC journalist Sanchia Berg and fertility lawyer Beverley Addison joined Nuala McGovern to discuss the recent cases of older couples becoming parents via surrogacy.Comedian, actor and writer Rosie Jones joined Nuala to discuss her first sitcom, Pushers, which she stars in and co-wrote. She plays Emily in the Channel 4 show, who has very little left to lose after having her disability benefits cut when she loses her job - she finds herself building an illegal drugs empire. Emily isn’t your average street-dealer though - she’s sharp, funny, highly educated and has cerebral palsy. What better disguise could there be for criminal activity than to be entirely written off by society?Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

Natalie Fleet is the Labour MP for Bolsover whose path into politics has been far from typical. From a very young age, teachers told her she was destined for university – something almost unheard of in her Nottingham mining town. But her future took a different turn, when at fifteen, she became pregnant by an older man. At the time she had thought they were in a relationship - but as she grew older, Natalie says she realised she had been a victim of grooming and statutory rape. She's now speaking out to give a voice to those she feels have been made to feel they should be silent, and joins Anita Rani in the studio. Lauretta Ngcobo was an author, political exile and an activist during South Africa’s apartheid. Her political activism led to her fleeing the country and raising her children in the UK, along with her husband, AB Ngcobo, an anti-apartheid political leader and a founder of the PAC - Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, a South African political party. Kethiwe Ngcobo – one of Lauretta’s daughters – has now produced a documentary, And She Didn’t Die. The film, named based on one of Lauretta’s most well-known novels, And They Never Died, tells the story of Lauretta’s life – and Kethiwe’s own life too. Kethiwe joins Anita live in the studio to discuss it.In recent weeks a number of botulism poisoning cases have emerged in the North East. This is a dangerous and potentially fatal reaction to the botulinum neurotoxin used in anti wrinkle injections. North East based BBC reporter Philippa Goymer has been investigating and joins Anita.After years of being controlled and humiliated by him, in 2011 Sally Challen was jailed for 22 years for the murder of her husband, Richard. The sentence was reduced to 18 years but in June 2019 she walked out of the Old Bailey a free woman - the introduction of coercive control as a crime meaning her sentence was reduced to manslaughter. Her son David who campaigned relentlessly for her release has just published a new memoir documenting his experience as a child survivor of domestic abuse and how the family came to terms with their histories and new lives over the years that followed.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

Trisha Goddard rose to fame as a TV journalist. She was the first black TV presenter in Australia and is best known in the UK for her eponymous TV show which aired on ITV and Channel 5 in the late 90s and 2000s, earning her a reputation as the British Oprah. She joins Anita to talk about her career, appearing on Celebrity Big Brother and why she chose recently to go public with her diagnosis for stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.Air pollution kills more than 500 people a week in the UK and costs more than 500 million pounds a week in ill health, according to a new report, "A breath of fresh air," by the Royal College of Physicians. The report highlights growing evidence about health issues linked to toxic air and calls it “a public health crisis”. Today, a group of doctors, nurses and campaigners are walking from Great Ormond Street Hospital to Downing Street with a letter calling on government ministers to commit to more ambitious air quality targets. Anita talks to two of them, Rosamund Kissi Debrah, whose daughter Ella became the first person in the UK to have air pollution cited on their death certificate and Professor Sir Stephen Holgate, co author of today's report.Only 3.1% of PREP users in England are women. That's Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, a drug that reduces the risk of being infected with HIV. Many women don’t know that PREP exists, or don’t consider themselves at risk. Yet women accounted for 30% of new HIV diagnoses in England in 2023. Today, the Elton John AIDS Foundation is launching pilot programmes to increase women's access to PREP. Anita is joined by Dr Jenny Whetham, Consultant and Joint Clinical Lead, Sexual Health and HIV Medicine, Brighton and Anne Aslett, CEO of the Elton John AIDS FoundationThe clever one. The funny one. The beautiful one. But which one is The Favourite? Set over a single week, but examining the highs and lows that define a family over the decades, this book is a story of rivalries and long-held resentments, about loss and grief and blame – and love. Fran Littlewood – also author of New York Times bestseller Amazing Grace Adams talks to Anita about her new novel.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

In the biggest shake-up to reproductive rights in almost 60 years, MPs have voted to decriminalise abortion for women in England and Wales. This would mean a woman could not be prosecuted for ending her pregnancy after the 24 week limit, but medical professionals and others could still be held criminally liable if they assist. Nuala McGovern speaks to the BBC's political correspondent Alex Forsyth and Conservative MP Dr. Caroline Johnson, shadow minister for health and social care, who had put forward another amendment which would have required a pregnant woman to have an in person consultation with a doctor or appropriate medical professional before being prescribed medication to terminate her pregnancy, aimed at stopping so-called 'pills-by-post' abortions.Crime writer Karin Slaughter has sold over 40 million copies and been called the ‘Queen of Crime.’ She's been writing for 25 years and has just published her 25th novel. Called We Are All Guilty Here, it's the story of two teenage girls who go missing and the start of a brand new series featuring police officer Emmy Clifton. Karin tells Nuala why she wanted create a new series and how she manages a book a year on top of all the TV adaptations on her work. Do you co-sleep or bedshare with your school-aged children? A few years ago the Clueless actor Alicia Silverstone was criticised for saying she sleeps in the same bed with her 11-year-old and that she was 'just following nature.' It’s a divisive topic that provokes strong opinions and disagreement. So how common is it and what are the advantages and disadvantages of doing so? Nuala is joined by Genevieve Roberts, parenting columnist with the I newspaper, who regularly sleeps in the same bed with her children, and Sarah Blunden, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Head of Paediatric Sleep Research at Central Queensland University. One of the young women making waves in the male dominated sport of motor racing is 22-year-old Abbi Pulling. She’s considered as one of the most promising young drivers in world motorsport - she won the 2024 'F1 Academy' season, which has been set up to develop women and girls in the sport. She’s the first female driver to take a race victory in British F4 and is now racing in the GB3 category. Abbi told Nuala about the difficulties around funding for getting into racing and if women could make it into the top tier of Formula 1. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

We discuss the key recommendations of Baroness Louise Casey's report into child sexual exploitation and abuse, and ask what might change as a result? Nuala McGovern is joined by guests including BBC social affairs editor Alison Holt, social worker-turned-whistleblower Jayne Senior and documentary director Anna Hall, who has spent the past two decades covering the subject of grooming gangs. Comedian, actor and writer Rosie Jones joins Nuala to discuss her first sitcom, Pushers, which she stars in and co-wrote. She plays Emily in the Channel 4 show, who has very little left to lose after having her disability benefits cut when she loses her job - she finds herself building an illegal drugs empire. Emily isn’t your average street-dealer though - she’s sharp, funny, highly educated and has cerebral palsy. What better disguise could there be for criminal activity than to be entirely written off by society? Children are not playing outside enough, according to a new report by the Raising the Nation Play Commission, but instead are "sedentary, scrolling and alone". Nineteen commissioners, from doctors to campaigners, spent a year investigating play and childhood in England for the report. Among their recommendations are raising the digital age of consent to 16 and putting in place a statutory "play sufficiency duty" for local authorities. Joining Nuala to discuss this are Baroness Anne Longfield, executive chair of Centre for Young Lives and co-leader of the commission, and Debbie Watson, Professor of Child and Family Welfare at the University of Bristol. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced a full national statutory inquiry into child sexual abuse perpetrated by gangs after previously dismissing calls for a public inquiry. This comes after he said he has read every single word of an independent report into child exploitation by Baroness Louise Casey and would accept her recommendation for a full investigation. Nuala McGovern discusses what’s been announced with BBC Special Correspondent Judith Moritz and Maggie Oliver, who resigned from Greater Manchester Police in 2012 to publicly speak out against what she recognised as gross failures to safeguard victims of the scandal in Rochdale. She has recently had meetings with Baroness Casey and has taken a group of survivors to share their experiences with her.The BBC and the Arts and Humanities Research Board have selected six academics to be this year’s New Generation Thinkers on Radio 4 and Historical Criminologist Stephanie Brown will be joining Woman’s Hour. She talks to Nuala about her research into crime, punishment and policing and how society views women criminals.Lily Allen recently admitted that she ranks her friends in a recent edition of the BBC podcast Miss Me? The singer joked: 'I create lists of people who I like in order of how much I like them… I send that list to my assistant and ask her to schedule the time for me to have FaceTimes with them.' But joking apart, is it simply human nature to make a distinction between close friends and acquaintances, and everyone in between? Columnist for the iPaper Rebecca Reid and cultural historian Tiffany Watt-Smith join Nuala to discuss.BBC journalist Sanchia Berg and fertility lawyer Beverley Addison joins Nuala to discuss the recent cases of older couples becoming parents via surrogacy.Iris Mwanza started out as a corporate lawyer in both her native Zambia and then in the US. She’s also been Deputy Director in the Gender Equality Division of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. But she’s gone back to her roots for her debut novel, The Lions’ Den. Set in Zambia in the early 1990s, it follows Grace Zulu, a rookie lawyer, whose first pro bono case is to help the 17-year-old Willbess Mulenga. It’s been alleged that Willbess, who prefers the name Bessy, had sex with another man and he’s been arrested for offences ‘against nature.’ Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Julianne Moore has won countless awards and nominations for films like Boogie Nights, The End of the Affair, The Hours, as well as winning an Oscar for her performance in the film Still Alice. Her latest role sees her play Kate in the upcoming film Echo Valley alongside Sydney Sweeney, who plays her daughter Claire. Julianne tells Nuala McGovern about her character who's coming to terms with a personal tragedy while running her farm and training horses, when her daughter shows up, hysterical and covered in someone else’s blood, flipping Kate’s world upside down.Next week not one but two amendments are being brought before MPs, both of which could mean, if passed, that women will no longer be prosecuted for terminating a pregnancy in England and Wales. It comes amid concern more women are being investigated by police on suspicion of illegally ending a pregnancy. Anita Rani is joined by the BBC's Health Correspondent Nick Triggle and Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, one of those who is tabling an amendmentIn 2015, 22-year-old Alice Figueiredo took her own life whilst being treated at Goodmayes Hospital, east London. Over the course of her 5 month stay at the mental health unit she attempted suicide on 18 separate occasions. Following a seven-month trial at the Old Bailey, a jury found that not enough was done by the North East London Foundation NHS Trust, or ward manager Benjamin Aninakwa, to prevent Alice from killing herself. Alice’s mum, Jane Figueiredo, has spent the last decade fighting to get the case to court. She discusses the impact it has had on her family.Canadian born human rights lawyer, Stephanie Case, went viral online when she finished first place in the women’s section of the Snowdonia ultra-trail 100km race despite giving birth six months ago and breastfeeding her daughter at aid stations. Stephanie tells Nuala McGovern about her first race as a mother and first competition in three years and why she chose to continue to do the things she loves after becoming a mum.The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden is set in the Netherlands in 1960 and tells the story of Isabel and Eva, two women who are both struggling to find their place in a society that isn’t yet modern but does not want to reflect on the horrors of the Second World War. Yael joins Anita to discuss her critically acclaimed debut novel which has been shortlisted for the Booker and is this years Women’s Prize for Fiction winner.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed

Last night the winners of this year’s Women’s Prize were announced. The winner for fiction is Yael van der Wouden for her novel The Safekeep and the non-fiction prize by Rachel Clarke for her book The Story of a Heart, which tracks the lifesaving gift of a transplant. Anita Rani discusses the winning books with the Chair of Judges for the Fiction Prize, author Kit de Waal, and Chair of Judges for the Non-Fiction Prize, journalist and author Kavita Puri.Race Across The World reached its finale on BBC One this week, after a nearly 9,000-mile dash across Asia, from the Great Wall in north eastern China to the southernmost tip of India, via the Himalayan peaks of Nepal. This year’s winner were mother and son team Caroline Bridge and her 21-year-old son Tom. Caroline talks to Anita about the experience.An entrepreneur and mother was refused entry to a tech event in London because she had brought her eight-month-old baby with her. Anita speaks to the woman in question, Davina Schonle, and the director and producer Jude Kelly about the issue of banning babies from events of this nature.It's festival season, with Glastonbury starting at the end of June. However it’s not just the music and the atmosphere that festival goers need to be thinking about. The UK Health Security Agency has warned that measles is circulating across the country, with high numbers in the South West and London. Anita is joined by the UK Health Security Agency Deputy Director of Vaccination Programmes, Dr Julie Yates - who is the former public health lead in South West on Glastonbury.Grammy-nominated Ute Lemper has had a career spanning stage, film and music. She is renowned for her interpretations of Kurt Weill, Brecht and chanson legends like Marlene Dietrich. Ute won the American Theatre World Award and the Laurence Olivier Award for her performance as Chicago’s Velma Kelly both on Broadway and in London's West End, and the Molière Award for her performance as Sally Bowles in Cabaret in Paris. Utel Lemper now has a new album, Pirate Jenny, celebrating the music of legendary composer Kurt Weill. She joins Anita to talk about her passion for his work.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Next week not one but two amendments are being brought before MPs, both of which could mean, if passed, that women will no longer be prosecuted for terminating a pregnancy in England and Wales. It comes amid concern more women are being investigated by police on suspicion of illegally ending a pregnancy. Anita Rani is joined by the BBC's Health Correspondent Nick Triggle and Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, one of those who is tabling an amendmentThe Chancellor Rachel Reeves this week announced an extra £29bn per year for the NHS, along with funding boosts for defence and housing as she set out the government's spending plans for the coming years. What impact could the spending review announcements have on women? Eir Nolsoe, Economic Correspondent at the Telegraph, and Erin Mansell from the Women's Budget Group join Anita to discuss.The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden is set in the Netherlands in 1960 and tells the story of Isabel and Eva, two women who are both struggling to find their place in a society that isn’t yet modern but does not want to reflect on the horrors of the Second World War. Yael joins Anita to discuss her critically acclaimed debut novel which has been shortlisted for both the Booker and the Women’s Prize for Fiction.Olivier Award-winning actor Lara Pulver joins Anita in the studio to talk about playing matriarch Golde in the critically acclaimed production of The Fiddler on the Roof at The Barbican Theatre.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

Canadian born human rights lawyer, Stephanie Case, went viral online when she finished first place in the women’s section of the Snowdonia ultra-trail 100km race despite giving birth six months ago and breastfeeding her daughter at aid stations. Stephanie tells Nuala McGovern about her first race as a mother and first competition in three years and why she chose to continue to do the things she loves after becoming a mum.In 2015, 22-year-old Alice Figueiredo took her own life whilst being treated at Goodmayes Hospital, east London. Over the course of her 5 month stay at the mental health unit she attempted suicide on 18 separate occasions. Following a seven-month trial at the Old Bailey, a jury found that not enough was done by the North East London Foundation NHS Trust, or ward manager Benjamin Aninakwa, to prevent Alice from killing herself. Alice’s mum, Jane Figueiredo, has spent the last decade fighting to get the case to court. She discusses the impact it has had on her family.This week it was announced by Deloitte that the total revenues of Women’s Super League (WSL) football clubs grew by 34 per cent to £65m in the 2023-24 season and are tipped to hit £100m for the first time next year. But while the four biggest-earning clubs generated most of the WSL revenue and the average WSL team’s revenue increased there remains a yawning gap between the top and bottom teams. At the same time average attendances in the Women's Super League dropped by 10% last season compared with the previous campaign. To unpick this mixed picture we hear from Dr Christina Philippou, Associate Professor of Sports Finance at the University of Portsmouth.A new Cambridge University report published today calls on public health bodies like the NHS to offer apps that rival private FemTech services to prevent policing of reproductive choices. They are calling for better governance of the industry to protect users of cycle tracking apps (CTAs) when their data can be collected and sold at scale. Dr Stefanie Felsberger is lead author of The High Stakes of Tracking Menstruation.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Crawley

The kidnap, murder and rape of Sarah Everard was deemed a moment of reckoning in 2021. The Angiolini Inquiry, which investigated this case, found that Wayne Couzens was reported eight times for indecent exposure. The report also found that the offence "may indicate a potential trajectory towards even more serious sexual and violent offending". A new report by The Telegraph has investigated cases of indecent exposure since Sarah Everard's murder and found that police are catching and prosecuting fewer offenders, despite a big increase in the number of offences reported. The paper's Home Affairs Editor, Charles Hymas, joins Nuala McGovern, as does Zoë Billingham, former HM Inspector of Constabulary.Natalie Dormer has graced our screens as Margaery Tyrell in Game of Thrones, Anne Boleyn in The Tudors and in films including The Hunger Games: Mockingjay and The Wasp. She’s now back on stage as Anna in a new adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s epic novel Anna Karenina. Set in 19th century Russia, Anna is the wife of a powerful government official, who dares to step outside the bounds of society to risk a dangerous and destructive love affair. Natalie talks to Nuala about the role, her career and more.World fertility rates are in 'unprecedented decline' according to a survey of 14,000 people by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN's reproductive rights agency. One in five respondents said they haven't had – or don’t expect they will have - the number of children they want. The survey spanned 14 countries on five continents, which are home to a third of the world's population. Nuala is joined by demographer Anna Rotkirch, who has researched fertility intentions in Europe and advises the Finnish government on population policy, to discuss the findings and their impact. Jessica Stanley’s novel Consider Yourself Kissed tells the story of Coralie, a copywriter who moves from Australia to London just before she turns 30 and falls in love with political journalist Adam. Jessica tells Nuala about the book, which tracks 10 years of Coralie and Adam’s lives from 2013 to 2023, taking in love, birth, illness and a particularly eventful period in British politics. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Julianne Moore has won countless awards and nominations for films like Boogie Nights, The End of the Affair, The Hours, as well as winning an Oscar for her performance in the film Still Alice. Her latest role sees her play Kate in the upcoming film Echo Valley alongside Sydney Sweeney, who plays her daughter Claire. Julianne tells Nuala McGovern about her character who's coming to terms with a personal tragedy while running her farm and training horses, when her daughter shows up, hysterical and covered in someone else’s blood, flipping Kate’s world upside down.From today, nursing staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are being asked to vote on the government's proposed 3.6% pay increase. This compares to a 5.4% average increase for resident doctors, formally known as junior doctors, and 4% for consultants and other senior doctors. The Scottish government has already agreed a two-year 8% pay offer with health unions. Around 345,000 members of the Royal College of Nursing union will be asked if the pay award is enough in what has been described as the biggest single vote of the profession ever launched in the UK. Nuala speaks to Steve Ford, editor of the Nursing Times.Turkey has imposed a restriction on elective caesarean sections at small private medical clinics, without a medical justification, under new health ministry regulations. President Erdogan has declared 2025 to be the ‘Year of the family’ and has been campaigning for women to have vagina births, or 'natural births' as he's calling them, in a bid to encourage women to have more babies. Turkey has one of the highest rates of caesarean section births according to health ministry figures from 2023, where out of all births 61.5% were by c-section. This compares to the UK's 42%, according to the latest NHS data. Nuala talks to Guardian journalist Ruth Michaelson and Dr Irmak Sarac, a gynaecologist and feminist activist in Turkey, to discuss why these restrictions have been brought in and what's happening to women's reproductive health in Turkey.Daughters of the Bamboo Grove: China’s Stolen Children and a Story of Separated Twins is the real life story of twin girls born in China who were separated as toddlers in 2002. One girl was adopted in good faith by an American couple who believed that the baby’s Chinese birth-parents had given her up. The other remained in China to be raised by her birth parents. The story shone a light on China's one child policy which ran from 1979 to 2015 and China’s involvement in international adoption, a practice that was ended last year. Nuala speaks to the American journalist Barbara Demick, who unravelled the truth of what happened to the twins, eventually broke the story to the world and who has put their story into this book. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

Tina Knowles, the mother of icons Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Solange Knowles and bonus daughter Kelly Rowland, has just published her memoir Matriarch. It tells the story of how a resilient little girl, born in difficult times, became a powerhouse, guiding her daughters to their potential. How she, the great-granddaughter of two enslaved women, went from what she describes as a little, two-bedroom “poor house” with seven people in Galveston, Texas, to being the head of one of the most successful and high-profile families in the world. Ms Tina joined Nuala McGovern in the Woman’s Hour studio.For the first time since 1973 women will walk out to compete at Queen's Club as the Queen's Tennis tournament gets underway. To mark this moment, the Lawn Tennis Association is launching a series of initiatives to support the health and wellbeing of British women's tennis players. Anita Rani spoke to the LTA's Chief Medical Officer Dr Guy Evans and former British Number One and Tournament Director of Queen's, Laura Robson.Dr Grace Spence Green’s spine was broken when a man fell on her in a shopping centre. At that time, Grace was part-way through her medical degree, and found herself going from being a trainee doctor learning about how to work with patients, to being a patient herself with serious injuries. Ten months after her injury, Grace continued her degree and later qualified as a doctor who is also a wheelchair user. Grace told Anita about her experiences, as described in her new book, To Exist As I Am.Bernardine Evaristo is the winner of The Women’s Prize Outstanding Contribution Award - a one-off literary honour to mark the 30th anniversary year of the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Bernardine joined Nuala to discuss her huge body of work and career highlights including winning the Booker Prize in 2019 for her novel Girl, Woman, Other, and her role as a champion for women and women of colour in the creative industries.Model Hailey Bieber has sold her make-up company Rhode in a deal worth up to $1 billion. She joins a list of other celebrities earning millions from their cosmetic brand. Nuala was joined by make-up artist to the stars Val Garland and Beauty Editor for the Telegraph, Sonia Haria, to discuss.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

It's been reported that 1.5 million people are taking GLP1 weight-loss jabs and a huge majority are buying online without a face-to-face appointment with a doctor.   Yesterday, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) warned that women using weight-loss jabs must use effective contraception - and it is not known whether taking the medicines could harm an unborn baby. To discuss whether people using the jabs are aware of these issues and getting the right advice, Anita Rani is joined by GP Dr Sarah Jarvis and BBC Health Reporter Philippa Roxby.The Salt Path is a new film based on Raynor Winn’s international bestselling memoir, starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs. Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years has a rare neurodegenerative condition, their home is taken away and they lose their livelihood. With nothing left to lose, they walk the 630-mile South West Coast Path. It’s the first film directed by the acclaimed and award-winning theatre director Marianne Elliott, whose celebrated productions include War Horse and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. She joins Anita in the studio. For the first time since 1973 women will walk out to compete at Queen's Club as the Queen's Tennis tournament gets underway. To mark this moment, the Lawn Tennis Association is launching a series of initiatives to support the health and wellbeing of British women's tennis players. Anita speaks to the LTA's Chief Medical Officer Dr Guy Evans and former British Number One and Tournament Director of Queen's, Laura Robson. A look at teaching today. Is increased part-time working the solution to female teacher retention? A new report is out, which is a large scale analysis of what happens to teachers after maternity leave. They have studied data from 150,000 teachers across 7,000 schools in the UK over the past four years, and have looked at the impact of part-time working versus full time during the first four years after returning back after maternity leave. Anita is joined by Nicola West-Jones, Director of Insight and External relations at The Key Group and co-author of the report, and Jess Edwards, a primary school teacher and Chair of Policy, Research and Campaigns at the National Education Union executive. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP joins Anita Rani to discuss piloting changes to the Victims’ Right to Review in cases of rape and serious sexual assault. Anita is also joined by survivor and campaigner Jade Blue McCrossen-Nethercott, who has been calling for change.New research by UK Coaching reveals that mums could be key to reversing the sharp decline in the number of female volunteer sports coaches, down 10 percent in just two years; Over a third of mums who aren’t currently involved in their child’s sports clubs want to give coaching a go, but are put off by a lack of confidence and knowledge of individual sports. Joining Anita to discuss this is former England defender Anita Asante and Alison Walters, a volunteer coach at Faversham Strike Force FC. Dr Grace Spence Green’s spine was broken when a man fell on her in a shopping centre. At that time, Grace was part-way through her medical degree, and found herself going from being a trainee doctor learning about how to work with patients, to being a patient herself with serious injuries. Ten months after her injury, Grace continued her degree and later qualified as a doctor who is also a wheelchair user. Grace tells Anita about her experiences, as described in her new book, To Exist As I Am.Singer, songwriter and actress Anoushka Lucas’s award-winning debut play, Elephant, looks at her experiences of growing up mixed race and navigating the music industry as a young woman through the materials that make up a piano. She joins Anita to talk about the play, and to perform one of the songs from the show. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Bernardine Evaristo is the winner of The Women’s Prize Outstanding Contribution Award - a one-off literary honour to mark the 30th anniversary year of the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Bernardine joins Nuala McGovern to discuss her huge body of work and career highlights including winning the Booker Prize in 2019 for her novel Girl, Woman, Other, and her role as a champion for women and women of colour in the creative industries. Yesterday South Korea voted in its new president Lee Jae-myung, but many women are concerned about the leader’s silence on gender equality in a country where the gender pay gap is one of the largest in Asia. Min Hee Go is Professor of Political Science at Ewha Women’s University in Seoul, she tells Nuala McGovern about the growth of anti-feminist rhetoric within South Korea’s political establishment, and the future of women’s rights in the country.Hundreds of historic child sex abuse cases could be re-opened after police forces carried out reviews ordered by the Home Secretary to tackle grooming gangs. Some 287 closed cases have been identified so far by police in England and Wales to be looked at again by a national task force on child sexual exploitation, the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the Home Affairs Committee yesterday. Nuala gets reaction from Maggie Oliver, the former detective who blew the whistle on the failure to tackle grooming gangs in Rochdale.Consumed by paranoia, superstition and a ruthless sense of justice, a climate of fear and mass hysteria sweeps through the town of Salem, Massachusetts when rumours grow that a group of girls are practising witchcraft. What lies are the townspeople prepared to tell themselves in order to survive? A new production of The Crucible is currently on stage at the Globe Theatre in London. Nuala is joined by Ola Ince the director and Hannah Saxby who plays Abigail Williams – the primary instigator of the witch trials that follow.

Tina Knowles, the mother of icons Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Solange Knowles and bonus daughter Kelly Rowland, has just published her memoir Matriarch. It tells the story of how a resilient little girl, born in difficult times, became a powerhouse, guiding her daughters to their potential. How she, the great-granddaughter of two enslaved women, went from what she describes as a little, two-bedroom “poor house” with seven people in Galveston, Texas, to being the head of one of the most successful and high-profile families in the world. Ms Tina joins Nuala McGovern in the Woman’s Hour studio. A new search has been launched in Portugal by police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Madeleine was just three years old when she vanished while on holiday with her family in the resort of Praia da Luz in May 2007. Her disappearance sparked a Europe-wide police investigation and is one of the most high-profile unsolved missing person cases. German detectives are leading the search as they suspect she was murdered by a man who's currently in prison in Germany. BBC correspondent Daniel Sandford joins us from Praia da Luzh. Northern Ireland doesn’t have a Mother and Baby unit to treat mums who are diagnosed with severe post-natal depression including post partum psychosis. Instead women are admitted to a General Psychiatric ward where they are separated from their babies. A BBC investigation has found that around 100 mums in Northern Ireland are admitted to a general psychiatric ward each year where they will be among other men and women who have a range of complex mental health issues. And these can be mixed wards. We hear from BBC’s Northern Ireland correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly who has made a Spotlight programme called Mums in Crisis and Dr Julie Anderson, consultant perinatal psychiatrist and Chair of the Royal College of Psychiatry in NI.We know that there are structural barriers that women face to take the leap and start up a new business. Less than 2% of venture capital private investors funding goes to women only start-ups, according to Government figures. But Imperial College London are taking some big steps to address the barriers through a programme they run for women in the evenings called “WE Innovate” which gives women coaching and the practical skills and tools they need to figure out if their business idea has legs, how to pitch it to investors and how to develop it into a fully formed product. We’re joined by the head of the programme, Sarah Ranchev-Hale, and Dr Olivia Ahn, a success story of the programme who has invented the first certified flushable period pad which will be launched in shops soon. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Ita O'Brien is the world renowned intimacy co-ordinator. She is behind the kisses, embraces and sex scenes in Normal People, I May Destroy You, It's A Sin and Gentlemen Jack, to name a few. She is also the creator of the Intimacy On Set guidelines, which are now used around the globe. She has used her expertise on set to inform her debut book, Intimacy, and joins Nuala McGovern to discuss it. A group of experts have highlighted that in global heart disease clinical trials, less than 30% of the people taking part are women. This is despite more than 30,000 women being admitted to hospital in the UK each year due to a heart attack. One of these experts, Vijay Kunadian who is Professor of Interventional Cardiology at Newcastle University, joins Nuala. An open letter organised by UK aid organisations has been delivered to 10 Downing Street today - signed by Sudanese activists, UK aid leaders and high profile figures demanding the UK government take urgent action to addresss the rapidly worsening crisis in Sudan. This comes as the charity Medecins Sans Frontières reported that of 659 survivors of sexual violence in South Darfur between January 2024 and March 2025 86% reported they were raped. Nuala speaks to Eva Khair, Campaigner and Founder of Women4Sudan and Sudan Transnational Consortium, one of the signatories of the letter. Flat racing jockey Hollie Doyle just surpassed the record set by her hero, Hayley Turner, who recently bowed out of the sport. At Ascot in May, Hollie had her 1,023rd win, becoming Britain’s ‘most winning’ female jockey of all time'. She joins Nuala. Model Hailey Bieber has sold her make-up company Rhode in a deal worth up to $1 billion. She joins a list of other celebrities earning millions from their cosmetic brand. Nuala is joined by make-up artist to the stars Val Garland and Beauty Editor for the Telegraph, Sonia Haria, to discuss. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Three-time Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan, known for roles in films such as Maestro, Promising Young Woman and Suffragette, returns to our cinema screens in the comedy drama The Ballad of Wallis Island. She talked to Anita Rani about playing ex-folk singer Nell, working on a film set with a young baby, and why she loves musicals.Earlier this week, goalkeeper Mary Earps, one of England's most high profile footballers, announced her retirement from the international game. Her decision comes just five weeks before the Lionesses go to the European Championships to defend their title. Jessica Creighton was joined was joined by football writer for the Guardian Suzy Wrack, and sports lecturer at the University of Worcester and professional goalkeeping coach, Dr Julia West, to discuss why Mary took this decision.Announcements of cuts to foreign aid this year from both the UK and US governments, amongst others, have left many organisations facing funding issues and putting their programmes at risk. As humanitarian crises continue across the world, including in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, with many vulnerable people suffering including women and girls, the need to provide aid remains as high as ever. Dr Helen Pankhurst, Senior Advisor on Gender Equality for Care International UK, and Sofia Calltrop, the UN Women Chief of Humanitarian Aid, discussed with Kylie Pentelow the effects of these cuts on women and girls globally and the importance of gender equality programming.The American folk trio I’m With Her have routinely taken time out from their individual careers to dream up songs together. On their long-awaited second album Wild and Clear and Blue, they sing about reaching into the past, navigating a chaotic present, and bravely moving forward into the unknown. They joined Kylie in the studio.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Two deeply disturbing cases in France have reignited national debate about how the justice system handles sexual violence. In December last year, Dominique Pelicot was found guilty of repeatedly drugging and raping his wife while she was unconscious and inviting other men to do the same. This week, Joël Le Scouarnec, a retired surgeon, was sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in jail for sexually abusing almost 300 people, mostly children. His victims have spoken out against this sentence and lawyers have called for a change in the law. Jessica Creighton is joined by Blandine Deverlanges, a feminist activist and the Founder of Les Amazones d’Avignon, and BBC correspondent Hugh Schofield to discuss the situation. Three-time Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan, known for roles in films such as Maestro, Promising Young Woman and Suffragette, returns to our cinema screens in the comedy drama The Ballad of Wallis Island. She talks about playing ex-folk singer Nell, working on a film set with a young baby, and how she feels about turning 40. The Secret Intelligence Service, known as MI6, is about to appoint a new chief and it's looking very likely that it will be a woman for the first time in the organisation's 115-year history. Former BBC defence correspondent Gordon Corera and spy novelist Ava Glass tell Jessica who's in the running and how significant it is that this organisation could be run by a woman.A new blood test which will help develop personalised cancer treatment is going to be rolled out across the NHS. The technique, known as a 'liquid biopsy' will be offered as a standard for lung cancer patients, and the NHS is now planning on expanding this testing to advanced breast cancer patients. Jessica is joined by Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, to discuss how this works and the impact it could have.Earlier this week, goalkeeper Mary Earps, one of England's most high profile footballers, announced her retirement from the international game. Her decision comes just five weeks before the Lionesses go to the European Championships to defend their title. Joining Jessica to discuss her decision is football writer for the Guardian Suzy Wrack, and sports lecturer at the University of Worcester and professional goalkeeping coach, Dr Julia West. Presenter: Jessica Creighton Producer: Andrea Kidd

On Friday, a one-year pilot, which gives victims of serious sexual assault access to transcripts of judge’s sentencing remarks, will end. The Ministry of Justice has said the scheme will be made permanent, although it will stay under review as more victims access the service. Anita Rani is joined by BBC London home affairs correspondent Sonja Jessup, along with forensic psychologist Kerry Daynes, to discuss the success of the pilot and how the experience of being a victim-witness might psychologically impact victims. With housing costs rising and social care stretched, more families are choosing - or needing - to live under one roof. Anita speaks to two women navigating the ups and downs of multigenerational life: Alison Taylor, who moved her parents in with her children, and Katie Fforde, who welcomed her grown-up children and grandchildren back home. A new report conducted in collaboration with the dating app, FEELD, has suggested that in reaction to the loneliness felt during and after the pandemic, more people have looked at exploring the different types of romantic relationships available – such as consensual non-monogamy and polyamory. How do those engaging in new relationship hierarchies navigate "relationship anarchy"? Anita talks to Ana Kirova, CEO of FEELD, Ana Kirova and to author, Chloe Seager, about her experiences with non-monogamy.And Anita talks to Catherine Whitaker about the primetime night session slot on Court Philippe Chatrier at the French Open where, according to reports, a women's singles match has not taken place since 2023.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Laura Northedge

Despite opposition from clerics in Pakistan, a bill banning child marriage in Pakistan’s capital city, Islamabad, has recently been passed by the National Assembly and awaits the signature of the President. Azadeh Moshiri, BBC Pakistan correspondent and Senator Sherry Rehman, who has spent more than 7 years campaigning to get it through, join Kylie Pentelow. The American folk trio I’m With Her have routinely taken time out from their individual careers to dream up songs together. On their long-awaited second album Wild and Clear and Blue, they sing about reaching into the past, navigating a chaotic present, and bravely moving forward into the unknown. They join Kylie in the studio.From displays to collections, the lack of female specimens at natural history museums shows a clear gender bias -- that's according to Assistant Director of the Museum of Zoology at the University of Cambridge Jack Ashby. Jack has written about this as part of his new book, and he joins Kylie to tell us more. Metro journalist Alice Giddings has been spat on, not once, but twice, as she was out jogging on the streets of west London. Keen to find out other women's experiences, she began an investigation, in partnership with the organisation Women's Running, to discover other women's experiences. She joins Kylie. Madeline Potter grew up in a Roma family in post-communist Romania. She’s traced the history and stories of her community, as well as her own experiences and treatment across continental Europe and the UK in her book, The Roma: A Travelling History. Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Emma Pearce

Known to many as Kayleigh in Peter Kay’s Car Share, Sian Gibson joins Kylie Pentelow to discuss her hit BBC comedy The Power of Parker which returns for a second series this week. Sian co-wrote and stars in the series as Kath, a mobile hairdresser by trade and the devoted mistress of her sister’s husband. Set around the fortunes of the Parker family’s electrical shop in 1990s Stockport, the next instalment sees a shift of power between the trio of Kath, her sister Diane and the object of their affection, Martin Parker.If you open the website for online retailer Shein, a pop-up immediately appears offering a ‘special deal’ just for you. But are these savings what they seem? Yesterday the EU told the Chinese fast-fashion website that these discounts, as well as other pressure-selling tactics on its website, infringe EU consumer law and they’ve given Shein one month to respond or face fines. Mitch Labiak, senior business journalist for the BBC, explains more.Argentinian author Agustina Bazterrica’s novel Tender is the Flesh became a worldwide sensation, with sales of over half a million copies in the English translation alone. She talks about her most recent novel, The Unworthy, which is set post-climate apocalypse in a walled sanctuary known as the Sacred Sisterhood. But is it a refuge from the disease and violence that exist outside its walls or a dangerous prison for the women who live there?Announcements of cuts to foreign aid this year from both the UK government and US government, amongst others, have left many organisations facing funding issues and putting their programmes at risk. As humanitarian crises continue across the world, including in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, with many vulnerable people suffering including women and girls, the need to provide aid remains as high as ever. Dr Helen Pankhurst, Senior Advisor on Gender Equality for Care International UK, and Sofia Calltrop, the UN Women Chief of Humanitarian Aid, discuss the effects of these cuts on women and girls globally and the importance of gender equality programming.Since Labour has come to power, there’s been a number of issues that have divided the party. From tax rises to whether it should be a two or three-child benefit cap, the tension has been tangible. And with accusations of briefings against female cabinet ministers, what impact is this Labour in-fighting having on women in the party? We spoke to chief political commentator for the I paper, Kitty Donaldson, and UK politics commentator for Bloomberg, Rosa Prince.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Kirsty Starkey

In a special bank holiday programme, Anita Rani escapes from the studio and spends the day at a dairy farm in Devon to explore the reality of female farmers’ lives.Farmer Lorna Burdge shows Anita what a day in her life as a dairy farmer involves, from milking at 6am to feeding calves, measuring grass, looking after her three children and tackling invoices in the office.We hear about a groundbreaking three-year study into the health and wellbeing of female farmers announced by the University of Exeter and Farming Community Network. Dr Rebecca Wheeler, the project lead from the University of Exeter’s Centre for Rural Policy Research, and Linda Jones, from the charity Farming Community Network, explain why the study is needed, who they want to hear from and what they hope it will achieve.Farming Today and Countryfile presenter Charlotte Smith gives Anita some of the context and policy changes of the last few years in the industry which some say have impacted farmers’ wellbeing.Anita has a cup of tea in the farmhouse kitchen and hears from three women farmers about the challenges, stresses, achievements and joys of their jobs. Joining Anita and Lorna are Sinead Fenton, an edible flower and herb farmer in East Sussex, and Caroline Millar, who has an arable, lamb and beef farm near Dundee in Scotland.What action is being taken to address some of the challenges for women in this industry? Anita hears from Rachel Hallos, the Vice-President of the National Farmers’ Union for England and Wales, an organisation which represents thousands of farmers and is looking at the experience of female farmers.And finally, Katie Davies, who was awarded Farming Woman of the Year at the National Women in Agriculture Awards 2025, tells Anita why she’s trying to inspire more women to get into farming.For more information on the three-year study on the wellbeing of female farmers, and how to take part in the research, head to: https://exe.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5pqBN1BBqIxEns2Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Olivia Bolton Assistant Producer: Claire Fox Editor: Karen Dalziel

If you've ever had the bad luck of getting a UTI - or urinary tract infection - you'll know how painful they can be. It's a bacterial infection which can affect the bladder, urethra or kidneys and give a burning or stinging sensation when you urinate. Yesterday, in a powerful parliamentary session, the Labour MP Allison Gardner spoke through tears as she described her experiences of chronic UTIs. The MP for Stoke-on-Trent is now hoping to launch a cross-party parliamentary group to look at chronic UTIs. Allison joined Anita Rani, along with GP Ellie Cannon.This week, the BBC launches the Women’s Summer of Sport, marking the start of a bumper summer of coverage including the Euros, the Rugby World Cup and Queen’s tennis tournament. The Welsh women’s football team have been called 'history makers' after qualifying for the European Championship for the first time. Three of the players, Josie Green, Lily Woodham and Elise Hughes, tell us what this means for them and how they are preparing for their debut tournament.The Bombing of Pan Am 103, is a new BBC drama series. It's based on the true story of the bombing of a passenger flight over the small Scottish town of Lockerbie on 21 December 1988, in which 270 people were killed. Kathryn Turman was an assistant to a federal senator at the time of the bombing. After the trial, she joined the FBI, where she founded the agency’s first-ever Victim Services Division. Her experience in the aftermath of the Pan Am bombing proved invaluable to the FBI’s response to the 9/11 attacks, and she has aided victims and families throughout major moments in history, including the Las Vegas shooting and the Boston marathon bombing. She discusses her mission to help victims, and what inspired her work in public service.Five years after the murder of George Floyd, a black man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis, a new BBC documentary is reflecting on the wave of Black Lives Matter protests that followed, including in the UK. Backlash: The Murder of George Floyd tells the story through the eyes of some of those who found themselves on the frontline during the spring and summer of 2020, including Khady Gueye, who made headlines after a local protest she planned in the Forest of Dean was initially cancelled. She joined Nuala McGovern, along with author and producer Nova Reid, to reflect on the impact the events of that time have had on their lives, and what has changed since then.Liane Child’s novel The Trad Wife’s Secret is inspired by influencers who believe in traditional gender roles in marriage. So is this a wholesome phenomenon or a dangerous and sexist regression? And what is the appeal to the millions of people who follow 'trad wives' online? Liane Child joined Nuala along with British 'traditional housewife' and influencer Charlie Gray.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Andrea Kidd

We hear a lot about the pressures boys and young men are under and how many of them are looking to the online world - or manosphere as it's sometimes called - to find answers. Prompted by the drama Adolescence on Netflix, the topic has been in the news regularly in recent weeks. This week the Women and Equalities Select Committee heard evidence on the manosphere. Anita Rani is joined by Will Adolphy, who was a dedicated follower of the manosphere until, in his mid 20s, he had a breakdown. He went offline for five years and rebuilt his life. He is now a psychotherapist, coach, and goes to schools to speak about healthy masculinity.This week ITV has announced a shake up of the scheduling and production of its popular daytime shows including Lorraine, Loose Women and Good Morning Britain. Whilst Good Morning Britain will be extended, both Lorraine and Loose Women will see their number of shows cut. Entertainment journalist and expert on all-things TV Scott Bryan unpicks why this is happening.The Bombing of Pan Am 103 – is a new BBC factual drama series. Based on the true story of the bombing of a passenger flight over a small Scottish town of Lockerbie on 21 December 1988, in which 270 people were killed. Kathryn Turman was Assistant to a federal Senator at the time of the bombing. After the trial she joined the FBI where she founded the agency’s first ever Victim Services Division. Her experience in the aftermath of the Pan Am bombing proved invaluable to the FBI’s response to the 9/11 attacks, and she has aided victims and families throughout major moments in history including the Las Vegas shooting and the Boston marathon bombing. She discusses her mission to help victims, and what inspired her work in public service.Next month marks three years since the journalist and host of BBC's You, Me and the Big C podcast Deborah James - known to many as Bowel Babe - died, aged 40, five years after her stage four bowel cancer diagnosis. Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer type and cause of cancer death for women. Since the early 1990s, the incidence rate in women aged 25-49 has increased by almost 60%. Bowel cancer is treatable if diagnosed early. Heather James, Deborah’s mother, is fulfilling a promise to her daughter and continuing with Deborah’s awareness-raising work - she and Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, are in the Woman's Hour studio.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was known as the ‘godmother of rock and roll’ and influenced countless musicians from Elvis to Johnny Cash. Now Olivier Award-winning performer Beverley Knight is playing Sister Rosetta in a new production, Marie and Rosetta, which has just opened at the Rose Theatre in London. It tells the story of Rosetta and her singing partner, Marie Knight, described as one of the most remarkable and revolutionary duos in music history. Beverley joins Nuala McGovern in the Woman’s Hour studio to discuss how the show hopes to restore these forgotten musical heroines to the spotlight. The Government has announced that care workers will no longer be recruited from overseas as part of a crackdown on visas for lower-skilled workers. The care sector has criticised the plans as "cruel" and "short-sighted". To discuss this and what good care looks like, Nuala is joined by Gavin Edwards, Head of Social Care at Unison, and care worker Kathryn Faulke, author of the memoir Every Kind of People: A Journey into the Heart of Care Work.It’s thought that around 3 to 4% of people in the UK, that’s one in 20, have ADHD - Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However many women still remain undiagnosed for decades of their lives, with those in their 40s, 50s and 60s only now discovering they have it for the first time. Jo Beazley was diagnosed with ADHD just two years ago at the age of 49, after her symptoms worsened during the menopause. She joins Nuala along with Amanda Kirby, the former chair of the ADHD Foundation and a professor in the field of neurodiversity. This week we'll be hearing different perspectives on the recent Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman under the Equality Act, and how it could and should be interpreted on the ground. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has issued interim guidance that, in places open to the public, trans women shouldn't use women's facilities such as toilets. Today Nuala speaks to Robin Moira White, a barrister who specialises in taking discrimination cases, and who is also a trans woman. Robin transitioned in 2011 and is co-author of A Practical Guide to Transgender Law. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

A world-record breaking swimmer has told the BBC she was left 'broken' by the training regime of one of the UK’s most successful swimming coaches. Rūta Meilutytė - who won gold at the London 2012 Olympics at the age of 15 – said coach Jon Rudd’s focus on her weight and diet contributed to her struggle with an eating disorder. Mr Rudd, who has faced multiple allegations of bullying and verbal abuse of teenage swimmers, has not responded to the BBC. Panorama's Rebecca Woods joins Nuala McGovern to discuss her investigation, The Dark Side of Swimming Clubs, which raises wider questions about an alleged toxic culture for young swimmers in the UK. Woman's Hour is hearing different perspectives on the recent Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman under the Equality Act, and how it could and should be interpreted on the ground. Today Nuala speaks to Kate Barker, CEO of LGB Alliance. They were part of a coalition along with Scottish Lesbians and the Lesbian Project, that intervened in the case. Today the BBC launches the Women’s Summer of Sport, marking the start of a bumper summer of coverage including the Euros, the Rugby World Cup and Queen’s tennis tournament. The Welsh women’s football team have been called 'history makers' after qualifying for the European Championship for the first time. Three of the players, Josie Green, Lily Woodham and Elise Hughes, tell us what this means for them and how they are preparing for their debut tournament. The author Emma Stonex joins Nuala to talk about her new suspense novel The Sunshine Man. Set it 1989, it tells the story of Birdie, set on taking revenge on the man who she believes murdered her sister. Emma tells us how she approached writing the book, and touches on some of its themes, including the bonds between sisters and parental abandonment. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Tonight sees the 70th Ivor Novello awards taking place at Grosvenor House in London.  They are coveted in the UK music industry because they specifically celebrate songwriting. Singer-songwriter Lola Young leads the nominations this year including one for 'best song musically and lyrically' for her breakthrough hit Messy, which spent a month at number one in the UK earlier this year.  Does this spell good news for women in the music industry? Anita Rani is joined by Linda Coogan-Byrne to discuss. If you've ever had the bad luck of getting a UTI - or Urinary Tract Infection - you'll know how painful they can be. It's a bacterial infection which can affect the bladder, urethra or kidneys and give a burning or stinging sensation when you urinate. Yesterday, in a powerful parliamentary session, the Labour MP Allison Gardner spoke through tears as she described her experiences of chronic UTIs. The MP for Stoke on Trent is now hoping to launch a cross-party parliamentary group to look at chronic UTIs - Allison joins Anita, as does the GP Ellie Cannon. A major new exhibition opens this week at The Imperial War Museum in London. Called Unsilenced: Sexual Violence in Conflict, it looks at the atrocities inflicted during war and conflict from the First World War until the present day. Helen Upcraft is the exhibition’s lead curator and Sara Bowcutt is the Managing Director of Women for Women International, one of the NGOs working in the field of sexual violence in conflict, who’ve also contributed to this exhibition. They join Anita in the studio.Women and listening... how do women listen? How good a listener are you? Two books out this month focus on listening, from listening to sounds to listening more deeply to other people. Anita speaks to writers Alice Vincent, and Emily Kasriel.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

In the last of our interviews about the recent Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman under the Equality Act, Nuala McGovern speaks to Baroness Kishwer Falkner, Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. As the body responsible for enforcing the Act, the EHRC gave evidence in the Supreme Court case. In the first BBC interview since launching a consultation on updating their Code of Practice in light of the judgment, Baroness Falkner explains who they want to hear from and why.Five years after the murder of George Floyd, a black man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis, a new BBC documentary is reflecting on the wave of Black Lives Matter protests that followed, including in the UK. Backlash: The Murder of George Floyd tells the story through the eyes of some of those who found themselves on the frontline during the spring and summer of 2020, including Khady Gueye, who made headlines after a local protest she planned in the Forest of Dean was initially cancelled. She joins Nuala, along with author, producer and speaker Nova Reid, to reflect on the impact the events of that time have had on their lives, and what has changed since then. Nuala is also joined by Sarah Pochin, the first female MP for the Reform UK Party. The Runcorn and Helsby by-election was won by just six votes - the closest result in modern history. A former Conservative Councillor and mayor for Cheshire East, Sarah was a magistrate for 20 years. During her maiden speech she focussed on immigration, the cost of living and sexual violence against women.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

Mental health nurse Rachel Luby has been discussing her shopping addiction with a UK newspaper. She says it led to her ordering thousands of pounds worth of presents for staff and patients on her ward and was receiving parcels every day. She feels her shopping addiction was trivialised - rather than being seen as a red flag. So how common is this? And why is it a problem to think that shopping is just something women do and enjoy? Nuala McGovern hears from financial psychotherapist and author of Money on Your Mind: The Psychology Behind Your Financial Habits, Vicky Reynal.Why are survivors of sexual assault being cross-examined at trial about the fact that they made a previous disclosure of another sexual offence by a different perpetrator? The Centre for Women’s Justice, Rape Crisis and other women’s groups have launched a campaign to clarify the law around this. Nuala is joined by Katrin Hohl, independent advisor to the government on sexual violence and professor of criminology at City St Georges University in London, who has spent months investigating how and why this is happening.Liane Child’s novel The Trad Wife’s Secret is inspired by influencers who believe in traditional gender roles in marriage. So is this a wholesome phenomenon or a dangerous and sexist regression? And what is the appeal to the millions of people who follow 'trad wives' online? Liane Child joins Nuala along with British “traditional housewife” and influencer Charlie Gray.Israel has announced a reprieve in its 11-week blockade of aid into Gaza. Nuala speaks to the BBC’s Paul Adams and Humanitarian Director at Save the Children, Rachael Cummings, to find out more about the impact of this block of aid on women and children.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Police have said they are searching for the parents of three new-born babies, all abandoned in East London between 2017 to 2024. The search is focusing on about 400 nearby houses. Anita Rani spoke to Met Police Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford and clinical psychologist Professor Lorraine Sherr, head of the Health Psychology Unit at UCL.Nuala McGovern was joined by the best-selling author Isabel Allende about her latest book My Name is Emilia Del Valle. It follows a young female journalist intent on covering the civil war in Chile in 1891 despite having to write under a man’s name.It’s thought that around 3 to 4% of people in the UK have ADHD - Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. But many women remain undiagnosed for decades, with those in their 40s, 50s and 60s only now discovering they have it for the first time. Jo Beazley was diagnosed with ADHD just two years ago at the age of 49, after her symptoms worsened during the menopause. She joined Nuala along with Amanda Kirby, former chair of the ADHD Foundation and a professor in the field of neurodiversity.Imagine you’re preparing to host a party at your house when a lost elderly woman shows up at your door. What would you do? This actually happened to writer and director Nadia Conners. Nadia explained to Nuala why the interaction stuck with her for years and has now inspired her debut feature film, The Uninvited.How do we teach children to have grit? That's what the Government is suggesting needs to be a new focus in schools, to bolster children's mental health. To discuss how parents can help their children develop resilience, Anita was joined by Sue Atkins, parenting coach and author of Parenting Made Easy and child psychologist Laverne Antrobus.Anna Lapwood is one of the world’s most famous organists and an internet sensation, with over two million social media followers. Hailed as ‘classical music’s Taylor Swift', she told Anita about co-curating a special BBC Prom, the music she has included in her album Firedove which is out later this month, and what it meant to her to be appointed the first ever official ‘Organist of the Royal Albert Hall.’Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

How do we teach children to have grit? That's what the Government is suggesting needs to be a new focus in schools, to bolster children's mental health. To discuss how parents can help their children develop resilience, Anita Rani is joined by Sue Atkins, parenting coach and author of Parenting Made Easy and child psychologist Laverne Antrobus.We are currently hearing different perspectives on the recent Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman under the Equality Act, and how it could and should be interpreted on the ground. Today Anita speaks to Sacha Deshmukh, Chief Executive of Amnesty International UK.At age 20, actor Sam Ipema was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm. Her highly successful play, Dear Annie, I Hate You details this experience and is currently on at Riverside Studios in London. She joins Anita Rani and neurologist Dr Faye Begeti to discuss.Founder of the Everyday Sexism project, Laura Bates, has been looking into artificial intelligence.  Laura argues that existing forms of discrimination are being enforced by AI through historic coding, prioritising profitability at the expense of women’s safety and rights. But also worrying is how simple it is for AI to enable users to create deepfake or AI girlfriends, that can perpetuate the abuse of women. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Police have said they are searching for the parents of three new-born babies, all abandoned in East London between 2017 to 2024. The search is focusing on about 400 nearby houses. Anita Rani speaks to Met Police Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford and clinical psychologist Professor Lorraine Sherr - head of the Health Psychology Unit at UCL.Actor Rose Ayling-Ellis also joins Anita to discuss her lead role in ground breaking new ITVX drama Code of Silence, along with the show’s writer Catherine Moulton. Rose plays Alison, a deaf caterer who gets drawn into a covert police operation thanks to her exceptional lip-reading skills. It was inspired by writer Catherine’s own experience with lip-reading and sees Rose take on an executive producer role too.In August 2022 the then Conservative MP for Stafford, Theo Clarke, gave birth to a daughter. She had a 40-hour labour, and a third-degree tear. She needed a two-hour operation and was in hospital for a week. Her experiences led her to set up the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Birth Trauma in the House of Commons, she also co-chaired the Birth Trauma Inquiry in Parliament. She joins Anita to discuss her experience, campaigning and new book Breaking the Taboo: Why We Need To Talk About Birth Trauma.Anna Lapwood is one of the world’s most famous organists and an internet sensation, with over two million social media followers. Hailed as ‘classical music’s Taylor Swift', she’ll be telling Anita about co-curating a special BBC Prom, the music she’s included in her album Firedove which is out later this month, and what it mean to her to be appointed as the first ever official ‘Organist of the Royal Albert Hall.’

Nuala McGovern is joined by the best-selling author Isabel Allende about her latest book My Name is Emilia Del Valle. It follows a young female journalist intent on covering the civil war in Chile in 1891 despite having to write under a man’s name. This week we'll be hearing different perspectives on the recent Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman under the Equality Act, and how it could and should be interpreted on the ground. Today we hear from Helen Joyce, Director of Advocacy at Sex Matters and author of Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality Broadcaster Yinka Bokinni discusses the latest in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial. He’s been charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has denied all charges. Today the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership is launching the Gender Equality Index UK (GEIUK). It measures gender equality across 372 local authorities and says no area has achieved full parity between women and men. Exploring the complex links between gender equality, regional disparities and economic productivity we discuss how it can lead to a better future for women and men? Dr Caitlin Schmid who has lead the project and ex- Australian Prime Minister and Chair of GIWL -Julia Gillard are in the Woman's Hour studio.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Kate, not her real name, has spoken to BBC Radio 4's File on Four Investigates and has revealed that her husband was secretly drugging and raping her for years - in a story that has echoes of the Gisele Pelicot case which rocked France, and the world, at the end of last year. Nuala McGovern speaks to BBC reporter Jane Deith who explains that Kate had to fight for justice and also to Dr Amy Burrell, a research fellow at the University of Birmingham.Imagine you’re preparing to host a party at your house when a lost elderly woman shows up at your door. What would you do? This actually happened to writer and director Nadia Conners. Nadia explains to Nuala why the interaction stuck with her for years and has now inspired her debut feature film, The Uninvited.Kirsty Wark, a familiar face on our screens thanks to her long-standing and impressive journalism career, has just been awarded the BAFTA Fellowship - the Academy's highest honour. She joins Nuala McGovern to talk about what it means to have been given this recognition after nearly 50 years as a journalist and broadcaster.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Laura Northedge

Rising to fame at the age of 20, Kate Nash soon became a staple of the British music scene in the late 2000s. Her first album, Made of Bricks, reached number one in the UK and stayed in the UK charts for more than forty consecutive weeks and she’s won a Brit Award. But she’s spoken openly about not being able to afford to tour and choosing to subsidise her income by selling images of her body on OnlyFans. Kate’s currently in the middle of a UK tour for her latest album, 9 Sad Symphonies, and is playing the O2 Kentish Town Forum on 9 April. She joins Nuala McGovern to discuss her career and the music industry.Sarah Brown and her husband Gordon, the former prime minister set up the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory in 2004, following the death of their daughter Jennifer who was born seven weeks early. For the past decade, the laboratory has been leading vital research into premature birth – including a world-first study following 400 babies, both premature and full-term, from birth to adulthood. Sarah tells Nuala about the research and what they've found about preterm birth. Once the Deed is Done is the fifth novel from the German-British author Rachel Seiffert. It covers the immediate aftermath of the end of WW2 and the fall of Nazi Germany. The book focuses on a group of displaced people – it’s estimated that globally there were between 40-60 million people displaced by the war. Rachel describes why she wanted to write about this often forgotten time in history, reflecting on the cruelty inflicted from above and the choices her characters make. BBC2’s Saving Lives in Cardiff is back on our screens from tonight. Based in the largest hospital in Wales, University Hospital in Cardiff, the series highlights the weight of difficult, sometimes life and death decisions surgeons make about who to prioritise next. The first episode follows Dr Indu Deglurkar, a cardiac surgeon, one of only 19 women in this role in the UK. She joins Nuala to discuss the pressures and joys of her job.Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

Four years ago the broadcaster Naga Munchetty spoke out on air about her own awful experience of getting a coil fitted, and received a huge response from listeners. It led to her talking about her debilitating periods and an eventual diagnosis with adenomyosis aged 47. She’s written about this and included the experiences of other women. Naga spoke to Anita Rani to discuss her book ‘It’s Probably Nothing’.A wave of female designers have been appointed to some leading high street brands - including Jacqui Markham at Whistles, Maddy Evans at M&S, and Clare Waight Keller, the former Givenchy designer, to Uniqlo. So how much of a difference does it make for consumers that women are at the helm? Nuala McGovern spoke to Jacqui Markham, creative director at Whistles and Catherine Shuttleworth, CEO and founder of Savvy Marketing.A BBC documentary The Sex Detectives: Keeping Kids Safe follows a ground-breaking project in Bristol which engages the help of street sex workers to protect children and young people at risk of sexual exploitation. Avon & Somerset Police have teamed up with charity Barnardo’s and partnered with Bristol’s street sex workers to gather intelligence about dangerous offenders and paedophiles. Nuala was joined by social worker Jo Ritchie, at Barnardo’s, and sex work liaison officer Rose Brown.In a special programme exploring 'mistakes' and our relationship with the word, Nuala McGovern speaks to journalist Nicole Mowbray who tells about the mistake she made at The Observer newspaper which caused an 'international incident'.A new report by HSBC looks at the obstacles and opportunities facing midlife women entrepreneurs. With more midlife women starting businesses than any other demographic, what is it like to be a female founder at 50+? Author of the report, Eleanor Mills, owner of her own company Noon and Helen Lord, co-founder of Rehome, a UK-based business specialising in the resale of used and ex-display kitchens, join Kylie Pentelow to discuss.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Emma Pearce

Four years ago the writer and broadcaster Naga Munchetty spoke out on air about her own awful experience of getting a coil fitted, and received a huge response from listeners. It led to her talking about her debilitating periods and an eventual diagnosis with adenomyosis aged 47. She’s written about this and included the experiences of other women. Naga speaks to Anita Rani to discuss her book ‘It’s probably nothing’: Critical conversations on the women’s health crisis. Robert Francis Prevost has been chosen as the new Pope and will be known as Leo XIV. He is the first American to fill the role of pope, although he is considered as much a cardinal from Latin America because of the many years he spent as a missionary in Peru. Anita is joined by Kate McElwee, the executive director of the Women’s Ordination Conference, that calls for women's ordination and gender equity in the Roman Catholic Church and Ruth Gledhill Assistant Editor at The Tablet to discuss where he stands in the context women and the church.Planning a wedding can be stressful, but what if you begin to question your relationship as the big day approaches? How do you know if it’s just nerves? And what if you realise that you’re not happy, that your engagement needs to end, and that you have to cancel your wedding? Anita talks to beauty and lifestyle creator Katie Snooks who cancelled her wedding in 2017 and to couples therapist Joanna Harrison about managing the emotional and practical fall-out of cancelling your wedding.Laura Aikman discusses her role in new drama Suspect, which tells the story of Jean Charles de Menezes, who was shot by police at Stockwell tube station in 2005. He was mistaken for a terror suspect in the aftermath of London’s 7/7 bombings. Laura plays Lana Vandenberghe in the Disney+ drama, a Canadian secretary at the Independent Police Complaints Commission who became a whistleblower, leaking documents to a TV news producer which showed a discrepancy between what the police knew and what was being reported at the time. Laura also recently starred in BBC crime drama This City is Ours and surprised Gavin and Stacey fans by returning as Smithy’s fiancé for the recent Christmas finale, watched by more than 19 million people. Presented by Anita Rani Producer: Louise Corley

As WeightWatchers has filed for bankruptcy in the US, we ask what this means for the company and for the diet industry. Kylie Pentelow is joined by Daniel Woolfson, senior business reporter at the Telegraph.Health experts are calling for more UK clinical trials to focus on finding new treatments for women, as “concerning” data reveals they are severely under-represented, with 67% more male-only studies than female-only. Professor Anna David, the director of the EGA Institute for Women’s Health at UCL, said the findings helped explained why some women “are not getting the care they need”. She joins Kylie to discuss her concerns. Commemorations have been taking place all week to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. For members of the armed forces, the importance of mail during the war was said to be second only to food. Now a new play brings to life the compelling correspondence between a young war-time couple. Dear Loll, A Wartime Marriage in Letters is the work of Guardian journalist and author Rosanna Greenstreet and her husband Matthew Fay. It tells the story of Matthew’s grandparents, journalist Gerard ‘Ger’ Fay and his wife Alice, or ‘Loll’. Writing virtually every day, their correspondence over four years gives a fascinating insight into how one couple survived, and offers a deeply personal and refreshingly honest window into marriage, motherhood, separation, and survival. Rosanna joins Kylie in the studio. Saba Sams’ debut novel Gunk is about Jules who works in a nightclub alongside her ex. Jules befriends a co-worker who becomes pregnant and has the baby. Then, for one reason or another, Jules is left to care for that baby. Saba – winner of the BBC National Short Story Award in 2022 -  joins Kylie to talk about breaking the rules around love, age-gap relationships and building alternative families, all themes of Gunk.A new report by HSBC looks at the obstacles and opportunities facing midlife women entrepreneurs. With more midlife women starting businesses than any other demographic, what is it like to be a female founder at 50+? Author of the report, Eleanor Mills, tells Kylie about the findings and how she set up her own company, Noon, at 50. Plus, Helen Lord, co-founder of Rehome, a UK-based business specialising in the resale of used and ex-display kitchens, adds her experience of midlife entrepreneurship.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Corinna Jones

A BBC News documentary The Sex Detectives: Keeping Kids Safe follows a groundbreaking project in Bristol which engages the help of street sex workers to protect children and young people at risk of sexual exploitation. Avon & Somerset Police have teamed up with children’s charity Barnardo’s and partnered with Bristol’s street sex workers to gather intelligence about dangerous offenders and paedophiles. Nuala is joined by social worker Jo Ritchie, who is employed by Barnardo’s, and sex work liaison officer Rose Brown.Model Leomie Anderson was just 14 when she was scouted, and has since gone on to work with fashion houses like Burberry, Giorgio Armani and Vivienne Westwood. She became the first Victoria Secret Angel from a Black British background. She's also the presenter of the BBC series Glow Up, the search for Britain's next top make up artist, which is back for it's 7th series. Leomie joins Nuala in the studio.More women than ever are deciding to not wait for friends, or family, to go on an adventure. The hashtag #Solotravel has over 5 million posts across TikTok and Instagram and in a recent Press Association interview Hostelworld's CEO, Gary Morrison, said that a surge in solo travellers - especially young female backpackers - is reshaping the travel industry. So, is 2025 the year of the solo female traveller? Journalist Chanté Joseph and Solo in Style creator, Deborah Ives, tell Nuala why women are deciding to go on holiday alone.Women in the North of England can expect to live fewer years in good health, are more likely to be unable to work due to long-term sickness and disability and are losing out in terms of wages, compared to other areas of England, according to new analysis. Health Equity North academics studied the latest available data to see whether there have been improvements in the inequalities faced by northern women since the publication of last year’s damning Woman of the North report. Nuala discusses the findings with Professor Clare Bambra of Newcastle University and co-director of Health Equity North.We have an update from Tilly Cripwell about her campaign to protect the Molly Malone statue in Dublin.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

A wave of female designers have been appointed to some of the leading high street brands - most recently Jacqui Markham at Whistles, Maddy Evans at M&S earlier this year, and Clare Waight Keller, the former Givenchy designer who joined Uniqlo last year. So how much of a difference does it make for consumers that women are at the helm? Nuala McGovern speaks to Jacqui Markham, who has only just become the creative director at Whistles and Catherine Shuttleworth, retail commentator, CEO and founder of Savvy Marketing.Imagine a medical facility where almost exclusively female patients are kept in a drug-induced slumber for months at a time, woken only to be fed and bathed and given electro-convulsive therapy to erase their memories- sometimes even their identities- all without their consent.  It sounds like the stuff of dystopian sci-fi, but in fact it was a real psychiatric ward in a 1960s NHS hospital, as uncovered in a new book, The Sleep Room: A Very British Medical Scandal. Nuala speaks to the author, Jon Stock, about his investigation and hears from a former patient, Mary Thornton, about her experiences and a consultant psychiatrist, Professor Linda Gask from Manchester University. Daisy Crawford says she was left feeling embarrassed and tearful by the treatment of Easyjet staff who threatened to charge her for an extra bag when she tried to board a flight with a bag containing her breast milk, a breast pump and cool packs as well as her hand luggage. Daisy joins Nuala to explain why she thinks her treatment was discriminatory against breastfeeding mums. Have you ever written or received any love letters? A new performance film, The Extraordinary Miss Flower, was inspired by just that – in fact a suitcase full of them - sent to just one woman. Icelandic-Italian singer/songwriter Emilíana Torrini felt so inspired by the letters that were sent to Miss Geraldine Flower, her friend Zoe’s mum, that it led her to get back into the studio to create her first solo record in 10 years as well as an accompanying film. She joins Nuala live in in the studio to talk about both – and to perform live.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

In a special programme exploring 'mistakes' and our relationship with the word Nuala McGovern speaks to clinical psychologist and best-selling author of Open When, Dr Julie Smith, and hears why we dislike making mistakes in our personal and professional lives.Journalist Nicole Mowbray tells Nuala how she felt when her mistake at The Observer caused an 'international incident'.Are women judged more harshly for the mistakes they make in the workplace? Sarah Ellis, co-founder of Amazing If and the co-host of the Squiggly Careers podcast, and marketing specialist and co-host of the Working On It podcast, Lauren Spearman, discuss how to deal with errors that occur at work.What impact does it have on you growing up if you were told you were conceived by ‘mistake’? Nuala speaks to journalist Sophie Heawood, who says she got pregnant by ‘mistake’ and journalist Bethan Ryder who was the baby of a ‘mistake’, they discuss what the word means to them.And maths teacher, Gloria Dalafu tells Nuala how her love of mistakes inspires her pupils to make their own mishaps.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sophie Powling

The negative effects that smartphones and social media access can have on students has become a national conversation in recent months, with differing views on who should take the lead in protecting children. Anita Rani was joined by secondary head teacher Emma Mills, whose school in Warrington has banned smartphones. Birchwood High attracted national attention two years ago when teenage student Brianna Ghey was murdered.Paula Radcliffe held the marathon world record for more than 16 years. The four time British Olympian secured the Six Star Medal last week, and has now run all six original marathons: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City. Recently she's had her resilience tested in a whole new way - supporting her teenage daughter Isla through a rare and aggressive form of ovarian cancer. Now in recovery, Isla ran the London marathon last Sunday and Paula joined Nuala McGovern to discuss the experience.With the Met Gala fast approaching, we take a closer look at the business behind the red carpet with International Style Correspondent for the New York Times, Elizabeth Paton, and Fashion Editor for Glamour Magazine, Rosie Lai.For the last decade, Frances Ryan has been a columnist and reporter at The Guardian. She joined Nuala McGovern to discuss her new book - Who Wants Normal? The Disabled Girls’ Guide to Life. Part memoir, part manifesto, it explores six facets of life: education, careers, body image, health, relationships and representation, as well as how to survive life's bumps in the road.And London Grammar frontwoman Hannah Reid joined Nuala to discuss more than a decade at the helm of the band, their fourth album The Greatest Love, and what it’s been like navigating the music industry as a new parent.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Headteachers are gathering today in Harrogate for the annual conference of the National Association of Head Teachers. The negative effects on their students of smartphones and social media access has become a national conversation in recent months, with differing views on who should take the lead in protecting children; the Government, schools, parents, or tech companies. Anita Rani talks to secondary head Emma Mills. Her school, Birchwood High in Warrington, attracted national attention two years ago when teenager Brianna Ghey was murdered. Emma joins Anita to explain why she implemented the ban and what the effects have been so far.Barrister and campaigner Charlotte Proudman first came to prominence ten years ago when she called out a lawyer on LinkedIn who praised her profile picture. Never afraid to speak her mind, she talks to Anita about her new book ‘He said, She Said: Truth, Trauma and the Struggle for Justice in Family Court’.Writer George Eliot is brought to life in a new stage setting, accompanied by contemporary music by British female singer songwriters and using mainly her own words to tell her story. Author of seven novels, a poet and translator, George Eliot - real name Mary Ann Evans - was ahead of her time, befriended pioneering feminists and at one point became the second richest woman in England after Queen Victoria. Performers SuRie and Hermione Norris join Anita to discuss their celebration of her extraordinary and ground breaking life. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Laura Northedge

A recent investigation has unearthed previously unknown information about the death of a female Ukrainian journalist who had been looking in to war crimes in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Viktoriia Roshchyna, herself Ukrainian, was captured in 2023 whilst reporting from the occupied territories. She died in 2024 after a year in detention, where she was held without charge and without legal assistance. Editor on the Investigations team at The Guardian, Juliette Garside, joins Anita Rani to discuss the report. Have you ever wondered how much impact the name you were given has had on your life? Florence Knapp’s debut novel The Names begins with a dilemma; Cora is about to register the birth of her baby son, but should she call him Bear, the name chosen by her nine-year-old daughter Maia, Julian, which is her choice, or Gordon, the name she is expected to give him and also the name of her abusive husband and his father before him? Florence joins Anita to discuss her new book and the fateful decisions we make every day.It’s been a big week for Chelsea who last night won the Women's Super League title for the sixth year in a row, beating Manchester United 1-0 after a goal from Lucy Bronze. The victory marks the first Women's Super League title for Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor, who took over from Emma Hayes last summer. It also follows a defeat against Barcelona in the Champions League over the weekend. BBC Sport’s Emma Sanders joins Anita to discuss Chelsea’s season.With the Met Gala fast approaching, we take a closer look at the business behind the red carpet with International Style Correspondent for the New York Times, Elizabeth Paton, and Fashion Editor for Glamour Magazine, Rosie Lai. A new play, Conversations After Sex, tells the story of one thirty-something woman’s life through vignettes following sporadic sexual encounters with a revolving cast of men. Anita explores the theme of intimate conversations with strangers, with the play’s main protagonist and producer Olivia Lindsay and psychotherapist Charlotte Jefferson. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Emma Pearce

For the last decade, Frances Ryan has been a columnist and reporter at the Guardian. She joins Nuala McGovern to discuss her new book - Who Wants Normal? The Disabled Girls’ Guide to Life. Part memoir, part manifesto, it explores six facets of life: education, careers, body image, health, relationships and representation, as well as how to survive life's bumps in the road.Groomed: A National Scandal is a new Channel 4 documentary from award-winning filmmaker Anna Hall, looking at the issue of gang grooming. It puts the experiences of five women who have survived unimaginable abuse at the heart of a story that spans more than 20 years. Nuala speaks to Anna and Chantelle, one of the survivors featured in the film.How much does what you wear to work matter? In today's I newspaper, the journalist and columnist Anniki Sommerville says she loves dressing up for work but her Gen Z colleagues laugh at her blazer. She joins Nuala along with Carolyn Mair, Fashion Business Consultant and author of The Psychology of Fashion.Pioneering Maori scholar, Mākereti Papakura is to receive a posthumous degree more than 100 years after she began her studies at Oxford University. Born in New Zealand, Makereti is believed to be the first indigenous woman to enrol. Professor Clare Harris, Head of the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography tells Nuala about her life and work.

London Grammar frontwoman Hannah Reid joins Nuala McGovern to discuss more than a decade at the helm of the band, their fourth album The Greatest Love, and what it’s been like navigating the music industry as a new parent.With US President Donald Trump reaching the 100 day mark of his presidency, who are some of the women in his cabinet? And what impact have those first 100 days had on women's lives in the US? Nuala speaks to Republican Sarah Elliott and Democrat Kristin Kaplan Wolfe to get their thoughts.April, a new film set in the Eastern European country of Georgia, tells the story of Nina, an obstetrician who faces an investigation, after she was unable to save a baby during labour. But the investigation brings scrutiny Nina doesn’t want, as she’s concerned it will shine a light on her secret job – providing unofficial, illegal abortions and reproductive care to women in poorer villages, in their homes. Writer and director Dea Kulumbegashvili joins Nuala to discuss her story and what it was like to film.Over a quarter of domestic abuse services in England and Wales are having to turn children away from vital support amid severe funding shortages, according to a new report by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner. Children were recognised as victims of domestic abuse in their own right for the first time by 2021’s Domestic Abuse Act. Nuala is joined by Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, to hear more about her report and what she wants to see happen next. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Paula Radcliffe broke records and redefined women’s long-distance running, holding the marathon world record for more than 16 years. The four time British Olympian secured the Six Star Medal last week - and has now run all six original marathons: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City. Recently she has had her resilience tested in a whole new way - supporting her teenage daughter Isla through a rare and aggressive form of ovarian cancer. Now, in recovery, Isla ran the London marathon yesterday. Paula joins Nuala to discuss.The Belarusian political activist Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joins Nuala to discuss her remarkable journey from "ordinary person" to leading the opposition whilst in political exile. In 2020 she stood in the Presidential election after her husband, Sergei, was arrested. She claimed victory in the polls, which were widely thought to be rigged, but was forced to flee the country with her children. She now lives in Lithuania from where she has established an oppositional government and hasn't heard from her husband in two years. A new BBC Panorama investigation has found baby food pouches from some of the leading brands have been failing to meet the nutritional needs of developing children and have been misleading parents on their suitability. More than 250 of these products are on the multi-million pound baby pouch market and have become a staple for many households with babies and children up to the age of two or three. Nuala is joined by Catrin Nye the reporter for Panorama, and baby and child nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed.The death of Virginia Giuffre, who accused Jeffrey Epstein and the Duke of York of sexual abuse, has made headline news over the weekend. The 41 year old, who was living in Australia, was described by her family as a "fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking". Nuala discusses her life and campaigning with Harriet Wistrich of the Centre for Women's Justice and BBC Correspondent, Katy Watson.Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

After suffering complications during the birth of her son, Leo, in 2021, former Made in Chelsea star Louise Thompson developed PTSD. She posted about this to her followers on social media and has now written about it in her new book, Lucky. She told Clare McDonnell about her experience and why she is trying to break the taboo surrounding birth trauma.People who have committed murder, manslaughter or stalking offences should be forced to live in restricted areas after being released from prison on licence, according to a group of campaigners. BBC journalist Gemma Dunstan and law-change campaigners Rhianon Bragg and Dianna Parkes join Anita Rani to discuss. The Prime Minister Keir Starmer has welcomed the UK Supreme Court decision on the legal definition of a woman. His office has confirmed that he no longer believes trans women are women. There have been protests against the decision, with critics saying it is incredibly worrying for the trans community. The ruling followed a long-running legal battle between the Scottish Government and the campaign group For Women Scotland. Susan Smith, one of the directors, spoke to Clare and gave her reflections on the outcome, a week on.TV presenter, writer and self-declared 'homes therapist' Michelle Ogundehin joined Nuala to talk about decluttering and the connection between our home and our wellbeing, her personal wardrobe strategy and her love of curated things that tell our story.Emma-Jean Thackray is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, producer, bandleader and DJ. Her sound has incorporated the widest range of music, from jazz and funk to Detroit house and techno, northern Bassline and catchy rock and pop music. She joined Anita to discuss her new album Weirdo and the inspiration behind it. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

The onset of menopause has resulted in 10% of women leaving work for good and more than half having to take time off, according to the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development. These findings were presented to business leaders yesterday at the launch of the first advisory group for menopause in the workplace. Mariella Frostrup is the Government's Menopause Employment Ambassador and she joins Anita Rani.The Women's Six Nations culminates this weekend. England and France face each other at the Allianz Stadium Twickenham on Saturday to decide the rugby champions. Scotland face Ireland tomorrow and Wales and Italy face off on Sunday. The BBC's Sport Reporter Sara Orchard gives us the lowdown. Rugby player Emma Wassell has been capped 67 times for Scotland and is hoping to make her comeback before the World Cup in England this summer after a traumatic absence. Last September a benign tumour was discovered in her chest – and her recovery has included several surgeries. As she gets back onto the training ground, she joins us to tell her story.What happens when your private photo isn’t nude, but it still ruins your life? The current legal definition of ‘intimate’ image abuse, also known as “revenge porn”, doesn’t reflect the reality for Muslim and BME women. Many of these images aren’t defined as sexual through a western lens but can have serious consequences. We speak to Mariam Ahmed from Amina, the Muslim Women's Resource centre, who have launched an “exposed” campaign to tackle this issue. Emma-Jean Thackray is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, producer, bandleader and a DJ. Her sound has incorporated the widest range of music, from jazz and funk to Detroit house and techno, northern Bassline and catchy rock and pop music. She joins Anita to discuss her new album Weirdo, the inspirations behind it, and to perform live in the studio.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

This morning, the UK regulator Ofcom released its Children's Safety Codes. These are the regulations that platforms will have to follow to protect young users and abide by the Online Safety Act. Platforms will have three months to carry out a risk assessment and bring the codes into effect. Ofcom can start enforcing the regulations from July. The most significant aspect is the requirement for strong age verification. Anita Rani hears from Baroness Beeban Kidron, founder of Five Rights, an international NGO working with and for children for a rights-respecting digital world, and Ian Russell, Chair of the Molly Rose Foundation. Ian’s daughter Molly took her life at the age of 14 after being exposed to harmful content online.A new report says 91% of organisations in the UK’s women and girls sector have seen a rise in demand for their services, but only 52% expect to be able to meet it. The report - from Rosa, the UK fund for women and girls - also found that 1.8% of charitable giving goes to women's charities although they represent at least 3.5% of charities. Anita is joined by Rebecca Gill, Executive Director at Rosa UK fund for women and girls and Cecily Mwaniki, Director of Utulivu, who support Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and refugee women, girls, and their families in Reading.According to campaigners, people who have committed murder, manslaughter or stalking offences should be forced to live in restricted areas after being released from prison on licence. Anita is joined by BBC journalist Gemma Dunstan and law-change campaigners Rhianon Bragg and Dianna Parkes. 29-year-old Pippa White shares her daily life as a vicar to millions of viewers on TikTok. She joins Anita to discuss being a young woman in the Church, making religion fun and connecting with a younger audience.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Trans women should use toilets according to their biological sex, according to the equalities minister Bridget Phillipson, this is in response to the UK Supreme Court’s ruling a week ago on the legal definition of a woman. The Prime Minister Keir Starmer has welcomed the decision, saying it provides much needed clarity, and his office has confirmed that the Prime Minister no longer believes trans women are women. There have been protests against the decision, with critics saying it is incredibly worrying for the trans community. The ruling followed a long-running legal battle between the Scottish Government and the campaign group For Women Scotland. Susan Smith, one of the directors, gives her reflections on the outcome, a week on. The historian Tiffany Watt Smith traces the evolution and messy realities of female friendship across the past century in her new book Bad Friend. Tiffany talks to Clare about bad friends through history: the romantic school girls of the 1900s; office gossips; mum cliques; angry activists; and the coven – women who choose to live together in old age – to the present day. The former lioness Eni Aluko had a hugely successful career as a player making over 100 appearances for England. Since then she's gone on to have an equally successful career as a pundit, becoming the first woman to appear on Match of the Day in 2014. Earlier this month her name was in the headlines following the outcome of a civil court hearing involving the ex-footballer Joey Barton. In the first stage of a High Court libel case the Judge found that online posts made by Joey Barton about Eni and her family were "defamatory". Mr Barton is yet to respond, and can appeal, or defend the statements if the case proceeds to trial. In a separate criminal case involving both parties Joey Barton has pleaded not guilty to allegedly posting offensive comments on social media.An Army of Women is a documentary that follows a group of women in Austin, Texas who took on the legal systems that they feel let their rapists walk free – specifically by filing lawsuits against the police department in Austin and the district attorney’s office in Travis County, which prosecutes cases for the county. Those suits were settled in 2021 and 2022. The documentary debuted at the South by Southwest Festival last year, and is being released here in the UK from this Friday. Clare speaks to documentary director Julie Lunde Lillesæter and Hanna Senko, who was the lead plaintiff in one of those lawsuits.Presented by Clare McDonnell Producer: Louise Corley

After suffering complications during the birth of her son, Leo, in 2021, former Made in Chelsea star Louise Thompson developed PTSD. Now, she’s been trying to break the taboo surrounding birth trauma by posting about it to her 1.5 million followers on social media. Louise was invited to Parliament to hear women addressing the Birth Trauma Inquiry last year, led by MP Theo Clarke, and wrote about her experience in her Sunday Times bestselling book, Lucky. The paperback is out now. Louise joins Clare McDonnell.Catholics around the world have been mourning the death of Pope Francis, whose death came just a day after he addressed crowds on Easter Sunday. To discuss his legacy for women's roles in the Church and wider society, Clare is joined by Joanna Moorhead, journalist and former writer with the Catholic newspaper The Tablet, Kate McElwee, Executive Director of the Women's Ordination Conference, and Sister Gemma Simmonds, theologian at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology in Cambridge.It’s estimated that one in seven grandparents in the UK are estranged from their grandchildren but legally they have no automatic right to contact. 18 years ago Jane Jackson set up Bristol Grandparents Support Group when she and her husband found themselves estranged from their seven-year-old granddaughter. Jane joins Clare to discuss supporting grandparents who find themselves in a similar situation. Family lawyer Vanessa Lloyd Platt explains the current legal situation and why she believes there should be an amendment to the Children’s Act.Louise Butcher had a double mastectomy in 2022 and has been running topless ever since. She joins Clare to share her story, ahead of her next challenge, the London Marathon.

Spring cleaning is in the air - so whether you’ve woken up with the urge to clear out the ‘drawer of doom’ this Bank Holiday, are feeling too overwhelmed or time poor (or both) to know where to start, or have just decided to ‘bless the mess’, join us as we take a deep dive into decluttering, our relationship to our stuff and the impact clutter can have on our lives. Presenter Nuala McGovern is joined by two of the UK’s leading professional organisers, Ingrid Jansen and Lesley Spellman from The Declutter Hub. They’ll be exploring why it’s our emotions that hold the key to banishing things that no longer serve a purpose in our lives, along with sharing their best advice for conquering clutter. TV presenter, writer and Homes Therapist Michelle Ogundehin takes a break from judging Interior Design Masters to talk to Nuala about the connection between our home and our wellbeing, her personal wardrobe strategy and her love of curated things that tell our story. The Good Housekeeping Decluttering Study has just been published and the magazine’s Homes and Household Advice Editor Katie Mortram tells us what it reveals about our attitudes to clutter and some of our biggest regrets. And we hear about the birth of ‘clutter’, from the Victorian obsession with doilies to the impact of the wartime Make Do and Mend message, with Professor Jane Hamlett, a historian of the home. Have you heard about The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning? We’ll be exploring the philosophy from Margareta Magnusson’s 2018 book, which encourages you to deal with your stuff before you die, so that someone else doesn't have to do it after you've left this earth. Psychotherapist and author Stelios Kiosses, from Channel 4 programme The Hoarder Next Door, also joins us to explore the psychology behind why we hang on to stuff and the difference between hoarding and being a compulsive hoarder. And with all the will in the world, no clear out will succeed without an ’exit plan’. From recycling to selling, we discuss the best ways to pass our things on. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths Editor: Deiniol Buxton

The Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking has issued a "wake-up call" to the world to act on what they deem "one of the most pervasive human rights issues of our time." The report makes several recommendations specifically for women and girls who make up 54% of the estimated 50 million people trapped in slavery around the world. They are more frequently targeted for forced marriage, sexual exploitation, and domestic labour. Nearly one in four victims are children. To discuss the topic Nuala McGovern was joined by the former Prime Minister, Baroness Theresa May and Nasreen Sheikh, who is a survivor of modern slavery.The Irish writer Edna O'Brien died last year at the age of 93. The last person to be granted an interview with her was the documentary maker Sinéad O’Shea. Her new film Blue Road weaves those final interviews with archive and readings from Edna’s own diaries to tell the story of her extraordinary life.For the first time in its 900 year history, girls will be singing in the choir at St Paul’s Cathedral on Easter Sunday. We hear from some of the girl choristers, and Kylie Pentelow speaks to Dr Katherine Hambridge, Associate Professor of Musicology at the University of Durham and Carris Jones, Vicar Choral and Girls' Voices Project Manager at St Paul's Cathedral about the significance of this moment.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Emma Pearce

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni - the first woman to occupy that role - has faced one of her biggest international tests yet. She is the first European leader to go to Washington to meet President Trump since his recent announcement of new tariffs on the EU. So how did Meloni's meeting with Donald Trump go, and how is Giorgia Meloni being seen back home, particularly by Italian women? Kylie Pentelow is joined by Laura Gozzi, Senior News and Foreign Affairs Journalist at the BBC.For the first time in its 900 year history, girls will be singing in the choir at St Paul’s Cathedral on Easter Sunday. We hear from some of the girl choristers, and Kylie speaks to Dr Katherine Hambridge, Associate Professor of Musicology at the University of Durham and Carris Jones, Vicar Choral and Girls' Voices Project Manager at St Paul's Cathedral about the significance of this moment.Eczema is a complex long-term condition involving the immune system, genetics, skin barrier and the environment. 1 in 5 children and 1 in 10 adults have it. With NHS waiting times for dermatology appointments varying widely depending on location - many young women have taken to social media to talk about the condition, their own skin journeys and share photographs. Kylie is joined by two of them, Chloe Tatton and Katie Mackie, who both grew up with eczema; and Dr Tess McPherson, Consultant Dermatologist from the British Association of Dermatologists and the author of Skin Conditions in Young People.In Emma Gannon's new novel Table for One, the main character Willow learns to embrace the benefits of her new-found singledom after years of being in a relationship - and that includes learning to do typical couple activities, like going out for dinner, alone. Emma joins Kylie to discuss this, alongside expert on all things self-care, psychologist Suzy Reading. Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Rebecca Myatt

The UK Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. The decision came following a six-year legal case between the Scottish government and the women's rights group For Women Scotland, regarding equalities legislation. Kylie Pentelow is joined by legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg to discuss this decision.Roblox is the UK’s most popular game platform for children aged eight to 12, but what are the risks? Kylie speaks to Hannah Estcourt, the Associate Director from Revealing Reality about their research into the risks facing young users, and BBC Senior Reporter Graham Fraser explains how the platform works and why some parents have concerns.The Commonwealth, gold-medal-winning, hockey player Tess Howard has long campaigned for hockey players to be able to wear shorts, rather than the traditional skort. She's now officially been honoured with an MBE for her services to inclusive sportswear for women and girls. Stephanie Yeboah is a writer, journalist, and body image advocate. She joins Kylie to discuss her debut romantic comedy novel, Chaotic Energy - a story full of heart, humour, and honesty, following a confident Black woman – Temz - navigating work, love, and social media mishaps. Rising star of classic retro music Georgia Crandon joins Kylie to talk about her music, overcoming social anxiety in the music business, and she performs live in the studio. Presented by Kylie Pentelow Producer: Louise Corley

The UK Supreme Court rules that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. BBC correspondent Catriona Renton joins Nuala to discuss the ramifications of the ruling. Parents of disabled children are being forced to spend thousands of pounds of their own money to plug funding gaps in the health and social care system, according to new research by the disability charity Sense. Nearly half of mums polled have had to give up work as they don't get enough support to care for their child, and many families are turning to loans, credit cards and even crowdfunding to plug the gaps. Nuala is joined by Harriet Edwards, Head of Policy at Sense, and mum-of-three Kimberley Hind. The Irish writer Edna O'Brien died last year at the age of 93. The last person to be granted an interview with her was the documentary director Sinéad O’Shea. Her new film Blue Road weaves those final interviews with archive and readings from Edna’s own diaries to tell the story of her extraordinary life. How does parental infidelity impact children, even years later when they become adults? Juliet Rosenfeld, a psychoanalyst and author of Affairs, and Tanith Carey, parenting expert and author of What's My Tween Thinking, join Nuala to discuss.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Dianne McGregor

The Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking has issued a "wake-up call" to the world to act on what they deem "one of the most pervasive human rights issues of our time." The report makes several recommendations specifically for women and girls who make up 54% of the estimated 50 million people trapped in slavery around the world. They are more frequently targeted for forced marriage, sexual exploitation, and domestic labour. Nearly one in four victims are children. To discuss the topic Nuala McGovern is joined by the former Prime Minister, Baroness Theresa May and Nasreen Sheikh, who is a survivor of modern slavery.As the Six Nations passes the half way mark we speak to fans from each of the four nations to discuss their teams. We also look ahead to their hopes for the Women's Rugby World Cup, being held in England later this summer. Nuala is joined by Kate Buck, Betti Ginnelly, Charlotte Williams and Ailbhe O'Nolan.As a teenager, Roxy Longworth was coerced into sending nude images online. After years of shame and struggling with her mental health, she is now 22 and leading the Behind Our Screens campaign about child safety online. Roxy and her mother Gay, co-authors of the memoir When You Lose It, join Nuala to talk about shame, recovery and bridging the generational gap.And a look at the cultural history of the speculum from Dr Shema Tariq.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Corinna Jones

Hundreds of children were caught up in riots with well over 100 arrested and a number charged last summer after the murder of three children in Southport. Since then far right extremism and racism in schools has intensified - an everyday experience in primary and secondary schools, according to the teachers union, the NASUWT. The top priority at their annual conference next week is a motion on behaviour and school safety with the agenda citing problems caused by the Southport riots. Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT joins Nuala McGovern.Frances Mayli McCann stars as Daisy Buchanan in a new musical of The Great Gatsby. The show comes to London following a hit run on Broadway. We speak to Frances and the show’s writer Kait Kerrigan about placing women at the centre of this classic story, celebrating its centenary year.Julie Bindel’s new book, Lesbians: Where are we now? is described as part-memoir, part frontline reportage and part cultural commentary. In it she examines what defines lesbian culture, love, friendship and happiness today and asks why - in her view - lesbians so often seem to face particular hostility? The journalist, feminist campaigner and author is in the Woman’s Hour studio.Today marks 11 years since over 270 girls were abducted from their school in the town of Chibok, Nigeria by Boko Haram. The tragedy sparked international outrage - you might remember the campaign hashtag #bringbackourgirls - and today, global leaders and advocates including UN representatives are gathering in London to mark the anniversary with a photo exhibition and panel discussions. We hear from Dr Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode - lawyer and activist from the Murtala Muhammed Foundation.The Herring Girls were the predominantly Scottish, working-class women who laboured in the UK’s once thriving fishing industry. An itinerant workforce, they went from port to port, following the fishing fleet and working gruelling hours, gutting and packing fish for export in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Artist and farm labourer Joanne Coates has spent six months researching the life and work of this community on the east coast of Scotland. Using art, photography and performance she wants to reclaim their history and reconnect local people with their Herring Girl heritage.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Varada Sethu joined Woman's Hour to talk about stepping into the iconic role of the Doctor Who companion. She tells Datshiane Navanagayam how she went from a guest star to landing the role of Belinda Chandra, why this character feels like her most personal yet, and what it means to her to bring cultural authenticity to the Tardis. With a background in science, classical dance, and Star Wars fandom, Varada brings a fresh energy to the Whoniverse.Grace Davidson was a teenager when she was diagnosed with a rare condition that meant she did not have a uterus. But, following a transplant using her sister's donated womb, she gave birth earlier this year to baby Amy. Nuala McGovern speaks to Isabel Quiroga, the surgeon who led the transplant team at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford, and to Lydia Brain, who is currently on the waiting list for a womb transplant.Emily MacGregor is a music historian and trombonist. After the sudden death of her father, a jazz guitarist, she found she wasn’t able to bear the sound of music. The very thing that once connected them became a source of pain and silence. In her new book, While the Music Lasts, she explains how she reconnected with her father through the pieces left on his music stand, from tangos to Handel, Cádiz to Coltrane. She joined Nuala to talk about how she learnt to navigate grief and how she discovered the joy of music again.BBC2’s Saving Lives in Cardiff is back on our screens from tonight. Based in the largest hospital in Wales, University Hospital in Cardiff, the series highlights the weight of difficult, sometimes life and death decisions surgeons make about who to prioritise next. The first episode follows Dr Indu Deglurkar, a cardiac surgeon, one of only 19 women in this role in the UK. She tells Nuala about the pressures and joys of her job.Have you been watching The White Lotus? The season three finale aired this week and one of the key themes that's had fans talking has been female friendship. It's left us wondering - is three a crowd? In the show the dynamic plays out between a trio of friends Jaclyn, Kate and Laurie, played by Michelle Monaghan, Leslie Bibb and Carrie Coon, who alternate between loving and loathing one another. So can friendships between three people work? TV critic Rachael Sigee and relationships writer at the Independent Olivia Petter joined Nuala McGovern.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Sarah Jane Griffiths

A new type of drug for one of the most common types of breast cancer is now going to be available in the NHS in England. In Wales, the drug is approved for use but its funding is still to be decided, and the drug hasn't been approved for use in Scotland and Northern Ireland yet. Some 3,000 women a year could benefit after a clinical trial showed it can slow the progression of the disease. Nuala McGovern discusses how the drug works and who could benefit with Dr Liz O'Riordan, a former breast cancer surgeon who herself has had breast cancer and is currently in remission.Emily MacGregor is a music historian and trombonist. After the sudden death of her father, a jazz guitarist, she found she wasn’t able to bear the sound of music. The very thing that once connected them became a source of pain and silence. In her new book, While the Music Lasts, she explains how she reconnected with her father through the pieces left on his music stand, from tangos to Handel, Cádiz to Coltrane. She joins Nuala to talk about how she learnt to navigate grief and how she discovered the joy of music again.Between 2021 and 2022 the number of women having abortions rose by 17%. A recent study in the BMJ reported that, amongst women having abortions, the number of women using hormonal contraception fell from 18.8% in 2018 to 11.3% in 2023. Over the same period, the number of women undergoing abortions who were not using any contraception when they conceived went up by 14%. So are women turning their backs on hormonal contraceptives? Does this change lie with the contraceptives themselves, women’s access to contraception or could there be other factors like the increase in the use of fertility apps? Nuala speaks to Dr Paula Briggs, Consultant in Sexual & Reproductive Health, and journalist Barbara Speed.In 2014, the Church of England passed the necessary laws to allow women to become bishops. For some, this was a controversial decision. In an attempt to smooth that change the five guiding principles were introduced which allowed those who felt unable to accept women’s ministry to flourish within the church. Now WATCH, Women and the Church, are calling for those provisions to be removed. Nuala speaks to Reverend Martine Oborne, Chair of WATCH, and Dr Ros Clarke, Associate Director of Church Society. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Varada Sethu joins Datshiane Navanagayam to talk about stepping into the iconic role of the Doctor Who companion. She shares how she went from a guest star to landing the role of Belinda Chandra, why this character feels like her most personal yet, and what it means to her to bring cultural authenticity to the Tardis. With a background in science, classical dance, and Star Wars fandom, Varada brings a fresh energy to the Whoniverse. To combat the potential exploitation of children on social media content, new safeguarding guidelines around 'child influencers' are being launched next month. Dr Francis Rees, Lecturer in Law at the University of Essex and founder of the child influencer project who has produced the toolkit, joins Datshiane to discuss. In her new memoir Where Angels Fear to Tread, humanitarian aid worker Sally Becker, who risked her life to help wounded children in war zones, recounts her life-saving missions. Sally joins Datshiane to reflect on her experiences and how becoming a mother reshaped her approach to the risks and responsibilities of her work.The ex-partner of a millionaire horse racing tipster who abused women and filmed it has warned someone could die if he is not stopped. Kevin Booth was given a worldwide travel ban after a Scottish civil court heard that he attacked his victims in an underground chamber at his remote Highland home and in foreign hotel rooms. Tammy Conner - who said she was beaten by Booth for four years from the age of 16 - has now decided to speak out in the hope that other women will come forward. Booth has described Tammy's allegations as "laughable" and said he had never been arrested, charged or convicted of domestic violence or abuse. We hear from BBC Scotland news reporter Katie Hunter.

Grace Davidson was a teenager when she was diagnosed with a rare condition that meant she did not have a uterus. But, following a transplant using her sister's donated womb, she gave birth earlier this year to baby Amy. Nuala McGovern speaks to to Isabel Quiroga, the surgeon who led the transplant team at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford, and to Lydia Brain, who is currently on the waiting list for a womb transplant.A recent study into synthetic hair, which many black women use to achieve popular hair styles including braids, found that ten samples of the most well-used brands contained carcinogens, and in some cases, lead. It's provoked a big reaction online. Nuala McGovern is joined by academic and author of Don't Touch My Hair, Emma Dabiri, and also by BBC Correspondent Chelsea Coates.New play Shanghai Dolls explores the relationship between two of the most influential women in Chinese history during the cultural revolution; Jiang Qing (also known as Madame Mao – one of the architects of the Cultural Revolution) and Sun Weishi, China’s first female director. Amy Ng the playwright and Gabby Wong who plays Madame Mao join Nuala in the Woman’s Hour Studio.Set in a quiet 1950s seaside town in a boarding house full of strange characters, Jess Kidd’s new novel Murder at Gull’s Nest is the first in a new series of books. Jess talks to Nuala about the heroine of the series, the fearless former nun Nora Breen, who has left behind her enclosed order of nuns after 30 years to solve crimes.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Laura Northedge

If you've been watching The White Lotus, you might be counting down the hours until the season three finale airs tonight. One of the themes central to this series has been female friendship, and it's left us wondering - is three a crowd? This dynamic plays out in the show between the trio of friends Jaclyn, Kate and Laurie, played by Michelle Monaghan, Leslie Bibb and Carrie Coon, who alternate between loving and loathing one another. So can friendships between three people work? TV critic Rachael Sigee and relationships writer at the Independent Olivia Petter join Nuala McGovern.An investigation for a documentary that will air on BBC1 NorthWest tonight by the BBC's Hayley Hassell asks: How safe are our nurseries? There have been almost 20,000 reports of serious childcare incidents in nurseries in England in the past five years, some with devastating outcomes. Nurseries are highly regulated, so how did some of them mislead Ofsted about their practices?Two years ago, Sudan was thrown into disarray when its army, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and a powerful paramilitary group called Rapid Support Forces, began a vicious struggle for power. The civil war, which continues to this day, has claimed more than 150,000 lives, displaced millions of people and plunged parts of the country into famine. Mass sexual violence has also been widely documented as a weapon of war. Hala al-Karib is a Sudanese activist and regional director of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA). One of the BBC World Service’s 100 Women 2024, she gives us the latest from Sudan.Conceiving Histories: Trying for Pregnancy, Past and Present is a blend of memoir and history, illustrated with over 100 original colour images. More than a decade in the making, its author, Dr Isabel Davis, talks about using frogs for pregnancy tests, phantom pregnancies and the brief fashion for looking pregnant even if you weren’t.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

One manifesto pledge of the incoming Labour government was to provide over 3000 new nurseries in empty school classrooms in England. The first 300 of these will open by September and offer an average of 20 places each. Nuala McGovern speaks to Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education, about this announcement and also about the current state of provision and funding for children with special education needs.Darkly funny, unsettling, and razor-sharp, I Hope You’re Happy by Marni Appleton is a haunting collection of short stories exploring modern womanhood through the lens of horror and satire. From viral photos to eerie performances in dead-end jobs, these stories capture the weirdness of millennial life... where power struggles, fleeting connections, and social media anxieties collide with the surreal. Marni joined Nuala to discuss the themes and her inspiration.A new exhibition called Curious Cures at Cambridge University Library explores medicine in the medieval era. Dozens of unique medical manuscripts, recipes, cures and guides to healthy living from the 14th and 15th centuries are on display. To discuss women’s role in medieval medicine, Nuala was joined by the exhibition’s curator and medieval manuscripts specialist, Dr James Freeman.The Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood believes “prison isn’t working” for women and wants to reduce the number of female prisoners. Nuala speaks to Scarlett Roberts, a former prisoner and is now a Churchill Fellow and to former prisoner Jules Rowan, who co-hosts the Life After Prison podcast. They are joined by former prisoner officer and former Head of Security and Operations at HMP Wormwood Scrubs Vanessa Frake-Harris, and by prison Intelligence Analyst, author of Five by Five, Claire Wilson and Lucy Russell, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the charity Women in Prison. The Neonatal Care Act starts tomorrow. It allows employed parents to take up to 12 weeks of additional leave on top of their maternity or paternity leave if their newborn baby stays in hospital for more than seven days. We hear from Catriona Ogilvy, founder of premature baby charity The Smallest Things, who has been fighting for this law change for 10 years.Echo vom Eierstock is Switzerland’s first feminist yodelling choir. Elena Kaiser is their founder and joined Nuala to discuss where her love of yodelling came from, and why she is challenging the make-up of traditional yodelling choirs and songs.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Emma Pearce

The Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood believes “prison isn’t working” for women and wants to reduce the number of female prisoners. So what has gone wrong? Nuala McGovern speaks to Scarlett Roberts who is a former prisoner and is now a Churchill Fellow and to former prisoner Jules Rowan, now a personal trainer, who co-hosts the Life After Prison podcast. They are joined by former prisoner officer and former Head of Security and Operations at HMP Wormwood Scrubs Vanessa Frake-Harris, and by prison Intelligence Analyst and author of Five by Five, Claire Wilson. And Lucy Russell, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the charity Women in Prison, describes the challenges faced by women in prison today.What can be done to improve the prison system for women? Nuala speaks to justice system reformer Lady Edwina Grosvenor about her pioneering project Hope Street in Southampton, which aims to keep women in criminal justice system out of jail and with their children and to Alex Davies Jones MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice about the Government's plans to tackle the issue of women's prisons.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Laura Northedge

Chinese PHD student Zhenhao Zou was recently convicted for drugging and raping 10 different women in both London and China. Police only managed to identify two of those 10 women, but have just announced that a further 23 women have now come forward with allegations. No victims have given media interviews before but Wanqing Zhang, senior reporter from the BBC’s Global China Unit, has managed to make contact with two of the women.Sally Phillips is the actor, writer, comedian, presenter and disability rights campaigner. Her career includes successful television British comedies such as Smack the Pony, I’m Alan Partridge, and Miranda. And she has recently reprised her role as Shazzer, in the latest Bridget Jones film - Mad About the Boy. She joins Datshiane Navanayagam to talk about her new BBC comedy series, Austin, playing an illustrator married to a much-loved children’s author performed by Ben Miller.Social media influencer Danielle Mansutti says she is suing a Harley Street plastic surgeon after she says she was left with what she describes as overly large breasts and what she says is 'a poor cosmetic appearance'. If you are someone who has an elective cosmetic procedure - how much control can you expect to have over the end result? Marc Pacifico, an aesthetic cosmetic surgeon and President of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, and Ashton Collins, Director of Save Face - a UK-based register of safe, ethical, and qualified medical aesthetic practitioners, discuss.The Neonatal Care Act starts next week. It allows employed parents to take up to 12 weeks of additional leave on top of their maternity or paternity leave if their newborn baby stays in hospital for more than seven days. We hear from Catriona Ogilvy, founder of premature baby charity The Smallest Things, who has been fighting for this law change for 10 years.How much do you worry about the amount of time your child or children spend on their phone or computer? Have you tried to do something to limit access? We were contacted by a concerned listener who has two children aged 12 and 15. She would like tech companies to help support putting restrictions in place. To discuss the dilemma for parents and what parents can do we hear from BBC's technology editor Zoe Kleinman.Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Kirsty Starkey

One manifesto pledge of the incoming Labour government was to provide over 3000 new nurseries in empty school classrooms in England. The first 300 of these will open by September and offer an average of 20 places each. Nuala McGovern speaks to Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education, about this announcement and also about the current state of provision and funding for children with special education needs.The family of a woman who is dangerously ill with anorexia is challenging a previous court decision which ruled she cannot be force fed. The family want the Court of Protection judge to make a new decision which would allow a hospital to act so that her life can be saved. We speak to the woman's aunt, and also hear from MIchelle Wright, who says she was in a similar position, on an end of life programme in a hospice, but who has now been recovered for 15 years and is speaking out for the first time. Plus we hear from law and philosophy academic Dr Camillia Kong who explains what will be considered as the Court makes its decisions in the patient’s ‘best interests’.Over the last few weeks Woman’s Hour has been talking to some of the writers who have been longlisted in the Women’s Prize for Fiction and Non-fiction this year. Well this morning, the shortlist for the fiction prize has just been announced. Nuala is joined by the author and Chair of Judges Kit de Waal.Echo vom Eierstock is Switzerland’s first feminist yodelling choir. Elena Kaiser is their founder and joins Nuala to discuss where her love of yodelling came from, and why she is challenging the make-up of traditional yodelling choirs and songs.

Irish actor Caitríona Balfe was nominated for a Bafta for her performance in Kenneth Branagh’s film Belfast and is also known to many as Claire in time travel drama series Outlander. Caitríona joins Nuala McGovern in the studio to discuss her latest role in new film The Amateur, playing a Russian spy alongside Rami Malek. There has been a "significant increase" in the number of female swimmers having indecent images taken of them in changing rooms whilst competing in the elite level of the sport, according to a leaked report. The Times newspaper has seen a report by the sport’s governing body Swim England which states that pictures have been taken using camera phones over or under cubicles. Nuala is joined by BBC Sport correspondent Laura Scott and Mhairi Maclennan, CEO of Kyniska Advocacy, which supports women and victims of abuse in sport. The latest figures on child maintenance show there is currently £690m unpaid, leaving thousands of children without the financial support they are entitled to. Critics argue that the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is failing to use its legal powers, while the Government says enforcement measures are improving. As an inquiry by the cross-party House of Lords Public Services committee calls for evidence, we look at how unpaid child maintenance can be used as a form of economic abuse. Nuala hears from Sam Smethers, Chair of the charity Surviving Economic Abuse, and a survivor whose ex-partner used the system to control her.A new exhibition called Curious Cures at Cambridge University Library explores medicine in the medieval era. Dozens of unique medical manuscripts, recipes, cures and guides to healthy living from the 14th and 15th centuries are on display. To discuss women’s role in medieval medicine, Nuala is joined by the exhibition’s curator and medieval manuscripts specialist, Dr James Freeman.Grammy award-winning singer Chappell Roan has been causing a stir with some comments she made about motherhood on the podcast Call Her Daddy. The 27-year-old singer said her friends her age who have kids "are in hell", adding "I actually don't know anyone who's happy and has children at this age." So is motherhood worth it - or is Chappell Roan right? Anna Whitehouse, also known as Mother Pukka, is a campaigner and mum of five. She joins us to discuss. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Eid is a celebration of strength and gratitude where Muslims all around the world come together to mark the end of Ramadan. Nuala McGovern is joined by one of the first Muslim headteachers in the country, Bushra Nasir, author & podcaster Shelina Janmohamed and Executive Board Member at the Muslim Council of Wales Jamilla Hekmoun to discuss what roles they have on this day, from acting as the ‘memory markers’ to passing down the rich traditions that keep religious stories and practices alive as well as some of the pressures women can feel at this time. Women across England will be able to get the morning after pill for free from pharmacies from later this year, the Government has said. Emergency contraception is already free of charge from most GPs and sexual health clinics. But ministers say getting it in pharmacies is a "postcode lottery" - with some councils funding free prescriptions, while elsewhere women can pay up to £30. Nuala discusses the plan with Dr Janet Barter, President, Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare.The Government says it's going to create 10,000 new school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities in mainstream schools. Ministers are saying £740 million will be allocated in England over the next three years. It comes as a new report is launched at Westminster today which warns that more and more children are 'losing learning' because their needs are not being met, or they are being suspended or excluded. Nuala discusses the issues and possible solutions with the report's author, Ellie Harris, Aaliyah, a young woman who couldn't attend school due to SEND, and the actress and mother Anna Maxwell Martin and Louise McLeod, the Executive Headteacher of two primary schools in Norfolk.Darkly funny, unsettling, and razor-sharp, I Hope You’re Happy by Marni Appleton is a haunting collection of short stories exploring modern womanhood through the lens of horror and satire. From viral photos to eerie performances in dead-end jobs, these stories capture the weirdness of millennial life... where power struggles, fleeting connections, and social media anxieties collide with the surreal. Marni joins Nuala to discuss the themes and her inspiration.Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

In the documentary Growing up Gypsy, Stacey Dooley gets to know three young English Romany Gypsy women. Invited into the traditionally private community, Stacey discovers the complex balancing act the young women face growing up in one of Britain’s most maligned ethnic minorities. She meets 23 year old Chantelle who prides herself in keeping with the ‘old’ Gypsy values her granny Rita taught her and shares her ‘Gypsy Cleaning’ videos on social media where she has nearly 400,000 followers on TikTok and 15 million likes on her page. Chantelle joined Kylie Pentelow to talk about her life, alongside Stacey Dooley.In this week’s Women’s Prize discussion, Clare McDonnell heard from two authors about the debut books they’ve had long-listed for this year’s prestigious literary prize. Sanam Mahloudji’s novel, The Persians, tells the story of the Valiat family from the perspective of five women from 1940s Iran into a splintered 2000s. And Labour MP Yuan Yang’s non-fiction book, Private Revolutions, explores the lives of four women born in China in the 1980s and 90s during a time of rapid change in society.Since its release, the Netflix TV series Adolescence has caused widespread discussion about what’s shaping our teenagers’ lives. The four-part series follows the fallout from 13-year-old Jamie’s arrest on suspicion of murdering his female classmate, Katie. The show is a critique of social media-boosted toxic masculinity and its role in the teenage experience. Clare discussed the issues with clinical psychologist, Dr Amani Milligan and Consultant Forensic Psychologist, Dr Ruth Tully.Do you enjoy a bit of gossip? The thrill of being the first to hear something and sharing it, or the irresistible urge to be let into the lives of others? What’s the difference between idle gossip and hurtful criticism behind someone’s back, do women gossip as much as men and can gossip be used to keep women safe? American journalist Kelsey McKinney joined Clare to discuss her new book, You Didn't Hear This From Me: Notes on the Art of Gossip.Technology journalist and author Lara Lewington asks how artificial intelligence can improve women’s health, and what we are ready for it to do for us? From prevention and diagnostics to testing and tracking, we speak to female experts, scientists and practitioners. Her experts include Madhumita Murgia, AI Editor of the Financial Times, Nell Thornton, Improvement Fellow, The Health Foundation and Dr Ellie Cannon, a GP and author.This week we heard how victims and survivors of domestic abuse want the police to better protect them from perpetrators, but there's also a very practical and positive way some women have been trying to process their trauma to build a future for themselves. British boxer Lesley Sackey - who previously won gold at the EU Championships - is a survivor of an abusive relationship and now helps other women to gain confidence and move forward by getting into the boxing ring. She joined Claire, along with Olivia Culverhouse, who took part in Lesley’s 10-week Fight Forward course.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Sarah Crawley

In the documentary Growing up Gypsy Stacey Dooley gets to know three young English Romany Gypsy women. Invited into the traditionally private community, Stacey discovers the complex balancing act the young women face growing up in one of Britain’s most maligned ethnic minorities. She meets 23 year old Chantelle who prides herself in keeping with the ‘old’ Gypsy values her granny Rita taught her and shares her ‘Gypsy Cleaning’ videos on social media where she has nearly 400,000 followers on TikTok and 15 million likes on her page. Chantelle joins Kylie Pentelow to talk about her life, alongside Stacey Dooley.If you've been in a pub you might have seen the posters which tells you to Ask for Angela at the bar if you feel unsafe. In response to hearing the word "Angela", trained staff should offer to help you leave the property safely. The national scheme was set up in 2016 to help anyone who is feeling vulnerable on a night out to get the support they need. It was named after Angela Crompton, who was killed by her husband in 2012. Her name becoming the codeword. However, recent BBC secret filming revealed that more than half of venues visited failed to respond correctly, with many staff members completely unaware of what to do. Angela's daughter Hollie explains why she is calling for government action to ensure it is implemented properly.The Oscar-nominated actor Lily Gladstone is the first Native American woman to be nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award – and the first indigenous woman to win a Best Actress Golden Globe, both for her role as Mollie Burkhart in Killers of the Flower Moon. Now she's starring in the romantic comedy The Wedding Banquet. Lily explains her character's journey through IVF, how she chooses roles and the responsibility she feels in representing her community.In the 1970s, British sociologist, Professor Ann Oakley, led a ground-breaking project called Becoming a Mother. She spoke to over 50 first-time mothers before and after they gave birth. What she found reshaped how we think about motherhood and started a sea-change in practice and policy around maternity care. Now a new project takes that legacy forward. It’s called 50 Years of Becoming a Mother and is led by Professor Ann Oakley and Dr Charlotte Faircloth at the UCL Social Research Institute. They will revisit the original mothers, and study 55 new mothers, to understand how women’s experiences of motherhood have changed over the last 5 decades.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Kirsty Starkey Editor: Karen Dalziel

Technology journalist and author Lara Lewington asks how artificial intelligence can improve women’s health, and what we are ready for it to do for us? From prevention and diagnostics to testing and tracking, we speak to female experts, scientists and practitioners.Contributors: Madhumita Murgia, AI Editor of the Financial Times Nell Thornton, Improvement Fellow, The Health Foundation Dr Ellie Cannon, GP and author Dr Jodie Avery, Program manager, IMAGENDO Meriem Sefta, Chief Diagnostics Officer, Owkin AI Marina Pavlovic Rivas, Co-founder & CEO of Eli Health Dr Lindsay Browning – Sleep expert and chartered psychologist Producer: Sarah Crawley

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is due to make further cuts to welfare benefits and government departments when she speaks in Parliament later. The government already announced big welfare spending reductions last week - but the Chancellor's been told by the Office For Budget Responsibility her reforms to the system won't save as much as planned. Now dozens of women’s organisations have written to Rachel Reeves urging her rethink plans for disability benefit cuts over fears it will remove a 'vital lifeline' for victims of abuse. Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson Director of the Women's Budget Group and Angie Airlie, Chief Executive of Stay Safe East speak to Clare McDonnell.In this week’s Women’s Prize discussion, Clare hears from two authors about the debut books they’ve had long-listed for this year’s prestigious literary prize. Sanam Mahloudji’s novel, The Persians, tells the story of the Valiat family from the perspective of five women from 1940s Iran into a splintered 2000s. And Labour MP Yuan Yang’s non-fiction book, Private Revolutions, explores the lives of four women born in China in the 1980s and 90s during a time of rapid change in society. It's emerged that an NHS trust criticised over the avoidable death of a baby was paid £2m for providing good maternity care. It's the latest in a series of developments and failings which have led to calls for a national inquiry into maternity care. It’s alleged that hospital trusts are failing to learn from past mistakes and failing to implement improvement recommendations. The BBC’s Social Affairs Correspondent Michael Buchanan tells Clare what grieving parents want to happen.Do you enjoy a bit of gossip? The thrill of being the first to hear something and sharing it, or the irresistible urge to be let into the lives of others? What’s the difference between idle gossip and hurtful criticism behind someone’s back, do women gossip as much as men and can gossip be used to keep women safe? American journalist Kelsey McKinney joins Clare from the US to discuss her new book, You Didn't Hear This From Me: Notes on the Art of Gossip.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Claire Fox

Deaths by suicide among victims of domestic abuse in England and Wales have overtaken the number of people killed by an intimate partner, for a second year in a row. The figures are revealed in the annual national police report on domestic homicides published today, although police chiefs say the increase is due to improvements in recording, rather than a rise in the number of such cases. They've also said more perpetrators will be charged with manslaughter following their victims' deaths in future. Clare McDonnell talks to Phyllis Daly, whose daughter Jessica Laverack was 34 when she took her own life in 2018, and Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, Chair of the domestic violence charity Refuge. Amber Anning made history when just a few days ago she fought off a mid-race shove from her chief rival to become Great Britain's first ever women's 400m champion at the World Athletics Indoor Championships. She joins us to talk about her experience in Nanjing in China, and such a promising start to her professional career. We look at how the gig economy is impacting migrant women working in the UK, especially those in Ecommerce and social care. Clare's joined by director Laura Carriera, whose award-winning film On Falling explores the loneliness of a young Portuguese woman working as a picker in an online retailer's warehouse. We also hear from Dr Dora Olivia Vicol, Chief Executive of the Work Rights Centre, a charity supporting migrant workers, and ‘Rose’ - who came to the UK to work in the care sector - shares her experience of being exploited and threatened by her employers. The race for the next UN Secretary-General - who will be appointed for five years in 2026 - has begun. Campaigners are fighting for a more transparent, fair and inclusive process to elect the world’s top civil servant, and are demanding that the appointee finally be a woman. We hear from two of the people who are part of the push to make this happen - Maria Noel Leoni, Director of the GQUAL Campaign and Susana Malcorra, co-founder and President of Global Women Leaders Voices - about how the process works and why a woman has not been elected in the UN's 80-year history. Earlier we heard how victims and survivors of domestic abuse want the police to better protect them from perpetrators, but there's also a very practical and positive way some women have been trying to process their trauma to build a future for themselves. British boxer Lesley Sackey - who previously won gold at the EU Championships - is a survivor of an abusive relationship and now helps other women to gain confidence and move forward by getting into the boxing ring. She joins us along with Olivia Culverhouse, who took part in Lesley’s 10-week Fight Forward course last year. Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Last night saw the fifth night of fierce protests across Turkey, after the main rival politician to the country's President Erdogan, was formally arrested and charged with corruption, having been detained on Wednesday. Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, has been declared as the CHP - the Republican People's Party's 2028 presidential nominee - in the last few hours. Women are being seen on the streets in their thousands and Imamoglu's wife, Dilek Kaya Imamoglu, addressed crowds outside of the Istanbul city hall yesterday. Clare McDonnell discusses the situation with the BBC's Emily Wither and Feride Eralp, a feminist activist in Turkey.Since its release, the Netflix TV series Adolescence has caused widespread discussion about what’s shaping our teenagers’ lives. The four-part series follows the fallout from 13-year-old Jamie’s arrest on suspicion of murdering his female classmate, Katie. The show is a critique of social media-boosted toxic masculinity and its role in the teenage experience. Clare discusses the issues with clinical psychologist, Dr Amani Milligan and Consultant Forensic Psychologist, Dr Ruth Tully.The National Crime Agency has launched a month-long social media campaign to combat the threat posed to teenage boys (15-17 years old) by financially motivated sexual extortion or ‘sextortion’. Marie Smith from the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Emma Hardy from Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) explain why this campaign is so urgent. Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the UK 1970-1990 is a landmark exhibition currently on at the Whitworth in Manchester featuring more than 90 women artists and collectives whose ideas helped fuel the women’s liberation movement during a period of significant social, economic and political change. Clare is joined by Linsey Young, independent curator and researcher who curated the exhibition when she worked at Tate Britain, and Amrita Dhallu, also herself a curator.Presented by Clare McDonnell Producer: Louise Corley

The Sugababes started their music career together in 1998 but, after Siobhán left the band in 2001, it wasn't until 2019 that Mutya, Keisha and Siobhán came back together as the Sugababes. All three members joined Nuala McGovern to celebrate the release of their brand new single, Jungle, and their biggest ever UK and Ireland tour.Five years on from the first Covid lockdown, what can be done to support the 200,000 ‘Lockdown babies’ born when lockdown was at its most restrictive, between 23 March and 4 July 2020? Nuala was joined by Nicola Botting, Professor of Developmental Disorders at City St George’s, University of London, Jane Harris, CEO of Speech and Language UK, and mum of three, Frankie Eshun.Broadcaster June Sarpong co-founded the Women Inspiration and Enterprise Network and in 2019 was appointed the first BBC Director of Creative Diversity. She joined Nuala to discuss her biography of Una Marson, the poet, playwright, feminist and activist who made history as the first black female broadcaster at the BBC.A new book Abortion – A History, gives the long view of ending pregnancy. From ancient Greece to Roe v Wade, Mary Fissell charts changing practices of and attitudes towards abortion. She joined Nuala in the Woman’s Hour studio to explain why she wrote the book and what she has learned.Work has started on a home extension and renovation that is being built and designed entirely by women. In an industry facing huge labour shortages, women remain a minority in construction, only making up 15% of the industry and only 1% of those in manual, skilled roles. Nuala was joined by the project's lead, Kat Parsons and builder, Yas Poole.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Laura Northedge

Long before they can speak, babies are brilliant communicators and all that those who care for them have to do is to listen to them, to be curious about them and to be ready to discover who they are, and everything else will fall into place. That's what child psychotherapist and mother of four Marie Derome has written about in her book for new parents - What Your Baby Wants You To Know. She joins Nuala McGovern.Kirsty Coventry has been elected as the first female and African president of the International Olympic Committee. She beat six male candidates including Britain’s Sebastian Coe. The 41-year-old former swimmer will replace Thomas Bach on the 23 June and will be the youngest president in the organisation's 130-year history. The BBC's Sport Editor Dan Roan tells us more.We’re hearing more misogynistic lyrics in music, and some of it is from female artists themselves. Is this a good way to reclaim the language or is it women being derogatory about themselves? India McTaggart, entertainment correspondent at The Telegraph, discusses.Santosh, which was the UK’s official entry into the Oscar’s International Feature Film category for 2025, is set to be released in UK cinemas on 21 March. The Hindi language film follows the title character who, through a government scheme, takes on her deceased husband’s role as a police officer in North India and is quickly embroiled in the murder investigation of a young girl. The film was written and directed by documentarian Sandhya Suri in her narrative feature film debut and she received a Bafta nomination for her efforts. Sandhya is in the Woman's Hour studio to discuss the film.Work has started on a home extension and renovation that is being built and designed entirely by women. In an industry facing huge labour shortages, women remain a minority in construction, only making up 15% of the industry, and only 1% of those in manual, skilled roles. We hear from the project's lead, Kat Parsons and builder, Yas Poole.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey Editor: Karen Dalziel

Disabled women in the UK face significant barriers in maternity care, with new research highlighting higher risks of stillbirth, lack of support, and negative attitudes of staff. Labour MP Marie Tidball is camplaigning for change. She joins Kylie Pentelow to describe her own experience, along with Professor Hannah Kuper, one of the researchers behind the report, who details her findings. The Advertising Standards Authority has recently banned a number of ads in mobile games which objectify women, use pornographic tropes, and feature non-consensual sexual scenarios. It's not what you expect to see popping up when playing your favourite mobile game. Kylie hears more from Jessica Tye, Regulatory Projects Manager at the ASA, who led the investigation.Nursery costs have fallen for the first time in 15 years - according to the children's charity Coram. This comes as the Government is continuing to roll out its funded childcare scheme, which will provide all eligible working parents of pre-school children with 30 hours of childcare per week from September 2025. But while some parents have seen a reduction in fees, many with children or grandchildren will be aware of the challenging costs of childcare. Are costs really falling? Can you get a nursery place? Kylie discusses the picture with BBC Education Correspondent Vanessa Clarke, Neil Leitch, Chief Executive of the Early Years Alliance, and nursery owner, Claire Kenyon.Julia Grogan's debut play Playfight was the breakout hit of last year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It earned five-star reviews, sell-out audiences – and even praise from Phoebe Waller Bridge, who called it ‘a blinding sucker-punch of a play’. The very funny and very frank play about three young women navigating sex, porn and friendship is now touring the UK, and Julia joins Kylie to discuss.Presented by Kylie Pentelow Producer: Louise Corley

Broadcaster June Sarpong co-founded the Women Inspiration and Enterprise Network, and in 2019 was appointed the first BBC Director of Creative Diversity. She joins Nuala McGovern to discuss championing inclusion, and why she has just published a biography of Una Marson, the poet, playwright, feminist and activist who made history as the first black female broadcaster at the BBC.Yesterday the government revealed its plans for disability benefit reforms. Reactions to the proposals have varied but Carers UK says it's very concerned about how the ideas could hit unpaid carers who are predominantly women. The charity's Director of Policy and Public Affairs Emily Holzhausen tells Nuala why, and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, former Paralympic athlete and crossbench peer talks about the possibility that she might lose PIP (Personal Independence Payment) under the new rules now out for consultation.Last night, Real Madrid beat Arsenal 2-0 in the Women's Championship League quarter final in Spain, but commentators have been mainly discussing the standard of the ground they played on, with former Arsenal footballer and pundit Ian Wright calling the surface a 'disgrace'. Nuala talks to Fiona Tomas, women's sports reporter at the Telegraph.Cécile Ndjebet is a Cameroonian environmental activist and social forester. She co-founded the African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests and campaigns for the involvement of women in forest management and their right to forested land. Tonight Cécile will receive the Kew International Medal 2025 and she joins Nuala in the studio.A new film War Paint: Women at War examines the trailblazing role of women war artists on the front lines round the world, championing the female perspective on conflict through art and asking: when it's life or death, what do women see that men don't? Nuala speaks to Margy Kinmonth, the director.

The Sugababes started their music career together in 1998 but, after Siobhán left the band in 2001, it wasn't until 2019 that Mutya, Keisha and Siobhán came back together as the Sugababes. All three members join Nuala McGovern to celebrate the release of their brand new single, Jungle, just as they get ready for their biggest ever UK and Ireland tour – which kicks off in Leeds next month. To mark the 30th anniversary of The Women’s Prize, Woman’s Hour is hearing from writers who have been longlisted in fiction and non-fiction this year, along with previous winners. Today Nuala talks to 2025 longlisted non-fiction author Kate Summerscale about her book The Peepshow: The Murders at 10 Rillington Place, and to Kamila Shamsie, whose novel Home Fire won the 2018 Women’s Prize for Fiction. Both books examine crime and punishment, and what happens when politicians and the media become involved in criminal justice.A new book Abortion – A History, gives the long view of ending pregnancy. From ancient Greece to Roe v Wade, Mary Fissell charts changing practices of and attitudes towards abortion. Mary, who is Professor in the History of Medicine at John Hopkins University in the US, joins Nuala in the Woman’s Hour studio to explain why she wrote the book and what she has learned. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Laura Northedge

Five years on from the first Covid lockdown, what can be done to support the 200,000 ‘Lockdown babies’ born when lockdown was at its most restrictive, between 23 March and 4 July 2020? These babies have extraordinary young-life stories: Mums giving birth alone; doctors in hazmat suits; babies meeting fathers and grandparents for the first time online; no health visitors; no family cuddles; no baby groups. Now aged four and approaching five, lockdown seems to have had lasting effects on some. What can be done to help? Nuala McGovern is joined by Nicola Botting, Professor of Developmental Disorders at City St George’s, University of London and co-lead on The Born in Covid Year – Core Lockdown Effects (BICYCLE) study, Jane Harris, CEO of Speech and Language UK, and mum of three, Frankie Eshun.Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding died of breast cancer in 2021 at the age of 39. Inspired by her desire to find new ways of spotting the disease earlier, the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment in Young Women (BCAN-RAY) study was set up in May 2023. Led by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust with funding from the Christie Charity, Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal, and other charities, it is one of the world's first research programmes to identify breast cancer risks in younger women without a family history of the disease. Nuala speaks to Anna Housley, who has taken part in the study.Nuala talks to Emma van Straaten, whose 10,000 word entry, This Immaculate Body, won the inaugural Women’s Prize Discoveries in 2021, an award set up to inspire unagented and unpublished women in the UK and Ireland to write their first novels. That submission is now a published book - It is about Alice, who has been cleaning Tom’s flat for over a year, and becomes infatuated with him, a man she has never met.A new TV series, Chess Masters, started last week on BBC2. It’s badged as Bake Off with kings and queens. Camilla Lewis, the woman behind the new show, was inspired to create it by her teenage daughter, Jasmine, who became obsessed with the game during lockdown. They join Nuala to talk about how to turn a board game into must-watch television.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Do you have a business idea that you would realise, if only you had the time? Sara Davies firmly believes we’re all capable of creating a successful business from scratch, in just six minutes a week. The Dragon’s Den star set up Crafter's Companion while she was still a student and has since built it into a multi-million pound business. Now she’s sharing what she’s learned in her new book – The Six Minute Entrepreneur: 52 Short Lessons for Long-term Business Success.This week the owner of a Welsh Rugby club put up a social media post to promote an upcoming match against a local rival, featuring the words "Not For Girls" stamped across the top. He didn't expect the post would get more than a quarter of a million views, generate outrage and condemnation and become national news. Matthew Young from Neath Rugby Football Club talks exclusively to Nuala McGovern along with sports broadcaster, Stella Mills, one of the first people to see the post and comment.The holy month of Ramadan is underway, which means millions of Muslims around the world are fasting, no food or drink from dawn until dusk - not even water. But for those with current, or past eating disorders, this period of fasting can bring challenges. So, how can they be best supported? Kylie Pentelow talks to fitness trainer Nazia Khatun, who has struggled with anorexia and bulimia in the past, and counselling psychologist, Dr Omara Naseem, who specialises in eating disorders.Inside Counter Terrorism Policing is a new podcast featuring five women working in a range of roles across the UK, who have shared their story with the aim of inspiring others to consider a career in national security and policing. We hear from Vicki Evans, Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing for the UK, and an officer we are calling ‘Emma’, who will explain the challenges of her role as a handler of covert sources.Frankie Bridge has hit out at "double standards" for women after she received a backlash online for going on holiday without her children. The Loose Women presenter was called "the worst wife and mother" in comments on her social media post, after she took a break with a friend following health struggles, while her husband and mother were looking after her two sons. She joined Nuala, along with parenting coach Camilla McGill.The Grammy award-winning Lainey Wilson is a country music trailblazer, with seven Country Music Association Awards and six Academy of Country Music Awards to her name. Her latest album, Whirlwind, earned a Grammy nomination and she is currently on a world tour promoting the album. Ahead of headlining this weekend's Country to Country Festival at the O2 in London she joined Nuala to discuss why she thinks country is cool again.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Sarah Jane Griffiths

The Grammy award-winning Lainey Wilson is a country music trailblazer. She has made her way from Hannah Montana impersonator to performing at the Grand Ole Opry and she's been awarded seven Country Music Association Awards, including Entertainer of the Year in 2023 and six Academy of Country Music Awards. As a prolific songwriter she’s scored seven No. 1 hits including: Watermelon Moonshine and Heart Like A Truck. Her latest album, Whirlwind, earned a Grammy nomination and she is currently on a world tour promoting the album. She will be headlining at the Country to Country Festival at the O2 in London this weekend. She joins Nuala McGovern to discuss why she thinks country is cool again.In 2021, the Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the Grand National in the 182-year history of the race. The first woman to be leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival with six victories, including the Champion Hurdle, and the following year she became the first female jockey to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Yesterday, she continued to make history winning the Stayers' Hurdle aboard Bob Olinger to complete a Cheltenham Festival double. All the more remarkable as she was sidelined for three months with a neck injury after a fall in September. We speak to Fern Buckley, BBC sports journalist, ahead of Blackmore's participation in Friday afternoon's Gold Cup race.In Bangladesh, there's been shocking news that an eight-year-old girl who was raped last week, has died from her injuries. Fierce protests have erupted in the country following the girl's death yesterday with people demanding that the government expedite justice for rape victims and reform laws related to women and children's safety. We hear from the BBC's South Asia Correspondent Samira Hussain who is based in Delhi, India.In the next of our Women’s Prize discussions, we hear from Clare Mulley on her book charting the life of Agent Zo – a courageous Polish female resistance fighter in World War Two, and VV Ganeshananthan about her novel Brotherless Night set during the Sri Lankan Civil War – winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction last year. What can these writers in very different genres tell us about the experience of women in war?Catherine Cox from Nottingham was one of thousands of women who took the epilepsy drug sodium valproate while pregnant, something which is now advised against. She’s been campaigning for compensation for more than 20 years. Her son Matthew, who’s now 23, was born with a range of conditions, including autism, ADHD, epilepsy and several learning disabilities. At 18 months old, he was diagnosed with foetal valproate syndrome, indicating the medication Catherine took was the cause of his problems. Catherine joins Nuala alongside Dr Henrietta Hughes, Patient Safety Commissioner, whose report, released just over a year ago, recommended the need to compensate those harmed by valproate.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey Editor: Karen Dalziel

The first daily pill for treating endometriosis symptoms has been approved for use on the NHS in England - but only for patients who have tried all other options. Endometriosis affects 1.5 million women in the UK. Kylie Pentelow is joined by Emma Cox, Chief Executive of Endometriosis UK, and Emma Collier, who was diagnosed with endometriosis aged 18, to discuss what this could mean for women.Sister Midnight is a new, Bafta-nominated, Hindi-language film that looks at what it's like to be a misfit. This dark comedy follows an oddball couple thrown into a newly arranged marriage in a small Mumbai shack. Indian actor and Bollywood star, Radhika Apte plays Uma, one half of the couple, who does her best to cope with her new role as a housewife in the heat of Mumbai. Radhika joins Kylie in the Woman's Hour studio.The holy month of Ramadan is underway, which means millions of Muslims around the world are fasting, no food or drink from dawn until dusk - not even water. At the end of each day, friends and families celebrate the breaking of the fast with a meal together. But for those with current, or past eating disorders, this period of fasting can bring challenges. So, how can they be best supported during Ramadan? Kylie talks to fitness trainer Nazia Khatun, who has struggled with anorexia and bulimia in the past, and counselling psychologist, Dr Omara Naseem, who specialises in eating disorders.Journalist and broadcaster Julia Raeside has just published her debut novel, Don't Make Me Laugh. Looking at the world of stand-up comedy often dominated by men - it's described as celebrating women who speak truth to power, find solidarity with each other and then decide to fight back. Julia explains to Kylie why she chose to focus on the world of comedy for her first foray into fiction.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Melanie Abbott

The government has said it supports bereavement leave for couples who experience a miscarriage before 24 weeks gestation. Business Minister Justin Madders told MPs he "fully accepts" the principle of bereavement leave for pregnancy loss and promised to look at adding the right to the Employment Rights Bill. Nuala discusses the issues with national baby loss campaigner and founder of George’s Law Keeley Lengthorn and the BBC's Employment Correspondent Zoe Conway.A couple of days ago the owner of a Welsh Rugby club put up a social media post to promote an upcoming match against a local rival. He hoped a few thousand people would maybe ‘like’ it and ‘share’ it and some would come along to watch the match. What he didn’t expect was that the post would get more than a quarter of a million views, generate outrage and condemnation and become national news. Accompanying the text was an image of rugby players, with the words, ‘Not For Girls’ stamped across the top. Nuala discusses the idea behind the tweet and the reaction with Matthew Young from Neath Rugby Football Club and the sports broadcaster, Stella Mills, one of the first people to see the post and comment. Yesterday the Education Committee heard evidence from professional membership organisations, charities and young people with lived experience of the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, as part of its inquiry into solving the SEND crisis. One teenager invited to address the committee was 17-year-old Katie. Katie is autistic and was a member of the panel for Woman’s Hour’s SEND: Mums Bridging the Gap programme that was broadcast in September 2024. Katie, her mother Ruth Nellist and Helen Hayes MP, Chair of the SEND Education Committee all join Nuala to discuss the committee’s work so far and the importance of the cross-party MPs who make up the committee hearing the experiences of children and young people with SEND.Have you heard of the ‘Attagirls’? They were pioneering women pilots who flew RAF planes throughout the country during World War Two, and achieved equal pay in 1943, but their work as part of the Air Transport Auxiliary has often been overlooked. A new play ‘Spitfire Girls’ is inspired by the true stories of these women. Nuala speaks to cast members Katherine Senior and Laura Matthews to find out more about what it was like for women pilots and why it’s important to celebrate their stories.Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

Do you have a business idea that you would realise, if only you had the time? Sara Davies firmly believes we’re all capable of creating a successful business from scratch, in just six minutes a week. The Dragon’s Den star set up Crafter's Companion while she was still a student and has since built it into a multi-million pound business. Now she’s sharing what she’s learned in her new book – The Six Minute Entrepreneur: 52 short lessons for long-term business success.Frankie Bridge has hit out at ‘double standards’ for women after she received a backlash online for going on holiday without her children. The Loose Women presenter was called ‘the worst wife and mother’ in comments on her social media post, after she took a break with her friend following health struggles. Her husband and mother were looking after her two sons. She joins Nuala, along with parenting coach Camilla McGill. Women prescribed drugs for movement disorders such as Restless Leg Syndrome are not being warned by doctors about serious side effects which have turned them into sex and gambling addicts – according to a BBC investigation. These women say these drugs were so powerful that they changed their behaviour entirely and ruined their lives. BBC News Investigations correspondent Noel Titheradge joins Nuala, along with a woman we are calling Lucy who developed three serious addictions while on the drugs, and professor of neuropsychiatry at Cambridge University, Valerie Voon.Hilary Brown was ABC News’s first female foreign correspondent. She was one of the first women to be posted to war zones at a time where many women were just entering the workplace for the first time. Nuala talks to her about her life and career. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

It's been reported that more than 1,000 Syrians have been killed in the past few days in clashes between security forces and loyalists of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, and revenge killings that followed. Syria's interim leader has appealed for unity, and hundreds of people have reportedly fled their homes in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus - strongholds of Assad support. Witnesses have described scenes of looting and mass killings, including of women and children. Nuala McGovern is joined by the BBC’s Middle East Correspondent Lina Sinjab in Damascus.Inside Counter Terrorism Policing is a new podcast featuring five women working in a range of roles across the UK who have shared their story with the aim of inspiring others to consider a career in national security and policing. We hear from Vicki Evans, Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing for the UK, and an officer we are calling ‘Emma’, who will explain the challenges of her role as a handler of covert sources.If you've been to Dublin - you might have across the statue to Molly Malone, the very famous Dubliner. You might know the song Cockles and Mussels, which commemorates her. Busker Tilly Cripwell has been campaigning for her to be treated with more respect and to be elevated to stop passers by from groping her breasts - for 'good luck' - a 'tradition' for some.In 1975, Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei became the first woman to reach the top of Mount Everest, battling through avalanches, altitude sickness and the changing elements. Since then, over 800 women have climbed Everest, yet they still only make up an estimated 12% of all climbers to tackle the mountain. Rebecca Stephens is the first British woman to summit Everest and tells us more about Junko.Have you been watching Toxic Town? The Netflix series tells the story of a town’s toxic waste case. It follows the real-life battle of families in Corby who gave birth to children with limb differences in the 1980s and 1990s and their search for answers and justice. In 2009, after a long legal battle the High Court ruled Corby Borough Council was negligent in managing the waste. And in 2010 families affected won a financial settlement. Nuala speaks to Tracey Taylor, one of the mothers portrayed in the series, and Annabel Jones, one of the executive producers.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Twiggy turned the modelling world upside down with her androgynous style, big round eyes, bold eyelashes, and pixie haircut, becoming a defining figure and fashion icon of the swinging 60s. Considered the world’s first supermodel, she went on to have a successful career in acting and singing, earning two Golden Globes and a Tony nomination, designed fashion ranges, appeared as a judge on America’s Next Top Model, and was awarded a damehood for services to the fashion, arts and charity. A new documentary, Twiggy, directed by Sadie Frost, is out in cinemas now. Twiggy joined Krupa Padhy to talk about her long career.Kyle Clifford was found guilty of raping his ex-girlfriend in an attack in which he murdered her, her mother and her sister. Louise, Hannah and Carol Hunt were murdered two weeks after Louise ended her relationship with him. It has been revealed that prosecutors said "violent misogyny" promoted by social media influencer Andrew Tate "fuelled" his attacks. However, the defence argued this material had too vague a link and was far too prejudicial to be heard by the jury. As we hear this news, concerns rise again about the influence of people like self-described misogynist Andrew Tate, and there are calls for his content to be taken down. Anita was joined by Michael Conroy, founder of Men at Work, which works with teachers and boys in schools to challenge sexist and misogynistic content online and Laura Bates, founder of the Everyday Sexism project who campaigns for gender equality to discuss how we can protect our children from, especially boys, from this.Journalist and disability activist Lucy Edwards has just published her debut fiction book, Ella Jones vs the Sun Stealer, a mystery aimed at younger readers. It tells the story of 12-year-old Ella Jones who has been blind for two years and is navigating her new world with the help of her guide dog Maisie, her sister Poppy and her best friend Finn. She joined Krupa to talk about the book and her experiences sharing her own story online.We discuss the extraordinary story of how and why an autistic woman was locked up in a mental health hospital for 45 years. For 25 of those she was in long term segregation. Nuala McGovern talked to reporter Carolyn Atkinson about how the woman was eventually freed and to campaigner Alexis Quinn who is autistic and spent three years in a mental health hospital including time in segregation before she escaped. She now campaigns for the Restraint Reduction Network charity about the more than 2,000 other autistic people and or those with learning disabilities who are still in mental health hospitals, many of whom shouldn’t be. In May 2015, 20 year-old Mhairi Black was the youngest person for more than a century to become a Member of Parliament – and she then remained a Westminster MP until standing down at the 2024 election. A new BBC documentary follows her last six months in that role and looks at what her future could hold in a new career as a stand-up comedian. Now 30, she joined Anita Rani to reflect on her years in Parliament and what she’d like to see change about the way it functions.Nieve Ella is currently on tour, playing to packed venues and solidifying her place as a rising star in indie music. With a distinctive online presence and an ever-growing fanbase, she’s proving that Gen Z artists are reshaping the industry on their own terms. Nieve performed the track Sweet Nothings with Finn Marlow. Presenter: Anita Rani

In May 2015, 20 year-old Mhairi Black was the youngest person for more than a century to become a Member of Parliament – and she then remained a Westminster MP until standing down at the 2024 election. A new BBC documentary follows her last six months in that role and looks at what her future could hold in a new career as a stand-up comedian. Now 30, she joins Anita Rani to reflect on her years in Parliament and what she’d like to see change about the way it functions.The Women’s Prize was founded thirty years ago and this year Woman’s Hour will be talking to longlisted writers along with previous winners. In our first discussion Anita is joined by Helen Castor, longlisted in the non-fiction category for 'The Eagle and the Hart', a psychologically gripping account of King Richard II and King Henry IV, and by Rosanna Pike, longlisted for her novel 'A Little Trickerie', which is set in 1500 and tells the story of an orphaned girl who attempts an audacious hoax.Today at the Royal Albert Hall, Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price will be the first female headliners to box in what will be the venue’s first all-female card. Jonas, an experienced fighter, is taking on Price, a rising star who has never lost a round as a pro. With world titles on the line, British sports journalist and presenter Anna Woolhouse joins us to discuss a huge moment in British women’s boxing, which emphasises the progress of women in the sport.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Laura Northedge

A video made and posted by Stranger Things actor Millie Bobby Brown has gone viral. In it she criticises the recent press articles about her appearance, saying "this isn't journalism, this is bullying". The 21-year-old posted a three-minute monologue on her Instagram page, in which she called out article headlines and the names of the reporters who wrote them. Anita Rani is joined by Anita Bhagwandas, beauty journalist and author of Ugly, Olivia Petter, journalist with the Independent and Morgan Fargo, Beauty and Wellness Editor British Vogue to talk about the impact of Millie calling this behaviour out.Today the General Medical Council has announced that for the first time since their records began, women doctors practising medicine in the UK are greater in number than their male counterparts in the UK. It is an historic moment, but the announcement also acknowledges that women are more likely to be affected by discriminatory behaviour during their medical training and some specialisms still have relatively low numbers of women. To discuss the challenges faced by women doctors, Anita is joined by Professor Dame Carrie MacEwan, a consultant Ophthalmologist and Chair of the GMC and Dr Leanne Armitage, a locum doctor working in General Medicine and co-founder of the Armitage Foundation for young people from under-represented backgrounds who want to study medicine.Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that affects less than 2 percent of the population. For as long as the actor and star of Downton Abbey Tuppence Middleton can remember, she has had recurring unwanted intrusive thoughts that led to compulsions such as mental counting, checking and handwashing. She also has emetophobia, an intense fear of vomiting. Tuppence joins Anita to discuss her memoir ‘Scorpions,’ which explores nearly thirty years of living with OCD and the impact it has had on her daily life. As the beauty brand Lush marks 30 years Anita is joined by one of the co-founders and product designer, Rowena Bird. Starting with one shop in Dorset, Lush now has over 800 stores in 51 countries, so how do they balance their ethical credentials with their global reach?Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Nuala McGovern hears about a new swab test which could mean women avoid having invasive tests used to detect womb cancer. About 800,000 women per year see a GP because they are suffering from abnormal bleeding from their uterus and then undergo sometimes painful procedures to understand the cause. Instead the swab - known as WID-easy - has been found to be as accurate as an ultrasound scan in detecting the disease and could cut the number of false positives by 87%. The swab has been registered with the medical regulator for approval which could lead to it being adopted by the NHS. We speak to Professor Martin Widschwendter who invented the test and Athena Lamnisos, Chief Executive of the charity Eve Appeal. We discuss the extraordinary story of how and why an autistic woman was locked up in a mental health hospital for 45 years. For 25 of those she was in long term segregation. Reporter Carolyn Atkinson tells Nuala how the woman was eventually freed. And we talk to campaigner Alexis Quinn who is autistic and spent three years in a mental health hospital, including time in segregation before she escaped. She now campaigns for the Restraint Reduction Network charity about the more than 2,000 other autistic people and or those with learning disabilities who are still in mental health hospitals, many of whom shouldn't be.A new drama comes to our screens this week about Ruth Ellis, who - seventy years ago - was the last woman to be hanged in Britain. Ruth was found guilty of shooting her violently abusive lover David Blakeley outside a Hampstead pub on April 10, 1955. She was just 28 when she was hanged three months later at Holloway prison. The trial shocked British society and helped changed opinion about the death penalty being used in the UK. We speak to Lucy Boynton, who plays Ruth Ellis in "A Cruel Love" and Laura Enston, Ruth's granddaughter.Singer Nieve Ella is currently on tour, playing to packed venues and solidifying her place as a rising star in indie music. With a distinctive online presence and an ever-growing fanbase, she's proving that Gen Z artists are reshaping the industry on their own terms. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Melanie Abbott

A third of children and young people worldwide will be overweight or obese by 2050, according to a new worldwide study, while rates of obesity in children, younger teenagers and younger adults more than doubled between 1990 and 2021. But if you're worried that your child is overweight or obese, how can you help them? What is the best way to approach this tricky topic without making things worse? Krupa Padhy is joined by nutritionist and child feeding expert Julia Wolman and child psychologist Laverne Antrobus. In 2023, Eleanor Williams was found guilty of making up an Asian grooming gang in her hometown of Barrow-in-Furness. Her case was turned into the podcast series, Unreliable Witness, and we hear from producer Liz Lane about a new twist to the story. The vast majority of the UK's 5.8 million unpaid carers are female and more than half of them feel overwhelmed, according to the latest State of Caring survey by the charity Carers UK. Their report found an increasing number of people who are looking after a disabled, older or ill relative are experiencing poor mental health because they cannot take a break from caring. Krupa talks to Helen Walker, CEO of Carers UK, and Laura Barnes, who cares full time for her 100-year-old grandmother Joan. The body that governs the football Women's Super League is now considering the idea of suspending relegation – meaning no team would be demoted - in order to give time for the league to expand from 12 to 16 teams. Suzy Wrack, football writer at the Guardian and author of A Woman's Game, explains what this means for the game. Journalist and disability activist Lucy Edwards has just published her debut fiction book, Ella Jones vs the Sun Stealer, a mystery aimed at younger readers. It tells the story of 12-year-old Ella Jones who has been blind for two years and is navigating her new world with the help of her guide dog Maisie, her sister Poppy and her best friend Finn. She joins Krupa to talk about the book and her experiences sharing her own story online. Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Last night was the biggest night in film - the Oscars! The independent film Anora, made for just $5 million, cleaned up winning five awards including best picture and best actress for Mikey Madison - a 25-year-old relative unknown - who was on our programme last month. To give us all the news and highlights, film journalist Karen Krizanovich is in the Woman's Hour studio with Krupa Padhy.The UK data watchdog has launched what it calls a major investigation into TikTok's use of children's personal information. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) will inspect the way in which the social media platform uses the data of 13 to 17 year olds to recommend further content to them. Zoe Kleinman, the BBC's technology editor and Dr Kaitlyn Regehr, Associate Professor Director of Digital Humanities at University College London, discuss.Trauma can be a major barrier to seeking medical care. That's according to a new survey from Healthwatch England, which found that women experience trauma more than men and nearly a fifth of respondents who have experienced trauma say they often or fairly often avoid health services. They are calling on the NHS to adopt pocket sized trauma cards for patients to show during appointments, following a successful pilot in Essex. Louise Ansari, Chief Executive of Healthwatch England, the patients champion, and Laura (not her real name), a survivor of sexual trauma and a sessional counsellor for Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse, join Krupa.What could you do before the internet if you thought you might be a lesbian and needed advice? Did you know there were a number of telephone lines around the country that you could call for advice or just for a friendly listening ear? Writer Elizabeth Lovatt discovered the logbooks of calls made to one of these lines and imagines the calls and tells the history of these help lines in her new book, Thank You For Calling The Lesbian Line. Elizabeth and Lisa Power, sexual health and LGBT campaigner and long-time volunteer at one of these lines, join Krupa to discuss.Twiggy turned the modelling world upside down with her androgynous style, big round eyes, bold eyelashes, and pixie haircut, becoming a defining figure and fashion icon of the swinging 60s. Considered the world’s first supermodel, she went on to have a successful career in acting and singing, earning two Golden Globes and a Tony nomination, designed fashion ranges, appeared as a judge on America’s Next Top Model, and was awarded a damehood for services to the fashion, arts and charity. Now a new documentary, Twiggy, directed by Sadie Frost, is out in cinemas from Friday. Twiggy joins Krupa.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Two of the country’s best-loved stage and screen Olivier award-winning actors, Celia Imrie and Tamsin Greig are currently playing mother and daughter in Backstroke, a new play at the Donmar Warehouse in London, that unpicks the complications of their relationship over a lifetime. They joined Nuala McGovern in to discuss their on-stage relationship.Esther Ghey’s transgender daughter Brianna was murdered in February 2023 by two 15 year olds. The killers were radicalised online, and 16-year-old Brianna herself was harmfully addicted to her phone, despite all of her mum’s efforts to limit her usage. Esther has now become a campaigner for the safer use of smartphones for children, and for the use of mindfulness in schools. She also decided to forgive her child’s killers, and is now friends with one of their mothers. Esther joined Anita Rani in the Woman’s Hour studio to talk about her new memoir, Under a Pink Sky.Nigerian American science fiction author Nnedi Okorafor's new book is Death of the Author. It follows the story of Zelu, a novelist who is disabled, unemployed and from a very judgmental family. Nnedi and Nuala talked about the book within her book, success, and how she turned to writing as she recovered from a life-changing operation. Same Dress Different Bodies began when fashion-loving friends Laura Adlington and Lottie Drynan realised they were both having problems finding clothes they felt comfortable in, Lottie because of bloating caused by IBS, and Laura because she was limited by what was available in plus sizes. They joined Nuala to talk about turning their positive approach to fashion into a live show.Listener Emma Shaw got in touch with Woman's Hour after hearing author Beth Moran discuss fostering on the programme. She joined Nuala to share her own experience of being fostered alongside her siblings, along with Sarah Thomas, CEO of The Fostering Network, a charity that supports both foster parents and children.Singer-songwriter and ADHD YouTube influencer RØRY, who has co-written three top 10 hits for other artists including Charlie XCX, has finally broken through the charts with a top 10 album of her own at the age of 40. She joined Anita to talk about her journey from addiction to recovery and her new found success, and performs live in the studio.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Annette Wells

Simone Ashley plays Kate Sharma in one of Netflix's biggest shows, Bridgerton, and also graced our screens in groundbreaking comedy Sex Education. She joins Nuala McGovern to talk about her new romcom, Picture This, Bridgerton's success and her musical ambitions. The Tate brothers - Andrew and Tristan - have arrived in the US after Romanian prosecutors lifted a travel ban. The controversial British-American social media influencers had been under the ban in Romania for more than two years after they were charged with rape and human trafficking in 2022. They have strongly denied all allegations against them. The BBC'S Social Media Investigations Correspondent, Marianna Spring, joins us to discuss what their return to the US might mean in terms of their influence on social media and boys and young men. An investigation by BBC Humberside has been hearing from young women who've experienced inappropriate behaviour from their driving instructors. We're joined by BBC reporter Jasmine Lowe and Debbie Beadle, the CEO of the charity Fear Free, as they launch a campaign to get the position of trust law governing teachers and social workers extended to cover driving instructors too. Listener Emma Shaw got in touch with Woman's Hour after hearing author Beth Moran discuss fostering on the programme. She joins us to share her own experience of being fostered alongside her siblings, along with Sarah Thomas, CEO of The Fostering Network, a charity that supports both foster parents and children. And Katy Perry has revealed plans to go to space as part of an all-women flight on commercial space mission Blue Origin. She's expected to join owner Jeff Bezo's fiancee Lauren Sanchez and others on the New Shepard rocket this spring. Space journalist and author of Wally Funk: Race to Space, Sue Nelson, joins Nuala to share her thoughts. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

The government has published an independent review into the world of online pornography, Creating a Safer World - the challenge of regulating online pornography, written by the Conservative Peer Baroness Gabby Bertin. It proposes outlawing “degrading, violent and misogynistic content,” including making it illegal to possess or publish pornography showing women being choked during sex. Anita Rani talks to the BBC's Home Editor, Mark Easton and Fiona Vera-Gray, Professor of Sexual Violence at London Metropolitan University, about the review's findings.Padel – a cross between squash and tennis - is said to be the fastest growing sport in the world. So what about the women in the game? Whether it’s on the local padel court or the business and money-making side, women are currently massively under-represented. Joining Anita are Eloise Tait – GB’s #5 women’s player – who will be competing at 2025’s Britain Padel Tour in London tomorrow – and Astrid Tamms from Spain’s Hexagon Cup.Singer-songwriter and ADHD YouTube influencer RØRY, who has co-written three top 10 hits for other artists including Charlie XCX, has finally broken through the charts with a top 10 album of her own at the age of 40. She takes Anita on her journey from being addicted to drugs and alcohol to her recovery and new found success, and performs her song, One Drink Away, live in the studio.Esther Ghey’s transgender daughter Brianna was murdered in February 2023 by two 15 year olds. The killers were radicalised online, and 16-year-old Brianna herself was harmfully addicted to her phone, despite all of her mum’s efforts to limit her usage. Esther has now become a campaigner for the safer use of smartphones for children, and for the use of mindfulness in schools. She also decided to forgive her child’s killers, and is now friends with one of their mothers. Esther joins Anita in the Woman’s Hour studio to talk about her new memoir, Under a Pink Sky.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

The BBC board has apologised over "missed opportunities" to tackle "bullying and misogynistic behaviour" by the former BBC Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood. Nuala discusses with BBC correspondent ChiChi Izundu. Same Dress Different Bodies began when fashion-loving friends Laura Adlington and Lottie Drynan realised they were both having problems finding clothes they felt comfortable in, Lottie because of bloating caused by IBS, and Laura because she was limited by what was available in plus sizes. They tell Nuala about turning their positive approach to fashion into a live show.The mother of the Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, who took her own life, tried to discourage her from joining the army. Assistant Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg ruled Jaysley died by suicide and that the Army’s handling of a sexual assault complaint against Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber was ‘more than a minimal contributory part in her death'. She was later subjected to relentless harassment by her line manager, Former Bombardier Ryan Mason. He sent her over 4,600 messages confessing his feelings for her and showed her a 15 page love story about her. The Army's failure to take action after she was harassed by him also contributed to her death. Her mother LeighAnn McCready tells us about her daughter and the army's investigation.Fatma Said is a renowned classical singer – she was the first Egyptian soprano to perform on La Scala’s famous stage in Milan. She has also sung alongside Elton John and Ed Sheeran and was the first female artist to perform at the Grand Egyptian Museum in 2023. Fatma sings in several languages, and her albums span an eclectic mix of genres: El Nour celebrated her cultural heritage, and Kaleidoscope, featured everything from opera to Whitney Houston. She joins Nuala to discuss her latest album – Lieder - in which she turns to 19th Century German romantic music.Presented by Nuala McGovern. Produced by Melanie Abbott.

Care and support providers are coming together around the UK in a series of protests over the government's plans to increase employer National Insurance contributions. They are warning that care providers may go out of business unless they receive more support. Nadra Ahmed, co-chair of the National Care Association, which represents smaller and medium-sized care providers, joins Nuala from Westminster.Nuala is joined live in the studio by two of the country’s best-loved stage and screen Olivier award-winning actors – Celia Imrie and Tamsin Greig. They are currently playing mother and daughter in Backstroke, a new play at the Donmar Warehouse in London, that unpicks the complications of their relationship over a lifetime.Barely two months after the end of the sex abuse scandal which gripped France last year, another horrific trial has begun there. The case of the former surgeon Joël Le Scouarnec, will be the biggest child sex abuse hearing in the country. He is accused of raping or sexually assaulting 299 people, mainly child patients. Some were under anaesthetic as he was operating on them. BBC reporter Laura Gozzi was in court in Brittany and explains how this latest case has affected the French nation. Music writer Stevie Chick pays tribute to Roberta Flack who has died, aged 88. At a party recently, journalist Kate Mulvey found it hard to relate to her old friends because of the amount of Botox and filler they had. So now she’s decided to dump those friends. Kate talks to Nuala about the prevalence of these ‘tweakments’, and how it’s affected her friendships.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

It was a crime that horrified the nation. Three young girls murdered and another eight children and two adults seriously injured at a yoga and dance workshop in Southport in July 2024. Teacher Leanne Lucas, who was running the event, has agreed to speak for the first time about what happened. She's been speaking to the BBC’s special correspondent Judith Moritz who joins Nuala McGovern.The German election results are in and there’s now a female-led, far-right party in opposition. Journalist and Visiting Research Fellow at Kings College London Katja Hoyer tells Nuala about the role of women in the new German political landscape.Indira Varma is an Olivier-award-winning actor who has starred in everything from West End hits to Game of Thrones. She is currently on stage at the Old Vic in London, playing Jocasta to Rami Malek’s Oedipus. She joins Nuala in the Woman’s Hour studio.Nigerian American science fiction author Nnedi Okorafor's new book is Death of the Author. It follows the story of Zelu, a novelist who is disabled, unemployed and from a very judgmental family. Nnedi and Nuala talk about the book within her book, success, and the influence on her writing of being an athlete in her earlier years.

'Sen-betweeners' is the term Lisa Lloyd, a mum of two autistic children, uses to describe her children. She says their neurodivergence is too severe to fit easily into mainstream school, but not severe enough for a special school, so they fall between the gaps. Lisa has written a guide for other parents on ‘Raising the Sen-betweeners,’ in which she, whilst recognising that all children are different and there can be no rules, offers tips and advice for how to handle behaviours. Lisa joined Anita to share what she has learnt.The Children’s Society are training staff at the fast food chain Chicken Cottage to spot signs of exploitation amongst their teenage customers. Nuala discussed the initiative and issues with the charity’s Head of National Programmes, Lisa Witherden, and Chicken Cottage franchise manager Georgian Balog.Formula 1 has just turned 75, but how much headway are women racing drivers making? Nuala was joined by Jamie Chadwick, one of the leading British women in this sport, and BBC reporter Charlotte Simpson, who has spent months talking to a wide range of people trying to support more young women to become involved in the sport.Nussaibah Younis’s debut novel Fundamentally is based on her own experiences working as a peacekeeping consultant in Baghdad. The book follows Nadia, a British Asian woman working for the UN, and her relationship with fellow Brit Sara, a nineteen-year-old three-times widowed member of the Islamic State Group. Nussaibah joined Anita to discuss finding the comedy in a desperate situation.Harvest, a new documentary, shows the realities of the egg freezing process. Director and writer Sophia Seymour decided to film her journey of elective egg freezing. With the number of women choosing this form of fertility planning rising, Nuala was joined by Sophia to discuss why she decided to do, and film it, and also by Dr Ippokratis Sarris, Consultant in Reproductive Medicine and Director of King’s Fertility.Nao is a Grammy and Mercury nominated singer songwriter. She's described her unique brand of music as “wonky funk”. She joined Nuala McGovern to talk about fame, motherhood and her new album Jupiter. She performed live in the studio.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells

We discuss the case of former Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales, who was found guilty of sexual assault for kissing player Jenni Hermoso without her consent at the 2023 World Cup final. Anita is joined by Semra Hunter, a sports broadcast journalist and Virginia Alvarez from Amnesty International Spain.Nussaibah Younis’s debut novel Fundamentally is based on her own experiences working as a peacekeeping consultant in Baghdad. The book follows Nadia, a British Asian woman working for the UN, and her relationship with fellow Brit Sara, a nineteen-year-old three-times widowed member of the Islamic State Group. Nussaibah joins Anita to discuss finding the comedy in a desperate situation.Anita speaks to Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips on the day that Raneem’s Law is launched. Domestic abuse specialists will be embedded in 999 control rooms in five forces to ensure that victims of domestic abuse receive more specialist support.Ukraine is dominating the headlines, but away from the political talks, Ukrainian Fashion Week took place over the weekend in Kyiv. It’s the second time it’s happened in the country since the conflict started three years ago, and the theme was hope. We speak to designer Ksenia Schnaider and organiser Lisa Ushcheka.In the latest Bridget Jones film: Mad About the Boy, Bridget has been widowed and is now a single mother. When the opportunity arises, she slips back into the lifestyle of casual sex, and enjoys a relationship with a man 20 years younger. How difficult is it as a single mother to enjoy a healthy sex life without fear of shame or stigma? Anita discusses with journalist Rebecca Reid.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Emma Pearce

A group of 70 female chefs and hospitality professionals have signed an open letter calling out what they call the ‘pervasive’ sexism in British kitchens. It’s in response to chef Jason Atherton saying he had never seen sexism in the kitchen - he has since clarified his comments, saying that he wasn't denying the existence of sexism, just that he hadn't 'witnessed it personally. Anita is joined by chef and founder of the all-female kitchen Darjeeling Express, Asma Khan, and chef and founder of Tiella, Dara Klein, who helped write the open letter.The beloved 1995 film Clueless, inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma, starred Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, and the late Brittany Murphy. Cher Horowitz is the most popular student at Beverly Hills High, renowned for her unique talent at finding love for others. Clueless the Musical has just opened at the Trafalgar Theatre in London. Anita discusses the adaptation and the story’s enduring appeal with the original writer/director Amy Heckerling and multi-platinum singer-songwriter KT Tunstall who has written the score.Montage of clips from the 1995 movie, Clueless, written and directed by Amy Heckerling, produced by Scott Rudin and Robert Lawrence, production companies Robert Lawrence Productions, Scott Rudin Productions and distributed by Paramount Pictures.Amelia Price, a survivor of rape and assault by her ex-partner, has launched her own investigation into the Scottish justice system. Despite her attacker being convicted and sentenced to over four years in prison, the court refused to impose a non-harassment order (NHO) against him. With his release imminent, Price fears he could legally contact her. She has waived her anonymity to raise awareness about the issue and advocate for mandatory NHOs in domestic abuse cases. Anita speaks to her about her campaign alongside Fiona McMullen from ASSIST, a domestic abuse advocacy service. 'Sen-betweeners' is the term Lisa Lloyd, a mum of two autistic children, uses to describe her children. She says their neurodivergence is too severe to fit easily into mainstream school, but not severe enough for a special school, so they fall between the gaps. Lisa has written a guide for other parents on ‘Raising the Sen-betweeners,’ in which she, whilst recognising that all children are different and there can be no rules, offers tips and advice for how to handle behaviours. Lisa joins Anita to share what she has learnt.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Claire Fox

During a tennis match in Dubai, Emma Raducanu was subject to what the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) are calling 'fixated behaviour' from a man in the public area. How safe is tennis for women players - and what is being done to protect them? Ahead of the Queen's Women's tournament's return this summer, Nuala McGovern speaks to sports journalist Molly McElwee to find out more.Actor Gugu Mbatha-Raw joins Nuala in the studio to talk about her acting career, including her latest role in Apple TV+ drama Surface, and why she's such a strong supporter of female-led productions.Formula 1 has just turned 75, but how much headway are women racing drivers making? Nuala is joined by Jamie Chadwick, one of the leading British women in this sport, and BBC reporter Charlotte Simpson, who has spent months talking to a wide range of people trying to support more young women to become involved in the sport.Lambrini Girls are a punk duo making waves with their fearless sound and sharp social commentary. Known for their high-energy performances, they’ve become one of the most talked-about bands in the UK’s punk scene. They speak to Nuala about the power of punk and challenging the status quo. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lottie Garton

Why are members of the Afghan Cabinet speaking out against the de facto leader over his ban on girls' education and restrictions on women working? Nuala McGovern speaks to the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet, and Fawzia Koofi, member of the Afghan Parliament and the first woman to be elected as Second Deputy Speaker.Harvest, a new documentary, shows the realities of the egg freezing process. Director and writer Sophia Seymour decided to film her journey of elective egg freezing. With the number of women choosing this form of fertility planning rising, Sophia joins Nuala to discuss why she decided to do it, and film it. They are joined by Dr Ippokratis Sarris, Consultant in Reproductive Medicine and Director of King’s Fertility.According to NHS figures more than 44,000 children in England and Wales were admitted to hospital with constipation last year - with a 60% rise overall in hospital diagnoses of constipation in primary schoolchildren in the past decade. Dr Ellie Cannon GP and author, and Sarah Timms from Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence (ERIC) a children’s bowel and bladder charity join Nuala.22-year-old pistol shooter Manu Bhaker is this year’s BBC Indian Sportswoman of the year. Our correspondent Divya Arya was at the event, and joins Nuala McGovern to tell us more. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Laura Northedge

Nao is a Grammy and Mercury nominated singer songwriter. She's described her unique brand of music as “wonky funk”. She joins Nuala McGovern to talk about fame, motherhood and her new album Jupiter. She performs live in the studio. As European leaders are set to meet in Paris later today today for an emergency summit on the war in Ukraine, the Prime Minister has said he is 'ready and willing' to commit British troops to the conflict. And the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is heading to Saudi Arabia for talks with Russia. Three years on since the war began, we get reaction from Ukrainian women to the possible outcomes of these talks. Nuala talks to Ukrainian journalist, Kateryna Khinkulova, Editor of the Europe Hub for the BBC World Service and the female Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko. Do you remember TV’s Alan Partridge’s long-time suffering personal assistant, Lynn? She is the inspiration for a new play, Lynn Faces. Nearly 40, and emerging from a toxic relationship, Leah starts a punk band and takes to the stage with no musical ability. Performed as a gig with lots of original songs, Lynn Faces explores hope after abuse, the power of friendship and how silliness can be healing. Nuala talks to the writer Laura Horton, who also plays drums in the production. The Children’s Society are training staff at the fast food chain Chicken Cottage to spot signs of exploitation amongst their teenage customers. Nuala discusses the initiative and issues with the charity’s Head of National Programmes, Lisa Witherden, and Chicken Cottage franchise manager Georgian Balog.Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

Laura Kyrke-Smith MP wants more care and support for new mothers struggling with their mental health. Her own friend died by suicide just 10 weeks after giving birth and she recently led a debate in parliament on the subject. Laura joined Nuala McGovern to discuss the changes she wants to see. They were joined by perinatal psychologist Dr Alain Gregoire from the Maternal Mental Health Alliance.As EastEnders celebrates its 40th anniversary, Woman’s Hour discusses the iconic soap’s track record of featuring strong female characters with actors Michelle Collins, Kellie Bright, Diane Parish and Heather Peace.How easy is it to navigate the role of grandparent? The pyschologist Terri Apter, author of Grandparenting: On Love and Relationships Across Generations joined Anita Rani to discuss the topic. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Women’s Prize for Fiction which was established to recognise the literary achievements of female writers. There have been huge improvements in sales for fiction written by women since then, however only 34 per cent of the top 500 non-fiction books in 2022 were written by women. The Women's Prize awarded its inaugural non-fiction category last year and have just released their 2025 longlist. Will it have the same impact as the Fiction Prize? The Women’s Prize co-founder Kate Mosse and this year’s Chair of the Non-Fiction Prize, journalist and author Kavita Puri join Nuala.Performance poet Caitlin O'Ryan's poem, At What Point, about walking home alone went viral. She performed an extract of the poem live in the studio. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

Hayley Atwell and Tom Hiddleston are currently playing Beatrice and Benedict the sharp-witted sparring friends in Much Ado About Nothing on stage at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London. Hayley joins Anita Rani in the Woman’s Hour studio. Is Shakespeare’s much-loved comedy Much Ado the original rom com? And how much fun is it to be on stage with a friend of 20 years standing? We find out. The BBC have revealed MI5 gave false evidence to three courts over the handling of a paid informant, known as Agent X a neo-Nazi misogynist. He attacked his former partner, Beth, with a machete and used his role at the security service to coercively control her. She has been speaking out about what happened. Anita is joined by Daniel de Simone BBC investigation correspondent and Kate Ellis CWJ lawyer representing 'Beth'.On Tuesday Nuala spoke to Labour MP Laura Kyrke-Smith who is pushing for more care and support for new mothers struggling with their mental health. Her own best friend, Sophie, died by suicide in 2021 - just 10 weeks after giving birth to her third child. You got in touch with your experiences, with your questions and with information about the non NHS support that’s out there for new mums. We hear from two of those listeners - one we are calling Lucy who has experienced perinatal mental health problems, and also Lauraine Cheesman who founded the charity Shine PND Support in Gloucestershire, after her own experience of postnatal depression.One in three people over the age of 50 has grandchildren. These grandparents are the first generation to be both psychologically aware and very hands-on. Terri Apter, psychologist and author of Grandparenting: On Love and Relationships Across Generations, discusses with Anita the integral role grandparents play and gives some tips for navigating these complex relationships.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey Editor: Karen Dalziel

As part of the EastEnders 40th anniversary Woman’s Hour celebrates this iconic soap’s track record of featuring strong female characters and exploring some of the most pressing, contentious and emotional issues for women over the past four decades. Anita Rani presents live from the Fox & Hair salon in Walford. The salon is managed by Diane Parish’s character Denise Fox, whose love triangle storyline will be at the centre of the soap’s live interactive episode on Thursday 20th February. Viewers will be able to vote on whether her future should be with Jack or Ravi. She joins Anita to discuss the storyline.Anita also speaks to Kellie Bright who plays Linda Carter, Michelle Collins who plays Cindy Beale and Heather Peace whose character Eve Unwin recently was part of the first lesbian wedding on the show. With two thirds of the soap's audience being women, the executive producer Chris Clenshaw talks about his vision for putting female characters front and centre,, with lead storylines including explosive murder mystery The Six - and he explains how sensitive issues, such as Linda's alcoholism, are tackled with the help of charities and experts. When BBC One launched its first twice-weekly serial drama, on 19th February 1985 and it was based around a solidly working class community set in Albert Square in the East End of London. Anthony McNicholas is a retired academic, reader in communications and researcher on the history of the BBC and Jaci Stephen is the Soap Critic for the Daily Mail. They discuss the original idea for the series, the public service remit and celebrate the Square’s most formidable matriarchs over its 40-year history and discuss their impact. Presented by Anita Rani Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Deiniol Buxton

Ellie Wilson, a rape survivor, is campaigning for the right for victims to be able to appear at parole hearings, after being denied permission to attend one for her attacker. She tells Nuala McGovern why she wants the law changed in Scotland, and barrister Harriet Johnson explains more about the process.The Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley says that rooting out people who should not be in the force, has been made harder due to a High Court ruling that an officer accused of rape could not be dismissed because the process was fundamentally unfair. So, what does this ruling mean exactly and what could the wider impact be on women? Nuala McGovern discusses with the BBC's Senior UK correspondent Sima Kotecha and former Met Detective Superintendent Shabnam Chaudhri.Did you know anyone can legally call themselves a nurse, regardless of qualifications? Labour MP Dawn Butler introduced a ten minute rule bill in Parliament yesterday seeking to make 'nurse' a protected title in UK law. Professor Alison Leary, Deputy President of Royal College of Nursing joins Nuala to explain why she believes this move is important. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Women’s Prize for Fiction which was established to recognise the literary achievements of female writers. There have been huge improvements in sales for fiction written by women since then, however only 34 per cent of the top 500 non-fiction books in 2022 were written by women. The Women's Prize awarded its inaugural non-fiction category last year and have just released their 2025 longlist. Will it have the same impact as the Fiction Prize? Nuala is joined by Women’s Prize co-founder Kate Mosse and this year’s Chair of the Non-Fiction Prize, journalist and author Kavita Puri.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lottie Garton

Laura Kyrke-Smith MP wants more care and support for new mothers struggling with their mental health. Her own friend died by suicide just 10 weeks after giving birth and she recently led a debate in parliament on the subject. She joins Nuala McGovern to talk about the changes she wants to see, along with perinatal psychologist Dr Alain Gregoire from the Maternal Mental Health Alliance. What does the word 'ambition' mean to you? A study from the University of California has shown women may be put off applying for jobs when words such as 'ambition' or 'drive' appear in the ad, as they can feel intimidated. Nuala talks to Tiffanie Darke, the former CEO of female unemployment charity Smart Works, about women’s relationship to ambition and what they’re really looking for in a job. Wafa al Mustafa has been searching for her father for 13 years, ever since he was arrested at their home in Damascus in 2013. She has become the face of the campaign by hundreds of Syrian families to find their loved ones who have disappeared. She tells us how her search is going, and the difference the fall of Assad’s regime has made. Performance poet Caitlin O'Ryan's poem about women walking home has struck a chord with thousands of people online. She joins us to perform At What Point and share what made her want to get up on stage at a poetry open mic night for the first time a couple of years ago. What happens when your child with special educational needs or disabilities, otherwise known as SEND, gets older? We hear from Laura Kerr from People First Dorset, a charity which aims to tackle loneliness amongst young people with learning disabilities, and Jo White, whose 17-year-old son Leon is autistic and non-verbal and has just left education. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

England have won the Netball Nations Cup for the first time after beating South Africa. It proved sixth time lucky for the Vitality Roses after being defeated in the five previous finals. To celebrate, Nuala McGovern is joined by head coach Jess Thirlby and former England Netball captain, Pamela Cookey.Last month, Eleanor Frances received a settlement of £116,000 from two Whitehall departments that she worked in as a civil servant, the agreement was reached without liability. She had claimed constructive dismissal after raising concerns about a lack of impartiality in HR policies on gender and sex. DCMS and DSIT are now revising their Gender Reassignment policies. In her first broadcast interview, Eleanor tells Nuala why she brought the case.With New York fashion week in full swing we take a look at the decline of the body positivity movement. As with everything in fashion, trends come and go but when the body positivity movement hit the catwalk and more diverse models were used many thought the change was here to stay. To discuss, Nuala is joined by fashion writer Victoria Moss and plus-sized model Enrika. Laila Souief has been on hunger strike for 134 days, campaigning for the release of her British-Egyptian son Alaa Abdel Fattah, who is being held as a political prisoner in Egypt. Today she is calling for the Prime Minister to take more decisive action in getting him released. She tells Nuala how she’s dealing with the hunger strike aged 68, and what she wants from the government.Inspired by the convict ships that transported prisoners from Ireland and England to Australia and the misogyny that’s travelled down through generations, Emilia Hart’s new book, The Sirens, explores the healing power of water and sisterhood.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Anita Rani speaks to Emma Webber and Sinead O’Malley Kumar, mothers of Barnaby and Grace, both 19, who were killed in Nottingham in June 2023. They’ll be responding to the findings of a major review of the NHS care of Valdo Calocane, the man who attacked their children. The Oscar-nominated actress Mikey Madison tells Clare McDonnell about playing the title role in Anora, a film about a sex worker in New York. Mikey spent months embedded in a strip club to fully immerse herself in the world. The film is nominated for six Academy Awards as well as BAFTAs and Golden Globes.New research has quantified for the first time how many young people have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria by GPs in England. Anita hears from Professor of Health Policy, Tim Doran, about the work academics at the University of York are doing. They studied a decade’s worth of NHS records and discovered a 50-fold increase in this particular diagnosis between 2011 and 2021. However each general practice will only see one or two such patients each year. The West End star Marisha Wallace, the latest actor to play Sally Bowles in Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club in London, performs a song from the show.The actor and writer Daisy May Cooper talks to Clare McDonnell about the second series of the BBC female-friendship thriller, Am I Being Unreasonable, which she both co-wrote and stars in. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed Editor: Rebecca Myatt

The West End star Marisha Wallace joins Anita Rani in the studio. She's the latest actor to play Sally Bowles in Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club in London, alongside Billy Porter who plays Emcee. Marisha talks about the significance of them both playing these roles together and her journey to the top. The UN has reported that more than 100 female prisoners were raped and then burned alive during a jailbreak in the Congolese city of Goma. The conflict in eastern DR Congo dates back to the 1990s but has rapidly escalated in recent weeks. Since the start of 2025, more than 400,000 people have been forced from their homes, according to the UN's refugee agency. We’re joined by Anne Soy, the BBC’s Deputy Africa Editor & Senior Correspondent based in Nairobi. What's it like giving birth in prison? New play Scenes from Lost Mothers, currently touring universities and prisons, explores the real-life experiences of pregnant women and new mothers in prison. Performed by actors with lived experience of the criminal justice system, or at risk of entering it, it’s based on research from the Lost Mothers Project and explores the impact of separating imprisoned mothers from their newborns. We hear from the project's lead, midwife and associate professor, Dr Laura Abbott, and a mother shares her experience. Emma Hakansson is an ex-model turned ethical fashion campaigner and film director, who founded her own organisation - Collective Fashion Justice. She joins Anita to talk about her new film featuring a community of women in the Amazon who make a sustainable leather alternative which helps keep their environment protected. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths Editor: Deiniol Buxton

Anita Rani speaks to Emma Webber and Sinead O’Malley Kumar mothers of Barnaby and Grace, both 19, who were killed in Nottingham in June 2023. They’ll be responding to the findings of a major review of the NHS care of Valdo Calocane the man who attacked their children. A report Emma has already described as a horror show.Nina Bhadreshwar’s crime novel The Day of the Roaring tells the story of Sheffield Detective Inspector Diana Walker, who is trying to solve some particularly grisly murders while dealing with corruption and racial and sexual discrimination at work. Nina joins Anita to discuss her own Yorkshire upbringing, launching a magazine which led her to a friendship with rapper Tupac Shakur and a job at the notorious hip hop label Death Row Records.A new opera is being written about Margaret Thatcher. Seen by many as a divisive figure, the Rest is History podcast co-host Dominic Sandbrook's new work is going to look at her 11-year tenure as prime minister. Dame Maureen Lipman - who played Margaret Thatcher in an episode of the British sitcom About Face - discusses her appeal and what she was like to play as a character.Dr LaShyra ‘Lash’ Nolen is one of the charity, One Young World’s young leaders. She was the first African American woman to serve as student president at Harvard Medical School in 2019, was on Forbes 30 Under 30 Healthcare list in 2022 and now works as a resident physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. ‘Lash’ as she is known, joins Anita to talk about her daily work, her journey to a career in medicine and her desire to see equity in healthcare throughout the US.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Women in prison are resorting to self-harm because of “astonishing gaps” in basic services including strict time limits when contacting their children, according to a new report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons for England and Wales released today. The report's author Sandra Fieldhouse joins Anita Rani, as does the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood. Singer and stand-up comedian Hajar J Woodland joins Anita to discuss her show, First Love, coming to Soho Theatre in London. After being raised in a household where singing wasn't encouraged, her show explores the boundaries we put up around ourselves and what it means to finally find love and your voice. New research has quantified for the first time how many young people have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria by GPs in England. Academics at the University of York studied a decade’s worth of NHS records and discovered a 50-fold increase in this particular diagnosis between 2011 and 2021. However each general practice will only see one or two such patients each year. Anita speaks to Professor of Health Policy Tim Doran.The French have been told to wear the same T-shirt for five days before washing it, and sports clothing three times. It’s part of advice from the government’s Ecological Transition Agency, which is trying to get people to do less laundry to save water. So how often should we really be washing our clothes? Anita is joined by Professor Sally Bloomfield from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to tell us more. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Emma Pearce

Actor and writer Daisy May Cooper shot to fame with This Country, the mockumentary about rural poverty in the Cotswolds that she wrote and starred in with her brother Charlie. She followed that with the lead in BBC/HBO show Rain Dogs and in 2022 she co-wrote and starred in the twisting female-friendship thriller Am I Being Unreasonable? With the second series about to drop on BBC 1 and BBC iPlayer Daisy joins Clare McDonnell in the Woman’s Hour studio. Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso has given evidence at the trial of Spain's former football chief Luis Rubiales. He is accused of sexual assault and coercion after he kissed her during the medal ceremony when Spain won the 2023 World Cup final, charges which he denies. Clare speaks to Semra Hunter, sports broadcaster journalist.A new BBC podcast has uncovered some shocking allegations of grooming, trafficking and sexual exploitation linked to a yoga movement. The Bad Guru podcast follows Miranda who joined a yoga class in the UK which she discovered had links to the Atman Federation, an international yoga movement led by the Romanian guru Gregorian Bivalaru. After becoming part of the wider movement, Miranda says that she was groomed and sexually exploited. Clare hears from Miranda and from the podcast’s presenter, investigative journalist Cat McShane. From her close relationship with her mum to her mental health struggles as a teenager, 24-year-old Fiona-Lee from Howden in Yorkshire writes earnestly about the emotional rollercoaster that is adolescence to adulthood. Her EP, ‘Nothing Compares to Nineteen,’ is released on the 7th of March and she joins Clare to perform the track 'Lavender'.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Laura Northedge

Oscar-nominated actress Mikey Madison joins Clare McDonnell in the Woman’s Hour studio. She speaks about playing the title role in Anora, a film about a sex worker in New York. Mikey spent months embedded in a strip club to fully immerse herself in the world. The film is nominated for six Academy Awards as well as BAFTAs and Golden Globes – we speak to Mikey about how she’s finding receiving such attention so early in her career. The government have announced £13 million of funding for a national centre to tackle violence against women and girls. How will it work, and what difference might it make? Clare speaks to BBC Senior UK Correspondent Sima Kotecha and National Police Chief's Council lead for violence against women and girls Maggie Blyth.Top Guns: Inside the RAF is a Channel 4 documentary that gives viewers a rare view of RAF operations both in the air and on the ground. One of the women featured in the new series is Chief of Staff Jenni, who was recently stationed at an airbase in Romania. She joins Clare to tell us more about being a woman in the RAF and her experiences.Jojo Moyes is the bestselling author of 17 novels, including the smash hit Me Before You which was adapted into a Hollywood film. Her new novel We All Live Here tells the story of Lila, a woman dealing with divorce, teenage children and duelling fathers. Jojo joins Clare in the studio to tell us about this ultimate sandwich situation.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Lottie Garton

In the last year, women with disabilities experienced domestic abuse at more than twice the rate of those without, according to the latest figures from the Crime Survey for England and Wales. Yet data from Women’s Aid shows less than 1% of refuge vacancies in England are suitable for wheelchair users. Where does this leave women with disabilities impacted by domestic abuse? Anita Rani hears one anonymous woman’s experience and is joined by Angie Airlie, CEO of Stay Safe East and Rebecca Goshawk, a director of Solace Women’s Aid.Mrs Robinson is a feature-length documentary about Ireland’s first female president, Mary Robinson. Telling the story of her childhood and career for the first time on screen, it was filmed over three years, and takes a deep-dive into Mary Robinson’s career as she discusses the significant controversies throughout her tenure, her own professional regrets and examines how her gift for bridging differences was instrumental in bringing about seismic change in Ireland. Mary Robinson joined Clare McDonnell to talk about it.Preet Chandi, better known as Polar Preet, broke world records in 2023 when she made the longest solo and unsupported journey across Antarctica, crossing 922 miles in 70 days. Now Preet is setting her sights on the North Pole, hoping to cross 500 miles of sea ice to reach it in under 70 days. She joined Anita to discuss why she’s making the change to the North Pole, how she plans to get there and how she plans on dealing with polar bears.Reality star turned documentary filmmaker Vicky Pattison joined Clare to discuss her latest project, Vicky Pattison: My Deepfake Sex Tape. The documentary sees her exploring the proliferation of videos generated by AI, whereby people’s faces are placed onto pornographic images and shared without their consent. Vicky talked about creating her own deepfake sex tape and looks at the impact the phenomenon is having on women and girls.The singer-songwriter Rumer is a MOBO award winner and double Brit Award nominee. Her new album In Session is out, celebrating the 15th anniversary of her platinum debut album Seasons Of My Soul. The success that followed that album affected Rumer's mental health. She stepped away from the industry and relocated to the US. Now back in the UK she has returned to the record that has shaped so much of her life both professionally and personally. Rumer joined Anita to talk about her life and to perform live in the studio.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

The singer/songwriter Rumer is a MOBO award winner and double Brit Award nominee. Her new album In Session is out today celebrating the 15th anniversary of her platinum debut album Seasons Of My Soul. The success that followed that album affected her mental health. She stepped away from the industry and relocated to the US. Now back in the UK she has returned to the record that has shaped so much of her life both professionally and personally. Rumer joins Anita Rani to talk about her life and music and to perform live in the studio.Afghanistan’s women’s cricket team have played their first match since being exiled three years ago. Cricket commentator Alison Mitchell and Firoza Amiri from the squad discuss the game and their fight for official ICC recognition. Are people better served by sexual assault referral centres than by self- swabbing in cases of alleged rape? Tana Adkin KC says we should be careful. Katie White is the co-founder of Enough, who have developed these kits and currently running a pilot project in Bristol. They've given away 7000 in just 12 weeks. The two of them are in the Woman's Hour studio to discuss.Actor and comedian Kerry Godliman, is best known for her portrayal of Lisa Johnson, the deceased wife of Ricky Gervais’ character Tony in the hit Netflix series After Life. She now returns to the stage with her new stand-up show Bandwidth – on being a middle age woman – everything from parenting teenagers, to considering dealing HRT on the black market to losing her mum bag. And we look back at the life of Marianne Faithfull hearing her when she was last on Woman's Hour in 2011.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey

The Royal Ballet School (RBS) has reached a financial settlement with former student Ellen Elphick who said the body-shaming she experienced while at the elite institution has left her with lifelong psychological damage. The London-based school accepts no liability for the former dancer’s case and has not issued an apology. Ellen talks to Anita Rani about the experience along with her lawyer, Dino Nocivelli.Female-dominated films are more likely to get more sexist criticism in reviews- that's according to a study of more than 17,000 reviews. Another study looked at how women in finance are portrayed in films and how this impacts real women working in the sector. Anita talks to the film critic, Leila Latif, about women in film.Cardiff University has announced possible cuts to 400 full-time jobs amid a funding shortfall. One of the departments to be potentially impacted is nursing and, whilst the university has said that no "final decisions" have been made and there's "no immediate impact" to those currently studying, concerns have been raised about the future supply of those going into the profession. Anita talks to Helen Whyley, executive director of the Royal College of Nursing Wales.Preet Chandi, better known as Polar Preet, broke world records in 2023 when she made the longest solo and unsupported journey across Antarctica, crossing 922 miles in 70 days. Now Preet is setting her sights on the North Pole, hoping to cross 500 miles of sea ice to reach it in under 70 days. She joins Anita to discuss why she’s making the change to the North Pole, how she plans to get there and how she plans on dealing with polar bears.Poet Maria Ferguson has a new collection out. It’s called Swell, and it explores the highs and lows of conception, pregnancy and motherhood, including looking at miscarriage. Maria joins Anita to talk about her compositions and why she wanted to write about becoming a mother.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

In the last year, women with disabilities experienced domestic abuse at more than twice the rate of those without, according to the latest figures from the Crime Survey for England and Wales. Yet data from Women’s Aid shows less than 1% of refuge vacancies in England are suitable for wheelchair users. Where does this leave women with disabilities impacted by domestic abuse? Anita Rani hears about one anonymous woman’s experience and is joined by Angie Airlie, CEO of Stay Safe East and Rebecca Goshawk, a director of Solace Women’s Aid. Singer Roxanne de Bastion’s grandfather was a Holocaust survivor and a renowned pianist. She joins Anita to discuss bringing his music to a modern audience and tracing his story for her book, The Piano Player of Budapest.Aisling Walsh, Bafta-winning director of Room at the Top and Elizabeth is Missing, has a new project – the BBC series Miss Austen. Aisling speaks to Anita about the series, which reimagines the life of Cassandra Austen, Jane's sister, and her career in giving a voice to unheard stories through film and TV.The Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) was created to tackle misconduct across the arts and media sectors. But more than a year later, it’s struggling to secure funding and deliver on its mission. Anita hears from the CEO Jen Smith and Charisse Beaumont, CEO of Black Lives in Music, to explore the challenges CIISA faces and how the music industry can work towards being safer for women.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lottie Garton

Reality star turned documentary filmmaker Vicky Pattison joins Clare McDonnell to discuss her latest project, Vicky Pattison: My Deepfake Sex Tape. The documentary sees her exploring the proliferation of videos generated by AI whereby people’s faces are placed onto pornographic images and shared without their consent. Vicky talks about creating her own deepfake sex tape and looks at the impact the phenomenon is having on women and girls. A rapid review commissioned by the government in response to the Southport attacks has been leaked, including suggestions that the definition of extremism should be widened to include men who are prejudiced against women, along with potentially violent environmentalists, the far left and conspiracy theorists. The BBC has been told Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, doesn't agree with the findings and will order the focus to remain on Islamist and far-right extremism. We're joined by BBC Political correspondent Tom Symonds, author and journalist Joan Smith and and Ian Corbett, Participation, Engagement and Policy Advisor for the Children and Young People's Centre for Justice. Eighties pop legend Kim Wilde joins us to discuss her new album, Closer, her career and embracing her 60s. We discuss football academies and the challenges they present for parents with Rachel Holmes, whose son Pete plays for Cambridge United's U18s team and Jorden Gibson, Academy Manager at Stevenage Football Club.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths Editor: Karen Dalziel

Mrs Robinson is a feature-length documentary about Ireland’s first female president. Telling her own story of her childhood and career for the first time on screen, it was filmed over three years, and takes a deep-dive into Mary Robinson’s career as she discusses the significant controversies throughout her tenure and her own professional regrets; and examines how her gift for bridging differences was instrumental in bringing about seismic change in Ireland. Mary Robinson joins Clare McDonnell live.Today is Holocaust Memorial Day and this year it marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Clare is joined by two women who reflect on their mothers’ experiences of surviving the Holocaust, the lasting impact and how it has shaped their own lives. Anita Peleg talks about her mother, Naomi Blake, who was sent first to Auschwitz and then to Brahnau Concentration Camp, before settling in the UK and becoming a sculptor. Noemie Lopian remembers her mother, Renee Bornstein BEM – a Holocaust survivor and educator.The Welsh opera singer and presenter Wynne Evans has apologised for what he called 'an inappropriate and unacceptable' comment at the launch of the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour earlier this month, about the tour host Janette Manrara. Clare speaks to podcaster and comedian Helen Thorn and entertainment journalist Caroline Frost to get their reactions.Confessions is the debut novel from Catherine Airey. The book follows three generations of women as they navigate love, trauma, family and tragedy. Catherine joins Clare and discusses quitting her job and moving to rural Ireland in 2021 to focus on her writing.

Felicity Jones has been nominated for an Oscar and a BAFTA for her role in The Brutalist, in which she plays Erzsébet, a Hungarian journalist who emigrates to the US in the late 1950s to join her architect husband. She joined Anita Rani to discuss her portrayal of this complex character and the other memorable roles she’s taken on, from Ruth Bader Ginsberg to Jane Wilde Hawking.Zla Mavka is a non-violent all-female Ukrainian resistance group, fighting against Russian occupation. It spreads newsletters and shares experiences aiming to support others. Anita was joined by the Guardian's chief culture writer, Charlotte Higgins, who has spoken to some of the members and Tetyana Filevska, the curator at the Ukrainian Institute, to find out more.Kate Fagan has been a US basketball player, an ESPN journalist and has written three non-fiction books. She joined Datshiane Navanayagam to discuss her first novel, The Three Lives of Cate Kay.More people in their late 20s are still living with their parents – it's up by more than a third in nearly two decades according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Men are also more likely than women to stay in the family home, with 23% of 25-34 year old men living with their parents compared to 15% of women the same age. Anita spoke to writer and counsellor Lucy Cavendish who has two adult sons living at home, and Associate Professor and family therapist Dr Hannah Sherbersky.It has been reported that USA women's footballer Naomi Girma has agreed terms to join Chelsea FC for a world record transfer fee of £900,000 or $1.1 million. Anita was joined by Tom Garry, Women’s Football writer at The Guardian.Elise Downing is known for running 5,000 miles self-supported around the British coast over the course of 10 months. She was not only the youngest person, but also the only female to have completed the challenge. Along the way she saw Britain at its wild and wonderful best. She has now written Walk Britain, packed with inspiring car-free ideas on how to get out and explore stunning locations – from the Cornish coast to the Yorkshire Dales and the Isle of Arran. She joined Datshiane to talk about some of the 90 different routes that can be completed on foot, all accessible by public transport.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Zla Mavka is a non-violent all-female Ukrainian resistance group, fighting against Russian occupation. It spreads newsletters and shares experiences aiming to support others. Anita Rani is joined by the Guardian's chief culture writer, Charlotte Higgins, who has spoken to some of the members and Tetyana Filevska, the curator at the Ukrainian Institute to find out more.When bicycles were first invented in the 19th century, the main danger associated with them wasn't the design or lack of brakes. For women, it was in fact a health problem called “bicycle face”. Tamsin Johnson, PhD candidate and lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, tells Anita how doctors became concerned about this condition and the history of women cycling.In September 2024, multiple Israeli missiles hit an apartment building in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Health Ministry said that 73 people were killed, the worst single attack in almost two decades. A BBC Eye investigation found that most many of those killed were innocent civilians, 23 of whom were women. Nawal Al-Maghafi has been investigating this attack and speaking to survivors. She joins Anita to share the story of Batoul. Writer, broadcaster and food critic Grace Dent has a book: Comfort Eating: What we eat when nobody's looking. It's inspired by her podcast of the same name, where she talks with a variety of celebrities to discover their secret snacks. Anita asked her about comfort foods.The finale of BBC1's mystery-cum-reality show that everyone is talking about, The Traitors, hits the small screen tonight. Anita discusses this year's themes - sisterhood and deceit with The Traitors superfan, the podcaster and author Vogue Williams and a former contestant from Season 2, Diane, also known as Ross’ mum.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

It has been reported that USA women's footballer Naomi Girma has agreed terms to join Chelsea FC for a world record transfer fee of £900,000 or $1.1 million. Anita Rani is joined by Tom Garry, Woman’s Football writer at The Guardian. Nearly three decades ago, Marianne Jean-Baptiste was Oscar nominated for her role in Mike Leigh’s film Secrets & Lies. Now, she’s receiving rave reviews with a stand-out performance in his latest film, Hard Truths. With an almost entirely black cast, Hard Truths explores complex family dynamics. Marianne plays unhappy housewife Pansy. She's in the Woman's Hour studio. As the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas enters its fifth day, we look at the experiences of women and children on both sides. A 19-year-old journalist Malak A. Tantesh living in a camp in Gaza explains her reality now the ceasefire has come in to effect. We also hear from Mandy Damari – mother of Emily, one of the hostages released on Sunday. Have you connected with a loved one after they have died? Maybe it was through a passion they had or introduced you to. Jula connected with her late father by sharing his extensive record collection online. She joins Anita. The rape and murder of a 31-year-old junior doctor in a hospital in Kolkata, India, in August prompted marches and strikes nationwide over safety issues for female doctors. There were calls for her rapist, Sanjay Roy, to be given the death penalty but, when it came to sentencing this week, the judge commented that he had considered all the evidence and did not consider the case to be a "rarest-of-rare" crime and instead sentenced Roy to life imprisonment. We hear from Divya Arya, women’s affairs journalist for BBC Delhi. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Emma Pearce

Felicity Jones has been nominated for a Best Supporting Actress BAFTA for her role in The Brutalist, in which she plays Erzsébet, a Hungarian journalist who emigrates to the US in the late 1950s to join her architect husband. She joins Anita Rani to discuss her portrayal of this complex character and the other memorable roles she’s taken on, from Ruth Bader Ginsberg to Jane Wilde Hawking.A new report by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Eating Disorders highlights what they are calling ‘widespread neglect’ in services across the UK. They have found that patients in some areas have been discharged with a Body Mass Index of lower than 15 - which is associated with substantially increased mortality. To discuss the findings of the report Anita is joined by the Chair of the APPG, Wera Hobhouse MP and Hope Virgo, Secretariat of the APPG and campaigner, who has recovered fully from an eating disorder herself.President Donald Trump spent his first day back in the Oval office signing executive orders, issuing pardons and outlining his plans for the country. But what do his actions so far mean for women in America? Joining Anita is Anne McElvoy, host of the Politico transatlantic podcast Power PlaMore people in their late 20s are still living with their parents – it's up by more than a third in nearly two decades according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Men are also more likely than women to stay in the family home, with 23% of 25-34 year old men living with their parents compared to 15% of women the same age. We speak to mum of four and counsellor Lucy Cavendish who has two adult sons living at home, and Associate Professor and family therapist Dr Hannah Sherbersky.

Trudie Styler has had a career spanning decades, from starting out as an actress for the Royal Shakespeare Company to the last 20 years as a film-maker. Trudie’s newest film Posso Entrare: An Ode to Naples sees her exploring the streets of the Sanita district of the city, meeting residents and finding out more about Naple's history of conflict and violence – and how people are working to heal those wounds. She joins Datshiane Navanayagam to tell us about what she discovered and her career in film.Begum TV is a satellite television channel that broadcasts from Paris into Afghanistan. Its hosts are all women, and they are bringing education and entertainment to those women and girls having their rights stripped away in Afghanistan. Founder Hamida Aman joins Datshiane to tell us more. Kate Fagan has been a US basketball player, an ESPN journalist and has written three non-fiction books. Now she is publishing her first novel, The Three Lives of Cate Kay. Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Laura Northedge

After 15 months of devastating conflict, a ceasefire agreement has been reached between Israel and Hamas, and three female hostages – Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher - have been released and are now back in Israel. This release is the first of several expected over the next six weeks, with a total of 33 hostages to be returned. Ninety Palestinian prisoners were released overnight in exchange for the hostages, the Israeli prison service has said - most of them women and teenage boys. The UN estimates that 1.9 million people in Gaza have been internally displaced since the start of the most recent conflict, some 90% of the population. The humanitarian situation remains critical, with widespread destruction and significant damage to infrastructure including hosptials and severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and shelter. Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to BBC Chief Correspondent Lyce Doucet. We also hear from Ghada Al-Kourd in Deir al-Balah in the centre of the Gaza strip, and Sharone Lifschitz, whose parents were taken hostage by Hamas in October 2023.Geneticists from Trinity College Dublin and archaeologists from Bournemouth University have found evidence of female political and social empowerment during Britain’s Iron Age. DNA sampled from a burial site in Dorset shows that two-thirds of the women were closely related, suggesting that women lived in the same communities and passed on their land and wealth to their daughters, while unrelated men tended to join the community from elsewhere. This type of social structure, known as “matrilocality” is the first documented instance in European pre-history and challenges the assumption that most societies were patrilocal. Dr Lara Cassidy, an Assistant Professor of Genetics at Trinity College Dublin who led the research, discusses the findings. President-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated today in Washington D.C. It is of course his second term, having previously served as the 45th US president, he will now also become the 47th. So what will a second Trump presidency mean for women, both in the US and around the world? Datshiane is joined by Jennifer Ewing from Republicans Overseas and the BBC’s Holly Honderich to discuss.Elise Downing is known for running 5,000 miles self-supported around the British coast over the course of 10 months. She was not only the youngest person, but also the only female to have completed the challenge. Along the way she saw Britain at its wild and wonderful best. She has now written Walk Britain, packed with inspiring car-free ideas on how to get out and explore stunning locations – from the Cornish coast to the Yorkshire Dales and the Isle of Arran.  She joins Datshiane to talk about some of the 90 different routes across that can be completed on foot, all accessible by public transport.Presented by Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Louise Corley

The Right Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the Bishop of Dover, is a trailblazer, who has been right at the heart of a changing nation for over 40 years. Despite discrimination due to her gender and ethnic minority background, Bishop Rose has never wavered from the call she received to enter ministry at the age of 14. She joined Nuala McGovern to discuss her memoir, The Girl from Montego Bay.A Royal College of Nursing report, On the Frontline of the UK's Corridor Care Crisis, which came out this week, found that the situation in A&E is the worst it has ever been and that a lack of hospital beds means corridor care has been "normalised". One nurse described caring for a 95-year-old woman dying with dementia who had spent eight hours lying on a trolley in a crowded corridor next to a drunk person who was vomiting and being abusive. Others describe women having a miscarriage in side rooms. Professor Nicola Ranger, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing joined Anita Rani to discuss what is going on.Holly Bourne, bestselling author of How Do You Like Me Now? and the Spinster Club series, is back with So Thrilled For You, her most personal novel yet. It’s a story about four friends navigating motherhood, career ambition, and societal pressures, all unfolding during a sweltering summer’s day at a baby shower. Holly joined Nuala and explained what inspired this book. Can AI improve the success rates of women undergoing fertility treatment? Anita discusses the impact of AI on IVF with Dr Cristina Hickman, an embryologist, co-founder of Avenues, and Chair of the Global AI Fertility Society, and Dr Ali Abbara, a Clinician Scientist at Imperial College London, and Consultant in Reproductive Endocrinology at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.Hermine Braunsteiner was the first person to be extradited from the US for Nazi war crimes. She was one of a few thousand women who had worked as a concentration camp guard and was nicknamed ‘the Mare’ by prisoners because of her cruelty; she kicked people to death. In 1964, Hermine’s past was unknown: She was living a quiet existence as an adoring suburban housewife in Queens, New York when she was tracked down by a reporter from The New York Times who exposed her past. Angharad Hampshire, a Research Fellow at York St John University, joined Nuala to talk about The Mare, her novel based on Hermine’s life.The all-female, Welsh-language, post-punk trio Adwaith are the only band to have won the Welsh Music Prize twice, for their first two albums. They are about to release their third album, Solas, all about returning to their hometown in Carmarthen. Band members Hollie Singer, Gwenedd Owen and Gwen Anthony performed live in the studio. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

Can AI improve the success rates of women undergoing fertility treatment? Anita Rani discusses the impact of AI on IVF with Dr Cristina Hickman, an embryologist, co-founder of Avenues, and Chair of the Global AI Fertility Society, and Dr Ali Abbara, a Clinician Scientist at Imperial College London, and Consultant in Reproductive Endocrinology at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.The second reading is due today of a private members bill that seeks to ban first-cousin marriage. It’s particularly prevalent among Pakistani and Muslim communities. But what would this mean for women? And how would genetic testing to enforce the ban work? Anita speaks to CEO of Karma Nirvana Natasha Rattu and Emeritus Professor of Health Research at Bradford University Neil Small. The award-winning documentary Sugarcane follows an investigation into the Canadian Indian residential school system, and the attempts of survivors and their descendants to try to understand what happened in them. Emily Kassie is the film's producer and co-director and joins Anita on Woman's Hour. Mark Zuckerberg says companies need to embrace more “masculine energy”. The Meta boss told a podcast that instead of trying to get away from it, corporate culture should celebrate the positive side of things like “aggression”. But what even is ‘masculine energy’? And do we really need more of it? Anita talks to Josh Smith, contributing editor of Glamour magazine, and Becky Hewitt, Chief Executive of culture change company Kin&Co.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Laura Northedge

The communications regulator, Ofcom, has published new industry guidance for online services, in which it sets out how it expects online platforms - including social media and porn sites - to introduce highly effective age check measures to prevent children from accessing online pornography and to protect them from other types of harmful content. To discuss the new guidance and its potential impact Anita Rani is joined by Lindsey Fussell, OFCOM’s interim group director for online safety. Kamala Harris made history as the first woman - and first woman of colour - to become Vice President of the United States of America. She rose higher in the country’s leadership than any other woman before her. Anita discusses her legacy and future with BBC News Online Editor, Courtney Subramanian; and co-founder of Higher Heights, an organisation that works to mobilise black women voters, Kimberly Peeler-Allen. What might be next for the woman who could have been the first female president?A Royal College of Nursing report, On the Frontline of the UK's Corridor Care Crisis, out today, finds that the situation in A&E is the worst it has ever been and that a lack of hospital beds means corridor care has been "normalised". One nurse described caring for a 95-year-old woman dying with dementia who had spent eight hours lying on a trolley in a crowded corridor next to a drunk person who was vomiting and being abusive. Others describe women having a miscarriage in side rooms. Professor Nicola Ranger, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing joins Anita to discuss what is going on.The all-female, Welsh-language, post-punk trio Adwaith are the only band to have won the Welsh Music Prize twice, for their first two albums. The critically-lauded band are about to release their third album, Solas, all about returning to their hometown in Carmarthen. Band members Hollie Singer, Gwenedd Owen and Gwen Anthony talk to Anita about writing in Welsh, what home means to them, and being role models for young women – and they perform their latest single Miliwn live in the Woman’s Hour studio. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Services for children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) in England are ‘unviable’. That’s the judgement from a report out today by the Public Accounts Committee, who look at the value for money of government services. Anna Dixon MP, who sits on the committee, joins Nuala McGovern to explain more, alongside Katie Ghose, Vice-Chair of the Disabled Children’s Partnership.Four Women's Championship football clubs will take part in a new pilot scheme beginning this month to allow fans to drink alcohol in the stands. This is something that’s been banned for supporters of the men’s game in the top five tiers. Head of Women’s Football at the Football Supporters’ Association Deborah Dilworth discusses the plans and what this could mean for women’s football matches.Holly Bourne, bestselling author of How Do You Like Me Now? and the Spinster Club series, is back with So Thrilled For You, her most personal novel yet. It’s a story about four friends navigating motherhood, career ambition, and societal pressures, all unfolding during a sweltering summer’s day at a baby shower. Holly explains what inspired her to write this funny, sharp, and moving exploration of friendship, and her experiences with early motherhood.According to stats from Cycling UK, 75% of cycling trips in the UK are made by men - but women are increasingly turning to the gym and indoor classes for their biking fix. Nuala discusses how we can get more women cycling, inside and outside, with Michelle Arthurs Brennan, digital editor at Cycling Weekly, and Clare Rogers from the London Cycling Campaign women's network. Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

The term ‘sticky floor’ refers to the difficulties women face in progressing to higher-paid and higher-powered job roles whilst balancing the demands of their careers with personal, unpaid responsibilities. They can get stuck at lower levels, leaving the most senior positions to be occupied by, predominantly, men. Nuala McGovern discusses some of the reasons and solutions with Claire Reindorp, CEO of Young Women’s Trust, and Lucy Kellaway, former journalist, now economics teacher and co-founder of Now Teach.A Lancashire jury has found Ryan Wellings not guilty of the manslaughter of 23-year-old Kiena Dawes. Wellings, who was Kiena's boyfriend, was found guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour and assault between January 2020 and July 2022. He had denied all the charges against him, and will be sentenced at a later date. During the trial, the jury heard that Kiena had left a note claiming she was murdered and that Wellings had killed her before she took her own life. Joining Nuala to discuss this case are BBC reporter Yunus Mulla, Crown Prosecution Service domestic abuse lead Kate Brown and Director of the Centre for Women's Justice Harriet Wistrich.Hermine Braunsteiner was the first person to be extradited from the US for Nazi war crimes. She was one of a few thousand women who had worked as a concentration camp guard and was nicknamed ‘the Mare’ by prisoners because of her cruelty; she kicked people to death. In 1964, Hermine’s past was unknown: She was living a quiet existence as an adoring suburban housewife in Queens, New York when she was tracked down by a reporter from The New York Times who exposed her past. Angharad Hampshire, a Research Fellow at York St John University, joins Nuala to talk about The Mare, her novel based on Hermine’s life.Known as Badass Gran to her Instagram followers, Celia Duff is a double world Hyrox champion after taking up the races at 68. After retiring from her career as a doctor in public health medicine, the 70 year old dedicates her time to an impressive fitness regime that includes yoga, pilates, running, strength and conditioning, Olympic weightlifting six times a week, and now she’s fitter and stronger than ever.

The Right Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin is the Bishop of Dover and the Bishop in Canterbury - Britain's first black woman bishop. She’s a trailblazer, who has been right at the heart of a changing nation for over 40 years. Despite discrimination due to her gender and ethnic minority background, Bishop Rose has never wavered from the call she received to enter ministry at the age of 14. She joins Nuala McGovern to discuss her memoir, The Girl from Montego Bay.The fast-fashion company Shein, whose customers in the UK are 80% women, may be listing on the London Stock Exchange soon. But questions remain over the company's supply chain and work practices amid allegations of forced labour and human rights abuses. Nuala speaks to sustainable fashion consultant Natalie Binns and Head of Money and Markets at Hargreaves Lansdown Susannah Streeter. We asked Shein for a comment, but they said they didn't want to provide a statement.Zoe Kornberg is a trainee doctor in Texas who says she left her obstetrician and gynaecology training programme because she felt that, under the strict abortion laws, she wasn’t able to care for her patients safely. Nuala and reporter Melanie Abbott speak to women on both sides of the abortion debate in the US, as well as hearing from Zoe herself. If you've walked through Pounds Park in Sheffield recently, you might have seen a 25m-tall heron...it's a colourful mural by street artist Megan Russell, also known as Peachzz, who has been nominated for Street Art Cities' best mural in the world 2024. Megan joins Nuala to tell us more.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lottie Garton

Victims groomed and raped by gangs have told the BBC's Senior UK Correspondent Sima Kotecha that they are adamant the crime is still happening to girls across the country. This week, a Tory amendment to the government's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which wanted a national inquiry into grooming gangs, was voted down. Krupa Padhy talked to Sima and Simon Morton, a former senior investigating officer for Thames Valley Police, about what is known about how these gangs operate.Lucy Lawless, best known for playing Xena: Warrior Princess, joined Nuala McGovern to discuss another fearless woman. In her directorial debut, Never Look Away, she explores Margaret Moth, a warzone camerawoman for CNN who covered conflicts from the liberation of Kuwait in the early 90s to the Lebanon War in the mid-2000s armed only with a camera and an attitude.A new law change has made the creation of explicit deepfakes illegal, with those found guilty facing up to two years in prison. Nuala was joined by Durham Law Professor Clare McGlynn to hear more about what this means, and Channel 4's Cathy Newman, who was a victim of deepfakes herself, gives her thoughts.Victoria Melluish is a listener who wrote to us to highlight women working in environmentally hostile environments and to encourage more women to get out in the field. Victoria is currently employed as a marine mammal specialist and expedition guide on a cruise expedition ship. She says, 'I’m 30 and I work in the Arctic and Antarctic, and I often get asked how I manage having endometriosis while driving Zodiac boats around glaciers and marine megafauna.' Nuala spoke to her about her work.2025 is a big year for former Strictly professional Oti Mabuse who is judging Dancing on Ice, then going on tour and publishing her first adult novel. She joined Krupa to talk about these projects, becoming a mother and how being on I’m A Celebrity taught her the importance of sharing feelings.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

2025 is a big year for former Strictly professional Oti Mabuse who is judging Dancing on Ice starting this weekend, then going on tour and publishing her first adult novel. She joins Krupa Padhy to tell us all about these projects, becoming a mother and how being on I’m A Celebrity taught her the importance of talking about feelings.The term Eldest Daughter Syndrome is not an official mental health diagnosis, but on social media it has spurred women to talk about the way that being the eldest daughter in the family has affected them. Krupa speaks to therapist Louise Tyler and Sahra Abdulrehman, who is co-director of Home Girls Unite, a support group for eldest daughters. We hear some of the emotional speeches from MPs across the House of Commons during yesterday's violence against women and girls debate including a response from Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips. Krupa then talks to Sophie Francis-Cansfield, Head of Policy at Women's Aid.Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s charity, Multibank, is ramping up its efforts to tackle childhood hygiene poverty in 2025. Krupa is joined by primary school Pastoral Manager Kay Shaw, who runs the hygiene bank at her school in Doncaster, and lecturer and author Katriona O’Sullivan, who experienced this herself as a child.

Victims groomed and raped by gangs have told the BBC's Senior UK Correspondent Sima Kotecha that they are adamant the crime is still happening to girls across the country. Yesterday, a Tory amendment to the government's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which wanted a national inquiry into grooming gangs, was voted down. Krupa Padhy talks to Sima and Simon Morton, a former senior investigating officer for Thames Valley Police, about what is known about how these gangs operate.Playing Nice, a new ITV drama, tells the story of two couples who discover their toddlers were accidentally swapped at birth. Actor Niamh Algar, who plays one of the mothers, and Grace Ofori-Attah, who wrote the script for the small screen, join Krupa to talk about the moral and ethical issues within the series, and why they hope it will spark a conversation.Two women who've developed a firm friendship through a shared experience of having a rare eye cancer join Krupa to talk about the incredible bond they have forged. Ocular melanoma affects only five in a million people but Tessa Wingfield-Parry and Joanna Denman, who happen to live just around the corner from each other, both were diagnosed. They talk about how they met, the impact the disease has had on their lives, and how they've discovered they've got a lot more in common than just their cancer.Whilst doing her Masters at the University of Cambridge, Times writer Tyler Bennett earnt extra money on the side writing erotica. Having cracked the code to a good steamy story, she joins Krupa along with the Man Booker shortlisted author Sarah Hall to discuss the genre, breaking taboos and erotica's ability to empower.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Rebecca Myatt

A new law change has made the creation of explicit deepfakes illegal, with those found guilty facing up to two years in prison. Nuala McGovern is joined by Durham Law Professor Clare McGlynn to hear more about what this means, and Channel 4's Cathy Newman, who was a victim of deepfakes herself, gives her thoughts. Author Clare Whitfield joins Nuala to discuss her novel Poor Girls. The title of the book refers to the young, working class women of the 1920s who were destined for a life in service unless they took other, less respectable, opportunities. Like joining real-life all female criminal gang The Forty Elephants, who were famous for their sophisticated shoplifting scams and their hard-partying ways.Victoria Melluish is a listener who wrote to us to highlight women working in environmentally hostile environments and to encourage more women to get out in the field. Victoria is currently employed as a marine mammal specialist and expedition guide on a cruise expedition ship. She says, 'I’m 30 and I work in the Arctic and Antarctic, and I often get asked how I manage having endometriosis while driving Zodiac boats around glaciers and marine megafauna.' Nuala speaks to her about her work.Private businesses in Norway are now required by law to have more women sitting on their executive boards. In 2008, the country became the first in the world to introduce a 40% gender quota for the boards of listed companies. In 2023, the Norwegian parliament decided to extend the quota to private firms, with a deadline of 31st December 2024. Nuala is joined by Hege Rødland, founder of Matae AS, a recruitment company and Linda Litlekalsoy Aase, CEO of Bremnes Seashore Group, to discuss how successful it has been.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

The debate around widescale child sexual abuse and exploitation continues following calls from the Conservatives and Reform UK for a new national inquiry into the issue. Professor Alexis Jay chaired the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. It took seven years and was published in 2022. It warned of "endemic" abuse across society in England and Wales for girls and boys. Professor Jay has called again for implementation of her 20 recommendations. One recommendation was that those who cover up or fail to report child sexual abuse could face professional or criminal sanctions. The Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last night announced that has said that will be implemented as a new offence this year. Nuala McGovern speaks to Maggie Oliver, Founder and Chair of the Maggie Oliver Foundation, who was a former detective who resigned from Greater Manchester Police in late 2012 in order to expose the Rochdale Grooming Scandal, and Ken MacDonald, Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008.It's hoped a tool which allows women in Wales to log and report symptoms of endometriosis will empower patients to get help from their GPs and potentially lead to quicker diagnosis. It's estimated one in 10 women suffer from the condition, which can cause debilitating period pain and is linked to fertility issues. Nuala speaks to Dr Robyn Jackowich, one of the academics whose worked on the reporting tool, and Karen Hiu Ching Lo, who suffers with endometriosis.The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has been urged to boycott next month’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan by a group of more than 160 politicians. The England men’s ODI side are due to face Afghanistan in Lahore on 26 February but there are calls for the ECB to refuse the fixture, taking a stand against the Taliban regime’s ongoing assault on women’s rights. Nuala discusses the issues with Felix Jakens, Head of Campaigns for Amnesty International.Lucy Lawless, best known for playing Xena: Warrior Princess, joins Nuala to discuss another fearless woman. In her directorial debut, Never Look Away, she explores Margaret Moth, a warzone camerawoman for CNN who covered conflicts from the liberation of Kuwait in the early 90s to the Lebanon War in the mid-2000s armed only with a camera and an attitude.BBC Eye have released an animation narrated by Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe for BBC 100 Women 2024. It tells the stories of three women imprisoned in the notorious Evin prison in Iran. Nuala is joined by former Evin prisoner, Mahdieh Golroo and BBC Persian reporter, Baran Abbasi to discuss the prison’s reputation.Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, completes his final official duties today before stepping down. So what’s next for the Church of England? And how are women playing a part in the reform of safeguarding? Nuala McGovern is joined by the BBC’s Religion Editor, Aleem Maqbool. Also joining the conversation is Rowena Pailing, who used to be Vice Dean of Blackburn Cathedral but who resigned over what she calls safeguarding concerns, and Reverend Jenny Penn, who was an important part of the investigation into former priest David Tudor.Pencils at the ready – because comedian and presenter Mel Giedroyc is back with a new ITV gameshow, taking Pictionary from our living rooms to the TV screen. Mel tells Nuala about getting competitive during family games nights, how she’s enjoyed getting older, and why blind optimism is both her best and worst trait.Women in Syria are calling for recognition from the new regime, and asking to be involved in the running of the country. The caretaker government has made several appointments of former al-Qaeda hardliners that have caused concern about what the new leadership intends for women in the country. BBC Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet joins Nuala to tell us more.What’s the best advice you’ve ever had? Or even the best you’ve given? Nuala is joined by grandmother-granddaughter pair Christine and Christina, whose video on TikTok of Christine giving Christina advice has been seen by millions of people. They’ll speak about going viral, their special relationship and how they hope their videos help other people. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lottie Garton

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, has proposed "a new National Care Service", as part of the government's plan to shake-up adult social care with increased funding and an independent commission headed by crossbench peer Baroness Louise Casey. As adult social care is a predominantly female work force - and women make up the majority of people carrying out unpaid caring responsibilities - what impact could these changes have? Kylie Pentelow was joined by Melanie Williams, President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK.On New Year’s Day, Nuala McGovern explored all things women and walking in this special programme. She was joined by the comedian and author Miranda Hart to discuss how her battle with chronic illness gave her a new appreciation for getting outdoors and walking, following 10 years out of the spotlight with chronic fatigue.Many people will have visited or been visited by their adult children over the holidays. Being a parent to adult children, as well as being the adult child, can be complicated. What are the pitfalls? How can we ensure that relationship stays strong? Clare McDonnell was joined by psychotherapist Dr Julia Samuel and actor Helen Lederer to discuss.Four women from Pembrokeshire in Wales are about to set off on an Atlantic rowing challenge that’s been three years in the planning. They’re set to break two world records along the way. 32-year-old Sophie Pierce will be the first person with cystic fibrosis to row any ocean and 70-year-old Janine Williams will be the oldest woman to complete this challenge. She’s due to set a Guinness World Record. Along with Miyah and Polly, the women will spend 60 days together in a 10-metre-long ocean rowing boat to cross 3,200 miles unaided from Lanzarote to Antigua. Sophie and Janine spoke to Kylie on the day before they left for Lanzarote.What’s it like fostering in your forties? Author Beth Moran had three children in her twenties but decided to take up fostering once they flew the nest. Her new novel It Had To Be You is inspired by her experiences of fostering 13 children in five years and she joined Clare to discuss the challenges her family faced.A new Dolly Parton musical Here You Come Again is packed with the biggest and most rhinestoned hits from the country legend, and is currently playing at the Riverside Studios in London before it heads on tour across the UK next month. Actress Tricia Paoluccio joined Clare to discuss what it’s like becoming Dolly in the show – and gave a live performance in the studio.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Louise Corley

This morning the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, has proposed "a new National Care Service", as part of the government's plan to shake-up adult social care with increased funding and an independent commission headed by crossbench peer Baroness Louise Casey. As adult social care is a predominantly female work force - and women make up the majority of people carrying out unpaid caring responsibilities - what impact could these changes have? Kylie Pentelow is joined by Melanie Williams, President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK.The Women’s Rugby World Cup is being held later this year in England. Whilst Scotland and Wales will be competing, England currently sit at the top of the world rankings – with many hoping this could be women’s rugby’s ‘Lionesses moment’. To discuss whether this is likely and how best to ensure the tournament has a positive legacy, Kylie Pentelow is joined by Fi Tomas, women’s sport reporter at the Telegraph, and Christina Philippou, an associate professor in accounting and sport finance at the University of Portsmouth. Comedian Amy Gledhill is about to start a new residency at Soho Theatre in London with her award-winning solo show, Make Me Look Fit On The Poster. She joins Kylie to talk about writing autobiographical comedy, romance, bin bags... and why she is hoping her work will make people think as well as laugh.Juhea Kim’s first novel Beasts of a Little Land was set in Korea and covered the conflicts of the 20th Century. Her second novel, City of Night Birds, explores a wildly different subject, modern Russian ballet, and follows the story of talented ballerina Natalia as she finds fame and struggles to cope with the demands of international stardom. Juhea joins Kylie to discuss how her own experiences as a dancer inspired her novel.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Rebecca Myatt

In 1974, a group of around 40 women met in London to discuss the ongoing rape crisis and what to do about it. That meeting eventually led to the establishment of the UK's first ever Rape Crisis centre, which opened its doors and helpline on 15 May 1976. Since then, an entire network of Rape Crisis centres has been established by passionate groups of women around the country. Kylie Pentelow is joined by Dr Kate Cook, co-author of Rape Crisis: Responding to Sexual Violence, and Lee Eggleston, long-standing chair on the board of Rape Crisis England and Wales and who works on the front line of a rape crisis centre.Are you an introverted parent to extroverted children? Are they the life and soul of the party when you’d prefer to stay at home? Or are they always talking to random strangers when you’d prefer not to? This is the situation Grace Victory finds herself in. She tells Kylie how she manages two extroverted children, and psychologist Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo joins to give tips.There has been a rise in the number of children across England needing specialist treatment for severe mental health crisis, according to official NHS data analysed by the mental health charity YoungMinds. They found it shows a 10% increase in emergency, very urgent and urgent referrals for under-18s. There were 34,793 emergency, very urgent or urgent referrals to child and adolescent mental health services crisis teams between April and October 2024 that compared with 31,749 in the same six-month period in 2023. Kate Silverton, qualified child counsellor and author, joins Kylie.Four women from Pembrokeshire in Wales are about to set off on an Atlantic rowing challenge that’s been three years in the planning. They’re set to break two world records along the way. 32-year-old Sophie Pierce will be the first person with cystic fibrosis to row any ocean and 70-year-old Janine Williams will be the oldest woman to complete this challenge. She’s due to set a Guinness World Record. Along with Miyah and Polly, the women will spend 60 days together in a 10-metre-long ocean rowing boat to cross 3,200 miles unaided from Lanzarote to Antigua. Sophie and Janine speak to Kylie on the day before they leave for Lanzarote.

On the first day of 2025, Nuala McGovern explores all things women and walking in this special programme.Comedian and author Miranda Hart joins her to discuss how her battle with chronic illness gave her a new appreciation for getting outdoors and walking, following 10 years out of the spotlight with chronic fatigue.How can getting outdoors and walking impact us? Qualified GP Dr Lucy Loveday has developed a ‘Nature Toolkit’ and ‘green prescription’ to look at how we can support our mental and physical health by getting outdoors. She joins Nuala alongside Rhiane Fatinikum, founder of Black Girls Hike, to discuss how we can harness the power of nature at different stages of our lives and tackle barriers to getting outdoors.From writer Nan Shepherd to 18th-century poet Elizabeth Carter – women have been wandering and taking inspiration from nature for centuries. Kerri Andrews, author of Wanderers: A History of Women Walking, tells Nuala about the history of walking as inspiration. And musician Fiona Soe Paing joins us to share her latest project – Sand, Silt, Flint – reimagining traditional folk stories using field recordings from the natural world.One of our listeners got in touch to tell us about Blaze Trails – a community with over 70 free parent and baby walking groups across the UK, encouraging mothers to get outdoors and go walking. Their walks aim to help women connect with nature, with their babies, and with other families. Nuala headed to Staffordshire to meet them.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Erin Downes

What’s it like fostering in your 40s? Author Beth Moran had three children in her twenties but decided to take up fostering once they flew the nest. Her new novel It Had To Be You is inspired by her experiences of fostering thirteen children in five years.Singer-songwriter Theo Bleak has received huge acclaim recently for her raw lyrics and soaring melodies. As well as supporting Suede, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Joesef on tour, her debut LP Pain was also nominated for Scottish Album of the Year. Theo performs her latest single You Said You’d Feel It All Again live in the Woman’s Hour studio.The director Sam Taylor-Johnson was 42 when she met husband to be Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who was 18 at the time. They recently made a red carpet appearance with her two eldest daughters and the hashtag #SameAgeAsStepDaughter became a TikTok trend. Clare McDonnell is joined by Alexandra who was her husband’s third wife and at 30 had stepdaughters of 26 and 20 from his first two marriages. She joins Clare McDonnell, along with parenting expert and family psychologist Anna Mathur.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Laura Northedge

‘Unfortunately, she was a Nymphomaniac’ – that’s the title of a new book written to debunk the misogynist myths of Imperial Rome and to put the record straight about the lives and fates of Roman women. Its author, the journalist Joan Smith, joins Clare McDonnell to give us a fresh perspective on the ancient world.Many people will have visited or been visited by their adult children over the holidays. Being a parent to adult children, as well as being the adult child, can be complicated. What are the pitfalls? How can we ensure that relationship stays strong? Clare is joined by psychotherapist Dr Julia Samuel and actor and author Helen Lederer to discuss.Nearly half the world's population had major elections in 2024, but it was also a year that saw the slowest rate of growth in female representation for 20 years. The BBC has crunched the numbers from 46 countries and found that in nearly two-thirds of them the number of women elected fell. BBC Population Correspondent Stephanie Hegarty explains the findings.New Dolly Parton musical Here You Come Again is packed with the biggest and most rhinestoned hits from the country legend, and is currently playing at the Riverside Studios in London before it heads on tour across the UK next month. Actress Tricia Paoluccio joins Clare to discuss what it’s like becoming Dolly in the show – and gives a special live performance in the studio. Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Lottie Garton

Oscar-winning Michelle Yeoh’s career has spanned four decades. Starting out as a martial arts actor, she became a key figure in the Hong Kong action scene. But it was her role in James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies that catapulted her into Hollywood. She's since starred in many hits including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and the multi-Oscar winning movie - including for her own performance - Everything Everywhere all At Once. Now, she’s in the film adaptation of the musical Wicked. She joined Nuala McGovern live in the studio to discuss it.We look back at a special programme, that came live from the Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House in London, looking at the support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities – or SEND as it’s often known in England. Nuala heard from guest panellists including Kellie Bright, an actress in EastEnders but also a mum to a child with SEND, Katie, who is 17 and says she was completely failed by the SEND system, and the Minister for School Standards, Catherine McKinnell.On 22 September 1994, the American TV show Friends premiered on NBC and the characters Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross became household names. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Anita spoke to one of the show’s writers and producers, Betsy Borns and the journalist Emma Loffhagen about why the show still resonates today.We hear from listener Siobhan Daniels. She wrote to us on Instagram: 'I would love you to talk about van life and an alternative way of living.' Siobhan is 65 years old and after selling her home and possessions has lived in her motorhome for the last five years. Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal deaths in the UK. Last month the House of Lords Preterm Birth Committee published a report calling on the government to do more to reduce the risks of babies being born prematurely and to improve the lives of those families who are affected. Anita discussed the proposed changes with Nadia Leake, who gave birth to twins eleven years ago at just 22 weeks and is the author of 'Surviving Prematurity,'Corinne Bailey Rae's latest album is a complete departure from her previous work. Black Rainbows is inspired by a trip to Stony Island Arts Bank, a Chicago-based archive of black art and culture. The record spans punk, rock, experimental jazz, electronica and more. She joined Anita for a very special performance live from the Woman's Hour Glastonbury picnic table back in the summer.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Emma Pearce

Haiti has been ravaged by political instability and gang violence since the assassination of the country’s president in 2021 – and this year it’s spiralled with armed gangs in control of much of the capital Port-au-Prince. Alongside the violence is an escalating humanitarian crisis, which is severely impacting women and children with widespread hunger and malnutrition. Kylie Pentalow finds out more from the BBC’s senior investigations correspondent Nawal Al-Maghafi.In the Netherlands, the 31st December 2024 marks the deadline for people to register if they want their child to have a double-barrelled surname. Children in the Netherlands automatically took their father’s name, but in 1998 the law changed to allow them to take their mother’s name instead - but only with the consent of the father. A group of women who believe this is discriminatory are challenging the law. Kylie speaks to Linde Bryk, head of strategic court cases at women’s rights organisation Bureau Clara Wichmann, and Maartje Passchier who has been affected by the law change. The science teacher turned actor, writer and comedian Shazia Mirza has been taking part in a landmark year for Muslim women in comedy – performing in a touring show called Comedy Queens, where the lineup is entirely female and Muslim. She’s also been reflecting on her earlier years, growing up in a strict religious family in Birmingham, as she is writing a memoir. She joins Kylie to discuss her life before standup.On Christmas Day we had a programme devoted to the seasonal theme of Comfort - what it is, why we crave it, and the myriad of ways we can find it. Co-presenters Nuala McGovern and Anita Rani also discussed the flip side - importance of getting outside your comfort zone - with guests including organisational psychologist Fiona Murden and the food critic Grace Dent   BBC News is releasing a new episode of Imposter Syndrome today on iplayer with guest Sir Richard Branson. Therapist Julia Bueno joins Kylie to discuss the ways that imposter syndrome or self-criticism affects so many of us. In 2022 Julia published ‘Everyone’s A Critic’ based on conversations with her patients and she shares ways to cope when imposter syndrome starts to hold you back. The artist Celia Pym works with textiles to create her pieces. Her latest exhibition: Socks: The Art of Care and Repair looks at sustainability in fashion and the importance of mending. Presented by Kylie Pentalow Producer: Louise Corley

In a Boxing Day special, Anita Rani celebrates a favourite Christmas activity: puzzles and games.Anita hears from Leslie Scott, the woman who invented Jenga, and steps into the world of crosswords and general knowledge quizzes with Kate Mepham, setter for the Daily Telegraph.She pays tribute to Agatha Christie, the woman behind the most famous puzzles ever written, with novelist and essayist John Lanchester, and host of the Shedunnit podcast, Caroline Crampton.Anne Corbett, professor in dementia research at the University of Exeter, explains the role games can play in the battle to keep our minds fit and healthy.And Anita dives into gaming with Gabrielle Zevin, author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, one of the bestselling novels of recent years: a love story set in the world of video games. Eimear Noone, the composer behind World of Warcraft and the first woman to conduct at the Oscars, explains how video game soundtracks come together, while Frankie Ward, Esports host and journalist, has tips on the best games to play while breastfeeding.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Hannah Sander

As this is the season of Comfort & Joy, today’s programme is devoted to the theme of ‘Comfort’. At this time of year when many women are frazzled and craving a bit of comfort, Nuala McGovern and Anita Rani explore why it so important with their guests. Fiona Murden is an organisational psychologist, award winning author of the books Defining You and Mirror Thinking and host of the podcast Dot to Dot – Life Connected. She explains what comfort is, why we crave it and why it’s necessary, but she also discusses the importance of sometimes pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. Molly Case is a former cardiac care nurse and now works in palliative and end of life care. She works out what matters most to the people she cares for and how she can provide a level of comfort for them.The Reverend Bryony Taylor is a priest in the Church of England and works as Rector of Barlborough and Clowne in the Derby Diocese. She is also the author of More TV Vicar? a book about Christians on the television. She describes how faith can be a source of comfort for many people, especially at this time of year.The food writer Grace Dent, and chef and restauranteur Dipna Anand, recall the favourite foods from childhood that bring them emotional comfort and bring back happy and nostalgic memories, as well as what they will be having for Christmas. Hygge took the world by storm when Meik Wiking published The Little Book of Hygge – The Danish Way to Live Well in 2016. Hygge has been described as a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or wellbeing. Anita and Nuala are joined by Becci Coombes, whose father is Danish. She grew up with a love of all things Hygge and runs an online business - Hygge Style.  The band The Unthanks are known for combining traditional English folk, particularly Northumbrian folk music, with other musical genres. They have just finished a UK tour, and they have a new album out – The Unthanks In Winter. They perform two songs live in the studio: Bleary Winter and The Cherry Tree Carol.Presented by Nuala McGovern and Anita Rani. Producer: Louise Corley

Bestselling author Minette Walters shot to fame in the 1990s with her award-winning gritty crime novels The Ice House, The Sculptress and The Scold’s Bridle. She continued to write successful crime fiction for over twenty years until, inspired by a plague pit, Minette changed tack in 2017 and began to write historical novels. She joins Krupa Padhy to discuss her new novel The Players.Struggling with menopause symptoms? Social media is full of ads promising miracle cures, but many are too good to be true. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned several ads for making unsubstantiated claims about menopause relief. Krupa discusses this issue with Donna Castle from the ASA, menopause expert Dr Paula Briggs and Katrina Anderson from Mills Reeve.The summer box office hit It Ends With Us, starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, has taken a dramatic turn off-screen. Last week, Lively filed a legal complaint against her co-star, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her. The BBC’s Yasmin Rufo tells Krupa the latest.The Gavin and Stacey finale will be on our screens on Christmas Day, BBC 1 at 9pm. Krupa speaks to our own slice of Barry Island - Linda Bailey is the tour guide of the official Gavin and Stacey Bus Tour on Barry. She runs the tour as Nessa’s second cousin - Sally from the Valleys - and they visit all the filming locations.Festive rom-coms tend to follow a comfortably predictable format - small towns covered in snow, romantic misunderstandings and a happy ending. Film critic Rhianna Dillon and journalist Kayleigh Dray join Krupa to discuss this year’s releases, whether there’s a deeper meaning behind them and the rise of the 'cinnamon roll' man.

Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Amy Dowden was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer last year, and she shared her treatment journey in a BBC documentary. Now, Amy is preparing for a comeback with the show's live tour, as well as a tour of her own: Reborn, with dancer Carlos Gu. Amy joins Krupa Padhy to tell us more.South Korea is currently experiencing huge-scale protests against President Yoon Suk Yeol. Young women are instrumental to these protests, campaigning against the President who is often seen as a representation of a patriarchal society. BBC News Correspondent Jean Mackenzie is in Seoul – she joins Krupa to tell us more about the role being played by women.Metal detecting is an activity often linked to men, but there’s a women-only metal detecting group on Facebook that has thousands of members. Jade Cuttle is a member – she’s also a BBC New Generation Thinker, journalist & PhD Researcher at Cambridge. She joins Krupa to tell us why she thinks more women should consider taking it up as a hobby.In a significant development for Syria, Aisha al-Dibs has been appointed as the head of the Women's Affairs Office under the Syrian interim government. What does this mean for women in Syria, and what has their reaction been? Krupa speaks to Dr Rim Turkmani, Director of Syria Conflict Research Programme at the London School of Economics.As a new production of Oliver! hits the West End, we look at the character of Nancy. Who was she and what does she mean to us today? Professor Jenny Hartley, academic advisor to the Charles Dickens Museum, and Shanay Holmes, who is playing Nancy in the new production, join Krupa to discuss Nancy and to perform a song from the musical. Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Lottie Garton

It's the rape trial that has shocked the world. Gisèle Pelicot's ex-husband Dominique was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison for her rape, alongside 50 other men. We hear Gisèle's own words, and Anita Rani was joined by the BBC's Andrew Harding who has covered the trial from the beginning, and French journalist and founder of The Women's Voices website Cynthia Illouz. Anne-Marie Duff joined Nuala McGovern to talk about her latest stage role in The Little Foxes at London’s Young Vic Theatre. It’s a family drama where she plays Regina Hubbard, an ambitious woman who is thwarted by her position in Alabama society in the early 1900s, where her less financially savvy brothers have the power and autonomy to run the family business. Anne-Marie discusses playing ruthless characters and the stage roles that place women front and centre.A recent report by the National Council for the Training of Journalists found that 91% of UK journalists come from white ethnic groups. This has increased by 3% since last year. Amid large numbers of job cuts within the sector, what can be done to help keep female black and minority ethnic journalists within the profession? Nuala was joined by Habiba Katsha, a freelance journalist considering an alternative career, and award-winning writer and journalist Afua Hirsch.Daisy Edgar-Jones and her co-star Paul Mescal rocketed into the public gaze in the BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel Normal People. Following a couple of notable film performances Daisy is now on stage as the formidable, if unhappy, Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She joined Anita Rani live in the Woman’s Hour studio.Noel Streatfield’s classic children’s book Ballet Shoes was written in 1936, and had never been staged - until now. The National Theatre’s production of Ballet Shoes is directed by Katy Rudd and tells the story of the three Fossil sisters, Pauline, Petrova and Posy, who were given their name because they were all “discovered” as babies on the travels of adventurer Great Uncle Matthew and then abandoned to his Great Niece Sylvia, or Garnie, played by Pearl Mackie. Anita was joined by Katy and Pearl to discuss this children's classic.Would you ask your friends to describe you in one word? Comedian Sophie Duker did. She joined Nuala to talk about their responses and how it influenced her new standup show, But Daddy, I Love Her.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

Daisy Edgar-Jones and her co-star Paul Mescal rocketed into the public gaze in the BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel Normal People. Following a couple of notable film performances Daisy is now on stage as the formidable, if unhappy, Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She joins Anita Rani live in the Woman’s Hour studio.It's the rape trial that has shocked the world. Gisèle Pelicot's ex-husband Dominique was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison for her rape, alongside 50 other men. We hear Gisèle's own words, from the BBC's Andrew Harding who has covered the trial from the beginning, and French journalist and founder of The Women's Voices website Cynthia Illouz. Anita then speaks to Dr Caroline Copeland, senior lecturer in pharmacology and toxicology at King’s College London, about the term chemical submission, which has gained more recognition during the trial.Hundreds of women in labour are being diverted from their birth hospital of choice. Exclusive research done by the Health Service Journal found some were sent hundreds of miles from home to different hospital Trusts. The main reason was because of staff shortages or because midwifery teams lacked the right skill-mix for a delivery to be safe for the baby and the mother. Anita is joined by Health Service Journal Senior Correspondent Emily Townsend who carried out this investigation and Gill Walton, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives, to discuss.Bryony Page, Olympic medallist and trailblazer for British gymnastics, made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics by winning Team GB’s first ever trampoline gold. Known for her resilience and determination, she reflects with Anita on the achievements and challenges of her career, and shares her hopes for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

The verdicts have been handed down in the mass rape trial that has truly shocked and appalled people in France and around the world where 51 men stood accused of raping Gisele Pelicot. One of these men is Gisele's now ex-husband Dominique Pelicot, who has been convicted of drugging and raping his wife of 50 years - and inviting dozens of others to rape her over nearly a decade. He has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Anita Rani spoke to BBC correspondent Chris Bockman and French feminist campaigner Blandine Deverlanges, both outside the court in Avignon.Venture Capitalist Nell Daly is on a mission to invest in female entrepreneurs. She has launched a £50 million investment fund here in the UK to support those who normally don’t get a seat at the finance table. She joins Anita to talk about women in business.Noel Streatfield’s classic children’s book Ballet Shoes was written in 1936, and had never been staged - until now. The National Theatre’s production of Ballet Shoes is directed by Katy Rudd and tells the story of the three Fossil sisters, Pauline, Petrova and Posy, who were given their name because they were all “discovered” as babies on the travels of adventurer Great Uncle Matthew and then abandoned to his Great Niece Sylvia, or Garnie, played by Pearl Mackie. Anita is joined by Katy and Pearl to discuss this children's classic.Have you ever spent Christmas alone by choice? Why did you decide to spend it this way - and what did you do? That's what the best selling author and Daily Mail agony aunt, Jane Green, is doing this year. It's the first Christmas since her divorce and she's spending it alone, several thousand miles away from home. She joins me now. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

The government has announced that a ban on the private prescriptions of medicines used to delay puberty to young people questioning their gender in the UK, is being made indefinite. They are no longer prescribed on the NHS. Following the recommendations of the Cass review, the only new access to these puberty blocking drugs for young people will be via a clinical trial, due to start in early 2025. Deborah Cohen, former BBC Newsnight health correspondent and Visiting Senior Fellow at LSE Health has been looking into what this trial might look like and the debates around its design and ethics. She joins Nuala McGovern to explain further.The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) say they are furious at the latest government announcement that they won't be paid compensation. They say they weren't properly informed that their state pension age was rising and therefore weren't able to prepare for retirement. A Parliamentary Ombudsman investigation in March recommended that they be paid compensation, the government says the cost - which it says would be up to £10.5 billion - would not "be fair or proportionate to taxpayers". Nuala speaks to the current Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Rebecca Hilsenrath.Before Taylor Swift, there was Kay Swift - the first woman to compose a hit Broadway musical. She also worked alongside George Gershwin on many of his works such as Porgy and Bess – and they had a long affair. But Kay has largely been forgotten by history. A new Radio 3 Drama: Gershwin & Miss Swift, seeks to change that. Nuala is joined by Kay’s granddaughter, the author Katharine Weber, and actor Lydia Leonard who plays Kay in the drama.A recent report by the National Council for the Training of Journalists found that 91% of UK journalists come from white ethnic groups. This has increased by 3% since last year. Amid large numbers of job cuts within the sector, what can be done to help keep female black and minority ethnic journalists within the profession? Nuala is joined by Habiba Katsha, a freelance journalist considering an alternative career, and award-winning writer and journalist Afua Hirsch.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lottie Garton

Would you ask your friends to describe you in one word? Comedian Sophie Duker did. She joins Nuala McGovern to talk about hearing their responses and how it influenced her new standup show, But Daddy, I Love Her.Adele is in the headlines this morning after being accused of plagiarism in a Brazilian court for her 2015 song, Million Years Ago.Brazilian composer Toninho Geraes is seeking royalties - more than £125,000 - in moral damages for the alleged plagiarism, and songwriting credit for the track, claiming his samba song, Mulheres. influenced Adele’s song. Dr Karlyn King, lecturer in music business discusses. There's been an announcement of new vetting standards for potential and serving police officers and staff in England and Wales. The kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens led to so many questions and brought to light other failures in policing. Now, following recommendations from the Casey Review, the Angiolini Inquiry and His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services report there is new guidance from the College of Policing on how police need to be vetted to protect the public. Harriet Wistrich solicitor and director of the Centre for Women's Justice explains why they welcome the new guidance.It’s 20 months since the start of the civil war in Sudan and the country is suffering a humanitarian crisis. Nearly 12 million people have been displaced, a famine is on the horizon and in October, a UN fact-finding mission said the scale of sexual violence taking place was staggering. Campaign group, Human Rights Watch, is calling for a dedicated UN mission to protect women and girls from sexual violence. Associate Director in the Crisis, Conflict and Arms Division at Human Rights Watch, Belkis Wille joins Nuala.The Road Trip is a brand new adaptation of Beth O’Leary’s rom-com book of the same name. It follows Addie and her sister Deb as they are forced to car-share on the way to a wedding with Addie’s ex-boyfriend and his best friend. Nuala is joined in the studio by Beth O’Leary and Emma Appleton, who plays Addie.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Laura Northedge

Anne-Marie Duff joins Nuala McGovern to talk about her latest stage role in The Little Foxes at London’s Young Vic Theatre. It’s a family drama where she plays Regina Hubbard, an ambitious woman who is thwarted by her position in Alabama society in the early 1900s, where her less financially savvy brothers have the power and autonomy to run the family business. Anne-Marie discusses playing ruthless characters and the stage roles that place women front and centre.New government figures show there's been an increase in the number of children being educated at home - an estimated 111,700 in England. Parents give various reasons including: a lack of support for those with special educational needs, issues with their child's mental health, and many think schools just can't provide for their child. Nuala speaks to a parent who has home educated her five children and Natalie Perera, the CEO of the research organisation the Education Policy Institute.This weekend, the Iranian regime has arrested and released a young female singer for a live-streaming a performance in which she did not wear the mandatory hijab, Parastoo Ahmadi's video has gone viral in Iran. Last week the regime approved new legislation meaning that any person defying or assisting another to defy the morality laws of the country could possibly be sentenced to death. The BBC Correspondent Faranak Amidi explains what this means for women in Iran.Giving someone else control of your finances and decisions – through Lasting Power of Attorney – is meant to come with a guarantee that they always act in your best interest. In her latest series, Willpower Detectives, BBC investigative reporter Sue Mitchell explores a widespread business practice where some people are moved out of their homes and left with no idea what is happening to their money. Sue joins Nuala to explain.Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

A new analysis on the quality and quantity of childcare provision in England has revealed that the huge expansion of free childcare currently underway is at risk of not delivering for poorer families, according to a new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and Save the Children. Author of the report Jodie Reed and Phoebe Arslanagic-Little, Head of the New Deal for Parents at Onward, joined Nuala McGovern this week to discuss.You might remember Kerry Washington in her iconic role, Olivia Pope, the fixer in TV series Scandal, or perhaps you know her from her many other roles in The Last King of Scotland, Django Unchained and Little Fires Everywhere. In her new starring role, Kerry plays Major Charity Adams, a real-life World War Two hero. She joined Anita Rani live to discuss the film The Six Triple Eight, which tells the story of the only women of colour battalion stationed in Europe during the Second World War.A new report from SheRACES and Fund Her Tri UK has found that women triathletes can experience unacceptable harassment at events. It also showed that women competitors struggle with the lack of toilet facilities and changing facilities. Sophie Power is an ultrarunner and founder of SheRACES – she joined Nuala to tell us more about the report and the change they hope to make.IVF is one of the great medical breakthroughs of the 20th century. Thanks to its invention, over 390,000 babies have been born in the UK since 1991. 70,000 of which used donor eggs, sperm, or embryos. Elaine Lee was one of the first women in the UK to donate her eggs. She told Anita about the process then, and what it was like to be one of the first women to donate back in 1987.After going through chemotherapy for breast cancer, hairdresser Anastasia Cameron was told at a salon in Wales that they didn’t offer Afro wigs. She joined Nuala to discuss her experience and how she’s now helping other women in similar situations with her own wig business.The rivalry between silver-screen icons Bette Davis and Joan Crawford is the stuff of legend, a decades-long battle sparked by both professional and personal resentments. Now the story is being told in a re-boot of the play Bette & Joan, now showing at the Park Theatre in London. Greta Scaachi, who plays Bette, and Felicity Dean, who plays Joan, joined Nuala to tell us more about the pair’s infamous relationship.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

You might remember Kerry Washington in her iconic role, Olivia Pope, the fixer in TV series Scandal, or perhaps you know her from her many other roles in The Last King of Scotland, Django Unchained and Little Fires Everywhere. In her new starring role, Kerry plays Major Charity Adams, a real-life World War Two hero. She joins Anita Rani live to discuss the film The Six Triple Eight, which tells the story of the only women of colour battalion stationed in Europe during the Second World War.After struggling with PMDD, or Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, for years, writer Sarah Gillespie decided to travel to Lithuania to have her ovaries removed. She joins Reproductive Health Consultant at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, Dr Paula Briggs and Anita to share her story.Since 2011, over 14 million Syrians have been forced to flee their homes after peaceful protests ended in a government crackdown and brutal civil war. Now the Assad regime has fallen, what is life like for women still in Syria and for those who have been displaced? Can they ever return? Anita speaks to Dr Sophie Alkhaled and Zeina Kanawati. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Laura Northedge

The father and stepmother of 10-year-old Sara Sharif have been found guilty of her murder after subjecting her to "horrific suffering" for more than two years. Sara Sharif was described by her headteacher as a much loved pupil, a cheerful little soul who would sing to anyone who would listen. But the authorities failed to realise that she was being tortured by her father, Urfan Sharif, and suffered what the court heard was a daily living hell. Anita Rani talks to Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children's Commissioner for England and Wales, and Aisha Gill, Professor of Criminology at Bristol University, about why 15 opportunities to save Sara were missed.IVF is one of the great medical breakthroughs of the 20th century. Thanks to its invention, over 390,000 babies have been born in the UK since 1991. 70,000 of which used donor eggs, sperm, or embryos. Elaine Lee was one of the first women in the UK to donate her eggs. She tells Anita about the process then, and what it was like to be one of the first women to donate back in 1987.This morning it was announced that Baroness Sue Campbell will join England Netball as Chair of their Board. Previously she was credited with taking women's football from niche to mainstream. During her seven years as director of women's football at the Football Association, the number of women and girls playing football doubled, the number of people watching the game quadrupled and there has also been a significant increase in the number of women and girls taking up coaching and refereeing. Baroness Sue Campbell joins Anita to discuss her new role along with Fran Connolly, England Netball CEO. How do you tackle the stigma and violence faced globally by women with disabilities? Anita talks to Katrina Scior, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Stigma Studies at University College London, who this week is launching a self-reporting survey tool to help prevent discrimination. The project is led by UN Women and the UN Development programme in four places: Moldova, Pakistan, Gaza and West Bank and Samoa.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

A new report from SheRACES and Fund Her Tri UK has found that women triathletes can experience unacceptable harassment at events. It also showed that women competitors struggle with the lack of toilet facilities and changing facilities. Sophie Power is an ultrarunner and founder of SheRACES – she joins Nuala McGovern to tell us more about the report and the change they hope to make.A lawyer representing several alleged victims of Sean 'Diddy' Combs says the potential number of civil legal cases against the musician "is probably in the 300 range". The BBC's Mark Savage reminds us of the allegations against the US rapper. Mr Combs has denied all the charges against him.Campaigners are calling for an end to the “Prostitutes Caution”, saying it’s preventing women leaving sex work behind them. The caution stays on record for 100 years and there’s no appeal possible. A new report from the English Collective of Prostitutes says two thirds of women they surveyed who’d been given one found it hard to get a different type of job. Nuala talks to spokesperson for the ECP, Laura Watson, and MP for Nottingham East Nadia Whittombe, who’s backing the campaign for a change in the law.Imani Erriu’s Heavenly Bodies Trilogy has taken TikTok by storm. With its mix of romance and fantasy, it’s inspiring a new generation of readers. She shares her journey from self-publishing to viral success and the magic behind her stories.Women in Afghanistan have been banned from midwife and nurse training under a reported new Taliban decree. What impact is this having on those women? And what about the further impact on the health of women and children in Afghanistan? Nurse and journalist Bahaar Joya tells us more.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

A new analysis on the quality and quantity of childcare provision in England has revealed that the huge expansion of free childcare currently underway is at risk of not delivering for poorer families, according to a new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and Save the Children. Author of the report Jodie Reed and Phoebe Arslanagic-Little, Head of the New Deal for Parents at Onward, join Nuala McGovern to discuss.People in Syria are still celebrating in the streets after Bashar al-Assad was toppled from power at the weekend. For many, the regime change is personally life-changing, especially those who fled the country and now feel like it’s safe to return home. One of those is the BBC’s very own Middle East Correspondent Lina Sinjab, who was forced to leave in 2013 after multiple arrests and threats. Now, she’s back in Damascus, working freely as a journalist for the first time in many years. She tells Nuala what that's like.A new Spanish-language film, Sujo, examines the life of an orphan in Mexico after his father, a cartel gunman, is killed. It’s a fictional look into the real-life implications of cartel violence for people living in certain parts of Mexico, and it shows the key roles that women play in trying to help this young man move through his life. Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez are the co-directors and they join Nuala to discuss it.After going through chemotherapy for breast cancer, hairdresser Anastasia Cameron was told at a salon in Wales that they didn’t offer Afro wigs. She joins Nuala to discuss her experience and how she’s now helping other women in similar situations with her own wig business.

What does the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria mean for both the present and future of women on the ground? Nuala McGovern is joined by Chief Foreign Correspondent at The Times, Christina Lamb, and Senior Research Fellow at the London School of Economics and member of the Women's Advisory Board to the UN special envoy to Syria, Dr Rim Turkmani. Journalist Rhiannon Picton-James says you couldn’t pay her to have another child in the UK – because she believes it’s a ‘cruel and unfriendly’ country. Is she right? What are we doing wrong? Rhiannon joins Nuala in the studio to discuss, along with comedian Esther Manito.The rivalry between silver-screen icons Bette Davis and Joan Crawford is the stuff of legend, a decades-long battle sparked by both professional and personal resentments. Now the story is being told in a re-boot of the play Bette & Joan, now showing at the Park Theatre in London. Greta Scaachi, who plays Bette, and Felicity Dean, who plays Joan, join Nuala to tell us more about the pair’s infamous relationship.Lisa O’Neill is an internationally renowned singer-songwriter who has built a reputation internationally for her unique folk sound and powerful song writing. Lisa joins Nuala to speak about the women who have inspired her, why she puts messages of social justice in her music, and to perform live in the studio. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lottie Garton

Powerhouse actors Keira Knightley and Sarah Lancashire are starring alongside Ben Wishaw in new Netflix spy drama Black Doves. It follows the story of a female spy seeking revenge for the murder of her lover – whilst outwardly being married to a high-ranking politician. Keira and Sarah spoke to Nuala McGovern about the drama, their careers and their experiences as women in the film industry.Sutara Gayle is an actor and reggae artist. She fuses music with memories of her eventful life in a new show: The Legends of Them. From hearing her radio debut whilst in Holloway Prison on remand, to the Brixton uprisings in 1985 that were sparked by the shooting of her sister, the show explores a hugely varied and at times deeply moving portrayal of her life, and the women who have shaped it. Sutara joined Anita Rani in the studio.Professor Nicola Rollock is best known for her academic research and writing on race and society. As a friend of the programme, she approached us to ask to talk about something more personal - her experience of uterine fibroids, something that affects around 70% of women, but this rises to 80% for black women. Nicola joined Nuala alongside Hilary Critchley, Professor of Reproductive Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, to discuss more.After the actor Anna Maxwell Martin spoke on the programme about the grief she experienced after her husband died suddenly in 2021, we were inundated with listeners sharing their stories. Two of them, Giselle De Hasse and Heather Ashley, joined Anita to talk about how they manage their grief day to day.Author Josie Lloyd joined Nuala to discuss her new novel featuring fictional Alice Beeton, the prim and organised owner of The Good Household Management Agency and distant relative of the real-life Victorian cookery and household writer Mrs Beeton. Alice and her ancestor share a love of recipes and an eye for detail, which comes in handy when Alice becomes involved in a cosy, Christmassy crime in Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Louise Corley

Influencers on TikTok and Instagram are selling fake ‘cures’ for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition, according to a new BBC investigation. The BBC World Service tracked the most-watched videos with a #PCOS hashtag on TikTok and Instagram and found that half of them spread false information. Jacqui Wakefield, a BBC 100 Women reporter, has been investigating and joins Anita Rani to discuss. Sutara Gayle is an actor and reggae artist. She fuses music with memories of her eventful life in a new show: The Legends of Them. From hearing her radio debut whilst in Holloway Prison on remand, to the Brixton uprisings in 1985 that were sparked by the shooting of her sister, the show explores a hugely varied and at times deeply moving portrayal of her life, and the women who have shaped it. Sutara joins Anita in the studio. This year’s Radio 4 Christmas Appeal with St Martin-in-the-Fields to support those who are experiencing, or who are at risk of, homelessness across the UK is now underway. One of the charities your donations have helped this year is called Rowan Alba and it runs residential services in Edinburgh. We hear from resident Elvira, psychologist Sarah Phillips and Anita speaks to Tracey Stewart from Rowan Alba. To find out more, visit the Radio 4 Christmas Appeal website.A judge has ruled that MMA fighter Conor McGregor must pay the legal costs of Nikita Hand, who accused him of raping her in a hotel in Dublin in 2018. We explore the impact the ruling has had in Ireland with BBC journalist Aoife Walsh.On yesterday’s programme, the DJ Annie Mac spoke about the healing power of raving. Milly Day was listening and got in touch to tell us about her thesis on the subject. She joins Anita.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Emma Pearce

There have been reports that Afghan women are being banned from midwife and nursing courses in the latest blow to their rights. Women training as midwives and nurses in Afghanistan have told the BBC they were ordered not to return to classes, and five separate institutions across Afghanistan have also confirmed to the BBC that the Taliban had instructed them to close until further notice, with videos shared online showing students crying at the news. The BBC has yet to confirm the order officially with the Taliban government's health ministry. Anita Rani discusses what is potentially happening with BBC Diplomatic Correspondent Caroline Hawley.After the actor Anna Maxwell Martin spoke on the programme about the grief she experienced after her husband died suddenly in 2021, we were inundated with listeners sharing their stories. Two of them, Giselle De Hasse and Heather Ashley, join Anita to talk about how they manage their grief day to day, along with Dr Shelley Gilbert, the founder and president of Grief Encounter and a consultant psychotherapist.Daytime clubbing is a thing. All over the country, events are taking place, where you party early - and finish early - with plenty of time to be in your bed at a reasonable hour. So, whatever happened to the big night out? Is 3pm the new 9pm? And why are these early evening finishes becoming so popular? Anita is joined by DJ Annie Mac, the broadcaster, author, and events curator. Annie started her own version of an early finishing club event Before Midnight in 2022, with her 'nights' now running UK-wide.The artist Chila Kumari Singh Burman creates kaleidoscopic paintings, prints, etchings and moving images inspired by her Indian heritage. Chila was born in Toxteth in Merseyside and use materials like bindis and ice cream cones in her installations to represent her Asian identity as well as her working-class Liverpudlian childhood. She says she aims to challenge stereotypes and create an alternative perspective of Britishness. Chila joins Anita to talk about her eponymous book which brings together work from four decades and Neon Dreams, her exhibition at The Holburne Museum in Bath, which includes a life-size neon tiger in the ballroom and a giant multi-coloured neon lightshow on the façade of the museum building.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

South African soprano Pumeza Matshikiza has performed at many of the leading opera houses across Europe and the United States and released her debut album Voice of Hope, combining well-known arias with traditional and popular African songs. She has won critical acclaim in the title role of Aida at the State Opera Hannover, as the Fox in Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen at the English National Opera and this summer performed at London’s Classical Pride. She is about to accompany Bryn Terfel on a Christmas tour around the UK and joins Nuala in the studio to sing live.CensHERship is an organisation that looks into ways in which women’s health companies are censored across both online and financial platforms. A new report from them sets out how even including a word like ‘vagina’ in the launch of a sexual health product can mean that product is blocked. Co-founder of CensHERship Clio Wood joins Nuala to discuss what needs to be done and the findings of the report, alongside Tess Cosad, CEO and co-founder of Bea Fertility, and Farah Kabir, co-founder of Hanx – both of whom have experienced censorship of their business.Author Josie Lloyd joins Nuala to discuss her new novel featuring fictional Alice Beeton, the prim and organised owner of The Good Household Management Agency and distant relative of the real-life Victorian cookery and household writer Mrs Beeton. Alice and her ancestor share a love of recipes and an eye for detail, which comes in handy when Alice becomes involved in a cosy, Christmassy crime in Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Laura Northedge

Powerhouse actors Keira Knightley and Sarah Lancashire are starring alongside Ben Wishaw in new Netflix spy drama Black Doves. It follows the story of a female spy seeking revenge for the murder of her lover – whilst outwardly being married to a high-ranking politician. Keira and Sarah speak to Nuala McGovern about the drama, their careers and their experiences as women in the film industry. Victims of stalking could be given more protection from their abusers under new government proposals. The Home Office has today revealed six new measures to tackle the problem of stalking which is so prolific - official figures show that one in five women aged 16 and over in England and Wales have been a victim of stalking at least once. The new rules would include the right for victims to know the identity of online stalkers much sooner, and a wider use of stalking protection orders, as well as a review of current stalking legislation. Emma Lingley-Clark interim CEO at the Suzy Lamplugh Trust responds to the announcement.73-year-old Jane Rubens from Edinburgh was enjoying a holiday in the US when the worst thing happened. Whilst crossing a walkway in St Louis, Missouri she was hit by an SUV. She suffered a serious brain injury, broken ribs and a fractured collarbone. After multiple brain surgeries, she is now in an induced coma in a US hospital. Against medical advice, the insurance provider AXA Partners gave her family an ultimatum, fly her home to Scotland immediately, or they'll remove funding for her hospital care. Her daughter, Cat Rubens, tells Nuala how she used social media to fight the company’s decision. Raye has been named as one of the people on this year's BBC 100 Women list, which celebrates 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world every year. This year she won six Brit awards including songwriter of the year - the first time a woman has been given that particular accolade. We hear her speaking to BBC 100 Women’s Kirsty Grant about her huge success and the pressure she feels female artists are under. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

In this episode, Woman's Hour's Nuala McGovern introduces a bonus podcast in collaboration with BBC 100 Women. It’s an interview with the award-winning singer-songwriter Raye, who has been named as one of the people on this year's BBC 100 Women list, which celebrates 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world.Raye speaks to BBC 100 Women’s Kirsty Grant about her huge success, the abuse she says female artists get for doing well, and her dream of opening a jazz club.You can read more about the women on the BBC 100 Women list here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b086xrtd

The TV presenter Gregg Wallace has denied behaviour of a sexually harassing nature, after 13 people came forward last week with allegations of inappropriate comments. In a video posted on Instagram, he said the accusations had been made by 'a handful of middle-class women of a certain age'. Nuala McGovern is joined by former head of Channel 4 News Dorothy Byrne and the Chair of the Fawcett Society, Baroness Harriet Harman, to discuss.When Daniel Wing was a year old, his mother Tina was murdered. 32 years on, the murder still remains unsolved – but a spotlight is thrown on the case in a new documentary: Who Murdered You, Mum? Nuala is joined by Daniel and barrister Harriet Johnson to talk about what the programme shows in terms of change in fighting violence against women and girls, and what needs to happen next to keep women safe.Professor Nicola Rollock is best known for her academic research and writing on race and society. As a friend of the programme, she approached us to ask to talk about something more personal - her experience of uterine fibroids, something that affects around 70% of women, but this rises to 80% for black women. Nicola joins Nuala alongside Hilary Critchley, Professor of Reproductive Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, to discuss more.Hindi-language film, Laapataa Ladies, also known as Lost Ladies, has just been submitted for Bafta consideration. Set in 2001 in rural India, it follows two separate newlywed brides, Phool and Jaya, whose lives take unexpected turns after a mix-up on a crowded train. It's director, filmmaker Kiran Rao joins Nuala live in the studio to discuss the film and its variety of female characters.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lottie Garton

Losing a baby in the early stages of pregnancy can be an extremely painful experience. Having to explain to your employer why you can’t come to work only adds to the difficulty. In the UK, there’s currently no entitlement to time off for miscarriage within the first six months of pregnancy. The Women and Equalities Select Committee is hearing evidence on extending the right to bereavement leave to cover losses up to 24 weeks. Sarah Owen MP, Chair of the Committee and someone who has experienced baby loss, joined Nuala McGovern to discuss. When the Stammer Came to Stay is award-winning author Maggie O’Farrell’s third children’s book. Based on her experience of living with a stammer, it celebrates differences and explores children’s resilience in facing new challenges. She talks to Anita Rani about the book and how her stammer has shaped her life. Why are more young women dying from alcohol-related liver disease than ever before? BBC journalist Hazel Martin, diagnosed with the condition in her early 30s, has been investigating how her social drinking habits put her life at risk. Hazel joined Nuala along with Professor Debbie Shawcross, Consultant Hepatologist at King’s College Hospital, to explore the growing crisis and its causes. After writing her Spinal Column for The Times since 2010 —beginning just two weeks after breaking her neck and back in a riding accident—Melanie Reid has decided it’s time to stop. She joined Nuala to discuss why she’s stepping away, her reflections on the journey, and her plans for the future. Song-writing partnership Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear are making history by becoming the youngest and first female songwriting duo to compose for a Disney feature film in Moana 2. The Grammy Award-winning pair joined Nula to discuss their musical partnership. Kim Cypher, a saxophonist, composer, and vocalist, is a regular on the London and UK jazz circuit. She recently launched her third album, Catching Moments, and joined Anita in the Woman’s Hour studio and performed live.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

When the Stammer Came to Stay is award-winning author Maggie O’Farrell’s third book for children. Based on her own experience of living with a stammer, it's a story that celebrates differences and explores the resilience of children as they learn to navigate new and seemingly frightful challenges. She talks to Anita Rani about the book and the impact of her stammer on her life.Gregg Wallace is to step away from presenting MasterChef while allegations of historical misconduct are investigated. Wallace's lawyers say it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature and MasterChef's production company Banijay UK has launched an investigation. To discuss the story, Anita is joined by Katie Razzall, the BBC's Media Editor. Anita also speaks to Emma Bartlett, employment lawyer and partner at CM Murray, to look at some of the issues cases like this raise in terms of reporting allegations of inapproprate behavior in the workplace.In Nigeria scammers posing as doctors are convincing women that they have a “miracle fertility treatment” guaranteed to get them pregnant. BBC Africa Eye Reporter Yemisi Adegoke explains how these scammers target infertile women and fuel an underground trade in black market babies. Nigeria’s Miracle Baby Scammers is on BBC iPlayer.The Italian-American soprano Marina Costa-Jackson's acclaimed portrayals include Floria Tosca at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Mimi in La Bohème at Los Angeles Opera, and Carmen with Nashville Opera. She has now made her Royal Opera House debut where she is currently singing the role of Giulietta in a new production of The Tales of Hoffmann. She joins Anita, live in the studio, to discuss the role, how she handles performance anxiety, and to sing the aria L'amour lui dit la belle, accompanied by Christopher Willis on piano.Presented by Anita Rani Producer: Louise Corley

Academy schools were one of the issues that listeners raised during, and since, Woman’s Hour’s special programme investigating the SEND system for children with special education needs and disabilities. We hear the voices of two mums who say their children were let down by their Academy schools for allegedly failing to support their children's SEND needs and Anita Rani discusses SEND support in Academies with Leora Cruddas, CEO of the Confederation of School Trusts which represents more than ¾ of all Academies.Choreographer and intimacy director Lucy Hind has worked on major productions including Girl From the North Country, Oliver, My Fair Lady, Secret Life of Bees and more recently Groundhog Day. Her latest project Spend Spend Spend has just opened at the Royal Exchange theatre in Manchester and is the story of the infamous Viv Nicholson who in the 1960’s won today’s equivalent of a few million pounds and went on to spend it all on very public lavish spending-sprees. Lucy explains to Anita why being an intimacy director is an integral part of being a choreographer.Kim Cypher is a saxophonist, composer, vocalist and a regular performer on the London and UK jazz circuit including sold our performances on the main stage at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. She’s just launched her third album Catching Moments and Kim and her band join Anita in the Woman's Hour studio.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Laura Northedge

Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Joan Armatrading joins Nuala McGovern to discuss her 23rd studio album, How Did This Happen and What Does it Now Mean?Losing a baby in the early stages of pregnancy can be an extremely painful experience. Having to think about what you're going to tell your employer about why you're not able to come to work can compound the difficulty. In the UK you are not entitled to any time off work if you experience miscarriage in the first six months of pregnancy. But today, the Women and Equalities Select Committee is hearing evidence for the case of extending your right to bereavement leave to the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Sarah Owen MP, Chair of that Committee is in the Woman's Hour studio.Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey has spent the last 20 years as an independent crossbench peer in the House of Lords, championing social justice causes such as the fight against modern slavery and promoting ethical fashion. She was also one of the first black women to enter the Lords. In her memoir Eight Weeks, she reflects on her childhood in the care system during the 1950s and 60s and the challenges she faced moving between foster care and children’s homes, and what she learnt from accessing her care records some fifty years later. After writing her Spinal Column for the Times newspaper since 2010 – the first just two weeks after breaking her neck and back in a riding accident - columnist and author Melanie Reid has decided it’s time to stop and has published the final one. She joins Nuala to discuss why she has made that decision and what her plans are now.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Judges at the Supreme Court are today considering how women are defined in law in a landmark case brought by Scottish campaigners. It will address what “sex” means legally, and will set out exactly how the law is meant to treat trans people. BBC Scotland Policital Correspondent, Phil Sim, joins Nuala McGovern to explain more.Song writing partnership Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear are making history by becoming the youngest and first female songwriting duo to compose for a Disney feature film in the highly anticipated Moana 2. The Grammy Award-winning pair join Nuala live in the studio to discuss what the songs mean to them, and their career so far.The film Mediha tells the story of a teenage Yazidi girl who was captured by the Islamic State group in the 2014 genocide against the Yazidi people and kept for four years as a sex slave. To help her process her trauma, she has filmed her life and her journey to try and find her missing family members. Mediha herself joins Nuala alongside the director and producer of the film, Hasan Oswald.Following the death of bestselling novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford, Nuala talks to her publisher, Lynne Drew, and to television presenter and author Fern Britton who was a fan and a friend of Barbara’s. They’ll discuss Barbara’s extraordinary rise from typist to multi-millionaire author and the enduring appeal of her work, including her 1979 smash hit A Woman of Substance.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lottie Garton

The woman who accused the mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor of raping her has won her civil case against him. He has been ordered to pay nearly a quater of a million euros in damages. Mr McGregor says he will appeal. Nuala McGovern speaks to Orla O'Donnell who is the RTE News Legal Affairs Correspondent.A BBC Panorama documentary is out today which asks: Why are more young women dying from alcohol-related liver disease than ever before? The BBC’s Hazel Martin, who’s 32, was diagnosed with the condition. She’s been investigating how she became one of a growing number of young women surprised to discover their social drinking habits had put their lives at risk. Hazel joins Nuala as does Professor Debbie Shawcross, Consultant Hepatologist at Kings College Hospital. Journalist Lili Anolik had already written a book about obscure LA writer Eve Babitz when she read a letter Eve had written but not sent to her sometime friend, the literary superstar Joan Didion. Lili realised that the key to understanding Joan was held by Eve and vice versa and she joins Nuala to discuss her new book, Didion and Babitz.A new play at the Royal Court Theatre in London explores the impact of the child sexual exploitation and grooming scandals that took place in Northern and Midlands towns in England in the late 90s to the early 2010s. Emteaz Hussain, the play's writer, joins Nuala to discuss it.US pop star Chappell Roan has made it onto the shortlist for BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2025. Just a year ago she was a backing singer for Olivia Rodrigo – so what do we know about her? Laura Snapes, deputy music editor at the Guardian, joins Nuala to tell us more.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Oscar-winning Michelle Yeoh’s career has spanned four decades. Starting out as a martial arts actor, she became a key figure in the Hong Kong action scene. But it was her role in James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies that catapulted her into Hollywood. She's since starred in many hits including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and the multi-Oscar winning movie - including for her own performance - Everything Everywhere all At Once. Now, she’s in the film adaptation of the musical Wicked. She joined Nuala McGovern live in the studio to discuss it.BBC analysis suggests that the rate at which primary school pupils are being suspended from state schools in England has more than doubled in a decade. Permanent exclusion rates of primary-age pupils have also gone up, by almost 70% in the same period. Campaigners say children excluded from school at a young age experience long-term impacts. It's worth also stating that nearly 90% of those permanently excluded over the past five years also had special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The government has acknowledged the situation is at "crisis point", and says it is determined to "drive up standards" in schools. Anita Rani spoke to Lydia, whose son Eddie has been suspended from school 14 times this year.Twenty-four year old product design and technology graduate Olivia Humphreys is a Global Medical Winner of the James Dyson Award 2024. Her invention, Athena, is a portable hair-loss prevention device for chemotherapy patients. She talks to Nuala how the product works and how her mum inspired it.Katarina Johnson-Thompson is the double World and double Commonwealth Games heptathlon champion. This year she won the Olympic silver medal in Paris, her first ever Olympic medal. Katarina joined Anita to talk about her new book, Unbroken, in which she opens up about the pressures of representing Great Britain as a 19 year old at the London 2012 Olympics, her struggles with body image and the relentless resilience and determination she has shown in coming back from career-threatening injuries. Bethany Hutchison is one of eight female nurses who are taking their NHS Trust to an employment tribunal for allowing a trans woman to use their changing facilities at work. Bethany spoke to Nuala about why she feels she needed to bring this case, and how she hopes it will be resolved.The film Gladiator II stars Paul Mescal as Lucius and Connie Nielsen returns to her role as Lucilla. The sequel also includes a female gladiator for the first time, Yuval Gonen plays the role of Arishat. Anita is joined by classicist and author Dr Daisy Dunn and the film critic Larushka Ivan-zadeh to discuss how accurate this portrayal is and the role women play in the film.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

Adopted children may be allowed much closer contact with their birth families in the future as part of “seismic” changes recommended in a new report published earlier this month. At the moment family courts set out the level of contact the child will have with their birth parents, usually letters sent via an intermediary. But that could change. Anita Rani hears from two women who were adopted, who share their thoughts on what these changes could mean for adopted children, and Prof Beth Neil who helped to write the report. Gladiator II stars Paul Mescal as Lucius and Connie Nielsen returns to her role as Lucilla. The sequel also includes a female gladiator for the first time, Yuval Gonen plays the role of Arishat. Anita is joined by classicist and author Dr Daisy Dunn and the film critic Larushka Ivan-zadeh to discuss how accurate this portrayal is and the role women play in the film.'I Did Something Bad' is the debut novel by Pyae Moe Thet War. It tells the story of journalist Khin Haymar assigned by Vogue to get a scoop on Tyler Tun, Hollywood’s hottest movie star in exchange for a top job. But along the way a man ends up dead. Will the pair fall in love and can they get away with murder? Pyae joins Anita to talk about wanting to write a rom-com with murder set in her hometown of Yangon, Myanmar and why the novel features some serious social commentary on abortion, corrupt police and representation in film.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Laura Northedge

Katarina Johnson-Thompson is the double World and double Commonwealth Games heptathon champion. This year she won the Olympic silver medal in Paris, her first ever Olympic medal. Katarina joins Anita Rani to talk about her new book, Unbroken, in which she opens up about the pressures of representing Great Britain as a 19 year old at the London 2012 Olympics, her complex relationship with her mentor-turned-rival Jessica Ennis-Hill, and the relentless resilience and determination she has shown in coming back from career-threatening injuries.BBC analysis suggests that the rate at which primary school pupils are being suspended from state schools in England has more than doubled in a decade. Permanent exclusion rates of primary-age pupils have also gone up, by almost 70% in the same period. Campaigners say children excluded from school at a young age experience long-term impacts. It's worth also stating that nearly 90% of those permanently excluded over the past five years also had special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The government has acknowledged the situation is at "crisis point", and says it is determined to "drive up standards" in schools. Anita spoke to Lydia, whose son Eddie has been suspended from school 14 times this year, and Vanessa Longley, chief executive of the charity Chance UK, a charity which supports primary-aged children.The Iraqi Parliament is currently considering an amendment to personal status law that in effect could remove protections for women and lower the legal age of marriage to nine. There could also be changes to a women's right to divorce, child custody and inheritance. Joining Anita to discuss these proposals are Caroline Hawley, the BBCs Diplomatic correspondent, and Sarah Sanbar, Iraqi researcher for Human Rights Watch.A new Netflix film tells the story of the invention of IVF, and the woman whose contribution to this world-changing discovery has been largely forgotten, embryologist Jean Purdy. Award-winning actress Thomasin McKenzie talks to Anita about portraying Jean, and her two decades of acting, despite only being 24 years old.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Yesterday, the closing arguments were made in the trial of Dominique Pelicot and 50 other men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot - a case that has not only shocked France but far beyond that country's borders. To understand what impact the trial has had on women in France, Nuala speaks to Blandine Deverlanges, a feminist activist in the region where the trial is taking place who has been attending the trial of Dominique Pelicot. Bethany Hutchison is one of eight female nurses who are taking their NHS Trust to an employment tribunal for allowing a trans woman to use their changing facilities at work.  Bethany speaks to Nuala about why she feels she needed to bring this case, and how she hopes it will be resolved.The Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning actor Gillian Anderson has compiled a collection of women's sexual fantasies in her book Want. She tells Nuala why she wanted to work on this project, following her role as Dr Jean Milburn in Sex Education, and also responds to the recent Presidential election in the US. Filmmaker Elizabeth Sankey has long had an affinity with witches – both the fictional depictions we get in film and TV and the women themselves caught up in the Witch Trials of the Early Modern Period. But it was her experience of perinatal mental health issues following the birth of her son that really forged a connection for her between what she'd been experiencing and witches themselves. She's produced a new documentary to look at exactly that. Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

In Lucy Manning’s words, it started with a phone call... A call from a withheld number late at night in October 2022 where the unknown male caller appeared to be masturbating as he made lewd comments about her. And so began what she describes as a two-year ordeal to get police to arrest and charge the man responsible for making those calls. Lucy joins Nuala McGovern in the Woman’s Hour studio.As thousands of farmers gather to protest planned changes in inheritance tax rules for agricultural properties, Nuala asks BBC Farming Today presenter Anna Hill how this is affecting women farmers, who according to the National Farmers' Union make up a majority of the farming workforce in England and Wales.Zainab Johnson, one of America’s freshest voices in stand-up comedy, is making her UK debut this week at London’s Soho Theatre. She joins Nuala to discuss mining her massive family for material, being a gun owner and her thoughts on the recent US election.New Zealand actor Robyn Malcolm joins Nuala to talk about her morally complex and challenging new drama, After the Party. Robyn co-created the drama and plays the lead character, a woman who has accused her husband of sexually assaulting a teenage boy. She tells Nuala about representing real middle-aged women on screen.24-year-old product design and technology graduate Olivia Humphreys is a Global Medical Winner of the James Dyson Award 2024. Her invention, Athena, is a portable hair-loss prevention device for chemotherapy patients. She explains how the product works and how her mum inspired it.

Oscar-winning Michelle Yeoh’s career has spanned four decades. Starting out as a martial arts actor, she became a key figure in the Hong Kong action scene. But it was her role in James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies that catapulted her into Hollywood. She's since starred in many hits including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and the multi-Oscar winning movie - including for her own performance - Everything Everywhere all At Once. Now, she’s in the film adaptation of the musical Wicked. She joins Nuala McGovern live in the studio to discuss it.The Women's Equality Party voted to dissolve the organisation at a special conference this weekend. The political party was launched in 2015 to campaign for gender equality. Citing financial challenges and a changed political landscape, the leadership chose to recommend members vote to close down the party. In an exclusive interview, the two party co-founders - Catherine Mayer and Sandi Toksvig - join Nuala. In a recent article, the author and writer Alice Vincent asks: Why does nobody speak about post-breastfeeding depression? This was something she experienced after she stopped breastfeeding her son. Alice joins Nuala to discuss her experience of stopping breastfeeding along with Hilda Beauchamp, perinatal and infant mental health lead at the Institute of Health Visiting, and a midwife and health visitor by background.Es Devlin is the artist and stage designer responsible for some of the most iconic moments in recent popular culture. Her innovative staging is currently on display at the National Theatre's The Lehman Trilogy at the Gillian Lynne Theatre and her new work, Face to Face, is coming soon to Somerset House. She joins Nuala to discuss her career. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

A new Woman's Hour series, Forgotten Children, explores the impact on families when one or both parents are sent to prison. Reporter Jo Morris hears from Kerry Wright, who was just 17 and living in Spain with her parents when British police arrived at their door and arrested both of them, from Nan (not her real name), whose daughter received a prison sentence, leaving Nan to care for her five grandchildren and to Emily (not her real name), whose husband was sentenced to prison for domestic abuse. Nuala McGovern also spoke to Sarah Burrows, founder of Children Heard and Seen, a charity supporting children and families with parents or partners serving prison sentences, and Lucy Baldwin who is a research fellow at Durham University and a criminal justice consultant.As a new musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada, with lyrics contributed by the American musician Shaina Taub and music by Elton John, hits London's West End, Anita Rani was joined by the show’s leading ladies, Vanessa Williams, Georgie Buckland and Amy Di Bartolomeo to discuss the enduring appeal of this story.Nuala spoke to TV presenter and author Giovanna Fletcher from the Himalayas at the start of her trek to raise money and awareness for CoppaFeel! the breast cancer charity.Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal death in the UK. Today the House of Lords Preterm Birth Committee have published a report calling on the government to do more to reduce the risks of babies being born prematurely and to improve the lives of those families who are affected. Anita discusses proposed changes with Nadia Leake, who gave birth to twins eleven years ago at just 22 weeks and is the author of 'Surviving Prematurity,' Evelyn Forde was the first black female president of the Association of School and College Leaders, awarded an MBE for services to education, and named Times Educational Supplement Headteacher of the Year in 2020. In her book Herstory: A Leadership Manifesto, Evelyn shares her journey through the education system, her experiences of racism in her career, alongside the testimonies of other black leaders in the sector. With just 1% of headteachers in state schools in England from a black background, she joined Nuala to discuss why she thinks urgent action is needed to address the issue in education. A new musical – Mozart: Her Story - tells the story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s sister Maria-Anna, who taught him how to play the piano. Nuala is joined by the lyricist, Tegan Summer, and actor, Gabrielle Brooks who gives a performance from the new show.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

This week Woman’s Hour has featured the Forgotten Children series about the impact on children when a parent is sent to prison. So what do the Government intend to do about the problem? Anita Rani speaks to Labour MP Jake Richards and Conservative MP Richard Holden about the possibility of cross party action on this issue. A video has been going viral since yesterday: New Zealand MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke brought the country’s parliament to a halt by performing a haka in protest at a controversial bill seeking to reinterpret the country's founding treaty with Māori people. Maori journalist Jamie Tahana tells Anita what happened, and what it means for the country. Actor Halle Berry attended a fashion show wearing the same dress she memorably wore while accepting the Oscar for best actress in 2002. Thanks to her role in “Monster’s Ball,” Berry was the first black woman in history to take home the accolade, making the gown — which features a burgundy skirt and sheer bodice adorned with floral appliqué — all the more special. Anita explores this with Rosana Lai fashion editor at Glamour UK.COP29 - the UN's climate conference – has been taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan this week. The assembled delegates have been discussing ways to limit and prepare for future climate change with a particular focus on how to finance poorer countries adaptation to climate change. To coincide with this annual event LinkedIn has released some new data about green jobs and skills. Anita speaks to Sue Duke, VP of Global Public Policy for LinkedIn & their spokesperson for global gender parity.The Oliver award-winning cabaret, comedy and circus sensation La Clique was born at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2004 and has since toured the globe. It is celebrating twenty years with a new show just opened at London’s Leicester Square. We meet two of its artists: Katharine Arnold, an aerialist and choreographer and Miranda Menzies, who specialises in the ancient art of hair suspension.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Karen Dalziel

Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal death in the UK. Today the House of Lords Preterm Birth Committee have published a report calling on the government to do more to reduce the risks of babies being born prematurely and to improve the lives of those families who are affected. Anita Rani discusses proposed changes with Nadia Leake, who gave birth to twins eleven years ago at just 22 weeks and author of 'Surviving Prematurity,' Caroline Lee-Davey, CEO of the charity Bliss, which supports parents and families of premature or sick babies, and Baroness Laura Wyld, a member of the Preterm Birth Committee.A Georgian heiress and her husband are suing a property developer for over £36 million after buying a mansion and discovering a “moth infestation”… “of extreme proportions”. The couple describe killing up to 100 moths a day, watching them land on their children’s toothbrushes, plates of food and cutlery. And they are now seeking damages including £50,000 for moth-shredded clothes. The property developer denies all claims. Well, it's that time of year where you may be getting your winter woollies out and we wondered what's the best way to deal with such an occurrence? Anita is joined by Harriet Walker, Fashion Editor at The Times, who has been having her own nightmare experience with moths.In the next instalment of Woman's Hour's week-long series Forgotten Children, which looks at the impact on families when one or both parents serve time in prison, reporter Jo Morris speaks to Emily (not her real name), whose husband was sentenced to prison for crimes he committed against her. Emily discovered that, not only did she have to face the stigma of her children’s father being in prison, but as a single-parent she also struggled to access services to help her children cope with their father’s imprisonment. As a new musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada, with lyrics contributed by the American musician Shaina Taub and music by Elton John, hits London's West End, Anita is joined by the show’s leading ladies, Vanessa Williams, Georgie Buckland and Amy Di Bartolomeo to discuss the enduring appeal of this story. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has resigned, following pressure to stand down over his failure to report prolific child abuser John Smyth. What's the reaction from female leaders in the Church of England? Nuala McGovern speaks to Bishop of Gloucester Rachel Treweek, and Reverend Canon Lucy Davis, Chair of the National Association of Diocesan Advisers in Women’s Ministry.We hear the third part of our week-long series Forgotten Children, which looks at the impact on families when one or both parents serve time in prison. Reporter Jo Morris spoke to Nan (not her real name), whose daughter was sentenced to prison. This left Nan to care for her five grandchildren for two years in her two bedroom house. COP29 - the UN's annual climate conference - is underway in Baku, Azerbaijan. To discuss the issues for women Nuala is joined by Fiona Harvey, the Guardian’s Environment Editor, and Adelaide Lusambili, an associate professor at Africa International University in Kenya, who looks at how climate extremes are affecting maternal outcomes.A new musical – Mozart: Her Story - tells the story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s sister Maria-Anna, who taught him how to play the piano. Nuala is joined by the lyricist, Tegan Summer, and actor, Gabrielle Brooks who gives a performance from the new show. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lottie Garton

Following our reporter Jo Morris' interview yesterday with Kerry as part of our Forgotten Children series, Nuala McGovern investigates the impact on families when one or both parents are sent to prison. She is joined by Sarah Burrows, founder of Children Heard and Seen, a charity supporting children and families with parents or partners serving prison sentences, and Lucy Baldwin who is a research fellow at Durham University and a criminal justice consultant. Laura Bates is best known for her work founding the Everyday Sexism Project and she has written several non-fiction books including Misogynation and Men Who Hate Women. Now she is writing a series of Young Adult novels about an alternative Arthurian legend. The latest is Sisters of Fire and Fury and it asks what if the knight destined to unite Britain was not King Arthur, but a woman? Laura joins Nuala in the Woman’s Hour studio.Back in September, in a BBC documentary and podcast, we heard testimony from more than 20 former Harrods employees who accused the billionaire and former Harrods owner Mohammed Al Fayed of sexually assaulting them. Since the documentary first aired, many more women have come forward with allegations of assault, harassment and rape over a period of more than 30 years before his death. Nuala is joined by BBC correspondent Ellie Price, as well as two victims, Jen and Lindsay, who say they have found a bond since sharing their experiences. Nuala speaks to TV presenter and author Giovanna Fletcher from the Himalayas at the start of her trek to raise money and awareness for CoppaFeel! - the breast cancer charity. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

A new Woman's Hour series, Forgotten Children, explores the impact on families when one or both parents are sent to prison. Reporter Jo Morris hears from Kerry Wright, who was just 17 and living in Spain with her parents when British police arrived at their door and arrested both of them. Kerry’s parents were sentenced to prison in the UK, forcing her to leave her studies at an international school in Spain and return to England, uncertain of how to support herself.COP29, the UN's annual climate conference, kicks off today in Baku, Azerbaijan, where leaders from around 200 nations will gather to discuss strategies for limiting climate change. Emiliya Mychasuk, climate editor at the Financial Times, joins Nuala McGovern to talk about the new women’s leadership coalition. Evelyn Forde was the first black female President of the Association of School and College Leaders, awarded an MBE for services to education, and named Times Educational Supplement Headteacher of the Year in 2020. In her book Herstory: A Leadership Manifesto, she shares her journey through the education system, her experiences of racism in her career, alongside the testimonies of other black leaders in the sector. With just 1% of headteachers in state schools in England from a black background, she joins Nuala to discuss why she thinks urgent action is needed to address the issue in education. June Spencer, who played matriarch Peggy Woolley in The Archers for nearly 70 years—from 1951 until her retirement in 2022—has died at the age of 105. As one of the show’s original cast members, she was described by current editor Jeremy Howe as "a legend." Pat Gallimore, who plays Pat Archer and was Peggy's daughter-in-law in the series, joins Nuala to pay tribute.A hundred years on we celebrate the Electrical Association for Women. It became pivotal in emancipating women from the drudgery of everyday manual household tasks through the use of electricity, enabling women more time and opportunity to enter the labour market.  It also pioneered electrical safety, standardising the three pin plug. Nuala hears from 91-year-old Adrienne Peters, who was an early member and, Henrietta Heald, historian and author of Magnificent women and their revolutionary machines.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Dianne McGregor

In one of his first moves since his victory in the US election, President-elect Donald Trump has named his 2024 campaign manager, Susie Wiles, as his chief of staff in the White House. She will make history as the first woman to hold the title. But what do we know about the woman Trump referred to as the "ice maiden"? Kylie Pentelow was joined by Anne McElvoy, Executive Editor at Politico and host of the Power Play podcast to discuss.The Women's 100 metre Olympic champion Julien Alfred joined Clare McDonnell in the studio. Her gold medal in Paris was the first time St Lucia had won an Olympic medal. She discusses what it took to become a champion and also having a national day named after her.A Woman's Hour listener is fed up with the phrase 'Dear Sirs'. Ellie Rees is the co-founder of Brickworks Estate Agency and despite her team being all female, they are often addressed in this way. Clare was joined by Ellie and by Susie Dent, the author and lexicographer to discuss this.Do you have a first date red-flag question? What would be an absolute sure-fire, definite no-no answer which would tell you there is definitely going to be no second date? Olivia Rodrigo, the American singer-songwriter and actor, is quoted as saying that if her date wants to go to space, that is a red flag for her. Krupa Padhy spoke to Helen Coffey, senior journalist at the Independent who's written her take on questions she would ask, and Poppy Jay, director and podcaster most famously on Brown Girls Do It Too and now the spin-off Big Boy Energy.Irina Janakievska is a food writer and recipe developer. Born in what is now North Macedonia, she left her career in corporate law to follow her passion for sharing her love of Balkan cuisine. In her new cookery book, The Balkan Kitchen, she takes us on a culinary and cultural journey across the former Yugoslavia with recipes that speak for the vast and varied cuisine of a region overshadowed by conflict in recent years – from North Macedonia to Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia and Kosovo.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

Former England and Manchester City captain Steph Houghton was one of the first big names in women's football. In her new book, Leading From The Back, she details her experience of fighting to take the women's game from niche to mainstream. She also talks to Kylie Pentelow about her husband, former footballer Stephen Darby, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2018.In one of his first moves since his victory in the US election, President-elect Donald Trump has named his 2024 campaign manager, Susie Wiles, as his chief of staff in the White House. She will make history as the first woman to hold the title. But what do we know about the woman Trump referred to as the "ice maiden"? Kylie is joined by Anne McElvoy, Executive Editor at POLITICO and host of the Power Play podcast to discuss.Award-winning Turkish writer and political thinker Ece Temelkuran speaks to Anita Rani about a new play based on her novel, Women Who Blow on Knots. It's set against the backdrop of the Arab Spring in 2012, and four women embark on a road trip starting from Tunisia through Libya and Egypt to Lebanon, and is currently at the Arcola Theatre in East London.This Sunday, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light starts on BBC One. The much anticipated second series of the TV adaption of Hilary Mantel’s novels starts when Anne Boleyn is executed, and Henry VIII marries his third queen, Jane Seymour. Jane is played by Peaky Blinders actress Kate Phillips – she joins Kylie to talk more about the iconic role.

As Donald Trump has been declared the winner of the 2024 US Presidential Election and the election coverage dominates front pages around the world, we discuss what a second Trump presidency may mean for women. Krupa Padhy speaks to Woman's Hour presenter Nuala McGovern, who is in Washington DC, about what’s happened overnight, the latest news from the Harris campaign and any further information that has been revealed about women voters. Krupa is also joined by US Deputy Editor for the Telegraph, Rozina Sabur, and Dr Leslie Vinjamuri, Director of the US and Americas programme at Chatham House.Iqra Ismail, a football coach and refugee advocate, was prevented from playing in a match last month because she wears tracksuit bottoms rather than shorts, which she says compromises her religious beliefs. Iqra, who captained Somalia in 2019, was expected to play her first game against an east London team, but was told by the referee that club shorts were a requirement. Iqra joins Krupa to discuss why she has chosen to speak out.Do you have a first date red-flag question? What would be an absolute sure-fire, definite no-no answer which would tell you there is definitely going to be no second date? Olivia Rodrigo, the American singer-songwriter and actor, is quoted as saying that if her date wants to go to space, that is a red flag for her. Krupa talks to Helen Coffey, senior journalist at the Independent who's written her take on questions she would ask, and Poppy Jay, director and podcaster most famously on Brown Girls Do It Too and now the spin-off Big Boy Energy.From Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus to Gustav Klimt’s Mother and Child, women’s bodies have been a major theme throughout art history. But can we ‘reinvent’ the classic nude? Artist Sophie Tea is famed for doing just that, with paintings celebrating the female form and women of all shapes and sizes. Sophie joins Krupa in the studio to discuss finding fame on social media, pushing back against the ‘ideal’ body type and trying to make women feel a little bit nicer about themselves.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Rebecca Myatt

As results come in from the 2024 US Presidential Election, Krupa Padhy speaks to Woman’s Hour presenter Nuala McGovern from Washington DC about what we know so far, and the big ticket issues for women in this election. Krupa gets reaction from Sarah Elliott, spokesperson for Republicans Overseas UK and Sharon Manitta, spokesperson for Democrats Abroad UK. And, as further results come in from the battleground states, she speaks to Emma Long, Associate Professor in American History and Politics at the University of East Anglia.Award-winning comedian Hannah Gadsby is in London for four nights only with their new show: Woof!. They join Krupa to talk about their diagnosis of Autism and ADHD and how that influences their work, and what they want people to get from their performance. Irina Janakievska is a food writer and recipe developer. Born in what is now North Macedonia, she left her career in corporate law to follow her passion for sharing her love of Balkan cuisine. In her new cookery book, The Balkan Kitchen, she takes us on a culinary and cultural journey across the former Yugoslavia with recipes that speak for the vast and varied cuisine of a region overshadowed by conflict in recent years – from North Macedonia to Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia and Kosovo. Presented by Krupa Padhy Producer: Louise Corley

This week sees the culmination of the women's tennis season as the WTA finals are held, somewhat controversially, in Saudi Arabia. So far, top seed Aryna Sabalenka is through to the first semi-final, the second semi-final will be decided tomorrow. However, the decision to hold the tournament in a country which has been criticised for it's treatment of women has been in the spotlight and under scrutiny. To discuss this more, Clare McDonnell is joined by sports reporter Catherine Whitaker and Felix Jakens who is head of campaigns at Amnesty International.A Woman's Hour listener is fed up with the phrase 'Dear Sirs' - Ellie Rees is the co-founder of Brickworks Estate Agency and despite her team being all female, they are often addressed in this way. Clare is joined by Ellie to discuss this, and also by Susie Dent, the author and lexicographer. ADWOMEN: 100 Years of Women in Advertising opens this week at the Museum of Brands in London. It features iconic adverts from the 1920s to the present day looking at the creative women within advertising and the portrayal of women within the adverts themselves. It also examines the impact of advertising on women’s lives through defining periods of social history. Clare speaks to Alice Kain, the curator, and Sabina Usher, Head of Strategy and Partner at OMD.Playwright Caitriona Cunningham has drawn on her own experience of being in a mother and baby home in 1979 for The Marian Hotel, a production that’s currently touring Northern Ireland. In it, a group of young pregnant unmarried women hold each other up with sharp, dark humour against the backdrop of the Troubles. Caitriona joins Clare to explain why she decided to tell this story now.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Emma Pearce

Kemi Badenoch is the first woman of colour to lead a major political party in the UK, after being elected as leader of the Conservative Party at the weekend. What do we know about her as a woman, and as a politician? What does this mean for women in the Tory party? Clare McDonnell speaks to Katy Balls, political editor of the Spectator, Ella Robertson McKay, former head of Conservative Young Women, and Tory peer Baroness Kate Fall.The Women's 100 metre Olympic champion Julien Alfred joins Clare in the studio. Her gold medal in Paris was the first time St Lucia had won an Olympic medal. She discusses what it took to become a champion and also having a national day named after her. The author Eliza Clark is publishing a new collection of short stories: She’s Always Hungry. She joins Clare to talk about why she wanted to cover topics from matriarchal societies to body image, and how she thinks female authors deserve more respect.Natalie Hewit spent two months in Antarctica directing and producing on the documentary film Endurance, about Ernest Shackleton’s expedition. It was a labour of love, and features restored footage and AI-recreated voices of the original crew in 1914, as well as chronicling the discovery in 2022 of Shackleton’s ship, 3000 metres down in the icy waters of the Weddell Sea. Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Lottie Garton

British-Egyptian activist and Maths professor Laila Soueif has been on hunger strike for the past month to protest her son Alaa’s incarceration in Egypt. He is the country’s most high profile political prisoner. Laila and her daughter Sanaa – who has faced arrest and imprisonment herself – joined Anita Rani to talk about why they won’t stop fighting for Alaa’s release.The BAFTA-winning actress Anna Maxwell Martin stars as Delia in the new ITV series Until I Kill You. It tells the true story of Delia Balmer, who was the girlfriend of serial killer John Sweeney. Anna joined Nuala McGovern to talk about why she wanted to tell Delia’s story, as well as her personal experiences of grief and struggles with the special educational needs system.The United States goes to the polls next week and presidential candidates are campaigning furiously, with the two frontrunners being the Democratic nominee and current Vice President, Kamala Harris and the Republican nominee and former President, Donald Trump. As a programme, we’re taking a look at whether there’s such a thing as the ‘the woman’s vote'. How are different groups of women likely to vote and why? Nuala spoke to Kathy Frankovic, Consultant to YouGov America and former director of surveys for CBS News and Debbie Walsh, Director of the Centre for Women and American Politics at Rutgers University.Sacked from her job by voicemail the day after she informed her employer she was pregnant Joeli Brearley set up Pregnant Then Screwed to end pregnancy and maternity discrimination. The charity has helped to influence new flexible working and redundancy protection laws, providing advice to hundreds of thousands of women when they face discrimination and challenging employers and government in high profile cases. After ten years Joeli is stepping down as CEO. She joined Nuala in the Woman's Hour studio.Film historian Jennifer Smyth talked to Nuala about the life and legacy of the pioneering American screenwriter, Mary McCall Jr. The first woman president of the Screen Writers Guild in 1942, Mary was a key negotiator ensuring better rights and wages for all screenwriters in the film industry. But after years of standing up to male studio heads, she would be blacklisted and go from being one of the biggest earners in Hollywood to living on nickels and dimes.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Emma Pearce

Saoirse Ronan’s comments on the Graham Norton Show last week when she interjected in a conversation about self-defence and highlighted the issue of women’s safety are continuing to make headlines. She was applauded by the audience, but how much courage does it take to call something out like this? Joining Anita Rani to discuss are the journalist Ash Sarkar and counselling psychologist Dr Elaine Kasket. British-Egyptian activist and maths professor Laila Soueif has been on hunger strike for the past month to protest her son Alaa’s incarceration in Egypt. He is the country’s most high profile political prisoner. Laila and her daughter Sanaa – who has faced arrest and imprisonment herself – join Anita to talk about why they won’t stop fighting for Alaa’s release.Donna Ockenden, the midwife best known for leading independent investigations into shocking maternity scandals says she's 'disgusted' at the experience her disabled daughter, Phoebe, had in A&E recently. Phoebe and Donna join Anita for their first broadcast interview to explain what went wrong and what they want to change.It’s not uncommon to see young children using a tablet or a video game, but how much time on these devices is too much? A new UK study has explored how children under three engage with digital technology at home. The research reveals the significant extent of toddlers’ access to various devices, and highlights how these devices can support their early language and literacy development. Anita is joined by Professor Rosie Flewitt who led the study.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Maryam Maruf Editor: Sarah Crawley Studio Manager: Sue Maillot

Following the announcement of Labour’s first budget in fourteen years – and the first Budget announced by a woman Chancellor – we hear how women across the country will be affected. Anita Rani speaks to Mehreen Khan, the economics editor of The Times, Sara Reis, deputy director and head of research at Women’s Budget Group and Jo, a participant in the Changing Realities project, a collaboration of parents and carers on a low income and researchers from the University of York and Child Poverty Action.With Halloween upon us, Queen of African Horror Nuzo Onoh joins Anita to talk about her new novel Where the Dead Brides Gather, her journey to getting published and spooky celebrations in Nigeria. How many of us have grown up with parts of our lives unknown to our parents? Born with a degenerative muscular disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Mats Steen was in a wheelchair by the age of 8, and was in an out of hospital right up until he died at the age of 25. As his family mourned his loss, it emerged that Mats had an online life that his parents knew nothing about. In a new Netflix documentary, his mother Trude, his father Robert and his sister Mia describe what it was like to discover Mats' secret world. Trude joins Anita to discuss. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Laura Northedge

The business owner Martha Keith found her products being sold fraudulently online. She tells Nuala how she set about trying to take control of the situation. Last month Lloyds Bank warned of a huge rise in rogue retailers using fake websites to trick people into buying items that are never dispatched. To discuss Nuala is also joined by Katherine Hart, Lead Officer for Scams for the Chartered Trading Standards Institute and Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation. With less than a week to go until the US Presidential election next Tuesday, how are the campaigns trying to appeal to male and female voters? Nuala speaks to Jill Lepore, Professor of American History at Harvard University, and Edward Luce, US National Editor at the Financial Times.The Taliban has announced new restrictions on women in Afghanistan, which mean women are not allowed to pray out loud or sing together. We hear more from the BBC's Shazia Haya and Fawzia Koofi, the former deputy speaker of parliament in Afghanistan, who was a member of the peace negotiations with the Taliban.Film historian Jennifer Smyth talks to Nuala about the life and legacy of the pioneering American screenwriter, Mary McCall Jr. The first woman president of the Screen Writers Guild in 1942, Mary was a key negotiator ensuring better rights and wages for all screenwriters in the film industry. But after years of standing up to male studio heads, she would be blacklisted and go from being one of the biggest earners in Hollywood to living on nickels and dimes.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Sacked from her job by voicemail the day after she informed her employer she was pregnant Joeli Brearley set up Pregnant Then Screwed to end pregnancy and maternity discrimination. The charity has helped to influence new flexible working and redundancy protection laws, providing advice to hundreds of thousands of women when they face discrimination and challenging employers and government in high profile cases. After ten years Joeli is stepping down as CEO. She joins Nuala McGovern in the Woman's Hour studio.The United States goes to the polls one week today and presidential candidates are campaigning furiously, with the two frontrunners being the Democratic nominee and current Vice President, Kamala Harris and the Republican nominee and former President, Donald Trump. As a programme, we’re taking a look at whether there’s such a thing as the ‘the woman’s vote'. How are different groups of women likely to vote and why? Nuala speaks to Kathy Frankovic, Consultant to YouGov America and former director of surveys for CBS News and Debbie Walsh, Director of the Centre for Women and American Politics at Rutgers University.Last night’s 2024 Ballon d’Or Awards in Paris saw the Ballon d’Or Feminin award go to Aitana Bonmati for the second year in a row, and former Chelsea coach Emma Hayes win Women’s Coach of the Year. We hear from BBC Women’s Football reporter Emma Sanders for a round-up. Rae Mainwaring was only 23 when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Since then she's gone on to be a successful writer and theatre maker, and a mother of two children, and now her play Bright Places, about growing up in the shadow of a chronic illness is being staged at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. She joins us in the Woman's Hour studio. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

The Women’s Equality Party is urging members to vote to close down the party next month, just under 10 years after it began. The founders say financial challenges and a changed political landscape mean their campaigning model no longer works. Nuala McGovern is joined by the Guardian’s Emma Graham-Harrison and Jemima Olchawski from the Fawcett Society to discuss.The BAFTA-winning actress Anna Maxwell Martin stars as Delia in the new ITV series Until I Kill You. It tells the true story of Delia Balmer, who was the girlfriend of serial killer John Sweeney. Anna joins Nuala to talk about why she wanted to tell Delia’s story, as well as her personal experiences of grief and struggles with the special educational needs system. A new study has evaluated the effectiveness of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs), which offer specialist support to survivors of sexual violence. According to the research led by Coventry University, the majority of survivors surveyed reported a positive experience. To discuss the findings, we speak to the project lead Lorna O’Doherty, Professor of Trauma and Mental Health at Coventry University; and a woman we're calling Lauren who has accessed the services of a SARC.The Colombian artist Alejandra Aristizabal creates 3D artwork using a native Colombian plant called the Fique. Her art helps to give a voice to indigenous women and raise awareness of the work they do. She is currently part of a residency programme at Christie's of London supporting artists who are using their work to bring about change. Alejandra joins Nuala to tell us more.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lottie Garton

Vanessa Feltz has been a fixture on TV and radio for three decades. Now she has written a memoir, Vanessa Bares All, which charts the many ups and downs of her personal and professional life. She joins Anita Rani.Listeners share with Nuala McGovern what they think works when it comes to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision in educational settings. In the late 1970s, in the toilets at Euston Station, Dr Sheila Reith, while trying to administer insulin to her daughter, thought there must be an easier way. She envisioned a pen-like device that could be used simply with just one hand. A few years later, the first insulin pen came to market, revolutionizing care for people with diabetes. Dr. Reith has since devoted her life to diabetes care, improving and saving the lives of millions. She joins Anita to discuss winning a Pride of Britain Lifetime Achievement Award.Best known for her sketches on Saturday Night Live and her role as Weird Barbie, comedian Kate McKinnon has now turned her attention to books. The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science is her first children’s book. Kate discusses the story and embracing her 'weirdness.'What does the TV adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s 80s classic Rivals tell us about sex in 2024? Nuala hears from Dayna McAlpine, a sex and relationships writer and lifestyle editor at HuffPost UK, and Rowan Pelling, co-editor at Perspective and former editor of the Erotic Review.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

Vanessa Feltz has been a fixture on our TV screens and radio stations – not to mention tabloid headlines – for three decades. Now she has written a memoir, Vanessa Bares All, which charts the many ups and downs of her personal and professional life, from the Big Breakfast Bed to the Big Brother house, via Madonna and Miss Piggy. If farming can seem to be a man’s world, then ploughing is especially male. So who are the women taking part in ploughing competitions like the one in The Archers this week? Sarah Williams, a competitive plougher, joins Anita, as does Sarah Hehir, a writer on The Archers. A new documentary called Kingdom Uncovered: Inside Saudi Arabia follows an undercover journalist attempting to record what life is really like in the country. The current government say they have improved the situation for women, but is this really the case? Human rights activist Lina Al-Hathloul, whose sister Loujain was imprisoned for defending women’s rights, joins Anita alongside Dr Maryam Aldossari, a Senior Lecturer at the University of London. From 15th century birth girdles to 13th century make-up tutorials, a new exhibition at the British Library reveals what life was like for medieval women. Curator Eleanor Jackson and writer Bee Rowlatt, who both work at the Library, talk about challenging our ideas of women in the Middle Ages. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Emma Pearce

Two-time Oscar-nominated actor Emily Watson is a face that has graced the screen and stage – her work of course in Breaking the Waves in 1996 earned her one of those nominations. She joins Anita Rani to talk about her new role in the upcoming film, Small Things Like These. Based on the bestselling book by Claire Keegan, the story focuses on a convent – which is in fact running a Magdalene laundry and Emily plays the role of Sister Mary, the Mother Superior of the convent.Gisèle Pelicot has become something of a feminist icon in France. Her husband is on trial along with dozens of other men accused of raping her and she has promised to try to change society for victims of sexual assault. The trial in Avignon began at the beginning of September and Gisèle Pelicot took the stand yesterday for the second time. BBC correspondent Andrew Harding was in court. He and author and journalist Joan Smith discuss the impact of her testimony.In the toilets at Euston station in the late 1970s, while trying to administer insulin to her daughter, Dr Sheila Reith thought there must be an easier way. She had an idea for a pen-like device that could be used simply and with just one hand. A few years later, the first insulin pen came to the market and revolutionised care for people living with diabetes. Dr Reith has since devoted her life to diabetes care, improving and saving the lives of millions of people. She joins Anita to talk about winning a Pride of Britain Award.Best known for her sketches on Saturday Night Live and playing Weird Barbie the comedian Kate McKinnon has now turned her attention to books. ‘The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science’ is her first children’s book. Kate discusses the story and her broader career. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey

In a phone-in programme focusing on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, Nuala McGovern talks to listeners about SEND provision in educational settings with a focus on what is working. Mums of children with SEND share examples of what they personally think of as good practice in their schools and nurseries and SEND educational professionals and workers suggest potential solutions and innovative concepts that could potentially be passed on, scaled up and rolled out in versions across the UK.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Rebecca Myatt

The Prime Minister's chief of staff Sue Gray has left her post and has been replaced by Morgan McSweeney. It's led some papers to claim "the lads have won this round". To discuss, Nuala McGovern is joined by Caroline Slocock, former civil servant and author of Margaret Thatcher and Me, which reflects on women and power. Actor Cush Jumbo has reprised the role of Lady Macbeth alongside David Tennant in Macbeth which has just transferred to the Harold Pinter theatre in London. She joins Nuala to discuss how she is approaching one of Shakespeare’s most famous female characters. A recent government survey showed a sharp decline in the number of female-led businesses. Last year, only 15% of businesses employing fewer than 250 people were owned or led by women, down from 18% in 2022. Debbie Wosskow, serial entrepreneur and co-chair of the Invest in Women Taskforce, joins Nuala. Kate Mosse is soon to release The Map of Bones, the fourth and final instalment in her series of novels The Joubert Family Chronicles, which begin in 1562 and follow a persecuted Huguenot family, charting generations of courageous and resilient women. Adventurer Elise Wortley is following in the footsteps of forgotten female explorers… all whilst wearing the same, historically accurate clothing. She joins Nuala to tell her more about her mission. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

Former nurse Lucy Letby became one of the UK’s most notorious child killers after she was convicted in 2023 of harming and murdering babies in her care. The nurse was found guilty by two juries after lengthy trials, but now there's been speculation over whether some evidence in the Letby trial was reliable. BBC Special Correspondent Judith Moritz is the co-author of the book Unmasking Lucy Letby: The untold story of the killer nurse. She joins Nuala McGovern to discuss what she has discovered since the trial ended.The actor J. Smith Cameron is currently on stage in London’s West End alongside Mark Rylance in Juno and the Paycock. It’s a play about a working class family in Dublin during the1922 Irish Civil War. J joins Nuala to discuss this, as well as her starring role in Succession where she played Gerri Kellman.Last weekend, the adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s classic 1980s bonkbuster Rivals landed on Disney+. The eight-part series is set in a fictional upper-class Cotswolds community and features media, politics and lots and lots of sex. So what does this moment of steamy nostalgia tell us about sex in 2024? Nuala talks to Dayna McAlpine, a sex and relationships writer and lifestyle editor at HuffPost UK, and Rowan Pelling, co-editor at Perspective and former editor of the Erotic Review.New Zealand have won, against the odds, the Women’s T20 World Cup – an achievement that may mark a turning point for women’s cricket, so often dominated by Australia. Nuala is joined by batting all-rounder and a stalwart of the White Ferns, Suzie Bates.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Maryam Maruf Editor: Karen Dalziel Studio Manager: Gayl Gordon

It’s nearly thirty years since Kelly Macdonald made her acting debut as the sharp-witted 15 year old schoolgirl Diane in the classic film Trainspotting. Since then, the award winning actress has starred in critically acclaimed films like No Country for Old Men, Gosford Park, as well as Harry Potter franchise, and voiced the fearless Princess Merida in Pixar’s Brave. Now, she’s taking on a new role in the vampire comedy thriller, The Radleys.Scientists at the University of Oxford are creating OvarianVax, a vaccine which teaches the immune system to recognise and attack the earliest stages of ovarian cancer. The hope is that the jab could be given to women preventatively on the NHS with the aim of eliminating the disease. We talk to Professor Ahmed Ahmed from the university of Oxford, who is leading the research into the jab, and Cary Wakefield CEO of Ovarian Cancer Action, to find out when exactly we might see this becoming available.Hundreds of women have recently been protesting in Turkish cities after the killing of two young women in Istanbul – followed by protests every day for a week across the country, notably on university campuses. Recently the "We Will Stop Femicide Platform" reported that in Turkey, 34 women were murdered by men and 20 more died under suspicious circumstances in September alone. We hear from Elif Shafak - award-winning British-Turkish novelist and storyteller, and Times Turkey Correspondent Hannah Lucinda Smith.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Laura Northedge

Why has a drug that can extend life for advanced breast cancer patients not been made available on the NHS? NICE have made the decision that Enhertu, a drug that can give around an extra six months to live on average, is too expensive. BBC Health Correspondent Cath Burns joined Anita Rani alongside Kate Wills, who has stage 4 cancer and has been campaigning for the drug to be made available.The actor Lesley Manville is currently starring alongside Mark Strong in Robert Icke’s adaptation of Oedipus. She plays Jocasta, Oedipus’ wife. Lesley joined Nuala McGovern to tell us more about the play, what it’s like being back on stage for the first time since 2020, and why she thinks women's stories are being featured more.New podcast The Kill List follows a group of journalists who discovered a page on the dark web detailing requests to have people killed, with women most likely to be the ones targeted. The investigation led to a major international police operation over four years and, at the heart of it are the real people whose lives were seemingly at huge risk. Nuala was joined by the programme's producer Caroline Thornham and Jennifer whose former husband posted a 'hit' for her on this website.Blessing scams are targeting Chinese communities in the UK. They're usually carried out by women in groups of three, approaching people asking for help in Cantonese. Tuyet van Huynh's mother was one of these victims. After she was targeted, Tuyet set out to expose this practice on social media and has since heard from other victims. She speaks to Anita about the impact the crime has had on their family.Death is a subject many people still shy away from, but one woman is determined to change that. Funeral director Inez Capps is on a mission to challenge the taboos around death and demystify an industry often shrouded in mystery. Inez talks to Nuala about how, since the age of 19, she’s been working with the deceased, and she’s using social media to give people a glimpse behind the scenes — from the care a loved one receives, to tours of the hearse and the embalming suite.Elkie Brooks is the renowned British rock, jazz and blues singer. In a career spanning six decades, she was the biggest selling female British artist and still holds the accolade of the most Top 75 albums among female artists. She began singing professionally aged 15, shared a bill with The Beatles and went on to front the group Vinegar Joe with Robert Palmer, before going solo. She’s currently on her Long Farewell Tour and joined Anita in the studio to talk about her career and turning 80 next year.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

Why has a drug that can extend life for advanced breast cancer patients not been made available on the NHS? NICE have made the decision that Enhertu, a drug that can give around an extra six months to live on average, is too expensive. BBC Health Correspondent Cath Burns joins Anita Rani alongside Kate Wills, who has stage 4 cancer and has been campaigning for the drug to be made available.Do you have an 'emotional vampire' in your life? It’s that person who can make you feel drained with their negativity, who isn’t taking your own emotions into account. It can make for tricky relationships – so how do you identify an emotional vampire, and how do you handle that person? Chartered psychologist and author Suzy Reading joins Anita to discuss, alongside journalist and author Radhika Sanghani.Elkie Brooks is the renowned British rock, jazz and blues singer. In a career spanning six decades, she was the biggest selling female British artist and still holds the accolade of the most Top 75 albums among female artists. She began singing professionally aged 15, shared a bill with The Beatles and went on to front the group Vinegar Joe with Robert Palmer, before going solo. She’s currently on her Long Farewell Tour and joins Anita in the studio to talk about her career and turning 80 next year. In the latest in our series on special educational needs and disabilities we speak to the comedian Josephine Lacey. Today, we are looking at a very personal issue which will resonate for some mothers of boys with SEND. Josephine joins Anita in the studio. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Emma Pearce

What are the economic implications of getting married in your midlife? Anita Rani is joined by the Financial Times’ Claer Barrett, writer and couples counsellor Lucy Cavendish and journalist and author Flic Everett to share their thoughts and experiences.The murder trial of Sara Sharif, a 10-year-old girl found dead in Woking in August 2023, is at the Old Bailey in London. Sara's father Urfan Sharif, stepmother Beinash Batool, and uncle, Faisal Malik, have denied murder. BBC correspondent Helena Wilkinson talks to Anita about what the jury has been told so far.Are Women's Super League football clubs overlooking female English coaches? The Football Association has an aim of 75% female coaches in this league, but the season started with four out of 12 female coaches, two of whom are English. The BBC’s senior women’s football reporter Emma Sanders joins Anita to discuss why this might be.Blessing scams are targeting Chinese communities in the UK. They're usually carried out by women in groups of three, approaching people asking for help in Cantonese. Tuyet van Huynh's mother was one of these victims. After she was targeted, Tuyet set out to expose this practice on social media and has since heard from other victims. She speaks to Anita about the impact the crime has had on their family.Italian author Maddalena Vaglio Tanet’s acclaimed debut novel Untold Lessons is a story she was born to write. Based on events that took place in her own family decades ago, Untold Lessons explores how a tragic event prompts the disappearance of a much-loved teacher, and what the double mystery tells us about the lives and attitudes of the people living her local community at the time.

French actress Isabelle Huppert is renowned for her portrayal of dark, complex characters. She's also been hailed by many as one of the greatest actors of modern cinema. Since the 1970, she's starred in more than 120 films, including The Lacemaker, The Piano Teacher, and Elle for which she was Oscar nominated. She joins Nuala to discuss her latest role in a new comedic film The Crime is Mine, directed by François Ozon.From today NHS staff in England will be able to whisteblow on colleagues for sexual harassment, as part of plans to improve safety for staff across the health service. Almost three-quarters (74%) of NHS England staff are female and in this year's NHS Staff Survey, almost 58,000 staff said they'd been the victim of assault, touching, sexualised or inappropriate conversation or jokes from their colleagues. To discuss the plans Nuala speaks to reporter, Melanie Abbott and Dr Chelcie Jewitt co-founder of Surviving in Scrubs set up to raise awareness of the sexist and misogynistic culture within health care.New podcast The Kill List follows a group of journalists who discovered a page on the dark web detailing requests to have people killed, with women most likely to be the ones targetted. The investigation led to a major international police operation over four years and, at the heart of it are the real people whose lives were seemingly at huge risk. Nuala is joined by the programme's producer Caroline Thornham and Jennifer whose former husband posted a 'hit' for her on this website. Cecelia Ahern is the bestselling author of an incredible twenty books. She first found success at a remarkably young age. She was only 21 when her novel PS I Love You became an international bestseller and then a Hollywood film. She tells Nuala McGovern how Celtic mythology and a return to nature inspired her latest novel.Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

Dr Hilary Cass, now Baroness Cass, led a four year review into children’s gender identity services in England. Her final report concluded that children had been let down by a lack of research and "remarkably weak" evidence on medical interventions, and called for gender services for young people to match the standards of other NHS care. In an exclusive interview Nuala McGovern gets Dr Hilary Cass’s reflections six months on from releasing her landmark report.A Tupperware of Ashes is a play which follows an ambitious Michelin-Star chef, Queenie, played by Meera Syal. It's a family drama about life, immigration and the Indian spiritual cycle of death and rebirth written by playwright Tanika Gupta. Both women joined Anita Rani to talk about the play which is currently on at the National Theatre.Mums say that the UK’s system for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is broken. An opinion poll from Opinium commissioned by Woman's Hour for a programme on SEND last month revealed that only half of mothers believe their child with SEND is well supported in school, and those in Scotland are the least likely to feel this way. Krupa Padhy takes a look at what is going on behind the scenes with Julie Allan, Professor of Equity and Inclusion at the University of Birmingham; Bev Alderson, National Executive Member of the teaching union NASUWT and Jo Van Herwegen. Professor of Developmental Psychology and Education at University College London.Bestselling author Sophie Kinsella, known for the hugely popular Shopaholic series and many other bestsellers, talks to Nuala about her latest novel, What Does It Feel Like? It is her most autobiographical yet and tells the story of a novelist who wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there and learns she’s had surgery to remove a large tumour growing in her brain. She must re-learn how to walk, talk, and write. Six months ago, Sophie shared with her readers on social media that in 2022, she had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of aggressive brain cancer. It is known for its poor prognosis with only 25% of people surviving more than one year, and only 5% survive more than five years.A new report from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, BPAS, looks into what women want from contraception, the innovations in non-hormonal contraception, and the contraceptive options available to men. Anita was joined by CEO of BPAS Heidi Stewart and 28-year-old Charlotte whose contraceptive pill gave her severe migraines for more than two years before the connection was made.The Northumbrian electro-folk musician Frankie Archer has performed at Glastonbury and The BBC Proms, been featured on ‘Later... With Jools Holland’, and named as One To Watch! She has released a new EP 'Pressure and Persuasion’, through which she tells the stories of four women and girls from centuries past who navigate the same expectations that are put on women today. Frankie joined Nuala to talk about womanhood, tradfolk and to perform her current single, Elsie Marley.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Rebecca Myatt

The actress Lesley Manville is currently starring alongside Mark Strong in Robert Icke’s adaptation of Oedipus. She plays Jocasta, Oedipus’ wife. Lesley joins Nuala McGovern to tell us more about the play, what it’s like being back on stage for the first time since 2020, and why she thinks women's stories are being featured more.Every year thousands of babies need care for a brain injury sustained during birth. Now, highly focused training is being piloted in nine hospitals across England, aiming to standardise the approach and ensure staff know the best way to deal with an emergency that could lead to brain injury. Nuala is joined by Mary Dixon-Woods from the Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute and Gemma Barber from Liverpool Women’s Hospital to discuss how the training will work and what difference it could make. Strictly Come Dancing pair Katya Jones and Wynne Evans have faced criticism over an incident on Saturday's show where Evans appeared to put his hand around Jones' waist and on her stomach. Both have apologised for any misunderstanding over the moment, saying it was part of an 'inside joke', but there has been an outcry from fans and the press. Nuala speaks to the Independent's Claire Cohen to discuss more. Kendall Alaimo is an artist, activist and survivor of child sex trafficking. She joins Nuala live from a UN conference in Vienna to talk about her advocacy and the importance of giving survivors a seat at the table. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lottie Garton

For generations of women and girls, glossy magazines have been a guide to clothes, lifestyles, relationships and, of course, sex. Titles like Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Own and Sugar were pored over by thousands of us and now there is a podcast that celebrates those beloved back issues. Every week the hosts of Mag Hags, Lucy Douglas and Franki Cookney, read a different issue of a magazine from the 70s, 80s or 90s. As well as revelling in the 20th Century fashions, features and lifestyle advice, Lucy and Franki join Nuala McGovern to uncover a fascinating insight into the way we lived then, and the way we live now.A public inquiry begins today which will explore the circumstances of the death of Dawn Sturgess, the woman from Wiltshire killed by a 2018 poisoning blamed on Russian agents. Her death came four months after Sergei and Yulia Skripal were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury. At the time Prime Minister Theresa May said the Skripals were poisoned with the military grade nerve agent, Novichok and that it was "highly likely" that Russia was responsible - a claim Russia denies. Dawn Sturgess died after coming in to contact with the nerve agent which had been hidden inside a perfume bottle. Nuala is joined by BBC Wiltshire's Marie Lennon, one of the voices behind the new BBC Podcast, Salisbury Poisonings.Black Box Diaries is a feature-length documentary that follows the director Shiori Itō’s investigation into her own alleged sexual assault in an attempt to prosecute her high-profile offender. Opening up questions around the #MeToo movement in Japan, Shiori explains how her quest became a landmark case exposing the country’s outdated judicial and societal systems.Death is a subject many people still shy away from, but one woman is determined to change that. Funeral director Inez Capps is on a mission to challenge the taboos around death and demystify an industry often shrouded in mystery. Since the age of 19, she’s been working with the deceased, and she’s using social media to give people a glimpse behind the scenes — from the care a loved one receives, to tours of the hearse and the embalming suite. Inez runs a funeral business with her parents in the East Midlands.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Sharon D Clarke is a triple Olivier award-winning actress currently starring in two separate TV series: My Loverman on BBC One and Ellis on Channel 5. In November she’s playing the role of Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Lyttelton Theatre in London. Sharon joins Krupa Padhy to talk about her new roles and what black representation on stage and screen means to her.Mums say that the UK’s system for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is broken. An opinion poll from Opinium commissioned by Woman's Hour for a programme on SEND last month revealed that only half of mothers believe their child with SEND is well supported in school, and those in Scotland are the least likely to feel this way. Krupa takes a look at what is going on behind the scenes with Julie Allan, Professor of Equity and Inclusion at the University of Birmingham; Bev Alderson, National Executive Member of the teaching union NASUWT and Jo Van Herwegen. Professor of Developmental Psychology and Education at University College London.The rap musician Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs could face lawsuits from more than 100 accusers for sexual assault, rape and sexual exploitation. He is currently being held in a New York detention centre after being denied bail. What are the accusations against him? And what impact is this having on the alleged victims? BBC News correspondent Chi Chi Izundu joins Krupa to tell us more.Who were the trailblazing black women in nursing and how far back does that history go? The children’s black history author Kandace Chimbiri asks that question in her latest book The Story of Britain’s Black Nurses. She examines how far back this history goes and its links to Empire and Britain’s former colonies.

Hurricane Milton landed today in Florida, battering the US state with winds of around 120 miles per hour. Residents were warned to evacuate for their own safety - but some have stayed. Professor of Risk and Hazard at Durham University Lucy Easthope joins Anita Rani to look at the women who stay behind in these situations, and their reasons behind this, as well as whether disaster planning reflects gender differences.A Tupperware of Ashes is a play which follows an ambitious Michelin-Star chef, Queenie, played by Meera Syal. It's a family drama about life, immigration and the Indian spiritual cycle of death and rebirth written by playwright Tanika Gupta. Both women join Anita to talk about the play which is currently on at the National Theatre. A new report from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, BPAS, looks into what women want from contraception, the innovations in non-hormonal contraception, and the contraceptive options available to men. Anita is joined by CEO of BPAS Heidi Stewart and 28-year-old Charlotte whose contraceptive pill gave her severe migraines for more than two years before the connection was made. Swedish singer-songwriter, rapper and producer Neneh Cherry first achieved global success in 1988 with her hit Buffalo Stance. She now has released a beautiful and personal memoir, A Thousand Threads. Neneh joins Anita to talk more about her life and career, and the stories she tells in the book. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lottie Garton

Dr Hilary Cass, now Baroness Cass, led a four year review into children’s gender identity services in England.  Her final report concluded that children had been let down by a lack of research and "remarkably weak" evidence on medical interventions, and called for gender services for young people to match the standards of other NHS care.  In an exclusive interview Nuala McGovern gets Dr Hilary Cass’s reflections six months on from releasing her landmark report.Alison Steadman is one of our best loved actors.  Candice Marie in Nuts in May, Beverly in Abigail’s Party, Mrs Bennett in Pride and Prejudice and Pamela in Gavin & Stacey, just some of the iconic characters Alison has brought to life.  She’s also won an Olivier Award for The Rise and Fall of Little Voice and a National Society of Film Critic Award.  She is also a keen birdwatcher.  She joins Nuala to talk about her memoir, Out of Character. The second phase of a campaign aimed at finding the names of unidentified women who were murdered or killed in suspicious circumstances is being launched. Operation Identify Me is highlighting another 46 cold cases that European police are seeking to solve. BBC coverage of last year’s appeal helped to identify a British woman, Rita Roberts, some 30 years after her murder. Nuala is joined by BBC Correspondent Anna Holligan. The Northumbrian electro-folk musician Frankie Archer has performed at Glastonbury and The BBC Proms, been featured on ‘Later... With Jools Holland’,and named as One To Watch! She has released a new EP 'Pressure and Persuasion’, through which she tells the stories of four women and girls from centuries past who navigate the same expectations that are put on women today.  She joins Nuala to talk about womanhood, tradfolk and her current UK tour, and to perform her current single, Elsie Marley.Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

If you remember the #butnotmaternity campaign during the Covid-19 pandemic you’ll recall that women were sometimes left to give birth without their partners. Those restrictions for maternity care were left in place far too long affecting the mental health of mothers and staff. That's according to evidence given to the Covid-19 inquiry which this week is looking at the subject in detail. The inquiry has been listening to the impact on women from 13 pregnancy, baby and parent organisations. We hear from our correspondent who has been following it, Jim Reid, and from Jenny Ward, the CEO of the Lullaby Trust, who gave evidence on behalf of all the organisations. And we talk to Daisie Lane who tells us of her own experience and her book chronicling 150 other women's experiences.Bestselling author Sophie Kinsella, known for the hugely popular Shopaholic series and many other bestsellers, has sold over 45 million books which have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her latest novel, What Does It Feel Like?, is her most autobiographical yet. It tells the story of a novelist who wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there and learns she’s had surgery to remove a large tumour growing in her brain. She must re-learn how to walk, talk, and write again. Six months ago, Sophie shared with her readers on social media that in 2022, she had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of aggressive brain cancer. It’s known for its poor prognosis with only 25% of people surviving more than one year, and only 5% survive more than five years.A murder investigation has been launched after the body of a 22-year-old woman was found in south Belfast. Mary Ward is the fourth woman to be murdered in the space of six weeks in Northern Ireland. The Police Service of Northern Ireland - or PSNI - have referred the case to the office of the Police Ombudsman. Earlier this year, the PSNI released figures showing that in the five years between 2019 and 2024, 30 women and girls across Northern Ireland were killed by men. To put that into context, the population of Northern Ireland is around 1.9 million. We hear from Alison Morris - the Crime Reporter for the Belfast Telegraph.Woman's Hour is joined by the winner of the BBC Green Sport Award, the rower Imogen Grant. Campaigning for cleaner rivers, being vegan and buying fewer clothes are all things Imogen does to protect the environment. She also talks about winning gold at Paris 2024.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Mums who give up work or cut their hours because they have a child with special educational needs and disabilities say problems with school transport is one of the reasons. An opinion poll from Opinium commissioned by Woman's Hour for a programme on SEND last month revealed 12% of mothers flagged lack of appropriate funded transport as a problem. Woman's Hour hears from three mums, Ellie Partridge, Ramandeep Kaur and Sabiha Aziz, who are struggling to transport their children with SEND to school, and in some cases are having to pay hundreds of pounds a month. Hair loss comes in many forms, from thinning to complete loss. In his new YouTube series, Hair Stories, hairstylist Michael Douglas, with over 37 years of experience working with women’s hair, explores women’s unique stories and the personal connection they have with their hair. Joining Michael is Katie O'Callaghan, who experienced hair loss and ultimately chose to undergo a hair transplant.In her speech at Labour conference the Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood said: "for women, prison isn’t working." To discuss her latest announcement, as well as the launch of the Women's Justice Board, Nuala is joined by the former Chief Inspector of Prisons, Dame Anne Owers, and Lily Blundell, Head of Community Programmes at the charity, Women in Prison.For this special edition of Woman's Hour, Nuala McGovern travels to Tuam, County Galway in Ireland to visit the site of a former mother and baby home which came to the world’s attention in 2014. It was revealed that up to 796 babies and young children who died in the care of the nuns who ran the home, had been disposed of in a disused sewage tank. Now, more than a decade since the scandal broke, work is starting on a full excavation. Nuala speaks to guests including Paul Forde, a survivor of the Tuam home, whose baby sister's remains may be in the mass grave.When Cathy Hollingworth was first diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, she decided to document her journey through poetry. Now she’s publishing a collection of 22 poems called Getting It Off My Chest. She joins Kylie to discuss the poems and how they helped her get through her treatment, as well as what she hopes others can learn about talking to people with cancer.The London Piano Festival runs at Kings Place from Friday 4 - Sunday 6 October. Nuala is joined by Katya Apekisheva, co-founder of the festival, a Professor of Piano at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, to explore of the lives and music of women piano composers from the last two centuries.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Louise Corley

The current conflict in Lebanon has forced thousands of women and children in refugee camps to once again leave their homes for their own safety. Kylie Pentelow is joined by the BBC’s Senior International Correspondent Orla Guerin to get the latest on the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, and speaks to CEO and co-founder of the Alsama Project, Meike Ziervogel, to hear what impact it is having on women and children.Woman’s Hour listener Fran Blackett got in touch with us because she wanted to talk about fell running, and why she wants more women involved in the sport. She joins Kylie to explain what fell running is, why she’s so passionate about it, and more about her women’s running group, Run Like a Haggis.Are you in your 'protective hag' era? That's what the author and journalist Poorna Bell calls the position she finds herself in. Recently she’s written about feeling an increasing sense of protectiveness towards younger women. Poorna joins Kylie to talk about this stage of life and what it means to her.It's being reported that Melania Trump - the wife of former President Donald Trump - has expressed explicit support for abortion rights - one of the key dividing lines in the US presidential election. Her stance appears to be in sharp contrast with the position of her husband, as he enters the final leg of the US presidential race. Gina Yannitell Rheinhardt, Professor of Government and an expert in US politics at the University of Essex, joins Kylie to discuss.When Cathy Hollingworth was first diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, she decided to document her journey through poetry. Now she’s publishing a collection of 22 poems called Getting It Off My Chest. She joins Kylie to discuss the poems and how they helped her get through her treatment, as well as what she hopes others can learn about talking to people with cancer.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Lottie Garton

Mums who give up work or cut their hours because they have a child with special educational needs and disabilities say problems with school transport is one of the reasons. An opinion poll from Opinium commissioned by Woman's Hour for a programme on SEND last month revealed 12% of mothers flagged lack of appropriate funded transport as a problem. Woman's Hour hears from three mums, Ellie Partridge, Ramandeep Kaur and Sabiha Aziz, who are struggling to transport their children with SEND to school, and in some cases are having to pay hundreds of pounds a month. Kylie Pentelow is joined by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Amerdeep Somal as she exclusively shares the outcome of a complaint against Sandwell Council in the West Midlands for failing to provide transport for a disabled child.Today the Women's T20 cricket World Cup kicks off in the UAE. For some, this will be a tournament of firsts; At 11am, Scotland will be making their T20 debut against Bangladesh. Joining Kylie to look ahead to the event is the cricket commentator Alison Mitchell.In 2021, Netflix premiered the documentary Wild Wild Country which drew global attention to the Rajneesh movement, a group of around 30,000 people at the movement’s height, who followed an Indian spiritual guru called Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. But what really drew the attention of many of the people who had grown up as part of this international community was that the experience of children was barely reflected in the six-part series. Maroesja Perizonius and her mother were part of the Rajneesh movement, joining when Maroosha was six. Maroesja has created a new documentary, Children of the Cult. She joins Kylie to talk about this very deeply personal project along with Sargam, another woman whose family became followers when she was a child. Who were Alice Diamond, the Queen of 40 Thieves, and the Fake Heiress? In a brand new series of Lady Killers, the historian Lucy Worsley switches her attention to swindlers, con women and hustlers. From queens of the underworld, hoaxers and scammers, Lucy and a team of all female detectives travel back in time to revisit the audacious and surprising crimes of women who were trying to make it in a world made for men. Lucy joins Kylie to discuss the stories of some of these women and what their crimes teach us about women’s lives.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Rebecca Myatt

In her speech at Labour conference the Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood said: "for women, prison isn’t working." To discuss her latest announcement, as well as the launch of the Women's Justice Board, Nuala is joined by the former Chief Inspector of Prisons, Dame Anne Owers, and Lily Blundell, Head of Community Programmes at the charity, Women in Prison. A manhunt is continuing following a suspected acid attack outside a school in west London. The attack took place outside Westminster Academy in Westbourne Park, after school, on Monday afternoon. The school was closed yesterday, with lessons taking place online and many staff working from home. Acid attacks increased by 69% in England and Wales last year, with female victims exceeding the number of male victims for the first time, according to one leading charity. Nuala discusses the incident with BBC's Steve Knibbs and Ayesha Nayyar, who is a campaigner and solicitor.The London Piano Festival runs at Kings Place from Friday 4 - Sunday 6 October. Nuala is joined by Katya Apekisheva, co-founder of the festival, a Professor of Piano at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and prize-winning pianist Rose McLachlan, to explore of the lives and music of women piano composers from the last two centuries. Dr Beth Shapiro is an evolutionary biologist working in de-extinction. She is a pioneer in the ancient DNA field, and features in a new documentary: Hunt for the Oldest DNA. Her work goes towards saving species from extinction and fighting against climate change. She joins Nuala to talk about her work and why it’s so important. Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

Menopause campaigner and Labour MP Carolyn Harris, and Dr Paula Briggs from Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust join Nuala McGovern to discuss the findings of the BBC’s latest Panorama: The Menopause Industry Uncovered.Who was the first detective? You might be thinking of Sherlock Holmes. In a new book by Sara Lodge, she reveals that the first detectives were actually women, 40 years earlier than Sherlock. Sara joins us to tell us more. Hair loss comes in many forms, from thinning to complete loss. In his new YouTube series, Hair Stories, hairstylist Michael Douglas, with over 37 years of experience working with women’s hair, explores women’s unique stories and the personal connection they have with their hair. Joining Michael is Katie O'Callaghan, who experienced hair loss and ultimately chose to undergo a hair transplant.Conservative MP Mims Davies has said that the number of women wanting to work for and with the Conservative Party is "diminishing". To discuss this and the ongoing Tory leadership contest, Nuala is joined by Lara Spirit, Redbox Editor for The Times, and Ailbhe Rea, Associate Editor, Bloomberg UK.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

For this special edition of Woman's Hour, Nuala McGovern travels to Tuam, County Galway in Ireland to visit the site of a former mother and baby home which came to the world’s attention in 2014. It was revealed that up to 796 babies and young children who died in the care of the nuns who ran the home, had been disposed of in a disused sewage tank. Now, more than a decade since the scandal broke, work is starting on a full excavation. Nuala has an exclusive interview with Daniel MacSweeney, who is in charge of the excavation, and hopes to provide answers for families who want to give their children a decent burial. She also speaks to the women who uncovered the scandal - Catherine Corless and Anna Corrigan, as well as journalist Alison O'Reilly who broke the story, and to Paul Forde, a survivor of the Tuam home, whose baby sister's remains may be in the mass grave. If you believe you are related to a child buried in Tuam, please contact Daniel MacSweeney's team. The confidential phone line is 00 353 1 5391777 or email info@dait.ie The postal address is: Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam (ODAIT), Custom House, Flood Street, Galway, H91 XV2C, Ireland.And we're inviting you to also share your story with us, you can email Woman's Hour via the 'Contact Us' tab above.Contributors: Catherine Corless, campaigner and Tuam resident Paul Forde, Tuam mother and baby home survivor Daniel MacSweeney, Director of Authorised Intervention at Tuam Anna Corrigan, Tuam Babies Family Group Alison O'Reilly, journalist at the Irish ExaminerPresenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Crawley AP/Digital: Claire Fox

The Taliban in Afghanistan are to be taken to the International Court of Justice for gender discrimination by Canada, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands. This is the first time that the ICJ has been used by one country to take another to court over women's rights. Krupa Padhy is joined by the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet.Two weeks of paternity leave isn’t enough, according to the Dad Shift, a campaign group which is calling for more affordable paternity leave. Last week, they made headlines by attaching life-size model babies in slings to statues of men across London, in a bid to raise awareness of the issue. Research suggests that a third of eligible parents don’t take up the two weeks of statutory paid leave. George Gabriel from the Dad Shift; Scott Inglis, a parent and trade union rep for the University and College Union; and Dr Sarah Forbes, Director of the Equal Parenting Project at the University of York, join Krupa to discuss how current policies are working for parents. What would happen if a mysterious woman on a flight began predicting the deaths of her fellow passengers? This is the premise of Australian writer Liane Moriarty’s latest book, Here One Moment. Liane joins Krupa to discuss her novels, which include the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning Big Little Lies. The classic Levi's 501 jeans have been voted the nation's most iconic fashion piece of all time. Originally patented in 1873, the 501 recently celebrated its 150th year. Second to the jeans came the classic Ralph Lauren polo shirt, ahead of the timeless Chanel little black dress. Joining Krupa to discuss all things jeans is Lauren Cochrane, senior Guardian fashion writer and Hannah Rogers, Assistant Fashion Editor at the Times Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor Demi Moore is a name recognised by many, from her standout role as Molly Jensen in the film Ghost, to Lieutenant Commander Joanne Galloway in A Few Good Men. But it’s her role as Elisabeth Sparkle in new movie, The Substance, which has got a lot of people talking. Many see it as a commentary on Hollywood’s beauty standards and fear of ageing. Demi joined Kylie Pentelow live to discuss it.The BBC recently broadcast Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods, a documentary and podcast which alleged that former Harrods chairman Mohamed Al Fayed sexually assaulted women who worked at the store. Kylie spoke to the woman who was the catalyst for the documentary - Sophia Stone and to her husband Keaton Stone. Sophia alleges that she was groomed and then sexually assaulted by Al Fayed. Keaton was determined to help her and approached other women who had worked at Harrods. The BBC has heard testimony from more than 20 female ex-employees who say Al Fayed, who died last year, sexually assaulted or raped them. The current owners say they are "utterly appalled" by the allegations and are seeking to settle claims "in the quickest way possible”.The language used by healthcare professionals to describe pregnancy loss exacerbates the grief and trauma experienced by some individuals. Words such as incompetent cervix, products of conception, and empty sac to name but a few. That’s according to a study published this month by University College London. We hear from Dr Beth Malory, Lecturer in English Linguistics at UCL who led the study.It's officially the start of cuffing season, apparently that time of the year where you want to stay home, under a blanket, with a takeaway and someone you love. But how are people looking for partners nowadays? Are we over dating apps and looking to return to meeting people in real life? Anita was joined by Olivia Petter, author or Millenial Love, and Oenone Fobart, co-host of the Everything is Content podcast.What would happen if a mysterious woman on a flight began predicting the deaths of her fellow passengers? This is the premise of Australian writer Liane Moriarty’s latest book, Here One Moment. Liane joined Krupa to discuss her novels, which include the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning Big Little Lies.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Deiniol Buxton

What is best practice for journalists when it comes to reporting on rape cases? Why does the way it's reported matter and what sort of a difference can considered reporting make? The End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) with academic Alessia Tranchese are launching a new resource addressing responsible reporting on rape, based on analysis of 12 years’ coverage in the British press. With two most recent examples of Gisele Pelicot in France and the ex-employees of Mohamed Al-Fayed in mind, journalist Yvonne Roberts and CEO of EVAW Andrea Simons join Anita Rani to discuss.The war in Sudan began in April last year and shows no signs of ending. It has claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions of people and plunged parts of the country into famine. Laila Baker from the United Nations’ agency for sexual and reproductive health and rights joins us to talk to us about the situation for women on the ground in Sudan.It's officially the start of cuffing season. That time of the year where you want to stay home, under a blanket, with a takeaway and someone you love. But how are people looking for partners nowadays? Are we over dating apps and looking to return to meeting people in real life? Anita is joined by Olivia Petter, author or Millenial Love, and Oenone Fobart, co-host of the Everything is Content podcast.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Laura Northedge

Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor Demi Moore is a name recognised by many, from her standout role as Molly Jensen in the film Ghost, to Lieutenant Commander Joanne Galloway in A Few Good Men. But it’s her role as Elisabeth Sparkle in new movie, The Substance, which has got a lot of people talking. Many see it as a commentary on Hollywood’s beauty standards and fear of ageing. Demi joins Kylie Pentelow live to discuss it.Last week the BBC broadcast Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods, a documentary and podcast which alleged that former Harrods chairman Mohamed Al Fayed sexually assaulted women who worked at the store. Kylie speaks to the woman who was the catalyst for the documentary - Sophia Stone and to her husband Keaton Stone. Sophia alleges that she was groomed and then sexually assaulted by Al Fayed. Keaton was determined to help her and approached other women who had worked at Harrods. The BBC has heard testimony from more than 20 female ex-employees who say Al Fayed, who died last year, sexually assaulted or raped them. The current owners say they are "utterly appalled" by the allegations and are seeking to settle claims "in the quickest way possible”.How women cracked Wall Street, the iconic hub of New York's finance district, is the subject of writer and historian Paulina Bren's book She Wolves. It tells the inside story of these women, from the sixties up until 9/11.Today the charity Women for Women release their findings which offers a rare glimpse in to the perspectives of women living in conflict areas. The charity’s International Director Sara Bowcutt joins Kylie to explain their findings.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Emma Pearce

BBC Northern Ireland's Spotlight has spoken to mothers who are struggling to cope with sons whose complex needs can lead to aggressive outbursts – often leaving themselves and other family members injured. The NHS used to supply respite care that would give those families a break of one or two nights per month. But that care has been evaporating in Northern Ireland due to a number of factors – including the loss of facilities and an increasing number of children who have gone into full-time care. Spotlight presenter Tara Mills and Julie Tipping, one of the mums featured in the documentary join Kylie Pentelow.Women working in the adult entertainment industry are being put at risk by banks not allowing them to open accounts or denying them financial services. That’s what industry representatives are saying, and why the Financial Conduct Authority recently issued new guidelines for banks around allowing sex workers to access their services. To find out more we hear from Clio Wood, a women’s health advocate and co-founder of CensHERship, Jessica Van Meir, co-founder of MintStars and Cindy Gallop, founder and CEO of MakeLoveNotPorn.The language used by healthcare professionals to describe pregnancy loss exacerbates the grief and trauma experienced by some individuals. Words such as incompetent cervix, products of conception, and empty sac to name but a few. That’s according to a study published this month by University College London. We hear from Dr Beth Malory, Lecturer in English Linguistics at UCL who led the study.Romalyn Ante is a Filipino-British poet who also works as a nurse in the NHS. She has just released her second poetry collection, Agimat, which looks at how we keep safe that which we hold most dear. Romalyn talks about what the new collection means to her and why she wanted to combine Filipino mythology and tradition with her own experiences of fighting against Covid.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Kirsty Starkey