Woman's Hour

BBC Radio 4

4,3 (10)
SAMFUND OG KULTUR
DAGLIGT

Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire. Listen to our new series of conversations, The Woman's Hour Guide to Life, on BBC Sounds - your toolkit for the juggle, struggle and everything in between: www.bbc.co.uk/guidetolife

5 TIMER SIDEN

Public Toilets, Cheerleading, Women and Conscription

New analysis from the Royal Society for Public Health shows a 14% reduction in the number of public toilets across England since 2016. The report warns that the lack of facilities is contributing to an increase in public urination, creating unhygienic conditions. But is the impact felt equally - or are women disproportionately affected? Nuala McGovern is joined by Gail Ramster, Senior Research Associate at the Royal College of Art who carries out inclusive design research around public toilets and co-author of a book 'Designing Inclusive Public Toilets: Wee the People' Last week former Major General Tim Cross said UK youngsters on benefits should undertake military service. As anxiety about global conflict increases, what might military conscription look like for UK women? RAF veteran and reservist Amy Hill and Victoria Basham, Professor of International Relations at Cardiff University join Nuala to discuss. Using cheerleading to appeal to girls and young women to stay engaged with sport is one of several recommendations in a new report from MPs aimed at getting people to move more. After a more than year-long inquiry the Culture, Media and Sport Committee discovered a patchy picture of how well community and school sport is meeting the needs of people in England. So is offering cheerleading the way forward? Sarah Bellew, Head of Communications at Women in Sport and Millie Fannin, who runs Swindon Lightening Cheerleading club discuss. Four years after Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine, the human cost of the war continues to mount. A new documentary looks back to the months before the invasion, following a group of young female journalists reporting independently as press freedom in Russia were under threat. It captures the danger they faced - and the friendship and humour that sustained them. Director of My Undesirable Friends Part 1: Last Air in Moscow Julia Loktev, and journalist Anna Nemzer, who features throughout the documentary, join Nuala. In 2018, Rebecca Dale made history when she became the first female composer to sign to the prominent British classical music label, Decca Classics, and the first woman to sign to Decca publishing. Her debut album was programmed around her piece Requiem for my Mother and reached no. 1 in the specialist classical charts. Rebecca has been commissioned to compose by major organisations including the BBC and 20th Century Fox, in addition to having written for choirs and orchestras for studio albums. Rebecca’s latest album - Studies in Disappearing [Music for Screen] - is released on 15 May. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce

1 t. 51 min.
2 DAGE SIDEN

Weekend Woman's Hour: Jessie Ware, Women managaing male footballers, Comedian Susie McCabe

The singer-songwriter Jessie Ware's new album, Superbloom, was released this week. As well as being known for her music, Jessie's family’s passion for food led to the weekly podcast, Table Manners, that she co-hosts with her mother Lennie, featuring celebrity guests like Ed Sheeran and Kylie. Jessie joins Datshiane Navanayagam to talk about her new album, inspired by disco and funk and how she became more confident in her 40s. We hear about a new report alleging breaches of the Online Safety Act. Children as young as 13 could be recommended sexually explicit content on the social media platform X, according to the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, who say X's algorithm and what it describes as "weak safeguards" mean teenagers are also being exposed to possible direct sexual contact from adults. Imran Ahmed, CEO at the Centre for Countering Digital Hate joins Datshiane to explain. For the first time, a woman has been appointed to coach a men's team in one of Europe's top five football leagues. Marie-Louise Eta has been named interim Head Coach of Union Berlin in the German Bundesliga, the equivalent of the Premier League here. It's a sudden appointment, until the end of the season, and it follows a string of losses and the dismissal of the previous coach. We talk to Rosi Webb, previously one of the few female coaches in charge of a men's team in England for five years, alongside Laura McAllister, former international footballer and Vice President of UEFA. Figures show there are close to one million people diagnosed with dementia in the UK, of which two thirds are women. A campaign to highlight the caring duties that fall on the families of those diagnosed with young-onset dementia launches this week. We hear from Emilia, who spent her teenage years tussling with the medical community to get her mother - in her late 40s - diagnosed, and Amy Pagan from the charity Younger People With Dementia. Scottish comedian Susie McCabe is a stalwart of the BBC comedy scene - from The News Quiz and Breaking the News to Just a Minute and Have I Got News For You? It was in 2024, while touring, that she had a heart-attack. She was only in her mid-forties at the time. It made her not only take a long hard look at her life, but it also inspired her latest show, Best Behaviour. Susie joins Nuala McGovern to discuss making comedy gold out of life's trials and tribulations. Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Simon Richardson

55 min.
3 DAGE SIDEN

17/04/2026

Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire.

56 min.
4 DAGE SIDEN

Jessie Ware, School readiness, Katriona O'Sullivan, Autism support

Today is primary school offer day in England and Wales, when parents will be finding out where their children might be starting school in September. A new government-backed campaign has been launched to help parents and carers as figures show that over a third of children are currently starting reception without the basic skills they need for the classroom. Datshiane Navanayagam is joined by BBC Education reporter Kate McGough and Felicity Gillespie from children’s charity Kindred Squared, to talk about what parents and carers need to know. The singer-songwriter Jessie Ware's new album, Superbloom, was released this week. As well as being known for her music, Jessie's family’s passion for food led to the weekly podcast Table Manners, that she co-hosts with her mother Lennie, featuring celebrity guests like Ed Sheeran and Kylie. Jessie joins Datshiane to talk about her new album inspired by disco and funk and how she became more confident in her 40s. Autism Central is an online support service for the parents and carers of autistic people. Set up by NHS England in 2021, it has now been expanded to offer help for everyone in the support network of autistic people, including grandparents, partners, friends, and adult siblings. It’s paid for by NHS England and run by the mental health charity Anna Freud. With growing numbers being diagnosed with autism - and waiting for a diagnosis - what can this type of online help offer? Datshiane is joined by Victoria Jackson who has been using the service, and Dr Georgia Pavlopoulou, Director of Autism Central at Anna Freud. Katriona O’Sullivan’s childhood was marked by extreme poverty, neglect, addiction and abuse. She became pregnant at 15 and experienced homelessness, but went on to become an award‑winning academic and bestselling author, with her memoir Poor adapted for the stage. Katriona's new book, Hungry, explores her lifelong struggles with her body and the unrelenting drive to feel, “enough”. Katriona talks to Datshiane about how trauma, class and gender shape how women see themselves. Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Rebecca Myatt

55 min.
5 DAGE SIDEN

Wes Streeting MP, Novelist Elizabeth Arnott, Comedian Susie McCabe

A renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England has been published today. The first Women’s Health Strategy came out in July 2022 under the Conservative government, with this ‘refresh’ being put forward as a ‘chance to travel further and faster’. However with over half a million women still waiting for gynaecological care in England and many women saying they don't feel listened to, why has there been so little progress? Nuala McGovern discusses the renewed strategy with the Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Author Elizabeth Arnott talks to Nuala about her novel, The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives, which investigates the impact of violent crime, not only on its victims, but also on the people closest to the criminals. The story follows Beverley, Elsie and Margot, who all discovered they were married to serial killers too late to save the women they murdered. Set in 1960s California, in an era where the understanding of the “serial killer” phenomenon was in its infancy, these women find themselves in a unique position to dig into the psychology of their husbands and band together, using their knowledge of dangerous men, to track down other violent predators. Scottish comedian Susie McCabe is a stalwart of the BBC comedy scene - from The News Quiz and Breaking the News, to Just a Minute and Have I Got News For You. It was in 2024, while touring, that she had a heart-attack – she was only in her mid-forties at the time. It made her not only take a long hard look at her life, but it also inspired her latest show, Best Behaviour. Susie joins Nuala to discuss making comedy gold out of life's trials and tribulations. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

57 min.
6 DAGE SIDEN

Southport inquiry, Young-onset dementia, Actor Tessa Peake-Jones

A public inquiry has concluded "catastrophic" failures by the parents of the Southport killer and various agencies meant the murders of three young girls could have been prevented. Alice da Silva Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Bebe King were killed during an indiscriminate knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop on 29 July 2024. Inquiry chair Sir Adrian Fulford says the sheer number of missed opportunities for intervention with the killer is "striking". Presenter Nuala McGovern talks to Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, a human rights lawyer, who formerly sat as coroner in England and is the former Ireland's Special Rapporteur on Child Protection. Figures show there are close to one million people diagnosed with dementia in the UK, of which two thirds are women. A campaign to highlight the caring duties that fall on the families of those diagnosed with young-onset dementia launches this week. We hear from Emilia, who spent her teenage years tussling with the medical community to get her mother - in her late 40s - diagnosed, and Amy Pagan from the charity Younger People With Dementia. The singer Sade has become the first black British women who will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Known for her songs including Smooth Operator, Your Love is King and The Sweetest Taboo, she blended jazz, soul, and R&B into a sound entirely their own. As the longer days may be inspiring you to get out walking a bit more, here's another chance to hear a story about women helping others in their community. A little while ago, one of our Woman’s Hour listeners, Thomasina, got in touch and invited us to visit her mother and baby walking group Blaze Trails. Nuala laced up her walking boots and took a trip up to Staffordshire to join a group of women and their babies for a walk at Stone Common Plot to find out more. What surprised you about turning 60? The actor Tessa Peake-Jones has been thinking about it for her latest work. She is probably best known as Mrs Chapman in the ITV series Grantchester, or maybe Raquel in BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, but she's currently on stage in Invisible Me. The comedy-drama asks: What does love look like when you're 60, single, and starting over? Tessa plays Lynn, who has been a carer for her mum and escaped an abusive relationship, and joins Nuala in the studio. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

57 min.
13. APR.

Hungary election, Women managing male footballers, Being a girl in 2026

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's 16 years in power are coming to an end after an election that saw massive voter turnout. Orbán was seen as a friend to both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump and his right wing government also introduced a range of policies aimed at boosting Hungary's declining birth rate, with particular focus on women as workers and mothers. Nuala McGovern talks to BBC East and Central Europe Correspondent Nick Thorpe alongside Éva Fodor, a Hungarian academic and sociologist at the Central European University, whose gender studies course was effectively banned by the Orbán government in 2018. What’s the best thing about being a girl in 2026? In her new Radio 4 series, About the Girls, author and journalist Catherine Carr travels around the country to talk to girls about friendship, life online, body image and relationships. She joins Nuala to share what she learnt about the world this generation of girls are navigating. For the first time, a woman has been appointed to coach a men's team in one of Europe's top five football leagues. Marie-Louise Eta has been named interim Head Coach of Union Berlin in the German Bundesliga, the equivalent of the Premier League here. It's a sudden appointment, until the end of the season, and it follows a string of losses and the dismissal of the previous coach. We talk to Rosi Webb, previously one of the few female coaches in charge of a men's team in England for five years, alongside Laura McAllister, former international footballer and Vice President of UEFA. Dame Paula Rego has been described as one of the most important artists of the 20th century. She said, “I paint to give fear a face”, and her art depicts the world from the female perspective and highlights themes including abortion, fairy tales, religion and how women are viewed in society. Now, four years since her death, a new exhibition, called Story Line, brings together 140 of her drawings, showcasing her life from eight to 80. Nuala is joined by Paula’s son Nick Willing, who curated the exhibition, and her friend, the writer Marina Warner. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Simon Richardson

57 min.
11. APR.

Weekend Woman's Hour: Stalking, Children and happiness, Indigo Reign

Student Jodie Morrow tells Nuala McGovern about her ordeal of being arrested after her stalker falsely accused her of stalking him. He has now been jailed after pleading guilty to harassment and perverting the course of justice, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland has acknowledged "shortcomings" in how the case was handled. Jodie is now helping the police to try to improve how they handle stalking cases. How does light inspire and motivate us, and how can we harness it and use it to our advantage? GP Dr Radha Modgil joins Nikki Bedi to discuss the impact of light on our health and wellbeing. The largest display of Queen Elizabeth II’s clothing has opened at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace. The exhibition, 'Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style', marks the centenary of the late Queen's birth and brings together around 200 items. Spanning all 10 decades of her life, it showcases the full breadth of her wardrobe. Anita Rani visited the gallery for a tour with its curator, Caroline de Guitaut. Do you think that having kids makes you happy? A new study from the University of Nicosia in Cyprus suggests not. It drew on data from more than 5,000 participants in ten countries, including the UK, and concluded that there is no strong evidence that parenthood leads to a measurable increase in positive emotions. To discuss the findings and weigh up their own experiences, we hear from two mothers of two - Ella Whelan author of ‘What Women Want,’ and Iko Haruna, a family photographer and former presenter of ParentLand, the BBC World Service’s podcast. Indigo Reign, formerly known as Lady MC, is one of the first female MCs in jungle music. She's just been part of a landmark moment for global music culture, bringing the 'godfathers' of drum and bass, Fabio and Grooverider, to headline the first-ever jungle and drum & bass festival in East Africa, called NURAFest and it took place in Kenya. Born in prison, she grew up around gang culture and found her voice in jungle music, becoming an award-winning MC and artist, who turned disadvantage on its head. She's also the founder of the Young Urban Arts Foundation, helping thousands of young people through music. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

57 min.

Se alle (2 t)

Anita Rani

Vært
Emma Barnett

Vært
Jane Garvey

Vært
Jenni Murray

Vært
Nuala McGovern

Vært
Jessie Ware

Gæst
Imran Ahmed

Gæst
Rosi Webb

Gæst
Laura McAllister

Gæst
Amy Pagan

Gæst

4,3

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10 vurderinger

No longer for women

11.01.2021

Sophie Soerensen

What a tragedy. Women had one measly hour to talk about important issues that won’t be discussed in mainstream media and now they’ve chosen a host that wants to make it more about men. It’s a tragedy.

Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire. Listen to our new series of conversations, The Woman's Hour Guide to Life, on BBC Sounds - your toolkit for the juggle, struggle and everything in between: www.bbc.co.uk/guidetolife