Woman's Hour

BBC Radio 4

Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire. Listen to The Woman's Hour Guide to Life on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4nTa7W8

  1. 4 hrs ago

    Dr Precious Lunga on Jon Snow's Alzheimer's, Vaginal microbiome, Mrs Dickens

    The latest public version of ChatGPT can be made to generate sexualised images or depict scenes of graphic violence with a simple prompt, researchers have told the BBC. British AI security startup Mindgard figured out how to make ChatGPT create graphic pictures by slightly altering a widely-shared instruction, or prompt, which was originally designed to produce humorous results. To find out more, Anita Rani speaks to Technology correspondent Chris Vallance and Mindgard's Peter Garraghan. A spokesperson for Open AI said: "We take these reports seriously. After investigating this trend, we’ve introduced additional safeguards against this type of prompt. Our safety systems are designed to block potentially harmful images that are uploaded to ChatGPT and we analyse whether the AI generated image violates our policies before we show the image to the user. We also combine automated systems and human review to identify and block harmful material.” Jon Snow, the lead presenter of Channel 4 News for 32 years, has revealed he has Alzheimer's disease. During his career, he reported on stories including the fall of the Berlin Wall, the release of Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama's inauguration, receiving numerous awards including the BAFTA Fellowship in 2015. In a new Channel 4 documentary, made in conjunction with the Alzheimer’s Society, Jon Snow: A Last Big Story, he is seen uncovering an environmental disaster in Zambia. In her first broadcast interview since the diagnosis was announced, Jon’s wife, Dr Precious Lunga, joins Anita to talk about how they are navigating life now. Testing the microbiome of your vagina is increasing in popularity, with direct-to-consumer companies offering at-home tests and claiming that this information is critical to women's health. Anita speaks with Dame Lesley Regan, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Imperial College London, and Dr Caroline Mitchell, Professor of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School, to discuss what we know about the vaginal microbiome and the recent surge in private testing. New novel Mrs Dickens by Emily Howes, tells the imagined story of Kate Hogarth, wife of the writer and journalist Charles Dickens. She is much loved at first, but as Charles finds fame and the family rise through the ranks of Victorian society, Charles’s attitude towards Kate changes and she is devastated. Emily talks to Anita about how she pieced together and embellished the invisible life of Kate, a woman who bore Charles 10 children during a 22-year marriage and had an unparalleled view of one of the world’s greatest writers. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

    58 min

  2. 1 day ago

    Women voters in Makerfield, Scotland cricketers, Peptides, Sex work book

    Tomorrow a by-election will be held in the parliamentary seat of Makerfield in Wigan, one of three taking place. Makerfield has found itself at the epicentre of British politics - and the result could decide the next prime minister. We look at what the polls are saying about the way women in the area are saying they will vote and what is impacting that decision. Nuala McGovern is joined by BBC’s political correspondent Alex Forsyth. Scotland are one of the home nations, alongside England and Ireland, hosting the Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup currently taking place here. The Scots got their campaign underway last Saturday against Ireland with an historic win. Nuala is joined by the CEO of Cricket Scotland, Trudy Lindblade and by one of their team, all-rounder, Priyanaz Chatterji to talk about the growth of the women’s game in Scotland and what this tournament means for the future of the game. Peptides have become a new buzzword in the wellness industry. Social media influencers have spoken about using them for optimising performance in the gym and improving their appearance, and they’re increasingly popular with women. But some unregulated peptides haven’t been through clinical trials and could be ineffective, or even harmful. Nuala is joined by BBC Health reporter Ruth Clegg, who has been looking into the way women are using peptides, and Adam Taylor, Professor of Anatomy at the University of Lancaster. Global Sex: What Sex Workers Know about Love and Capitalism is the title of a new book by the Danish anthropologist Sine Plambech. Sine Plambech is an internationally renowned expert on sex work, migration and human trafficking. Sine Plambech joins Nuala to tell us about her book and how she has dedicated her life to pursuing the trail of money and sex across the globe, while introducing us to four women from Thailand and Nigeria at the heart of her research. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Simon Richardson

    58 min

  3. 2 days ago

    Jo Cox 10 years on, Actor Geraldine James, Swinging investigation

    It’s been 10 years since Jo Cox, the Labour MP for Batley and Spen, was murdered in broad daylight by a man who lived in her constituency, motivated by far-right extremism. That truly shocking event sparked a national conversation about the safety of our elected representatives, and the civility of our public discourse. During her lifetime, Jo’s philosophy was that “we are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us” – a philosophy which led to the establishment of the Jo Cox Foundation after her death. Their CEO Olivia Field joins presenter Nuala McGovern, along with Alice Lilly, senior researcher at the Institute for Government, to discuss the impact of Jo’s death and the safety of female politicians now. Actor Geraldine James is renowned for a host of roles in theatre and on screen, from her TV debut in The Sweeney five decades ago to Jewel in the Crown, Band of Gold, This Town, The Cage and comedy sketch show Little Britain to name a few. Now she's making her Chichester theatre debut in the stage premiere of the 2015 film 45 years, alongside Gabriel Byrne. The couple are about to celebrate 45 years of marriage, when news arrives in a letter from Switzerland about a woman's body that's been discovered in a melting glacier, sending shockwaves through their marriage. A new BBC podcast asks whether women are always safe on swinging websites. Swingers, an investigation from journalist Catrin Nye, explores serious concerns within the swinging community and asks if abuse can exist behind the language of sexual freedom. Nuala speaks to Catrin Nye and Rachel Horman Brown KC, a lawyer whose practice focuses on domestic abuse. The number of bookshops on our high streets has now grown to the highest number since 2012, with some of the rise being attributed to specialist genre shops fuelled by the surge in popularity for fantasy - and 'romantasy' - fiction. We hear from Amanda Logan who opened Ritual Reads in the town of Whitchurch, Shropshire, last November and says about 75% of her customers are women. Presented by: Nuala McGovern Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

    57 min

  4. 3 days ago

    Social media ban, Flower farmers, OnlyFans

    The Prime Minister has announced a social media ban for under-16s to come into force in the early part of next year. The measures are part of the Government's plans to protect young people from harm online and address unhealthy late-night scrolling on phones. BBC reporter Chris Vallance outlines the developments and Nuala McGovern also hears from Professor Victoria Goodyear at the University of Birmngham, whose work explores how social media and digital technologies shape young people's physical activity, heath and wellbeing. OnlyFans is one of the UK's most lucrative tech platformss. Its success comes from hosting content posted by users, a lot of it sexually explicit, which subscribers pay to access. Now a new BBC3 documentary, Only Fans: Inside the Machine - available on BBC iPlayer from today, investigates how some women adult content creators on OnlyFans say that they are being trapped, exploited and threatened by third-party agents. Nuala speaks to Rebecca and Natasha Cox, director of the documentary. There is rising demand for homegrown blooms. According to the trade association Flowers From the Farm, small-scale growers now generate £30 million a year — with women making up 80% of members. Today marks the start of British Flowers Week, celebrating both the flowers and the women behind them, while highlighting the sector’s economic and environmental impact. Nuala is joined by two women behind Flowers From the Farm, Olivia Wilson, a florist and flower farmer, and Georgie Newberry who has a flower farm in Somerset. The Government recently launched a consultation on employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children. It includes consideration of Hugh’s Law, named after Hugh Menai-Davies, who died aged six from cancer in 2021. His parents are campaigning for a standalone statutory entitlement to leave and pay for parents of seriously ill children. To discuss, Nuala is joined by Frances and Ceri Menai-Davies, and Professor Lorna Fraser from King’s College London, who has been researching the impact on parents of caring for a seriously or terminally ill child. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Dianne McGregor

    57 min

  5. 4 days ago

    Weekend Woman's Hour: Women’s Prize winners, Clare Connor, SEND, Weight, Mum’s poem in son’s exam

    This week, two debut authors received the Women’s Prize for Fiction and Non-Fiction, each worth £30,000, respectively. Anita Rani spoke to the two winners, novelist Virginia Evans and Lyse Doucet, known to listeners as the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent. The Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup has begun. Nuala McGovern talked to Clare Connor, former England women’s captain, now the outgoing Managing Director of England Women. Over her 18 years in the job, Clare has overseen the professionalisation of the women’s game as well as a big boost in grassroots participation. The government has announced how it is planning to roll out quicker and easier access to educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists for SEND families. Nuala spoke to the Schools Minister Georgia Gould and Principal Educational Psychologist for Salford, Claire Jackson, about the upcoming Experts at Hand programme. Last week, Hannah Murray, who played Gilly in Game of Thrones, told Anita that during the final season of the show, the papers wrote she was pregnant - when she wasn't. Hannah said that maybe this was the only acceptable way for a woman in the public eye to gain weight. Following a strong listener response, we discussed if there is a right way to talk about women’s weight. Anita was joined by Alex Light, a body confidence activist and author and Dr Dolly Van Tulleken, food policy researcher, policy consultant and visiting researcher at the MRC epidemiologist unit in Cambridge University. Have you ever had one of those moments when life feels so circular that you just can’t believe it? A 'once-in-a-lifetime synchronicity' is what the poet Emily Cullen called it when she discovered that a poem she had written seven years ago, inspired by her eight year old son, turned up on the English exam paper he was sitting in Ireland. Anita caught up with Emily and son Lee. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells

    57 min

  6. 6 days ago

    Women's Prize winners, Weight, T20 World Cup, Mental healthcare

    Last night, two debut authors received the Women’s Prize for Fiction and Non-Fiction, each worth £30,000, respectively. Anita Rani speaks to the two winners, novelist Virginia Evans and Lyse Doucet, known to listeners as the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent. Last week, Hannah Murray, who played Gilly in Game of Thrones, told Anita that during the final season of the show, the papers wrote she was pregnant - when she wasn't. Hannah said that maybe this was the only acceptable way for a woman in the public eye to gain weight. Following a strong listener response to that item we discuss if there is a right way to talk about women’s weight. Anita is joined by Alex Light, a body confidence activist and author and Dr Dolly Van Tulleken, food policy researcher, policy consultant and visiting researcher at the MRC epidemiologist unit in Cambridge University. England is hosting the 2026 T20 Women's World Cup this summer, and England and Sri Lanka launch the competition with their match at Edgbaston today. This is the first time that 12 teams will competing for the World Cup trophy – an increase on previous years. Anita talks to Melissa Story, a cricket player for Gloucestershire and a commentator for BBC’s Test Match Special, about how the tournament works, the players to watch - and the matches we can’t miss. This week the Royal College of Psychiatrists launched its first ever Women’s Mental Health Strategy. It was instigated by Dr Lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists who chose women’s mental health as a key focus when she took up her post three years ago. As Lade steps down from that role, she joins Anita to talk about why she thinks that the women’s mental healthcare is in crisis and her vision for improvements. When bride-to-be Kayley Stead was left alone at the altar on her wedding day in 2022, she did what few would think to do - she let the wedding continue. Kayley's photos of enjoying her wedding alone, including the speeches, the first dance and cutting the cake, went viral. Other women congratulated her for celebrating herself and still enjoying the day. Four years on, she's found love again - she's engaged! - and she says she wants her wedding to be "a big party." She joins Anita. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

    58 min

  7. 11 June

    Northern Ireland, Kathryn Stockett and Mum's poem in son's exam

    On Tuesday violence broke out across Belfast following a knife attack in the city. Stephen Ogilvie is in hospital with serious wounds after the attack, and a 30-year-old Sudanese man has been charged with attempted murder. Ogilvie's family, politicians and police have called for calm after people took to the streets, with some reporting that residents were targeted based on their skin colour. Anita Rani speaks to Louise Cullen, BBC Correspondent in Northern Ireland and Twasul Mohammed, who came to Northern Ireland as a refugee from Sudan in 2016 and has been helping families affected by the violence. It’s been 17 years since The Help was published, Kathryn’s Stockett’s first novel that sold 15 million copies worldwide, was translated into 38 languages and made into a successful film with Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis. Kathryn has now written her second novel, The Calamity Club. She joins Anita. Have you ever had one of those moments when life feels so circular that you just can’t believe it? A 'once-in-a-lifetime synchronicity' is what the poet Emily Cullen called it when she discovered that a poem she had written seven years ago, inspired by her eight year old son, turned up on the English exam paper he was sitting in Ireland. Anita catches up with them both. Acclaimed horror film Under the Shadow is set in Tehran during the 1980’s Iran Iraq war and explores the boundaries between rational and irrational as fear encroaches. As a new play adaptation opens in London, Anita speaks to the director Nadia Latif and lead actor Leila Farzad. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

    57 min

  8. 10 June

    Kanye West allegations, SEND, Author Doireann Ní Ghríofa

    A model who alleges Kanye West choked her on a music video set has told the BBC she was left feeling "suffocated, unsure and scared". Jennifer An, a former contestant on America's Next Top Model, is suing the rapper, now known as Ye, over an encounter she alleges took place in 2010. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty, presenter of BBC podcast Fame Under Fire, has interviewed Jennifer An and joins us to explain the story. A British woman has become the first ever to cross the Atlantic in a hydrogen gas balloon. Alicia Hempleman-Adams, from near Bath, set off from Maine in the US late on Wednesday and landed in Luxembourg on Sunday with her teammates Bert Padelt and Peter Cuneo. Alicia Hempleman-Adams took the spot on the crew of her father David, who has completed the flight twice before. She joins us live. The government has just announced how it is planning to roll out quicker and easier access to educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists for SEND families. Nuala speaks to the Schools Minister Georgia Gould plus Principal Educational Psychologist for Salford Claire Jackson about the upcoming Experts at Hand programme. And the award-winning writer and poet Doireann Ní Ghríofa devoted three years of her life to researching and imagining the lives of the women who once inhabited the Victorian asylum in Cork. In her immersive work of creative non-fiction, Said the Dead, we meet some of the women who lived and worked in that institution between the 1890s and the 1920s. Doireann Ní Ghríofa joins Nuala to explain how she went about writing these vulnerable, often voiceless women back to life. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Simon Richardson

    57 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.3
out of 5
87 Ratings

About

Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire. Listen to The Woman's Hour Guide to Life on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4nTa7W8

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2006 - 2026
  • Episodes
    2K
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    Woman's Hour

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