Woman's Hour

BBC Radio 4
  • 4.4 (271)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Daily

Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire. The Woman's Hour Guide to Life collection is here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/guidetolife

  1. 2h ago

    Auto-immune conditions, Living with 'Butterfly skin', Author Laleh Khadivi

    A new study suggests that women going to the doctor with symptoms of auto-immune conditions are up to 74% more likely than men to be told their symptoms are psychological or psychosomatic. The research, published in the Lancet eClinicalMedicine journal, and led by the University of Cambridge and University of East Anglia, also found that women were more likely to face delays in getting a correct diagnosis, and hence the right treatment. Lead author, Dr Melanie Sloan, joins presenter Nuala McGovern. Often described as "butterfly skin", Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is the name for a group of rare genetic conditions that leave the skin so fragile it can blister and tear at the lightest touch. Emma Fogarty lives with a severe life-limiting form of the condition. She is currently the longest living person with her form of EB in Ireland. Her story, along with her friendship with the actor Colin Farrell, is told in a new HBO documentary film, The Slightest Touch, which has premiered at the London Film Festival. How well do we know our mothers? The novelist Laleh Khadivi’s latest book is about a woman who discovers her dead mother had a secret Iranian revolutionary past. In ‘Female Life on Planet Earth,’ she tells the story of Heti, an Iranian mother of two teenage girls who works in an accountancy firm in Los Angeles – and whose life is upended when an anonymous parcel arrives which contains evidence that her mother had had a secret life. Laleh joins Nuala to talk about her inspiration for the book, the complexity of uncovering and sharing secrets and comparing life for women in America with that of those in Iran. Women’s football is growing rapidly around the world, but many professional players are still dealing with low pay and insecure working conditions, according to a new survey. The players’ union FIFPRO spoke to more than 800 footballers playing in the top tier of their countries. Only 78% said they had a written contract, while just 57% said their pay was enough to cover the costs of playing football. Financial pressures and psychological stress were also among the reasons players gave for potentially leaving the game early. BBC Senior journalist Sally Freedman and former England International player Lucy Staniforth, now FIFPRO Women’s Football Officer, join Nuala to discuss. Presented by: Nuala McGovern Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

  2. 1d ago

    Navi Pillay Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Medical misinformation, Nigella eating

    Navanetham 'Navi' Pillay, a former International Criminal Court judge and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. In a statement announcing the award, the Nobel Committee praised Pillay's 'efforts to promote peace and international law'. She is the first South African woman to receive the award, and dedicated her win to 'all the survivors of international crime'. In her first interview to be broadcast with the BBC, Navi speaks to Nuala McGovern. How can medical misinformation harm women, and how do we combat dangerous myths? Nuala is joined by former consultant breast surgeon and cancer survivor Liz O'Riordan and Dr Rachael Kent, whose academic research focuses on the impact of digital technology on mental and physical health. Women’s groups have called for an emergency demonstration in Glasgow this Monday evening over concerns about women’s safety, following a rise in reported sexual crimes. We speak to Nicola Love, Communications Manager for Rape Crisis Scotland which is taking part and Beth Templeton, a journalist from local news outlet The Bell. Nigella Lawson is back on our screens as a judge on The Great British Bake Off, but something about her approach has got people talking online… it's the way she eats the cakes - taking big bites, with gusto. So why are some people commenting on a woman actively enjoying food...on a baking show? Nuala is joined by body confidence activist and author, Alex Light, and personal trainer Laura Ghiacy to discuss. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

  3. 2d ago

    Weekend Woman's Hour: Consent, 80 years of Woman's Hour, The Lost Children of Tuam

    To mark our 80th anniversary, Woman's Hour commissioned a survey of 2,000 women across the UK to explore how women feel about using their voice in different areas of their lives. One of the questions we asked was: How many times, if any, have you felt unable to say no in a sexual encounter? Anita Rani is joined by Faustine Petron of the Make It Mandatory campaign; Ellie Softley, of the charity Everyone's Invited; and psychotherapist Dr Paula Hall of Pivotal Recovery. To mark 80 years on air, we delve into the Woman's Hour archive, with voices including suffragette Mary Richardson from 1957, Margaret Thatcher talking about childcare in 1990 and Rose McGowan talking in 2018 on reigniting the #metoo movement. Monica Dolan is starring in a new film, The Lost Children of Tuam. In it, she plays Catherine Corless, whose relentless pursuit of the truth helped to expose the story of hundreds of babies from an Irish mother and baby home being disposed of in a disused sewage tank. Monica joins Nuala McGovern, along with journalist Alison O’Reilly, to discuss this powerful tale of community activism. Extreme heat affects pregnancies, newborns and maternity services around the world, according to new research. Anita speaks to Julia Gillard, Chair of Wellcome and former Prime Minister of Australia and Dr Amy Mizen, Co-Principal Investigator for the MAGENTA project, funded by Wellcome. The Party is an ITV drama based on the acclaimed novel by Elizabeth Day and adapted by award-winning writer and actor Sarah Solemani. Elizabeth and Sarah join Kylie Pentelow to discuss this story of class, power, betrayal and secrets. And to celebrate 80 years of Woman's Hour we asked the poet Hollie McNish to write us a birthday poem. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty McQuire

  4. 4d ago

    Mental health in women and girls, AI assistants, Extreme heat and pregnancy, Traitors fashion

    A new review into autism, ADHD and mental health provision by the NHS in England has warned there has been a substantial increase in mental health distress, particularly in young people. The review - led by leading doctors in the field - says the NHS is struggling to cope with the rising demand for services in England. So what does this mean for women and girls? Anita Rani is joined by Professor Gillian Baird, vice chair of the review. A study has found that gender biases seen in the workplace could also be replicated in our interactions with AI. Researchers placed people in a virtual reality office and found that they allocated more money to male AI assistants than female ones, despite using the same technology. Anita is joined by Mary Hausfeld, Assistant Professor in Management at Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick, and one of the study's co-authors, to discuss the findings. Extreme heat affects pregnancies, newborns and maternity services around the world, according to new research. In a survey of 1,000 maternal healthcare professionals across the UK, Australia, India, Brazil and Zimbabwe, nearly three-quarters said they had seen an increase in heat-related complications affecting pregnant women over the past five years. Anita speaks to Julia Gillard, Chair of Wellcome and former Prime Minister of Australia and Dr Amy Mizen, Co-Principal Investigator for the MAGENTA project, funded by Wellcome. As part of our series 'When My Body Surprised Me' listener Katharine talks about how after a mastectomy and emergency surgery, her body amazed her by not only recovering but going on to achieve a multitude of incredible feats, including a black belt in karate. The latest series of Celebrity Traitors may only be a few episodes in but it’s already making the headlines - for its fashion. Claudia Winkleman’s style choices have always been a talking point, but it seems that this year all the Celebrities - the broadcaster and entrepreneur Maya Jama, mathematician Hannah Fry, actors Myha'la and Miranda Hart, the model Jerry Hall amongst others - are taking their fashion to another level. Are they using their fashion choices as part of their game playing? Anita speaks to Ella Alexander, a fashion journalist and author. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

  5. 5d ago

    Consent, Top Fuel drag racing, Grey hair

    To mark our 80th anniversary, Woman's Hour commissioned a survey of 2,000 women across the UK to explore how women feel about using their voice in different areas of their lives, from the most public to the most private spaces. One of the questions we asked was: How many times, if any, have you felt unable to say no in a sexual encounter? More than one in three women surveyed said this had happened to them, and over a quarter said it had happened more than once. The figures were even higher among younger women. Anita Rani is joined by Faustine Petron, who founded the Make It Mandatory campaign five years ago and has been campaigning for the government to extend Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) to all 16 to 18-year-olds; Ellie Softley, a founding member of the charity Everyone's Invited, she created the organisation's education programme and has discussed consent with young people in schools across the UK; and Dr Paula Hall, founder of Pivotal Recovery and a psychotherapist with more than 30 years' experience specialising in porn addiction. At the peak of her fame, Julianna Glasse had a successful career as a Christian pop singer, a high-profile marriage and a respected place within the evangelical community in which she was raised. She even sang at President Trump's first National Prayer Breakfast. Then she started reading certain books that opened her eyes and changed the course of her life. She left her church, her marriage and eventually became CEO of This Is What Happens When Women Read, a global movement supporting four million women in 67 countries as they seek greater autonomy. She joins Anita to discuss the movement and her memoir of the same name. There aren't many sports in which men and women compete directly against each other, but drag racing is one of them. In Europe, women aren't just competing in the world's fastest motorsport, they're dominating it. Top Fuel drag racing sees two vehicles race from a standing start over 1,000 feet, reaching speeds of up to 300mph in just three to four seconds. Sweden's Susanne Callin is a two-time European Top Fuel Champion and joins Anita. Susanne's story is available to watch on BBC iPlayer by searching Global Women, or on the BBC World Service YouTube channel. Olivia Colman has joined the growing ranks of women embracing grey hair and ditching the dye. Freelance journalist Kate Spicer discusses the appeal. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

  6. 6d ago

    Woman's Hour celebrates 80 years from the Glasgow Women's Library

    Launching the theme of our 80th birthday year: "Use Your Voice", we celebrate live from the Glasgow Women's Library in Scotland, the sole accredited museum of women’s history in the UK. Nuala McGovern is joined by guests: Women's Health Champion for Scotland Dr Anna Glasier, social media influencer and campaigner Fats Timbo, professor of private law Jane Mair and poet and writer and former Makar, Jackie Kay. We hear from some of the Woman's Hour archive including suffragette Mary Richardson from 1957, a woman on breast cancer from 1969, a woman called Candida talking about coming out in the mid 1980s, Margaret Thatcher talking about childcare in 1990, Tracey Emin's reflections on her abortion from 2011 and Rose McGowan talking in 2018 about reigniting the #metoo movement. Our guests reflect on archive from Nancy Astor on being the first female MP in the House of Commons, on a woman talking about the progression of family planning and reactions to the conviction of Sarah Everard's murderer. To mark our 80th birthday we commissioned a poll to ask a nationally representative sample of 2,000 women how they feel about using their voices for themselves – how able do they feel to ask for what they want? Where in life do they feel most able to speak out, and what is most likely to stop them? Nuala talks to Anita Rani who is in the studio in London to find out more. Hollie McNish is the author of five collections of poetry. She was the first poet to record at Abbey Road Studios, in London, and won the 'Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry'. To celebrate our 80th birthday we asked Hollie to write us a birthday poem, and she performs it live on the programme. Then we hear from our listeners - we recently asked you if something you'd heard on the programme over the years had inspired you to use your voice. We hear from listeners Rachel, Barbara, Veronica and Angela. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Corinna Jones

  7. Oct 6

    French student protests; Elizabeth Day and Sarah Solemani on TV drama The Party; could some adoptions be avoided?

    Hundreds of schools in France have closed after clashes between police and student protestors. Chloe Quesnel is a high school teacher in Nice in France. She's been watching her students take to the streets to protest over classroom conditions, lack of resources and the number of teaching staff. Chloe and Paris-based journalist Lisa Louis tell Kylie about the student protest of the last week, and what can be expected from today. The Party is a five-part ITV series based on the acclaimed novel by Elizabeth Day and adapted by award-winning writer and actor Sarah Solemani. At the centre are two men, Ben, a wealthy politician, and Martin, a political journalist, whose life has been shaped by their relationship. While the men drive the central plot of class obsession and co-dependency, the female characters serve as the moral anchors, truth-tellers, and catalysts for the story's climax. Elizabeth Day and Sarah Solemani join Kylie to discuss this tale of class, sex, shame, power, betrayal and secrets. A File on Four investigation has found that one in every 118 children in England who are under 1 years old, are subject to care proceedings - that’s a rise of over 60% in the last two decades. Experts believe that with intensive support many of the 3,000 children who are adopted each year could be cared for or remain in contact with their birth parents. BBC special correspondent Judith Moritz discusses what she's discovered, and Kylie speaks to Prof Karen Broadhurst, co-director of the Centre for Child and Family Justice Research. Artist and poet Cecilia Vicuña is regarded as one of the most important Latin American artists living today - she is often described as an eco-feminist drawing connections between the exploitation of nature and the marginalisation of women. She'll be talking about her new solo exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery in East London. Presenter: Kylie Pentalow Producer: Cerys Maidment

  8. Oct 5

    The Lost Children of Tuam, Ashley James on incontinence, Kemistry

    Monica Dolan is starring in a new film, The Lost Children of Tuam, co-produced by Liam Neeson. In it, she plays the extraordinary amateur historian, Catherine Corless, whose relentless pursuit of the truth helped to bring the story of hundreds of babies from an Irish mother and baby home being disposed of in a disused sewage tank to the world in 2014. She joins Nuala McGovern along with journalist Alison O’Reilly to discuss this powerful tale of community activism and how it led to an ongoing mass exhumation. Kemistry is what Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative party leader, is calling her personal brand of conservatism. Almost two years into her tenureship, she has set out her core principles in a 95-page essay. And at their conference in Birmingham yesterday, Badenoch also pledged to scrap the £100,000 earning limit for parents to claim 30 hours a week of free childcare, if her party is elected. Kitty Donaldson, Chief Political commentator at the i Paper gives her thoughts. Broadcaster Ashley James has gone public about the lasting effects of birth complications – including incontinence – and why she believes we need to speak more openly about it. To discuss, Ashley joins Nuala alongside NHS GP Dr Ellie Cannon, who specialises in women’s health. As the weather turns a little more chilly this week, you may be thinking about swapping cereal for something more warming, like porridge. Gina Saarberg has won the coveted Golden Spurtle at the World Porridge Making Championship, which took place in Carrbridge in the Highlands on Saturday. She tells Nuala her tips for a delicious bowl. Stage and screen actor Jane Asher, and Laura Main - best known for Call the Midwife - play The Queen and her dresser in By Royal Appointment, Daisy Goodwin’s play about the quiet power behind the monarch’s public image. It reveals how the Queen expressed what she couldn’t say — through colour, coats and the occasional hat — and how her dresser rose from lipstick advice to real influence. The play is currently on a UK tour – this week they’ll be at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham.

See All (2K)

Hosts & Guests

4.4
out of 5
271 Ratings

About

Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire. The Woman's Hour Guide to Life collection is here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/guidetolife

Information

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

More From BBC

You Might Also Like