We hear why the lockdown is the perfect time to give sewing and mending your clothes a try with Ros Studd a textiles teacher; Dulcie Scott a TV costume designer and Esme Young the fashion designer and judge on The Great British Sewing Bee Dr Jessica Taylor, a research Pyschologist and founder of Victim Focus tells us why victim blaming is endemic. We look at the impact of death and dying during the pandemic and hear from Sarah Tully who’s dad died from Covid-19 and from Dr Rachel Clarke a specia...
Apr 25, 2020•56 min
Food writer and cook Nigel Slater says that one of his great joys in life is going out to shop for ingredients, but how has that changed during lockdown? What is he yearning for that he can’t get, and how is it altering the way he thinks about food? His most recent book is Greenfeast. Hope High is a new BBC Sounds podcast, which takes listeners inside an area in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire that is fighting to protect children from being groomed by county lines drug gangs. The presenter and prod...
Apr 24, 2020•44 min
Comic Relief and Children In Need are joining forces for the first time for a special night of comedy, music and live entertainment, to raise money for their projects on BBC 1 tonight. It'll celebrate the people who making a difference and supporting those affected during these extraordinary times. Zoe Ball tell us about The Big Night In. The British Medical Association, the professional organisation for doctors, highlights the fact personal protective equipment (PPE) tends to be designed for th...
Apr 23, 2020•45 min
As of last week, all IVF treatment has been suspended in the UK. What impact is this having on women, and what could the longer-term consequences be? Tina Mulhern is 41 and can’t now start a second cycle of treatment after her first attempt failed in February. Anya Sizer is the London regional organiser of Fertility Network UK. Over the past few weeks, we’ve had lots of listeners getting in touch to tell us how gardening is helping them through lockdown. Fran Halsall is one of them - but she’s d...
Apr 22, 2020•45 min
Death tolls are being reported every day but it’s still hard for many of us to talk about death and dying. We start that conversation with listeners and palliative care experts. We’ll talk about the current situation, facing death in hospital, at home or in care homes, how to do advance care planning, how best to grieve, and how at any time we can prepare for our own and our loved ones’ death. Presenter: Jenni Murray Interviewed guest: Dr Rachel Clarke Interviewed guest: Sarah Tully Interviewed ...
Apr 21, 2020•45 min
Known as ‘The People’s Club’, Everton football club has reacted quickly to the coronavirus outbreak by adapting its current community outreach programme to offer support to people across Liverpool. Jenni speaks to Everton player Simone Magill about how she is training at home and their director of Youth Engagement, Employability and Sports Development, Sue Gregory, about how the club has adapted their community to support those affected by coronavirus. The Early Years Alliance has warned that th...
Apr 20, 2020•46 min
Caring for a partner with dementia while isolating in lockdown - former nurse Liz Brookes whose husband has vascular dementia, and Chris Black whose wife has Pick's disease discuss. Bernadine Evaristo won the 2019 Booker Prize for 'Girl, Woman, Other'. Jenni talks to her about two of her novels 'The Emperor’s Babe' and 'Mr Loverman', both have just been re-published. Beauty tips for nails, eyebrows and waxing during lockdown with Sarah Jossel, Beauty Director of The Sunday Times Style magazine. ...
Apr 18, 2020•54 min
Jane got into hot water this week about Arctic Roll. So, let’s see what she makes of Sourdough! One of our producers was given what’s called a “starter, and now thinks she has the basics of bread forever - because it's a live culture, which does however need care and attention. Could it be useful in times of lockdown? What’s the truth and how do we make it? Vanessa Kimbell is an expert. Will Elizabeth Warren be Joe Biden’s running mate now he’s committed to a female vice-president? Why are there...
Apr 17, 2020•47 min
Victoria Atkins MP is Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Safeguarding). Her portfolio includes modern day slavery, domestic abuse and violence against women and girls, including FGM. What support can vulnerable women and children expect during lock-down, what has happened to the stalled Domestic Abuse Bill and what are her priorities under lockdown in her constituency? The Tokyo Paralympics 2020 have been postponed. Three female athletes tell us how the delay is affecting them....
Apr 16, 2020•45 min
Bernardine Evaristo’s novels The Emperor’s Babe and Mr Loverman will both be re-published this week. Bernardine won the Booker Prize for Girl, Woman, Other but how do those two earlier works set up themes she then went on to explore further? And as people turn to books for distraction and escape during lockdown, what titles does Bernardine recommend? Jo Todd from the organisation RESPECT talks to us about perpetrators of domestic violence and what her charity is doing to help them stop their beh...
Apr 15, 2020•42 min
Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, has said that help is out there to victims of domestic violence. Two million pounds is now available to increase support. Some victims may be able to find a safe place at a refuge, but what’s it like at the moment for women staying at refuges and those running them? We hear from the area manager of 10 refuges in London. For our Corona Diaries, Jane speaks to Jemima from Lincoln. She's 29 weeks pregnant, working from home and caring for a toddler while her husband...
Apr 14, 2020•48 min
A new ITV drama, Quiz, explores the Who Wants to be a Millionaire? coughing scandal of 2001. Charles Ingram, a former British Army major, his wife Diana and another contestant were found guilt of conspiring to cheat the show to win the top prize. Diana is played by Sian Clifford, who is best known for playing Phoebe Waller Bridge's TV sister Claire in Fleabag. Caring for your partner, your parent, your friend with dementia one on one can be challenging at any time but how are people coping isola...
Apr 13, 2020•50 min
The Coronavirus pandemic has seen a high level of anxiety among pregnant women and their families. So, what can pregnant women expect when the time to give birth does come? Jo Mountfield is Vice President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and a consultant obstetrician at University Hospital Southampton. She explains what maternity services might look like and why mums-to-be should still seek help if they’re concerned. We also hear from a new mother who gave birth on 30th M...
Apr 11, 2020•55 min
Cervical cancer affects more than 3,000 women a year. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have suspended routine appointments for cervical screening, while services in England are currently mixed. What is the advice for women awaiting appointments, results or referrals during lockdown? Kate Sanger, Head of Public Affairs at Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, and consultant gynaecologist Dr Christine Ekechi speak to Jenni. Grace Davidson is a British soprano who specialises in the performance and recor...
Apr 10, 2020•45 min
The UK’s leading charity supporting those affected by eating disorders BEAT estimates that around 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder. They’ve seen a 30% increase for demands in services in light of the Coronavirus. With so much emphasis on food shortages and stockpiling, how are those with eating disorders going to be affected ? Listener Amy Nguyen is an Anorexia survivor, Megan Jayne Crabbe a mental health and lifestyle blogger and Jess Griffiths is one of BEAT’s Clinical Ass...
Apr 09, 2020•45 min
A range of think tanks and international organisations have warned that women could be hit harder by the economic fall-out from the Covid 19 Pandemic. The World Economic Forum is concerned that it could exacerbate existing financial inequality between men and women. The Women and Equalities House of Commons select committee has launched an inquiry into the potentially unequal impact of Covid 19 and responses to it. And, in recent days the government has extended its Coronavirus Job Retention Sch...
Apr 08, 2020•40 min
Running a household in the Coronavirus lockdown can feel a bit like we’re back in the 1950’s. Calling over the fence to borrow a cup of sugar has once more become a reality as some foods are now in short supply, and there’s ‘rationing’ of items in supermarkets, though some of those restrictions are now lifting. But every last breadcrumb counts if you don’t want to or indeed can’t leave the house. Jane asks dietitian Priya Tew and baking legend Mary Berry for their tips on how to maintain a healt...
Apr 07, 2020•46 min
With most families self-isolating how should we explain the sudden absence of close family members to very young children? Listener Glynis is 73 and self-isolating alone. She used to see her 26 month old granddaughter regularly but has now completely disappeared from her life. Will her granddaughter be feeling abandoned and confused? Is she too young to really notice? Lynne Hipkin is a Clinical Psychologist who works with children and families and will be explaining how everyone can accommodate ...
Apr 06, 2020•48 min
We're being told to work from home if we can, so how is it going? Anna Harris who works for a marketing and advertising agency, and Caroline Whaley, the co-founder of a coaching consultancy aimed at women and leadership, discuss. Lara Lewington from BBC Click offers some tips and advice for staying in touch via tech. The Lives of Houses is a collection of essays which asks what a house can tell us about the person who lived there. Hermione Lee describes why we are so fascinated by the homes of f...
Apr 04, 2020•56 min
The Government has issued new guidelines on the personal protective equipment that should be used by those on the NHS frontline. It has also said that it is important for social care staff to feel safe, and that the new guidance will give them information and reassurance. But how do the army of women working to provide care in care homes and care to vulnerable adults in their own homes feel? You may have heard us on Tuesday talk about the sad expectation that violence within the home is likely t...
Apr 03, 2020•50 min
With the government announcement that low risk, pregnant women prisoners, and those in mother and baby units are to be released we hear from Dr Kate Paradine, Chief Executive of Women in Prison and Natasha Walter, Director of Women for Refugee Women. They discuss their concerns and reveal the fears of women in Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre, where a COVID 19 case has already been confirmed. Coronavirus has finally reached the Outer Hebrides. So for our second instalment of the Woman’s Ho...
Apr 02, 2020•44 min
All professional and grassroots football matches across the country have been suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak. As the men’s teams are forced from the pitch and income falls away what will happen to the women’s teams they supported? Jen O'Neill, editor of shekicks.net and Kerys Harrop, Captain of Birmingham City Ladies, discuss the issues. The Children’s Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, told Woman’s Hour at the start of the year that the system of support for the most vulnerable c...
Apr 01, 2020•41 min
We're being told to work from home if we can, so how's it going? What if you're sharing your home with someone else #WFH? Do you have enough space? As well as the paid work you're doing, how are the chores getting divided up? And what about looking after children in the middle of it all? Victims of violence in the home are being reassured that there's still help available for them despite what's happening. Sarah Green from End Violence Against Women describes how dangerous the lock-down is for v...
Mar 31, 2020•49 min
The Royal College of Midwives says that coronavirus may mean its staff have to work elsewhere in the NHS, rather than looking after pregnant women. Dr Mary Ross Davie explains the RCM's concerns. Social workers are trying to keep working safely and effectively despite restrictions around Covid-19. However, a survey by the British Associations of Social Workers says many haven't been given solid advice or the right personal protection equipment. Dr Ruth Allen, Chief Executive of the BASW, describ...
Mar 30, 2020•49 min
For women of colour, planting is becoming a popular way to establish ownership and celebrate cultural heritage. Aimée Grant Cumberbatch, founder of Grown, a gardening club for women of colour, and Flo Headlam, professional gardener and BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World’s first black presenter discuss. Ten organisations across the UK including Rape Crisis and End Violence Against Women have issued a joint statement about the impact Covid-19 could have on the lives of women and children. Women's Aid, Luc...
Mar 28, 2020•56 min
Keeping up fitness when you're isolated at home. Jenni talks to fitness instructor Rosemary Mallace of Over Fifty Fitness and Professor Janet Lord, an expert in muscle health and immunity from the University of Birmingham, about why keeping moving is particularly important as you get older and what you can do to exercise at home. Earlier this week the Government published advice that women could be prescribed both abortion pills for a medical abortion, which they would be able to take at home, w...
Mar 27, 2020•45 min
Dr Jenny Harries, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England has become a familiar face and reassuring voice at the regular press conferences from Number 10 over the last couple of weeks. Today she joins Jenni to talk about the latest advice and information about the coronavirus pandemic and answers questions posed by our listeners. We've been hearing a lot from medical experts, politicians and commentators recently. But how is Covid-19 affecting regular Woman's Hour listeners? Over the coming...
Mar 26, 2020•44 min
More money has been made available across the UK to help rough sleepers during the Covid-19 pandemic. But is enough being done to help the thousands of women and children who are in temporary accommodation? What’s being done to protect the thousands of “hidden homeless” who find themselves in B&B’s. Jenni speaks to Tina who is “sofa-surfing” with her 5 year old daughter, and to Polly Neate, CEO of Shelter and Lindsay Cordery-Bruce, CEO of The Wallich, a homelessness charity in Wales about th...
Mar 25, 2020•43 min
It’s the beginning of spring, and in more recent years, gardening is being seen as a therapeutic form of self-care. But for women of colour, planting is becoming a popular way to establish ownership and celebrate cultural heritage. Aimée Grant Cumberbatch is the founder of Grown, a gardening club for women of colour. Flo Headlam has been gardening professionally since 2012, and in 2017 she became BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World’s first black presenter. Five years ago chef, Nicole Pisani gave up cheff...
Mar 24, 2020•51 min
After school closures across the UK many parents will be at home trying to support their children do some school work whilst also working from home and 'social distancing' themselves. Are there lessons to be learned from those who already home educate? Ten organisations across the UK including Rape Crisis and Ending Violence Against Women have issued a joint statement about the impact of Covid 19could have on the lives on women and children. Recent reports from China and Italy show an increase i...
Mar 23, 2020•51 min
