Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire.
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Team GB snowboarder Mia Brookes gave an amazing performance last night coming fourth in the women's snowboard big air final at the Winter Olympics in Italy. The 19-year-old had been hoping to become Great Britain's first gold medallist on snow. She went for a backside 1620 trick - featuring four-and-a-half rotations - and landed before she over-rotated and her heel edge caught in the snow. Mia's mum, Vicky Brookes, joins presenter Nuala McGovern on the line from her campervan in Livigno close to...
At the end of January, the US government released new files from its investigation into the sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The latest drop of material consists of three million pages, and thousands of images and videos. But why has the focus of the coverage been on the political fallout, appearing to show exchanges with high-profile men? What does this say about society’s attitude to women more broadly? Some have already been voicing their concerns. Nuala McGovern is joine...
The ongoing Undercover Policing Inquiry started again this week. It is believed at least 50 women were duped into intimate relationships with undercover officers over decades. Alison, not her real name, spent five years living with a man she knew as Mark Cassidy, who was in fact a married undercover Police Officer whose real name was Mark Jenner. She joins Nuala McGovern along with BBC London journalist Ayshea Buksh, who has been following this inquiry. The government has announced plans to rela...
The cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw has been nominated for an Academy Award for “Sinners," an American horror film nominated this year for a record sixteen Oscars and thirteen BAFTAs. It's a period drama written and directed by Ryan Coogler, set in the 1930s South, with a supernatural twist. Autumn’s previous credits include The Last Showgirl and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Anita talks to Autumn about her career so far and becoming the first woman of colour - and only the fourth woman ...
New research which has just been published in the British Medical Journal, suggests that testing menstrual blood for signs of cervical cancer could be an accurate way of screening for the disease. The BBC's Health Correspondent, Sophie Hutchinson, and Fiona Osgun, Head of Health information at Cancer Research UK join Anita Rani to talk about this new area of research and discuss the options currently open to women. English actor Imogen Poots is back on our screens taking on a challenging role in...
The government has announced plans to relax fostering rules and create 10,000 new places for vulnerable children in England. Roxy and her mum Judy, from the BBC’s recent Traitors series, join Nuala McGovern to discuss. Roxy was fostered until the age of five before being adopted by Judy. They are also joined by Sarah Thomas, Chief Executive of The Fostering Network. Golden Globe–winning actor and film director Romola Garai discusses her latest role in the ITV drama series Betrayal. She also talk...
Sarah Ferguson's charity, Sarah's Trust, has announced it will close "for the foreseeable future" after new details emerged from documents released by the US Department of Justice about the former Duchess of York's friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A spokesman for the foundation said the decision comes after "some months" of discussion. BBC News Correspondent Ellie Price and Dr Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, join Nuala McGovern. We...
The ongoing Undercover Policing Inquiry starts again today, having already uncovered "appalling practices in undercover policing" over the past 50 years in England and Wales, since the inquiry was first established in 2015. It is believed at least 50 women were duped into intimate relationships with undercover officers over decades. Alison, not her real name, spent five years living with a man she knew as Mark Cassidy, who was in fact a married undercover Police Officer whose real name was Mark ...
Last week a report from the Welsh Health and Social Care Committee revealed that women in Wales felt that they were being failed by gynaecological cancer services, with many facing long waiting lists to see a specialist or start treatment. Anita speaks to Jess Mason who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2022, Lowri Griffiths, Director of Policy, Research and Insight at Tenovus Cancer Care and Aarti Sharma, Consultant Gynaecology Oncology Surgeon, University Hospital of Wales. Politicians in ...
Woman's Hour examines the UK's significant gender pension gap, highlighting its causes, from systemic design flaws and historical inequalities to the impact of low earnings and menopause, alongside potential solutions. The episode also looks ahead to the record-breaking gender-balanced Winter Olympics, featuring Olympians Aimee Fuller and Jeanette Kwakye discussing UK talent and efforts to make winter sports more inclusive. Finally, singer-songwriter Paris Paloma shares insights into her viral track "Labour" and new single "Good Girl," both exploring women's unpaid work and body image issues.
There's been a stark warning to MPs about the number of women pensioners living in poverty. The house of commons work and pensions committee has been hearing the pension system is dysfunctional, and contributing to more gender disparity, that's according to the feminist economic think tank the Women's Budget Group, which gave evidence yesterday. Anita Rani is joined by their incoming director Dr Daniella Jenkins and Sarah Pennells, consumer specialist at Royal London finance company. New figures...
Pornhub has announced it will restrict access to its website in the UK from next week, blaming the tougher age checks which have been introduced for explicit sites. Back in October, their parent company Aylo said the law change, which was made under the UK's Online Safety Act, had caused traffic to their website to fall by 77%. As of next week, only people who have previously made a Pornhub account will be able to access its content. Nuala McGovern discusses the implications of these changes wit...
This episode covers diverse topics including new research on how menopause can cause grey matter loss in women's brains, similar to Alzheimer's, and the importance of lifestyle. It also explores the BBC's Get Singing initiative, highlighting the benefits of music for youth mental health and social skills. Additionally, author Laura Dickerman discusses her debut novel "Hot Desk" and the evolving nature of workplace romance, while a former MP from Greenland sheds light on the lives and challenges of women in the rapidly changing region, including the impact of a past contraceptive program.
The episode investigates the alarming crisis of tens of thousands of children enduring year-long waits for essential NHS community care, featuring expert analysis and a mother's personal story. It then delves into a compelling discussion with Yanis Varoufakis about his journey to overcome ingrained misogyny and strategies to address its resurgence among young men. Also featured is Lauren Bradford-Clark, discussing the lasting trauma of her mother's murder and her advocacy for victims' families, alongside Bonnie Langford sharing the magic of Paddington The Musical.
This episode delves into the UK debate over banning social media for under 16s, exploring arguments from both sides regarding safety and individual autonomy. It features double Olivier Award-winning actress Denise Gough discussing her role in 'High Noon,' her journey with singing, and openly sharing her experience with addiction and early life trauma. The program also examines the significant rise of women in this year's BRIT Award nominations and unpacks the complexities of family estrangement, sparked by Brooklyn Peltz Beckham's public statement, with personal insights and expert advice. Finally, writer and comedian Jade Franks talks about her show 'Eat the Rich,' which hilariously and sharply navigates class privilege and cultural clashes during her transition from a call center to Cambridge University.
Woman's Hour delves into significant societal shifts impacting women, from the dramatic increase in ADHD diagnoses among women over 25, prompting discussions on historical underdiagnosis and hormonal influences, to the sensitive handling of miscarriage tissue disposal in NHS settings, revealing a gap between clinical practices and women's emotional needs. The episode also features author Claire Lynch discussing her award-winning novel on lesbian mothers' custody battles in 1980s Britain, alongside Oscar nominees Chloe Zhao and Kate Hudson sharing insights on collaboration and empowerment in their careers. Finally, it highlights the "gaming for good" movement, where Jude Ower uses video games for environmental impact and social change.
NB: The music in this broadcast has been removed from the podcast for rights reasons. Anita Rani talks to double Olivier award winning actress Denise Gough about her latest role as Amy Fowler in a new play based on the famous western High Noon. She’ll be discussing how her character reflects the early feminist movement and what it’s been like to find her singing voice for the first time in 30 years. Elite British gymnast Alice Kinsella won Olympic bronze in the team event at Tokyo 2020 and is a ...
Should the UK follow Australia in bringing in a social media ban for under 16s? The government has announced a consultation on the issue and peers debate the question as the former Conservative schools minister Lord Nash has tabled an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. It would require social media platforms to stop children under 16 from using their platforms within a year of the Bill passing. Nuala McGovern discusses this with Hannah Ortel from the Brianna Ghey Legacy Proj...
We are a year into US President Trump's second term. He says he will tell European leaders "we have to have" Greenland at this week's forum in Davos, Switzerland and impose tariffs if they oppose him. Trump regularly hailed himself as the anti-war president on the campaign trail - and he's described himself since as the "president of peace" - but there are some who accuse him of waging a "war on women" since taking office. So, after a year back in the White House, how have the policies of Presid...
The episode explores a groundbreaking DNA test offering new hope for secondary breast cancer patients by predicting treatment response earlier. It features an insightful interview with Grammy-winning artist Andra Day, discussing her new film and musical journey. The program also examines a significant employment tribunal ruling on shared changing facilities and the complex role of a SEND caseworker, alongside a discussion on socially conscious marketing and its impact on brand representation and consumer engagement, notably with products like Autistic Barbie.
Woman's Hour delves into critical topics, starting with new government guidance on screen time for under-fives and the impact on child development. It features an interview with Nikki Lilly, a BAFTA and Emmy winner, who shares her inspiring story of living with AVM and using social media for advocacy. The discussion then turns to "The Traitors" and how reality TV highlights unconscious biases, including racism, misogyny, and ageism. Finally, the episode examines why some millennial women enter and stay in "subpar" relationships.
The number of abortions recorded in England and Wales has reached a record high, according to the latest government figures from the Department of Health. There were 277,970 abortions in 2023, the highest number since the Abortion Act was introduced in 1967 - which is 11 per cent higher than the previous year in 2022. Rachael Clarke is Head of Advocacy for the British Pregnancy Advisory Service - known as B-PAS, and tells Anita Rani about the findings. In 2025 alone she walked at Paris Fashion W...
To track or not to track? Now that technology on our phones makes it so easy, many parents are tracking their children’s whereabouts. If children don’t have a smart phone, many people use a GPS tracker device do to the same thing. There are even children’s trainers available with a special slot to insert the device. But have we thought about the reasons why? What are the benefits or dangers of tracking children, and if you do track, at what point do you stop? Anita Rani is joined by Clare Fernyh...
Reports say that the number of people killed in Iran after 18 days of protests is over 2000. We hear about the women on death row who are facing execution as there are fears of quick reprisals from the regime. Women are taking extraordinary risks to take part in protests as is demonstrated by the death of the fashion student Rubina Aminian, who was shot in the head during the protests, after taking to the streets to demand change and more freedoms. BBC Chief International Correspondent Lyse Douc...
Miss Marple and Poirot have been household names for decades but now one of Agatha Christie’s lesser-known sleuths – Lady Eileen ‘Bundle’ Brent - is finally getting her time in the spotlight. The fearless young amateur detective is the focus of new Netflix mystery series Seven Dials. Mia McKenna-Bruce is the award-winning actor bringing ‘Bundle’ to the screen, alongside Helena Bonham-Carter and Martin Freeman, and Mia joins presenter Nuala McGovern live in the studio. How do you spot misinformat...
Parents of under-fives in England are to be offered official advice on how long their children should spend watching TV or looking at computer screens. It comes as government research shows about 98% of children under two were watching screens on a daily basis - with parents, teachers and nursery staff saying youngsters were finding it harder to hold conversations or concentrate on learning. To discuss this further Nuala McGovern is joined by Kate Silverton, child counsellor and parenting author...
In our new series Going it Alone we hear from 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. Lucy tells us her story. Nina Barnsley, Director of the Donor Conception Network and Clare Ettinghausen, a Director at the Human Fertilisation and Embryo...
Anita Rani hosts a diverse panel of women. The program delves into the current women-led protests in Iran, examining their origins, the bravery of female demonstrators, and the movement's broad impact. Director Chloe Zhao discusses her film Hamnet, her creative process, and the importance of community and depicting raw grief. Additionally, Kirsty Brimelow, Chair of the Bar Council, outlines her plans to tackle harassment in the legal profession, while actor Lesley Sharp shares insights into her roles in Red Eye and Pillion.
Woman's Hour covers a range of compelling topics, including a parliamentary petition to reduce the breast cancer screening age to 40 due to rising diagnoses in younger women, and a damning review of vetting failures within the Metropolitan Police. The program also highlights Leicester's vibrant all-female punk rock movement, investigating its impact on the local music scene and women's empowerment. Finally, it delves into a new study examining the link between women's hormonal fluctuations and gambling addiction, alongside an interview with author Alice Bell about her ghost-themed cosy crime novel set in the world of pro-wrestling.
Woman's Hour delves into critical issues, starting with the urgent call to action against Grok AI for generating non-consensual sexualized images, featuring a victim's harrowing account. The conversation then shifts to the alarming decline in girls' sporting dreams despite increased visibility, examining systemic barriers and cultural influences. Finally, the episode shares the poignant stories of solo mothers and their children, alongside a historical look at child custody battles and the ongoing challenges within family courts.
