Episode description

Hayley Atwell and Tom Hiddleston are currently playing Beatrice and Benedict the sharp-witted sparring friends in Much Ado About Nothing on stage at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London. Hayley joins Anita Rani in the Woman’s Hour studio. Is Shakespeare’s much-loved comedy Much Ado the original rom com? And how much fun is it to be on stage with a friend of 20 years standing? We find out.

The BBC have revealed MI5 gave false evidence to three courts over the handling of a paid informant, known as Agent X a neo-Nazi misogynist. He attacked his former partner, Beth, with a machete and used his role at the security service to coercively control her. She has been speaking out about what happened. Anita is joined by Daniel de Simone BBC investigation correspondent and Kate Ellis CWJ lawyer representing 'Beth'.

On Tuesday Nuala spoke to Labour MP Laura Kyrke-Smith who is pushing for more care and support for new mothers struggling with their mental health. Her own best friend, Sophie, died by suicide in 2021 - just 10 weeks after giving birth to her third child. You got in touch with your experiences, with your questions and with information about the non NHS support that’s out there for new mums. We hear from two of those listeners - one we are calling Lucy who has experienced perinatal mental health problems, and also Lauraine Cheesman who founded the charity Shine PND Support in Gloucestershire, after her own experience of postnatal depression.

One in three people over the age of 50 has grandchildren. These grandparents are the first generation to be both psychologically aware and very hands-on. Terri Apter, psychologist and author of Grandparenting: On Love and Relationships Across Generations, discusses with Anita the integral role grandparents play and gives some tips for navigating these complex relationships.

Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey Editor: Karen Dalziel