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Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

April Ashley: Paris Showgirl, Vogue Model & Trans Trailblazer

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

History Hit

Society, Sex, Scandal, Education, History

4.81.6K Ratings

🗓️ 4 July 2023

⏱️ 46 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

As the UK’s second person to go through gender reassignment surgery, April Ashley was a trans trailblazer, breaking new ground fearlessly and with humour and grace.


She wowed the crowds of Le Carrousel as a showgirl in 1950s Paris, graced the pages of Vogue and, when accepting her MBE for services to transgender equality in 2012, she stood every bit as gracious and regal as the Queen herself.


April's achievements seem even more remarkable in the context of a life story replete with real hardships, from an extremely tough upbringing in post-war Liverpool to her public outing in a national newspaper by a friend.


Behind the demure glamour she presented, who was April Ashley? And why is it so vital that her story his heard today? Kate is joined by author and journalist Charlie Craggs to find out.


This episode was produced by Stuart Beckwith, and edited by Tom Delargy. The Senior Producer was Charlotte Long. 


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Transcript

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0:00.0

Everyone leaves a legacy.

0:02.2

But a legacy can change over time as new generations

0:05.6

re-examine old preputations.

0:07.6

From Wundery and Gohanger podcasts, I'm F4hersh.

0:11.0

I'm Peter Frankapan, and in a brand new series,

0:14.0

we're exploring the lives of some of the biggest characters in history,

0:17.4

from Napoleon to Picasso.

0:19.2

And asking, what does their past tell us about our present?

0:23.4

This is legacy.

0:24.7

Follow now wherever you get your podcasts.

0:30.0

Hello, my lovely labor tricksters.

0:34.3

It is I, Kate Lister.

0:36.2

I am here once more with your fair dues warning.

0:39.7

Why do we persist in doing this?

0:41.1

Well, it is because we want to just make sure that you are safe and OK

0:45.9

and not triggered and in a safe space.

0:48.0

And just basically that you are OK and tucked up in bed.

0:51.5

And that we can look after you.

0:53.2

This is a warning about the content of this podcast

0:56.6

because it is an adult podcast spoken by adults

0:59.4

to other adults in an adulty way about adulty things.

1:01.6

And you should be an adult too.

...

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