Gisèle Pelicot, Women's Tennis, Osteoporosis, Zoe Birkett
Woman's Hour
BBC
4.1 • 3K Ratings
🗓️ 1 June 2026
⏱️ 57 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In 2024 Gisèle Pelicot waved her legal right to anonymity for the trial of her then husband, declaring that shame has to change sides. Her then husband had drugged and raped her and invited other men to rape her, filming as they did so. He was found guilty of her aggravated rape, along with 46 other men. Another two were found guilty of attempted rape and a further two were found guilty of sexual assault. Gisèle has now written her memoir, A Hymn to Life and joins Nuala McGovern talk about her decision to have an open court, the devasting effect on her and her family of her ex-husband’s actions and finding love again in her 70s.
For the first time since 2023, a women’s match will take centre stage in the tournament’s primetime night session at the French Open. The coveted slot has been dominated exclusively by men's matches since then. The absence has drawn growing criticism from players and fans, questioning why they’ve been overlooked. But now, a fourth round clash between – Belarus's Aryna Sabalenka current number one player and former number 1 Japan's Naomi Osaka finally breaks that run. Tennis reporter Karthi Gnanasegaram joins us.
72% of those affected by osteoporosis are women. The government promised to roll out fracture liaison services to every NHS Trust in England two years ago. But there is still no progress or plan. Just over half of NHS Trusts currently have them. Nuala speaks to the Royal Osteoporosis Society CEO Craig Jones and expert Dr Nicola Peel, as well as Irene Baker who says her osteoporosis wasn't treated properly for five years as she has no specialist service in her area.
She came to fame on one of the first TV talent shows back in 2002, and twenty four years later Zoe Birkett’s now out on tour with Take That. She’s played Tina Turner in the West End and the lead in The Bodyguard. She tells us all about performing with Gary, Howard and Mark and stepping into Lulu’s shoes on their hit record Relight My Fire for their tour The Circus Live.
Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello, I'm Nula McGovern and welcome to Woman's Hour from BBC Radio 4. |
| 0:10.8 | Just to say that for rights reasons, the music in the original radio broadcast has been removed for this podcast. |
| 0:17.1 | Hello and welcome to the programme. |
| 0:19.6 | Joselle Pellico calls herself a very simple and ordinary woman. |
| 0:23.7 | I would say, and Manny would agree, that she is anything but. |
| 0:27.9 | In a moment, an in-depth interview with the woman who waived her right to anonymity |
| 0:32.4 | when she took on the men who raped her. |
| 0:34.9 | And she also led to a change to the law on rape in France. |
| 0:40.2 | She says she now feels invincible. I also speak to Duzelle about her reconciliation with her |
| 0:46.0 | daughter Caroline and how she is now going to help Caroline find out what happened to her. |
| 0:51.8 | That interview coming up in just a moment. Also today, a women's |
| 0:56.6 | match is to headline the night session at the French Open for the first time in three years. |
| 1:01.5 | There's been heavy criticism for reserving the prime time one match slot almost exclusively for men. |
| 1:07.6 | So can one match be a game changer, we ask, we'll discuss. |
| 1:12.5 | Also, singer Zoe Burkett, Zoe of pop idol, Tina and the Bodyguard fame is now on tour |
| 1:18.4 | with Take That on their rebooted The Circus Live tour. |
| 1:22.7 | We're going to hear what it's like to be in that dazzling ring with Gary Howard and Mark. |
| 1:28.0 | Plus, according to the Royal Osteoporosis Society, |
| 1:31.6 | one in two women over the age of 50 will break a bone due to the condition |
| 1:35.9 | compared to one in five men. |
| 1:38.4 | Now, they are calling for the government to speed up plans for dedicated clinics. |
| 1:42.8 | We'll hear a bit more detail about all of that |
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