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Woman's Hour

Mia McKenna-Bruce, Teens and misinformation, Older women and publishing

Woman's Hour

BBC

Society & Culture

4.13K Ratings

🗓️ 13 January 2026

⏱️ 58 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

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 misinformation online? BBC Bitesize has launched a new series for schools tackling the problem, after new research with more than 400 teachers highlighted their growing concern about teenagers’ relationship with online content. It shows most teachers believe critical thinking is now the most essential skill for young people, yet only a third feel able to teach it. Nuala is joined by psychologist Dr Martha Deros Collado and Pip Sanderson from the Center for Digital Information Literacy in Schools to discuss the issue and how to approach talking to teenagers about it.

A new BBC investigation has been examining one of Russia's most covert war operations: the recruitment of foreign nationals as frontline soldiers for its invasion of Ukraine. A central figure of the documentary is a woman called Polina Alex-an-drovna Azarnykh. She's a former teacher turned recruiter who is now accused of misleading economically vulnerable men across the world into joining Russia's military. BBC documentary Into the Void: Putin’s Foreign Fighters follows Senior International Investigations Correspondent Nawal Al-Maghafi as she exposes this shadowy system and the human cost behind it. She joins Nuala to discuss the story.

Publishing "isn't taking the power of older women seriously" according to author Lesley Kara, in an article for industry bible The Bookseller. Lesley wrote about the number of older female authors, why there aren't enough books about middle-aged and older women and why she thinks the protrayals that do exist are often cliched. She joins Nuala along with book critic and journalist Alex Clark.

Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Transcript

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0:00.0

BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts.

0:07.0

Hello, I'm Greg Jenner, and good news,

0:09.5

Your Dead to Me, is back for a new series.

0:11.6

Here we go.

0:12.1

Yes, we'll explore Emperor Nero's notorious reign with Professor Mary Beard and Patton Oswald.

0:16.9

I would not want my daughter having the remote control, not alone an empire.

0:38.6

We'll dissect the decadent life of Philippe Duke-Dolion with Tom Allen. I've often tried to pretend I'm an aristocrat and being very quickly knocked down. And there'll be so much more with comedians like Olga Koch, Mike Mosniak and Rihelina. I'm excited. You're dead to me. The comedy podcast that takes history seriously. Listen first on BBC Sounds.

0:43.2

Hello, this is Neula McGovern, and you're listening to The Woman's Hour podcast.

0:45.7

Hello, and welcome to the program.

0:49.0

The actor Mia McKenna Bruce will be in studio this morning.

0:53.8

She's the sleuth heroine of the Agatha Christie remake of the Seven Dials Mystery, called Christie for a new generation by some.

0:57.3

Also this hour, how teachers and parents can help teenagers with their critical thinking skills when they encounter misinformation online.

1:05.5

We'll talk about a new BBC Bitesize series called Solves the Story, which hopes to help teens identify misleading claims

1:12.3

and also recognize bias. But we also want to hear from you. What misinformation has your

1:18.9

teen shared that you've had to debunk? How did you do that? Perhaps there are some tips you can

1:25.0

share with your fellow listeners when it comes to cultivating critical thinking in your team.

1:31.2

You can text the program, that number 84844 on social media where at BBC Women's Hour, or you can email us through our website.

1:38.0

For a WhatsApp message or a voice note, the number is 0-3700700, 100-444.

1:45.0

Also today, publishing isn't taking the power of older women seriously.

1:51.0

We'll hear why author Leslie Cara thinks that is, and we will bring you the story of the Russian woman,

1:57.0

who persuaded young men, often from poor countries, to fight on Russia's front line.

2:03.6

That is all coming up.

...

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