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Woman's Hour

Sarah Ferguson, Child free guilt, Actor Susan Wokoma, Understanding the courts

Woman's Hour

BBC

Society & Culture

4.13K Ratings

🗓️ 3 February 2026

⏱️ 58 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

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 hear from BAFTA Breakthrough British actress & comedian Susan Wokoma. Best known for playing Edith in the Enola Holmes films and her tv roles in Chewing Gum, and Cheaters, she’s just written a brand new 'baroque and roll' musical for the National Youth Theatre as part of their 70th anniversary celebrations.

There are renewed calls for better public education on the UK’s complex legal system to help ensure potential victims, particularly women, have a clearer understanding of how it works. Family law barrister Samantha Singer joins Nuala to discuss her online platform designed to empower those facing legal challenges, alongside Jo Silver from the charity Safe Lives.

We hear a lot about ‘mum guilt’, but what about the guilt that can come along with not becoming a mother? Writer Ellen C Scott is child-free by choice but has recently experienced guilt towards her parents because she won’t be providing them with grandchildren. She recently explored the topic for Stylist magazine and was surprised by how much it resonated with other women. Ellen and psychotherapist Professor Hannah Sherbersky discuss how to navigate these feelings.

Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Transcript

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0:00.0

BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.

0:07.6

Resolutions, ideas of being different.

0:10.3

Can we create long-lasting change?

0:12.2

Doctors Chris and Zand Van Tullochin are on a mission to help us take better care of ourselves.

0:17.1

You tried, it didn't work, what could you put in place?

0:20.2

And chartered psychologist Kimberly Wilson is on hand to help make sense of mental health.

0:25.2

We are constantly being told what's wrong with us, but there's so much that's right with us.

0:30.7

Reset and recharge with What's Up Docks and Complex with Kimberly Wilson.

0:35.2

Listen on BBC Sounds.

0:37.9

Hello, this is Newell O'Goveran, and you're listening to The Woman's Hour podcast.

0:42.8

Hello and welcome to the programme.

0:45.3

Sarah Ferguson's charity, Sarah's Trust, has announced it will close for the foreseeable future

0:50.1

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.

0:59.5

We're going to hear the details on what is known.

1:02.5

Also, we welcome back the actor and writer, Susan Wacoma, to our studio to talk about Handel and Hendrix.

1:10.6

That's coming up. Also today, a new online initiative

1:13.4

that hopes to help people navigate the legal system. We're going to take time to explain some of the

1:18.7

complexities that arise around domestic abuse injunctions. And if you don't have children and you

1:26.2

don't expect to, have you ever felt guilt that your parents won't become grandparents?

1:32.1

It's something Ellen Scott has been exploring and I'd love your thoughts on it.

1:36.1

You can text the program 84844.

1:38.9

I'm wondering, have you spoken openly with your parents about it?

...

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