Weekend Woman's Hour: Melanie C, Breast reconstruction delays, Sarah Finch

Woman's Hour

BBC

Society & Culture

4.1 • 3K Ratings

🗓️ 25 April 2026

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Melanie C has been a household name for the past three decades, since the Spice Girls burst into the charts with Wannabe and went on to become the world’s biggest ever girl group. She says her new solo album Sweat is a chance to bring together all the different aspects of herself, from pop star to superstar DJ, teenage raver to being fit in her 50s. She joins Anita Rani to discuss her latest album, body image, and finding confidence in her 40s and 50s.

At the height of the Covid pandemic, hundreds of women undergoing treatment for breast cancer had mastectomies without reconstruction - procedures that would usually happen at the same time, but were paused because they were considered non-essential. Many women were told they would be able to have reconstructive surgery once the restrictions lifted. But five years on, some are still waiting: living with pain and discomfort, and unable to move on with their lives. Joining Nuala McGovern are journalist Rosie Taylor, who has been speaking to the women affected, and Alison from Stockport

On Monday, Sarah Finch became the European recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize, for her work against oil drilling in Surrey, with the Weald Action Group. Their long legal battle led to a landmark judgement on fossil fuel emissions. The Goldman Prize, often referred to as the ‘Green Nobel’, honours grassroots environmental activists from around the world. For the first time since its inception, all six prizes were won by women. Sarah joins Anita to discuss what the award means to her.

Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, Music, radio, podcasts.
0:07.4	I'm Dilley Carter and I love organising.
0:11.6	In my brand new podcast, sort your life out, unpacked, celebrity guests join me to unbox three revealing items from their home.
0:18.7	Oh, wow. I wasn't expecting this. Along the way, I'll be
0:22.8	giving you practical hacks to help you declutter your life as well. This is the tough love I need.
0:27.4	Don't hold back. I'm definitely tucking you with me back to my house. Sort your life out,
0:32.6	unpacked. Watch on eye player, listen on BBC Sounds. Hello, I'm Anita Rani and welcome to Woman's Hour from BBC Radio 4.
0:40.9	Just to say that for rights reasons, the music in the original radio broadcast has been removed for this podcast.
0:47.6	Hello and welcome to the programme.
0:49.7	We've got a shorter edition today, so coming up, we'll be finding out why six years on from the COVID pandemic,
0:56.0	many women who underwent mastectomies for breast cancer are still awaiting breast reconstruction.
1:01.8	And we hear from Sarah Finch, who's just become the European recipient of the Goldman Prize,
1:07.3	often referred to as the Green Nobel for her work against oil drilling in Surrey
1:12.3	with the wheeled action group. But first, Melanie C. She's been a household name for the past
1:18.5	three decades, ever since the Spice Girls exploded into the charts with wannabe back in 1996. That's
1:25.6	dated us. They went on to become the world's biggest and best-selling
1:29.5	girl group. Melanie has also gone on to enjoy a hugely successful solo career and her ninth
1:35.1	studio album, Sweat is out on May 1st. It's described as a love letter to those heady
1:40.9	and formative days, an invitation to party, to find community on the dance floor, and joy in a dark world.
1:47.7	The latest single is called Undefeated Champion.
1:50.6	My prediction, that's a summer banger.
1:52.9	I started by asking Melanie about the inspiration behind the lyrics.
	...

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