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Woman's Hour

Will a woman lead the UN? Play 1536, Bra fitting

Woman's Hour

BBC

Society & Culture

4.13K Ratings

🗓️ 11 May 2026

⏱️ 58 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In its 80-year history, no woman has ever held the role of United Nations Secretary-General. The race for the job, which happens every 10 years, began in January and the candidates have recently appeared in their one and only TV debate. Four people are currently in the running, two of whom are female. But should it matter if the top job goes to a woman? Nuala McGovern discusses with Susana Malcorra, former Chief of Staff to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and founder of GWL Voices, which stands for Global Women Leaders, and Ben Donaldson, advisor to 1 For 8 Billion, a campaign group calling for an open, inclusive and merit-based selection process to appoint a woman as Secretary-General.

Nuala speaks to actors Liv Hill and Tanya Reynolds, stars of the new West End play 1536. Set in Tudor England, the drama follows three young women in Essex as they grapple with the shockwaves of Anne Boleyn’s execution. Through the stories of Jane, Anna and Mariella, the play explores how events at the Royal court ripple through ordinary lives, and what the fall of a queen means for women far beyond the palace walls.

It has been called 'a last ditch reset', 'a very important moment' and 'the speech of his career'. That's the speech that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is giving today as he tries to convince Labour MPs he's the right man for the job after heavy election losses last week. One of those listening is Labour backbencher Catherine West who, if still dissatisfied after hearing him, says she will send out an email and attempt to trigger a leadership contest. Meanwhile Angela Rayner put out a 1000-word statement yesterday, warning that the party’s current approach isn’t working and it needs to change. Joining Nuala to discuss what the political landscape looks like for women after the elections is BBC political correspondent Alicia McCarthy and Dr Annabel Mullin, Director of communications at Elect Her, an organisation that works to get women into elected office.

M&S have announced that following a successful trial they are ditching the measuring tape for bra fittings. Other underwear retailers have done this for years, but how does it work fitting a bra by eye? Nuala is joined by Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, Professor of Biomechanics at Portsmouth University, and virtual bra fitter Katie Weir.

Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.

0:07.3

On BBC Sounds, there are podcasts to help you look after your body and your mind.

0:12.7

From increasing your immunity to feeling more confident.

0:16.6

Or tips on how to focus.

0:18.5

Sorry, what will you say?

0:19.7

If it matters to you, it matters to us.

0:22.6

Feel good inside of them.

0:24.3

With What's Up Docs.

0:25.9

And Complex with Kimberly Wilson.

0:27.9

Listen on BBC Sounds.

0:30.5

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

0:35.1

Hello and welcome to the program.

0:37.0

Well, it has been called a last

0:38.6

ditch reset, a very important moment and the speech of his career that is getting underway

0:45.3

in the next few minutes as the Prime Minister, Kirstarmer, tries to convince Labour MPs that he's

0:50.6

the right man for the job after heavy election losses last week.

0:55.3

Well, one of those listening is Labour backbencher Catherine West, who, if still dissatisfied

1:00.4

after hearing him, says she will put out an email and attempt to trigger a leadership contest.

1:05.7

She's also said that Labor needs some senior women to step forward.

1:09.6

Who could that be?

1:10.6

And what does the political landscape

1:12.1

look like for women after the elections? We'll talk about all of that. There's another selection

...

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