Woman's Hour

Beyoncé has been declared a billionaire by Forbes, making her the fifth musician to join its list of the world's wealthiest people with 10 figure fortunes, including Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Bruce Springsteen and Beyoncé's husband Jay Z. Clare McDonnell speaks to Jacqueline Springer, music journalist and Curator of Africa & Diaspora: Performance at the Victoria & Albert museum, about what makes Beyoncé such a successful businesswoman, and the challenges along the way.Why can adults seem to regress to childhood or teenage behaviours at Christmas? We discuss family dynamics and the kinds of behaviour that can re-surface with everyone under the same roof again. Guardian columnist Elle Hunt shares her own experience alongside Woman's Hour listeners, and Psychotherapist Julia Samuel offers advice. Madelaine Thomas works as a professional dominatrix. When her own images were shared online without her consent, she decide to develop a tool that could allow images to be tracked, and abusers identified. Image Angel was the result, offering forensic image protection for platforms, and she's now trying to get businesses in the adult entertainment industry on board. Do we need to re-think our attitudes to ageing, as we age? As we approach 2026, we consider how to shed a negative attitude towards ageing, and embrace growing older and wiser, by revisiting an episode of the Woman’s Hour Guide to Life: How to make ageing your superpower. Therapist Emma Kirkby-Geddes shares how she’s been struggling to accept the passage of time. Gerontologist Dr Kerry Burnight, and Jacqueline Hooton, a personal trainer and ‘ageing well’ coach, offer advice. Research tells us that girls tend to disengage from politics before the age of 16, just as boys seem to grow in confidence. Academics at Roehampton University have looked into this and have created a programme aimed at Year 9 students, in an attempt to re-engage teenage girls in issues that matter to them and boost their confidence to speak politically. Professor Bryony Hoskins has created G-EPIC (Gender Empowerment through Politics in the Classroom) and Rachel Burlton is a teacher at Mulberry School for Girls in London who has been teaching the programme.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Helen Fitzhenry

Transcribed - Published: 30 December 2025

Yesterday, the women's tennis number one, Aryna Sabalenka, faced Nick Kyrgios, ranked 671st in the men's game, in a match that was dubbed the new 'Battle of the Sexes'. She lost in straight sets. The title references the 1973 game when the best women’s player in the world, Billie Jean King, beat Bobby Riggs in straight sets. But how relevant is this for the game now and what if anything has it achieved for women's sport? Clare McDonnell is joined by BBC Sport journalist Jonathan Jurejko, and Flo Clifford, Sports Reporter for the Independent. From the very beginning of the NHS in 1948, Irish women were actively recruited to staff British hospitals. By the 1960s, there were around 30,000 Irish-born nurses - making up roughly one in eight of all nurses – yet their contribution has often gone unrecognised. A new book aims to change that. Based on dozens of interviews, it tells the story of Irish nurses in their own words. We hear from co-author of Irish Nurses in the NHS: and Oral History, Professor Louise Ryan, who spent years researching Irish migration. And from Ethel Corduff, who grew up in Tralee before coming to England to train as a nurse, a career she spent 40 years in.We discuss the women stepping onto the dohyo - the sacred circle used for Sumo wrestling. There has been a surge of interest in the UK—so what’s drawing more women to this ancient sport? Especially as in Japan they are still banned from competing professionally. We’ll hear from British competitor Toraigh Mallon and from Lance Wicks from Southampton Sumo. Did you manage to switch off from work over Christmas? Is your mind already turning to setting some big life goals for 2026? If you struggled to strike the right balance in 2025, we have just the thing to help you reset your relationship with work and success for the year ahead. The Woman’s Hour Guide to Life features a whole episode on ambition, burnout, and how to stay driven while also being kind to yourself. TV chef and author Lorraine Pascale and Dr Claire Ashley, the author of The Burnout Doctor, discuss.Could AI be the answer to treating age-related diseases – or could it reinforce gender biases that sideline women’s health? Dr Carina Kern is a geneticist and biotechnology scientist who specialises in ageing. She joins Clare in the studio to discuss the potential risks and benefits of using AI in medical research and ageing. Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Transcribed - Published: 29 December 2025

On Woman’s Hour Christmas Day programme, Nuala McGovern and Anita Rani discussed the rituals and traditions that we do at Christmas. Some passed down across the generations and some adapted through in-laws or friends. With a recent YouGov poll saying that 89% of Brits celebrate Christmas and most of the preparation and work that goes into this festive season is done by women, what role do women play in the making and maintaining of these rituals? Nuala and Anita find out about the importance of nostalgia and why we love to do the same thing year after year. Dr Audrey Tang, author and a chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society, explains the importance of the rituals we do and why we do them.Woman’s Hour celebrates the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth. Her novels have been translated into almost every major language and there are societies of Austen lovers and scholars in every corner of the globe, from Australia to Argentina and Iran to Italy. To tell us why Austen still captivates readers in their parts of the world, Nuala McGovern was joined by Laaleen Sukhera, founder of the Jane Austen Society of Pakistan and the founding member of the Austen Society of Japan, and researcher at the University of Southampton, Dr. Hatsuyo Shimazaki.We've just had the shortest day of the year, and the most amount of darkness. But how do women live their lives in the dark today? You might have to work at night, or find it the best time to be productive. Or you might harness darkness as a time to think and meditate. Anita Rani speaks to two people who have considered the pros and cons of darkness in very different ways. Lucy Edwards is a Blind Broadcaster, Journalist, Author, Content Creator and Disability Activist. Arifa Akbar is theatre critic for the Guardian whose investigations into the dark formed her book, Wolf Moon.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells

Transcribed - Published: 27 December 2025

NB: The music in this broadcast has been removed from the podcast for rights reasons.We've just had the shortest day of the year, and the most amount of darkness. But how do women live their lives in the dark today? You might have to work at night, or find it the best time to be productive. Or you might harness darkness as a time to think and meditate. Anita Rani speaks to two people who have considered the pros and cons of darkness in very different ways. Lucy Edwards is a Blind Broadcaster, Journalist, Author, Content Creator and Disability Activist and Arifa Akbar is theatre critic for the Guardian whose investigations into the dark formed her book, Wolf Moon, which came out this summer. Earlier this month we asked you for your night time experiences and were contacted by listener Catherine Smeeth who is a 55-year-old newly qualified class 1 HGV driver which is the heaviest you can get at 44 tons. She does a 300 mile round trip in an articulated lorry with a double decker trailer. Catherine got her licence 3 months ago and says the night roads are "great for a newbie getting to grips with the road". She works 12 hour shifts overnight, and recorded one of them for us. Dame Maggie Aderin Pocock is a legend when it comes to the night sky. She is a space scientist and educator, having presented the Sky at Night and she is presenting this year’s Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. She has written books for adults and children, presented TV film 'Do we really need the Moon?', received a Damehood in 2024 for services to science education and diversity and in 2023 had a Barbie doll made in her name. So who better to ask about how the night sky can inspire and comfort us? We’ve heard about darkness and fear and overcoming that and how the lights in the sky can be both awe inspiring and comforting. But what about the past? What kind of relationship have women had with the dark over time? To help answer that, Anita is joined by archaeologist Dr Marion Dowd and Professor Jane Hamlett.Moving on from the past to modern day celebrations at night. And where better than with nightclubs and music. Anita is joined by Woman’s Hour’s resident Boxing Day DJ Jamz Supernova who suggests some tracks for getting the party started and keeping it going. Presenter Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

Transcribed - Published: 26 December 2025

On this Christmas Day’s Woman’s Hour Nuala McGovern and Anita Rani are discussing the rituals and traditions that we do at Christmas. Some passed down across the generations and some adapted through in-laws or friends that make this time of year so special and unique to us all. Do you always receive presents in a stocking? Perhaps it’s a bracing Christmas walk or plunge into the sea, or maybe it’s matching Christmas pyjamas.With a recent YouGov poll saying that 89% of Brits celebrate Christmas and most of the preparation and work that goes into this festive season is done by women, what role do women play in the making and maintaining of these rituals? And Nuala and Anita will be finding out about the importance of nostalgia and why we love to do the same thing year after year. Liza Frank, author of Household Lore - folklore, traditions and remedies for every room in your home, and Beverley Cook, Social History Curator, London Museum, discuss the origins of our treasured rituals and traditions.Dr Audrey Tang, author and a chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society explains the importance of the rituals we do every year and why we do them.Cookery writer Syke McAlpine, author of The Christmas Companion, delves into our food rituals and shares her own Christmas traditions, which span between the UK, Italy and Australia.Author and book coach Penelope Wincer tells us about Friendsmas, hosting friends rather than families at Christmas, and what it’s like to embrace and create new traditions together.Travel journalist Jessica Vincent talks us through some of the rituals that happen across the world, from throwing dough at the ceiling and hoping it sticks, to roller skating to Midnight Mass. And there’s live music from Alexis Strum, who writes a Christmas song every year. Her song for 2025 is called I won’t be lonely this Christmas.Presenters: Nuala McGovern and Anita Rani Producer: Andrea Kidd Editor: Karen Dalziel

Transcribed - Published: 25 December 2025

The US Department of Justice released another batch of documents related to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Many of the pages are heavily redacted and represent only a fraction of the number held by the FBI. Marina Lacerda met Epstein when she was 14 years old in New York around 2002 and was abused by him. She gave her reaction to the last Friday's release of documents. South Asian women have long been underrepresented in the DJ scene - largely due to a combination of cultural expectations and gender stereotypes but that’s starting to change. Every Saturday, Asian Network’s DJ Kizzi bring us a House Party show. This Saturday - the final one of 2025 - she’s ending the year in style with a special House Party featuring five South Asian female DJs in back-to-back sets. They will be representing the different diasporas and Asian cultures, from Punjabi and Pakistani to Bengali and Tamil. DJ Kizzi and DJ Manara join Krupa to talk about what it means to be a female South Asian DJ in a male-dominated industry and why they’re passionate about championing female DJ talent.‘Fly girls love planes’ - that’s the motto of Gloria Amponsem, founder of a plane spotting group for women. After her videos went viral on social media, The Plane Spotting Club has organised group socials and built an online community with hundreds of women. Founder Gloria and member of the club Michelle Fradgley join Krupa to discuss why they love plane spotting and how their group is challenging stereotypes.Brahmacharini Shripriya Chaitanya, a spiritual leader at Chinmaya Mission London, shares the wisdom of Advaita Vedanta, the Hindu philosophy of non-duality that teaches all existence is one interconnected reality. After studying in India, she returned to the UK and has spent seven years guiding her community through talks, writings, and her podcast, as well as appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Prayer for the Day. This festive season, her message is simple - pause, practise mindfulness and gratitude, and reconnect with the stillness within to find calm and light amid the celebrations.As Noel Coward’s funny, shocking play Fallen Angels is revived one hundred years after it was first performed, actress and singer Janie Dee joins Krupa to talk about how the play almost didn’t make it past the censors, and Noel Coward cabaret night, plus she performs a Noel Coward song live in the studio. Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Dianne McGregor

Transcribed - Published: 24 December 2025

Women and babies have become targets in conflicts around the world, according to an investigation by The Guardian. Along with data collected by the NGO Insecurity Insight, it identified nearly 300 attacks on and disruptions to maternity care facilities, staff and pregnant women over the past three years and at least 119 incidents involving direct strikes on hospitals and delivery wards. Datshiane Navanayagam is joined by Liz Cookman, Europe Correspondent at The Observer and freelancer at The Guardian and Times, who worked on the story.For the Sun After Long Nights is an on-the-ground exploration of the Woman, Life, Freedom protests in Iran, one of the country's largest uprisings in decades, after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. Journalist Nilo Tabrizy discusses writing the book with fellow Iranian journalist Fatemeh Jamalpour, keeping in touch while Fatemeh was in Tehran, and why she thinks it's important to show the history of the Iranian women's rights movement.As Soho jazz club Ronnie Scott's prepares to open its newly revamped upstairs space, Ronnie Scott’s head of music Sarah Weller and resident singer Natalie Williams join Datshiane to talk about the history of the venue, the iconic musicians who have played there from Nina Simone to Ella Fitzgerald, and how the role of women in jazz has changed over six decades. Plus, Natalie treats us to a rendition of the Christmas classic, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, live in the studio. And with many generations getting together over the festive period, what can we do to ensure the older members of our families feel cherished and included in the celebrations? Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, and Louise Blezzard, a former nurse who runs a care service looking after older people in their homes, join us.Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Simon Richardson

Transcribed - Published: 23 December 2025

Christmas parties, Christmas dinners, Christmas Day: this time of the year can be full of hosting duties and opportunities. But for many women, hosting can be the source of stress and worry, whether it’s the house, the food or the relationships between our family and friends. To discuss what our worries reveal and what you can do to enjoy hosting more and stress a bit less, Datshiane Navanayagam is joined by psychotherapist and author Philippa Perry and content creator Matilda Bea.Thousands of pages of documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's abuse were released by the US Department of Justice last Friday and dominated headlines over the weekend. The DOJ then removed at least 13 files from the website without explanation by Saturday because of concerns raised by victims, according to the deputy attorney general. One of the images removed included a photograph of US President Donald Trump. Datshiane Navanayagam is joined by BBC Correspondent, Joe Inwood to hear more. The government has announced that next year it will cease funding its flagship international programme to prevent FGM, or Female Genital Mutilation. A recent report published by a group of MPs says access to services for survivors in the UK is a postcode lottery and they are often not provided with the appropriate counselling services. To discuss this, Datshiane Navanayagam is joined by Sema Gornall, CEO of The Vavengers, a UK-based charity committed to ending Female Genital Mutilation, and Christine Jardine, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West and member of the Women and Equalities Committee.Christmas shopping is stressful at the best of times, but what about for those working in retail? Women account for 66% of jobs in the sector, and a recent study by the retail trust found three quarters have experienced abuse this year, with 43% wanting to quit their jobs as a result. The rate of shoplifting has also gone up by 13% from last year, the highest for 20 years. We hear from retail worker Stephanie Michelle and Chris Brook-Carter, chief executive of the Retail Trust. Presented by: Datshiane Navanayagam Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Transcribed - Published: 22 December 2025

This week the Government set out its strategy to deal with violence against women and girls. This makes up nearly 20% of all recorded crime in England and Wales. Over the last year alone, one in every eight women was a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking, according to Home Office figures. Educating boys on misogyny is a key aim of the strategy and figures show that nearly one in five boys aged 13 to 15 are said to hold a positive view of the self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate, according to a YouGov poll. Alex Davies-Jones, the minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, joins Anita Rani to discuss the Government's strategy.Hollywood actor Kate Hudson’s latest movie Song Sung Blue is based on the real life story of Wisconsin couple Mike and Claire Sardina. Kate plays Claire, who along with her husband Mike, played by Hugh Jackman, finds local fame in the 1990s as a Neil Diamond tribute act. Kate tells Anita about the appeal of the role and how she’s now found empowerment and her voice.Woman’s Hour celebrates the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth. Nuala McGovern delves into the world that Jane was born into in 1775. She is joined by the author Gill Hornby, President of the UK Jane Austen Society, and by Dr Zoe McGee whose book Courting Disaster explores the issue of consent in Regency literature.According to a survey in the press this week, nearly half of younger women surveyed said they are confident in painting and decorating, compared with just 28% of young men. The stats are from the motoring and cycling firm Halfords who said its study revealed a reversal from previous generations. We hear from Vickie Lee, DIY YouTuber known online as The Carpenter's Daughter, alongside Caroline Henn, founder of bePractical DIY in Bristol, who runs courses aimed at making DIY accessible.We celebrate the phenomenon of female tribute acts to male bands. Gobby Holder, aka Danie Cox of Slady and Lolo Wood of The Fallen Women and Ye Nuns discuss.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

Transcribed - Published: 20 December 2025

Hollywood actor Kate Hudson’s latest movie Song Sung Blue is based on the real life story of Wisconsin couple Mike and Claire Sardina. Kate plays Claire, who along with her husband Mike, played by Hugh Jackman, finds local fame in the 1990s as a Neil Diamond tribute act. Kate tells Anita Rani about the appeal of the role and how she’s now found empowerment and her voice. Set up in 2015, the Undercover Policing Inquiry is one of the most complicated, expensive and delayed public inquiries in British legal history. At its heart is a series of very serious allegations of systematic abuses by undercover policing units over 40 years, which involved spying on tens of thousands of activists and led to relationships with women who did not know they were being spied on. The BBC's Ayshea Buksh has been following the inquiry closely and joins Anita to explain the latest revelations. Sophie Blake is a former TV presenter and now a campaigner for cancer charities. She is also a single mother living with stage 4 cancer. She joins Anita, along with her teenage daughter, Maya, to talk candidly about parenting through incurable cancer, what this means for their relationship and why time together, especially around the Christmas holidays, is that much more valuable.We hear a lot about young men moving to the Right politically, but at the last election young women swung just as strongly, if not more so, to the Left. Why is this so little discussed and what does it mean for the UK’s political future? Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff has been exploring these issues in a new Radio 4 documentary, Left Out: the political radicalisation of young women - and the silence surrounding it. She and Scarlett Maguire from political pollsters, Merlin Strategy, join Anita.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

Transcribed - Published: 19 December 2025

Today the Government sets out its strategy to deal with violence against women and girls. This makes up nearly 20% of all recorded crime in England and Wales. Over the last year alone, one in every eight women was a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking, according to Home Office figures. Educating boys on misogyny is a key aim of today’s strategy and figures show that nearly one in five boys aged 13 to 15 are said to hold a positive view of the self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate, according to a YouGov poll. Alex Davies-Jones, the minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, joins Anita Rani to discuss the Government's strategy.With the long, cold and dark evenings, now feels like the perfect time to curl up indoors and get lost in a book. Well, if you’re looking for something cosy to read over Christmas, look no further than Jenny Colgan. Her books have been Sunday Times & New York Times bestsellers, selling more than 15 million copies worldwide. Jenny tells Anita about her latest novel, The Secret Christmas Library, set in the snowy landscape of the Scottish Highlands.In England almost two thirds of people are considered obese or overweight. An estimated 1.5 million people in the UK, are using weight-loss injections, or GLP1s. But what happens when you decide to stop, or have no choice but to come off them? A BBC News documentary on iPlayer, What Happens When, asks just that. To find out more Anita is joined by Dr Emma Anders who, after a short break, has decided to continue using weight loss jabs, and the GP, Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi. Amara Okereke has been taking the musical theatre world by storm, with roles including Cosette in Les Misérables and Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. She’s currently singing and dancing across the stage as American model Dale Tremont, in the Irving Berlin’s 1930s musical Top Hat at London’s Southbank Centre. She tells Anita about the role and her love of musical theatre.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Andrea Kidd

Transcribed - Published: 18 December 2025

A man believed to be the UK’s most prolific romance fraudster, who conned a number of women into giving him almost a million pounds, has been jailed for seventeen years - the longest sentence ever handed down for romance fraud in the UK. Anna Rowe, founder of Catch the Catfish and a former victim of romance fraud joins Nuala.It’s 50 years this month since the Sex Discrimination Act was passed - a cause and campaign which united women across classes and generations. Historian Dr Lyndsey Jenkins tells us about the struggle to make it law, and the impact it had on women’s lives.This morning we reveal that the Home Office is planning to expand a pilot scheme where domestic abuse specialists are embedded in police 999 control rooms to advise officers handling calls. They listen in, provide feedback, run training sessions for call handlers and ensure victims are pointed to support services. This pilot was introduced earlier this year under "Raneem's law" after Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola Saleem were murdered by Raneem's ex partner. Raneem had called West Midlands police 14 times to report concerns about her safety. Her aunt Nour Norris has campaigned for this change and joins Nuala in the studio.We celebrate the phenomenon of female tribute acts to male bands. Gobby Holder, aka Danie Cox of Slady and Lolo Wood of The Fallen Women and Ye Nuns tell us how their audiences have grown.

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2025

Woman’s Hour celebrates the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth. Nuala McGovern delves into the world that Jane was born into in 1775 to explore why her writing has such a following around the world and still feels so relevant to women today. She is joined by the author Gill Hornby, President of the UK Jane Austen Society, and by Dr Zoe McGee whose book Courting Disaster explores the issue of consent in Regency literature, to discuss the life, the novels and the extraordinary characters that have made Jane such an enduring figure.They are joined by Rachel Parris whose new novel Introducing Mrs Collins extends the story of Charlotte Lucas, the character in Pride and Prejudice who does what Lizzie Bennet simply couldn't do and accepts the marriage proposal Mr Collins. As well as being an author, Rachel is a comedian, actor and presenter, not to mention a founding member of Austentatious, a hugely successful live show which improvises a new Jane Austen novel in every performance.Jane Austen’s novels have been translated into almost every major language and there are societies of Austen lovers and scholars in every corner of the globe, from Australia to Argentina and Iran to Italy. Joining us to tell us why Austen still captivates readers in their parts of the world are Laaleen Sukhera, founder of the Jane Austen Society of Pakistan and the founding member of the Austen Society of Japan and researcher at the University of Southampton, Dr. Hatsuyo Shimazaki.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Laura Northedge

Transcribed - Published: 16 December 2025

The Government is set to unveil its long-awaited Violence Against Women and Girls strategy later this week. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has described violence against women and girls as a 'national emergency'. Some early releases of what will be in the strategy have been reported in the press over the weekend, including establishing specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams in every police force across England and Wales by 2029. Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, and Harriet Wistrich, founder and Director of the Centre for Women's Justice, join Nuala McGovern to talk about what we know so far. According to a survey in lots of the papers today, nearly half of younger women surveyed said they are confident in painting and decorating, compared to just 28% of young men. The stats are from the motoring and cycling firm Halfords who said its study revealed a reversal from previous generations. Vickie Lee, DIY YouTuber known online as The Carpenter's Daughter, joins us, alongside Caroline Henn, founder of bePractical DIY in Bristol, who runs courses aimed at making DIY accessible. Food is a ‘form of conversation between people, between generations of the same family, or between members of local and global communities’, says Alissa Timoshkina, a food writer and historian, whose family has a Ukrainian-Jewish lineage. At the start of Hanukkah, Alissa - author of new recipe book Kapusta - joins Nuala to talk about why she believes food is the language of unity.The Midlothian singer-songwriter Brooke Combe first came to prominence with her singalong, handclapping debut single, Are You With Me? Her early cover songs found mass appeal, particularly her rendition of Baccara’s Yes Sir, I Can Boogie, the Scotland international football team’s anthem in summer 2021. She has performed at Glastonbury and opened for Benson Boone on his American Heart World Tour. She joins Nuala to discuss her music and debut album, Dancing at the Edge of the World.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Simon Richardson

Transcribed - Published: 15 December 2025

Baroness Amos, who was appointed by the Health Secretary to lead an independent rapid investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal care in England, has said nothing prepared her for the scale of 'unacceptable care' that women and families have received. Presenter Krupa Padhy is joined by the BBC’s Social Affairs correspondent Michael Buchanan and Theo Clarke, former Conservative MP who also chaired the UK Birth Trauma Inquiry and hosts the podcast, Breaking the Taboo, to discuss the review and what comes next.Wages for housework was a feminist mantra in the West in the 1970s – feminist campaigners arguing for recognition of the economic value of domestic labour. The debate has been revived in India over the last decade with an estimated 118 million women across 12 states now receiving unconditional cash transfers from their governments. Devina Gupta, a reporter based in Delhi, and Professor Prabha Kotiswaran from King’s College in London unpick the impact of ‘wages for housework’ on women’s lives and the Indian economy.When Kaitlin Lawrence was just 22 years old, she collapsed whilst playing netball for the then Super League side Surrey Storm. She was eventually diagnosed with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), a genetic condition she never knew she had. Following this, she was forced to give up her dream of playing professionally for Scotland and has gone on to successfully campaign to get cardiac screening introduced in the Netball Super League next season. She tells Anita her story. They were joined by Presenter Gabby Logan, whose younger brother died suddenly at the age of 15 years old from an undiagnosed heart condition. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.A new report highlights the crucial role of strength training and exercise for people on weight loss drugs. Data gathered by fitness professionals, Les Mills and the not-for-profit industry body, ukactive, shows the impact of weight loss drugs on skeletal muscle mass. Their report says that 20-50% of weight loss is lean body mass, which poses significant health risks such as frailty, disability, reduced metabolism, and increased mortality. Physiotherapist Lucy McDonald and Dr Sarah Jarvis join Krupa to discuss the importance of strength training to mitigate muscle loss.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

Transcribed - Published: 13 December 2025

The Government has announced a £3 billion investment to create around 50,000 new specialised places for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The aim is to speed up support for families and improve provision in both mainstream schools and bespoke facilities. To discuss what that means in practice, Anita Rani is joined by the BBC's Education Correspondent Vanessa Clarke and Sharon Smith, co-director of Special Needs Jungle, a parent-led UK website and resource hub providing news, information, and advocacy for families with children with special educational needs.One of the unexpected stars of this year's Celebrity Race Across The World has been Anita's Dad, Bal, with many people commenting on their touching father/ daughter relationship. Since reaching the finish line, he's now discovered his wanderlust and Anita catches up with him on a Christmas cruise to look back at their time travelling together. The Government’s long-delayed strategy to tackle violence against women and girls is set to be unveiled next week. According to the Movember Foundation, two-thirds of young men regularly engage with masculinity influencers online. A new campaign, Same Side, launched today by UN Women UK, is aiming to counter that with the help of some leading sports stars. One is the former Manchester City and QPR defender Nedum Onuoha. He joins Anita along with Tabitha Morton, Executive Director of UN Women UK.Have you already overindulged at a few parties? Could you imagine getting though the festive season without booze? Well Laura Antonia Jordan hasn't had a drink, or even a mildly tipsy Christmas, for 10 years now. A journalist, she's written about navigating the festive season completely sober after years of living by, as she calls it 'the doctrine of hedonism'. She tells Anita why the cultural pressure can be tough, but dry December does not have to be boring.Boudoir photography, stripping down into lingerie and posing for a photographer may sound like something from the world of supermodels and glossy magazines, but there are lots of women from all walks of life who are choosing to pay for professional intimate photos, as gifts for partners, or just to feel good about themselves. Joining Anita to discuss this increasingly popular world are boudoir photographer Laura Slater and Joley Gordon, who booked herself a session two years ago and has never looked back. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Andrea Kidd

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2025

Venezuelan politician and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado was met with cheers on a hotel balcony in Norway in the middle of the night this week. It was the first time that she has been seen in public since January, after being forced into hiding. She also gave an exclusive interview to BBC News and spoke about the significance of this moment. So who is Maria Corina Machado? To find out, Anita Rani was joined by Norberto Paredes who is a journalist with BBC Mundo, the BBC's news service for the Spanish speaking world.When Kaitlin Lawrence was just 22 years old, she collapsed whilst playing netball for the then Super League side Surrey Storm. She was eventually diagnosed with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), a genetic condition she never knew she had. Following this she was forced to give up her dream of playing professionally for Scotland and has gone on to successfully campaign to get cardiac screening introduced in the Netball Super League next season. She tells Anita her story.As 2025 draws to a close, it’s clear this has been a landmark year for women’s sport. From the UEFA Women’s Euros to the Rugby World Cup, record-breaking attendances and soaring TV audiences have put female athletes firmly in the global spotlight. One person who’s been at the heart of that story is Gabby Logan. Part of the all-female presenting team for BBC Sports Personality of the Year - returning next week - Gabby has also had a standout year herself, stepping into one of football’s most iconic roles as a new presenter on Match of the Day. She joins Anita live.Yesterday, we heard the very sad news about author Sophie Kinsella, who has died at the age of 55. Her real name was Madeleine Wickham and she wrote more than 30 books for adults, children and teenagers, which sold more than 50 million copies in more than 60 countries - they have been translated into more than 40 languages. She joined Nuala in October 2024, when she spoke about her last novel, What does it feel like? She described how her personal experience had heavily influenced the novel: the protagonist had brain cancer, a hugely supportive husband and five children, exactly like Sophie. You can listen to Sophie's final Woman's Hour interview on BBC Sounds - it's the episode from 8 October 2024. A new BBC report looks into the uses of AI in schools, from generating lesson plans to marking and even deepfake teachers. Anita speaks to BBC Education reporter Hayley Clarke about what she found and how it could help with the pressures that teachers are under, plus we hear from CEO of the Great Schools Trust Shane Ierston about the ways they've been putting AI tools to use in the classroom.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2025

John Smyth is believed to be the most prolific serial abuser associated with the Church of England. In 2024, an independent review carried out by Keith Makin found that Smyth abused 30 boys and young men in the UK, and around 85 in Zimbabwe and South Africa. A new Channel 4 documentary, See No Evil, reveals the scale of Smyth's abuse and features testimony from victims and survivors, the journalists who uncovered the story, and from Smyth's family. Fiona Rugg, John Smyth's daughter, is part of the documentary and joins Nuala in the studio. Woman's Hour also hears from Madeleine Davies, Senior Writer at the Church Times, who has followed this story closely.As the government announces plans to spend £500m on youth services in England, what is the state of youth work today? Nuala is joined by Abbee McLatchie, Deputy CEO of the National Youth Agency, who has been working in and around youth services for 25 years, and Letitia Simms, a youth worker for the charity Cranstoun in the Routes youth advisory hub in Dudley in the West Midlands.Wages for housework was a feminist mantra in the West in the 1970s – feminist campaigners arguing for recognition of the economic value of domestic labour. The debate has been revived in India over the last decade with an estimated 118 million women across 12 states now receiving unconditional cash transfers from their governments. Devina Gupta, a reporter based in Delhi, and Professor Prabha Kotiswaran from King’s College in London unpick the impact of ‘wages for housework’ on women’s lives and the Indian economy.

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2025

Baroness Amos, who was appointed by the Health Secretary to lead an independent rapid investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal care in England, has said nothing prepared her for the scale of "unacceptable care" that women and families have received. Presenter Krupa Padhy is joined by the BBC’s Social Affairs correspondent Michael Buchanan and Theo Clarke, former Conservative MP who also chaired the UK Birth Trauma Inquiry and hosts the podcast, Breaking the Taboo, to discuss those initial reflections and what comes next. We examine a new report which highlights the crucial role of strength training and exercise for people on weight loss drugs. Data gathered by fitness professionals, Les Mills and the not-for-profit industry body, ukactive, shows the impact of weight loss drugs on skeletal muscle mass. Their report says that 20-50% of weight loss is lean body mass, which poses significant health risks such as frailty, disability, reduced metabolism, and increased mortality. Physiotherapist Lucy McDonald and Dr Sarah Jarvis join Krupa to discuss the importance of strength training to mitigate muscle loss. Yesterday, nurse Sandie Peggie, who objected to sharing a female changing room with a transgender doctor, won part of her employment tribunal against NHS Fife. She was suspended from her job after she confronted Dr Beth Upton in 2023. The tribunal ruled she was harassed by NHS Fife but other allegations of discrimination and victimisation were dismissed. We hear more from Lorna Gordon, the BBC's Scotland Correspondent, who has been following the case. From Kate Garraway’s iconic jumper on The Celebrity Traitors to Lily Allen’s album launch dress, bows are everywhere right now. But are they practical or a deliberate gesture of femininity? And why have we seen this resurgence of bows in fashion? The Guardian’s fashion and lifestyle editor Morwenna Ferrier and Dr Sarah Grant from the V&A join Krupa to discuss the history and sudden popularity of bows. Presented by: Krupa Padhy Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Transcribed - Published: 9 December 2025

Have you heard of Freebirthing? It’s giving birth without any medical help or intervention. A new podcast by The Guardian has investigated an American organisation – the Free Birth Society or FBS – a multimillion-dollar business which professionals claim promotes some dangerous views. Nuala McGovern is joined by Sirin Kale who undertook the investigation along with her colleague Lucy Osbourne. Dr Claire Feeley, midwife and senior lecturer at Kings College London who has done research into freebirthing, discusses the free birth picture here in the UK.Today marks a year since the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. For more than half a century the Assad family ruled Syria with an iron fist and when it came to an end after 13 years of war, many women hoped for a new era. So what's the situation for women in the country 12 months on? We hear from Lina Sinjab, the BBC's Middle East correspondent, who is Syrian and currently in Aleppo.As part of Radio 4’s annual Christmas Appeal, we hear from NHS Clinical psychologist Sarah Phillips and former Rowan Alba supported-accommodation resident Elvira about how a revolutionary in-house psychologist team is helping homeless women in supported housing in Edinburgh and why they think this model should be rolled out across the UK.Sarah Mughal Rana is a #BookTok personality and the co-host of On the Write Track podcast. Her debut novel - Dawn of the Firebird -has just been published. It’s an epic, action-packed fantasy story, embracing rich Islamic culture. Sarah joins Nuala to discuss the main protagonist, the discarded daughter of an emperor, who is described as: Daughter, Assassin, Traitor, Saviour. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Transcribed - Published: 8 December 2025

When Jacinda Ardern became Prime Minister of New Zealand in 2017 at the age of 37, she was the youngest female head of government in the world. She also made history as only the second elected leader to give birth while in office. She resigned in 2023 after more than five years in post saying she no longer had enough in the tank and, since then, has engaged in global work focused on empathy in leadership and the prevention of online extremism. As a new documentary film, Prime Minister, is out in cinemas now, Jacinda talks to Kylie Pentelow.The government has just unveiled its new HIV Action Plan with the stated goal of tackling stigma and to end transmissions in England by 2030. Public Health Minister Ashley Dalton discusses the policy along with Ellie Harrison, who was diagnosed HIV positive when she was 21.Are friendships with exes a bad idea or a sign of growing up? Journalist Olivia Petter and comedian Rosie Wilby join Nuala McGovern to explore how relationships with ex-partners evolve after a breakup, and why staying in touch can look different in straight and LGBTQ+ communities.Columnist Sarah Vine started losing her hair as a teenager and was eventually diagnosed with female pattern baldness, a hormonal condition. But now she has decided, after 15 years of wearing wigs, to reveal her own hair on the front cover of a national newspaper. She speaks about her decision to bare all.We examine new data that reveals the number of teachers leaving the profession after becoming parents. We explore why, and what’s being done about it. Emma Shepherd is the founder of the Maternity Teacher Paternity Teacher Project and Branwen Jeffries is the BBC's Education Editor.Do you like everything to be perfect for dinner party hosting – the spotless house, the elaborate menu, the Instagram-worthy table setting? But what if the secret to a great dinner party isn’t perfection, but scruffy hosting – a trend that is apparently transforming the way we gather together and makes stress-free dinner parties more attainable - perhaps a one-pot dinner, mismatched cutlery, toys under the table or children running around screaming. Helen Thorn, Comedian, Podcaster and one half of Scummy Mummies tells Nuala why she embraces this type of hosting.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Dianne McGregor

Transcribed - Published: 6 December 2025

The last year has seen the election of several women to positions of political leadership: Sanae Takaichi as Prime Minister of Japan, Catherine Connolly as President of Ireland, and Jennifer Geerlings-Simons as President of Suriname. But, a recent report has suggested that trust in women leaders is declining globally. The Reykjavik Index For Leadership measures how women and men are perceived in terms of their suitability for leadership, not just in politics but across many sectors of society. So is this part of a trend of declining trust in women in positions of power? Kylie Pentelow is joined by Lois Taylor, Global Marketing Director of Verian Group who published the report, and BBC business journalist and presenter of Moneybox Live Felicity Hannah to discuss.Columnist Sarah Vine started losing her hair as a teenager and was eventually diagnosed with female pattern baldness, a hormonal condition. But now she has decided, after 15 years of wearing wigs, to reveal her own hair on the front cover of a national newspaper. She spoke to Kylie about her decision to bare all. According to a recent poll by US analytics firm Gallup, 40% of American women aged 15 to 44 would move abroad if they had the opportunity, with the desire to migrate among younger American women quadrupling in the past decade. Kylie talks to Josephine Harmon, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Northeastern University in Boston, and Bonnie Medina – now 45 with two young children - who lives in London having left Seattle one-and-a-half years ago.Four-time Olivier Award-winning actress, singer and director Maria Friedman is still best known to many as the narrator in the film of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. But this Christmas, her hugely acclaimed Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical Merrily We Roll Along, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff, is coming to cinemas. And Maria also stars in Tinsel Town, which sees Kiefer Sutherland play a washed-up Hollywood actor who ends up in a small town pantomime. Maria joins Kylie to talk about more than three decades on stage and screen, and spreading joy at Christmas. A quirky new romcom novel set against the sapphic dating scene is out. My Ex-Girlfriend’s Wedding is about Hope, a folk musician who feels that she has nothing going for her: She's in a job she hates, has had to quit her band after losing the ability to play guitar; her very recent ex-girlfriend is now getting married. And so, she resolves there’s nothing for it, but to accept an invitation to the wedding and try to win back the love of her life. Kylie asks Sophie Crawford about relationships with an ex, dating within the queer community and magic- all themes in her book.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Corinna Jones

Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2025

When Jacinda Ardern became Prime Minister in 2017 at the age of 37, she was the youngest female head of government in the world. She also made history as only the second elected leader to give birth while in office. She resigned in 2023 after more than five years in post saying she no longer had enough in the tank and, since then, has engaged in global work focused on empathy in leadership and the prevention of online extremism. As a new documentary film, Prime Minister, comes out out in cinemas, Jacinda tells Kylie Pentelow about the highs and lows of trying to lead with empathy. We examine new data that reveals the number of teachers leaving the profession after becoming parents. We’ll ask why, and what’s being done about it. Emma Shepherd is the founder of the Maternity Teacher Paternity Teacher Project and Branwen Jeffries is the BBC's Education Editor.British Olympic and Paralympic athletes are being offered a new form of artificial intelligence-based protection from online abuse for the first time. UK Sport has signed a contract worth more than £300,000 to allow thousands of athlete's access to an app which detects and hides abusive posts sent by other users on social media. BBC Sport Correspondent Natalie Pirks and Olympic badminton player Kirsty Gilmour discuss. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced he is launching an independent review into rising demand for mental health, ADHD, and autism services in England. Women's historic underdiagnosis has started to improve in recent years. What role might this play in the increase that the government now plan to examine? We hear from Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais - senior lecturer in psychology at Queen Mary's University in London who researches girls and women with ADHD.

Transcribed - Published: 4 December 2025

Justice Secretary David Lammy has announced plans for a sweeping range of reforms to criminal courts in England and Wales. The proposals include scrapping jury trials for cases where sentences are likely to be less than three years and for trials involving ‘particularly technical and lengthy fraud and financial offences’. They will only be kept for the most serious offences, including murder, robbery and rape. However there are fears that the proposed changes will have a disproportionate impact on women, whether as victims or when accused of a crime and then particularly for women of colour. Nuala McGovern discusses the reforms with Fiona Rutherford, Chief Executive of legal reform charity Justice, barrister Emma Torr, Co-chief of Appeal, a law practice dedicated to challenging wrongful convictions, and Val Castell, Deputy National Chair of the Magistrates’ Association. A petition has been launched calling for a national endometriosis registry to track and audit data on diagnosis, treatment and surgery outcomes. It's been spearheaded by Jessica Smith, who, like an estimated one and a half million women in the UK, suffers with endometriosis, a condition which occurs when the tissue, similar to the lining of the uterus, grows in other places, such as the ovaries and the fallopian tubes. Campaigners say the level of care is a post code lottery, with long wait lists and that by streamlining this information some of the gaps in care could be eliminated. Jessica joins Nuala along with Professor Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians.The Women's Institute has announced a big change - from next April it will no longer offer membership to transgender women. The UK Supreme Court earlier this year ruled that the legal definition of a woman can only be based on biological sex. This comes the day after it was announced that transgender girls can no longer join the Girl Guides, Brownies or Rainbows. The Women's Institute says it's decision comes with the ‘utmost regret.’ Melissa Green, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes explains why they came to this decision. The BBC's political correspondent Phil Sim gives the background.Do you like everything to be perfect for Christmas dinner party hosting – the spotless house, the elaborate menu, the Instagram-worthy table setting? But what if the secret to a great dinner party isn’t perfection, but scruffy hosting – a trend that is apparently transforming the way we gather together and makes stress-free dinner parties more attainable - perhaps a one-pot dinner, mismatched cutlery, toys under the table or children running around screaming. Helen Thorn, Comedian, Podcaster and one half of Scummy Mummies tells Nuala why she embraces this type of hosting. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

Transcribed - Published: 3 December 2025

Are friendships with exes a bad idea or a sign of growing up? Journalists Olivia Petter and comedian Rosie Wilby join Nuala McGovern to explore how relationships with ex-partners evolve after a breakup, and why staying in touch can look different in straight and LGBTQ+ communities.Global Leaders for Ending Gender-Based Violence (GBV) dedicated to preventing violence against women and girls have come together to form the All In Coalition. This new group is made up of global leaders and survivor advocates including Harriet Harman, the UK's Special Envoy for Women and Girls, and Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement. We hear from Dr Emma Fulu, who set this up, and Sima Samar, former Minister for Women's Affairs in Afghanistan.There is new data out today from the charity Surviving Economic Abuse which reveals that 27% of mothers (with children under the age of 18) have experienced economic abuse in the past year. We’ll hear more about this common yet often hidden form of abuse and control. Pichaya Soontornyanakij has been named as the world’s best female chef by a panel of more than a thousand food and restaurant experts. She’s the first Asian women to be awarded this title. Known as Chef Pam, she’s also a TV host and culinary judge in her native Thailand. She started out by converting her family home in Bangkok into a restaurant and since then she’s gone on to obtain a coveted Michelin star. And all by the age of 36.  Chef Pam joins us from the Thai capital.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Transcribed - Published: 2 December 2025

Sanna Marin is the former Prime Minister of Finland who made history as the youngest female head of government in the world. She went on to become the longest-serving female prime minister of Finland, leading a coalition government entirely headed by women. Sanna talks to presenter Clare McDonnell about her rise to the top, leading her country through the challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as dealing with enormous criticism when her personal life becoming very public – all themes in her new memoir Hope In Action.It’s World Aids Day and the government has just unveiled its new HIV Action Plan with the stated goal of tackling to stigma and end transmissions in England by 2030. Public Health Minister Ashley Dalton joins us to discuss the policy along with Ellie Harrison, who was diagnosed HIV positive when she was 21.With the rise of no and low alcohol drinks on supermarket shelves, a new survey from the University of Plymouth has been talking to expectant mothers about their relationship with these drinks and their understanding of what constitutes a safe percentage. To hear more, Clare is joined by Dr Kate Maslin, Senior Research Fellow in Maternal and Child Health School of Nursing and Midwifery at Plymouth University, who led the study.Filmmaker Shih Ching Tsou’s debut feature Left Handed Girl tells the story of a single mother, Shu-Fen, and her two daughters who move to Taipei, Taiwan to open a night-market stall. When I-Jing, the younger, five-year old daughter – who is left-handed - is forbidden from using what her traditional grandfather dubs her ‘devil hand,’ a chain of events is set in motion, which eventually unravels a family secret. Tsou joins Clare to talk about directing and co-writing the drama which is inspired by her own childhood, cultural superstition about the left hand and the lives of working-class Taiwanese women.Presented by: Clare McDonnell Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Transcribed - Published: 1 December 2025

Australia’s under-16 social media ban comes into force soon. From 10th December, platforms must take 'reasonable steps' to stop under-16s from opening accounts and remove accounts that already belong to them. Companies who fail to comply could face fines of up to £25m. BBC Sydney correspondent Katy Watson has been talking to teenagers in the state of Victoria. She explains how we got here and updates us on a new legal action being brought to challenge the ban.Cassa Pancho founded Ballet Black in 2001, aged 21, in response to there being no black or Asian women performing in any of the UK’s ballet companies. This week Ballet Black conclude their UK tour of SHADOWS at London's Sadler's Wells and features as part of its double bill Cassa's adaptation of Oyinkan Braithwaite’s international bestselling novel, My Sister, The Serial Killer.Have you heard of rage rooms? Or even visited one? Turns out demand for them is surging, and 90% of the UK customers are women. Believed to have started in Japan in the early 2000s, rage rooms are places where people can smash up items such as electronics, white goods and crockery. Nuala McGovern is joined by Jennifer Cox, psychotherapist and author of Women are Angry: Why Your Rage is Hiding and How To Let It Out, and culture journalist Isobel Lewis who has visited a rage retreat.Camille O’Sullivan has toured with the Pogues and was chosen by Yoko Ono to perform at Meltdown festival in the Royal Festival Hall – now the Irish-French singer is bringing her hit show to the Soho Theatre in London. LoveLetter is a personal response to the loss of the artists who inspired her - particularly her late friends Shane McGowan and Sinéad O’Connor. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells

Transcribed - Published: 29 November 2025

The complex needs of adopted children are leaving parents at breaking point as they say they are being denied support then blamed by authorities when they can no longer cope, a BBC investigation has found. A BBC Freedom of Information request revealed the scale of the crisis, and the number of families that are returning their children to the care system. Anita Rani is joined by BBC special correspondent Judith Moritz and Fiona Wells who runs PATCH, Passionate Adopters Targeting Change with Hope, a support group for adoptive parents.For the last two years, the mystery of exactly what happened at Erin Patterson's dining table had gripped the world. And then in September this year, after a nine-week trial, Erin Patterson was jailed for life - with no chance of release for at least 33 years. Her crime: murdering three relatives by intentionally poisoning them with wild mushrooms and trying to kill another. Dubbed the ‘Mushroom Murders’, Anita speaks to Sarah Krasnostein, who wrote a book about Erin’s trial, and Dr Stephanie Brown, a historical criminologist, to understand the public view of women who poison.Camille O’Sullivan has toured with the Pogues and was chosen by Yoko Ono to perform at Meltdown festival in the Royal Festival Hall. Now the Irish-French singer is bringing her hit show to the Soho Theatre in London. LoveLetter is a personal response to the loss of the artists who inspired her, particularly her late friends Shane McGowan and Sinéad O’Connor. The second part of the hugely popular film Wicked - called Wicked: For good, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, continues to take the UK and the world by storm. It's already taken over $226m at the global box office. Telling an alternative version of the Wizard of Oz, it explores how our perception of good and evil can be distorted. It's also the story of the unlikely friendship between Elphaba and Glinda and the tensions that can be put on that friendship. Anita is joined by the Independent's chief album critic Helen Brown and film critic Leila Latif to discuss why Wicked has been so successful and what it tell us about female friendships today. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2025

The Italian Parliament has voted unanimously to introduce the crime of femicide, the murder of a woman motivated by gender, as a distinct law to be punished with a life sentence. It makes Italy one of very few places in the world to categorise femicide as a distinct crime. The BBC's Senior Reporter Laura Gozzi tells Anita Rani why this has been voted in. There was a lot of anticipation and debate about what the Budget would include for women and how it would affect them. There has been a close watch on the two-child benefit cap, which it's been announced will be lifted, pensions and of course the cost of living. Now the final numbers are in, Anita discusses the Budget with Sarah Pennells, consumer finance specialist with the Royal London pensions and investment company, and Erin Mansell from the feminist economics group The Women's Budget. Pam Hogg, the legendary Scottish fashion designer, known for her eccentric and outlandish designs, has died. She dressed everyone from Rihanna, to Bjork to Lady Gaga. Her family, said in a statement that the trailblazing designer’s creative spirit and body of work has ‘touched the lives of many.’ Anita is joined by journalist Kate Hutchinson to discuss her style and her legacy. Cassa Pancho founded Ballet Black in 2001. She was 21 at the time and it was in response to the fact that no black or Asian women were performing in any of the UK’s ballet companies. This week Ballet Black conclude their UK tour of SHADOWS at London's Sadler's Wells and features as part of its double bill Cassa's adaptation of Oyinkan Braithwaite’s international bestselling novel, My Sister, The Serial Killer. Grace Walker is the author of a new speculative dystopian novel, The Merge. It's set at a time when the Earth’s resources have been pushed to breaking point and there’s a new controversial procedure in which two people’s consciousness can be combined to exist in one body. Grace explains to Anita where the idea came from and her love of dystopian fiction. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Andrea Kidd

Transcribed - Published: 27 November 2025

Australia’s under-16 social media ban comes into force soon. From 10th December, platforms must take 'reasonable steps' to stop under-16s from opening accounts and remove accounts that already belong to them. Companies who fail to comply could face fines of up to £25m. BBC Sydney Correspondent Katy Watson has been talking to teenagers in the state of Victoria. She explains how we got here and updates us on a new legal action being brought to challenge the ban.Ever wondered what your bottom says about your health? A new study of over 60,000 people reveals that subtle changes in the shape of your buttock muscles can reveal when people are heading towards type two diabetes. The study was carried out by the University of Westminster. Louise Thomas, Professor of Metabolic Imaging who is the senior author of the study, joins us alongside personal trainer Jacqueline Hooton.We talk to the author of a review of how the justice system treats girls. They can no longer be sent to Young Offenders Institutes as a result of Susannah Hancock's recommendations, but she says there is still plenty of work to be done and much of the remaining custodial accommodation needs improvement. Pippa Goodfellow, Deputy Director of Policy, Communications and Strategy at the National Children’s Bureau, who will serve on the government’s new advisory board on these matters, also joins us.A new exhibition, ‘Learning to See,’ by the abstract artist Bridget Riley has opened at Turner Contemporary in Margate. There are 26 of her most recent works on show - large canvases, studies and works painted directly on the wall. To talk about Bridget’s life so far and the significance of her work, Nuala McGovern is joined by artist Dame Tracey Emin, Melissa Blanchflower, senior curator of the exhibition and Dr Frances Follin, author of Embodied Visions: Bridget Riley, Op Art and The Sixties.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Procuer: Simon Richardson

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2025

What should tech companies be doing to prevent online abuse of women and girls? Ofcom's Chief Executive, Dame Melanie Dawes, joins Nuala McGovern to discuss their new guidance. It's urging tech firms to go much further to prevent the harm caused by misogynistic pile-ons, online stalking and intimate image abuse. They've also teamed up with Sport England to highlight the toll such abuse is taking on women in sport. Have you heard of rage rooms? Or even visited one? Turns out demand for them is surging, and 90% of the UK customers are women. Believed to have started in Japan in the early 2000s, rage rooms are places where people can smash up items such as electronics, white goods and crockery. Nuala is joined by Jennifer Cox, psychotherapist and author of Women are Angry: Why Your Rage is Hiding and How To Let It Out, and culture journalist Isobel Lewis who has visited a rage retreat.Isabelle Kyson, 17, is a national-level sprint hurdler and passionate advocate for girls in sport. Today, she releases her documentary, Out of the Race, on YouTube which explores why so many girls drop out of sport during puberty. Research shows that more than two-thirds of teenage girls quit sport by the age of 16 or 17—a trend Issey has been campaigning to change for some time, including lobbying government for action. She has also launched a new toolkit for schools, developed in partnership with the Association for Physical Education. Issey joins Nuala along with Kate Thornton-Bousfield, Chief Executive Officer of the Association for Physical Education.We discuss acting and AI as the actor Olivia Williams discusses why she wants actors to have more control over the data that is obtained from scans of their body. Many actors contracts now include a clause granting producers ownership of an actor’s ‘likeness’ across all platforms, forever. This can cover photos, drawings, figurines, and the full body scans captured with advanced technology. In a recent article in The Guardian, Olivia suggested that something similar to a 'nudity clause' should be added to contracts. She joins Nuala along with consultant solicitor, Kelsey Farish, who advises actors and performers on AI clauses. Presented by: Nuala McGovern Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Transcribed - Published: 25 November 2025

Are you excessively tired with your hair falling out, nails always breaking, brain often foggy or sometimes, despite having youth on your side, maybe forgetting how to form a sentence? These are amongst the symptoms of iron deficiency, often underdiagnosed. Nuala McGovern will be speaking to Dr Sue Pavord, Consultant Haematologist and President of the British Society for Haematology, and freelance journalist Rose Stokes.The Royal College of Pathologists say that a shortage of consultants means that "1 in 5 families are now waiting 6 months or more, and some longer than 12 months" for post mortems. The 'paediatric and perinatal pathology workforce' report said there were no paediatric or perinatal pathology consultants in the South West, the Midlands or Northern Ireland. Dr Clair Evans, the chair of the college’s advisory committee - a Consultant Paediatric and Perinatal pathologist explains the situation further. At lunchtime on Wednesday the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, will unveil her much anticipated second budget. How could this budget affect the lives of women in 2026? We’re joined by the BBC’s Cost of Living correspondent Colletta Smith, to talk us through what we might see in the red briefcase on Wednesday. A self-portrait by Frida Kahlo has just sold for $55 million in New York. It is the highest price ever paid for a work by a female artist. To illustrate the magnitude of the difference, a painting by Klimt was also sold recently for $236m. Professor Renee Adams is a professor of finance at Oxford Saïd business school and researches the role of gender in the art market, where women’s works generally achieve much lower values. She explains why and what needs to change. As part of the BBC 2 Civilisations series, tonight’s programme looks at the rise and fall of the Aztec Empire and the part that a young woman played in its demise. She was called Malintzin and acted as translator at the momentous first meeting in 1519 between Montezuma, the ruler of the vast Aztec Empire, and the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. To find out more about Malintzin and her role in Mexican history and culture Nuala is joined by Dr Elizabeth Baquedano, from the Institute of Archaeology at University College London and Dr Jessica Fernández de Lara Harada from the University of Oxford.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Transcribed - Published: 24 November 2025

Former US magazine editors-in-chief Laura Brown and Kristina O'Neill were both ‘let go’ from their respective jobs. They felt blindsided, devastated and temporarily lost their identities - until, united, they learnt how to make a comeback. They joined Nuala McGovern to share their experiences as set out in their new book, All the Cool Girls Get Fired, about how they let go of the shame of ‘being fired’, a term they like to use, and how a career setback can become the best thing ever.Suzanne Edwards is currently taking part in ground-breaking medical trials that involve her learning how to move her legs using neural implants. Suzanne has been a sportswoman for decades, both before and since a life-changing accident 14 years ago, and she explains to Anita Rani how this training has informed her approach to taking part in medical research.Back in 1995 a call went out looking for women to take part in a landmark scientific study exploring the links between what we eat and our health. Thirty-five thousand middle-aged women signed up to be part of the UK Women’s Cohort Study. It went on to look at the impact our diet can have on our risk of developing cancer and other chronic diseases, as well as other areas of women’s health from our bones to the menopause. Professor Janet Cade from the University of Leeds joined Nuala to discuss what it was like launching the study 30 years ago and some of its key takeaways for women.The Independent Commission on UK Counterterrorism has just published its report after three years. A long and detailed report, it estimates there are up to 70 UK-linked individuals, mostly women and children—most under 10 years old—believed to still be in camps or other detention centres in Iraq and Syria. Professor of Religion, Gender and Global Security, Katherine Brown, is one of the 14 commissioners. She explains why the women and children remaining in these camps is "unsustainable" and why an organised programme of return, rehabilitation, and integration is, they believe, the best long-term option for managing the risk to public safety. They are joined by Frank Gardner, the BBC's Security Correspondent.Francesca Hennessy is the 21-year-old shaking up women’s boxing. Nicknamed the 'Billion Dollar Baby', she’s unbeaten in her first six professional fights and will be fighting on the bill when boxing returns to BBC primetime TV, free-to-air on a Saturday night for the first time in 20 years later this month. She’ll face former world champion Fabiana Bytyqi, marking the biggest test of her career. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

Transcribed - Published: 22 November 2025

The Covid Inquiry led by Baroness Hallett has concluded that the UK did too little too late in response to Covid-19, that the lockdown could have been avoided if steps such as social distancing and isolating had been introduced earlier. Joining Anita Rani to give their response to the findings and tell their stories of that time, are musical theatre actor Ruthie Henshall, whose mother died in a care home during Covid and Naomi Fulop, from Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK, who also lost her mother during this time. Another chance to hear a shortened version of an interview Anita recorded last month with Melinda French Gates, the most well known and powerful woman in philanthropy. In 2000, Melinda co-founded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has - to date - donated over one hundred billion dollars to charitable projects. She and Bill Gates married in 1994 and divorced in 2021, after 27 years of marriage. Melinda has since left their joint enterprise and set up her own, Pivotal Ventures, which has one purpose: to put power into the hands of women. In a new report 'Care, courage, change,' the World Health Organisation has conducted analysis of the various health and support policies for survivors of violence in the 53 countries of the WHO European Region. The report reveals that almost one in three women and girls aged 15-years and older, will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime - but countries' health sectors are failing nearly one in three survivors. Anita Rani talks to Melanie Hyde, WHO Europe’s Gender, Equality and Human Rights Technical Officer, author of the report.Poetry, love and an incurable cancer diagnosis are the themes of a new film looking at the relationship between the acclaimed spoken word poet and activist Andrea Gibson and their wife, writer Megan Falley. Megan joins Anita along with the documentary's producer Jessica Hargrave to talk about the film and her late wife. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Transcribed - Published: 21 November 2025

Francesca Hennessy is the 21-year-old shaking up women’s boxing. Nicknamed the 'Billion Dollar Baby', she’s unbeaten in her first six professional fights and will be fighting on the bill when boxing returns to BBC primetime TV, free-to-air on a Saturday night for the first time in 20 years later this month. She’ll face former world champion Fabiana Bytyqi, marking the biggest test of her career. Francesca joins Anita Rani along with BBC Boxing reporter Kal Sajad to discuss what this means for women’s boxing. Figures just released by the ONS show the number of NEETS - young people 'not in education, employment or training' - remains at a concerning level. In next week's Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to give more details on how the Government is planning to tackle these rising numbers. Historically, more women than men have been NEET, but in recent years that trend has reversed, with young men more likely than young women to be NEET. But with one in eight people aged 16 to 24 in the UK now believed to be NEET, what does it mean to be one? And what is being done to bring the number of NEETS down? To unpick this, Anita is joined by BBC's Employment Correspondent Zoe Conway.Scottish painter Caroline Walker explores the realities of motherhood in her exhibition, Mothering, at the Pallant House Gallery in Chichester. She began painting maternal themes after becoming a mother in 2019. Her work includes Birth Reflections paintings which depict maternity care in hospitals and the domestic scenes of early motherhood. Walker’s paintings show everyday details such as breast pumps, baby grows and unfinished drinks, highlighting the unseen labour of modern parenting. Her art has become increasingly autobiographical, featuring her children and family life in Scotland. Caroline Walker joins Anita to discuss identity shifts, domestic realities, and the value of caregiving. Suzanne Edwards is currently taking part in ground-breaking medical trials that involve her learning how to move her legs using neural implants. Suzanne has been a sportswoman for decades, both before and since a life-changing accident 14 years ago, and she explains how this training has informed her approach to taking part in medical research. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

Transcribed - Published: 20 November 2025

Childminders play a vital role in the early years of children’s lives, offering care, stability and a familiar face during those formative years. But their numbers are in sharp decline. Many are no longer able to offer places for three and four year olds, citing government funding pressures. Today, Ofsted have released new figures on how many childminders are leaving and joining the profession. Childminder Georgina Young joins Nuala McGovern to share her experience of the joys and challenges of childminding, and what the future might hold for the profession.Saskia Reeves is the theatre, film and TV actor known for her many roles including Katherine Standish in the hit Apple TV series Slow Horses. She’s now back at the National Theatre, in a new play, End – the last in a trilogy of plays by David Eldridge - Beginning and Middle – with Clive Owen, exploring love and relationships. Saskia joins Nuala to discuss. The Independent Commission on UK Counterterrorism has just published its report after three years. A long and detailed report, it estimates there are up to 70 UK-linked individuals, mostly women and children—most under 10 years old—believed to still be in camps or other detention centres in Iraq and Syria. Professor of Religion, Gender and Global Security, Katherine Brown, is one of the 14 commissioners. She explains why the women and children remaining in these camps is "unsustainable" and why an organised programme of return, rehabilitation, and integration is, they believe, the best long-term option for managing the risk to public safety. Frank Gardner, the BBC's Security Correspondent, joins them to discuss.Coroners’ advice and concerns on maternal deaths in England and Wales are being ignored despite them raising repeated issues, a new study has found. Dr Georgia Richards, the founder of the Preventable Deaths Tracker at Kings College London who is on the line from New Zealand, discusses the findings.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Transcribed - Published: 19 November 2025

Over a third of women could face poverty in retirement due to a growing gender gap in private pensions, according to a report from Scottish Widows, with women's finances being hit by caring responsibilities and career gaps. YouGov carried out the reseach for the Scottish Widows annual Women and Retirement Report, asking 4,000 women from across the UK about their pensions and retirement planning, as well as savings, investments and career breaks. Nuala McGovern talks to Lily Megson-Harvey, the Policy Director of retirement finance company My Pension Expert. A third of all rape trials in Wales and England last year were postponed at least once, often on the day of trial, according to a new report published by the charity Rape Crisis England and Wales. Ten years ago in 2015 the figure was one in 10. Their report, Living in Limbo, finds rape and sexual abuse survivors are being retraumatised by the criminal justice system. Nuala is joined by Maxime Rowson, the charity's Head of Policy and Public Affairs. Back in 1995 a call went out looking for women to take part in a landmark scientific study exploring the links between what we eat and our health. Thirty-five thousand middle-aged women signed up to be part of the UK Women’s Cohort Study. It went on to look at the impact our diet can have on our risk of developing cancer and other chronic diseases, as well as other areas of women’s health from our bones to the menopause. Professor Janet Cade from the University of Leeds joins Nuala to discuss what it was like launching the study 30 years ago and some of its key takeaways for women. Families are calling for a change in the law after they say their babies' dead bodies were kept inappropriately at a funeral director's home. The case highlights a lack of regulation in funeral services in England and Wales. Nuala speaks to Zoe Ward, one of the parents affected, who recently met with Victims Minister Alex Davies Jones to call for new laws, and to Zoe’s MP, Mark Sewards. Harriet Lane’s new novel, Other People’s Fun, explores modern life and the lies we tell others – and ourselves – on social media. It follows an unlikely and uneasy friendship between the unnoticed Ruth and the Instagrammable Sookie. Harriet joins Nuala in the studio to discuss why female friendships and ‘everyday horror’ has always intrigued her. Presented by: Nuala McGovern Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Transcribed - Published: 18 November 2025

Former US magazine editors-in-chief Laura Brown and Kristina O'Neill were both ‘let go’ from their respective jobs. They felt blindsided, devastated and temporarily lost their identities - until, united, they learnt how to make a comeback. They join Nuala McGovern to share their experiences as set out in their new book, All the Cool Girls Get Fired, about how they let go of the shame of ‘being fired’, a term they like to use, and how a career setback can become the best thing ever.Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death. She is currently living in exile in India, so was tried in her absence by a court in Dhaka. Hasina was Bangladesh's longest-serving prime minister, who began her political career as a pro-democracy icon, but fled mass protests against her rule in August 2024. Today she - along with her former Interior Minister and Police Chief - was found guilty of allowing the use of lethal force against protesters and failing to prevent atrocities against them. The UN say that 1,400 protestors died. Hasina has called the court's decision biased and politically motivated. BBC correspondent Devina Gupta updates us on the story.When BBC Technology Editor Zoe Kleinman shared a post on social media about dealing with brain fog, she had no idea it would be viewed hundreds of thousands of times and resonate with so many women who are going through the menopause. Following a long day of reporting and feeling tired, along with the fear of not being able to remember key words, Zoe used notes on the BBC News At Ten for the first time ever. Zoe joins Nuala to explain why it was important to share her experience of perimenopause and brain fog. Dr Shema Tariq, menopause researcher at University College London, talks about what causes brain fog and how women can protect their brains from cognitive decline.Nuala is joined by the Emmy award-winning American composer Laura Karpman. Her music can be heard on films such as American Fiction and The Marvels, to TV hits like Down Cemetery Road. Her opera, called Balls, is based on the iconic 1973 ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, and will be having its UK premiere later this week as part of the Philharmonic Orchestra’s 80th anniversary season.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Simon Richardson

Transcribed - Published: 17 November 2025

Caroline Flack was a Bafta-winning TV presenter, host of shows including Love Island and The X Factor. In February of 2020, she took her own life ahead of a court case in which she was charged with the assault of her then boyfriend, after weeks of press scrutiny. Her mother Christine Flack tells Clare McDonnell about spending the past five years uncovering documents from the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service to try to find out more about the events around Caroline’s death and she also questions the role of the press. That journey is documented in a two-part documentary out on Disney+ called Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth.This week, Women’s Super League Football officially unveil Design Guidelines for the Delivery of Elite Women’s Stadiums in England – a world first framework supporting clubs, local authorities, and architects in building or upgrading venues specifically for their women’s teams. They say the rapid growth of the women’s game has demonstrated that football venues, historically built and designed for male players and fans, need to be better equipped to cater towards the specific needs of female athletes and supporters. Hannah Buckley, Head of Infrastructure, Safety and Sustainability for WSL football and Suzy Wrack, women’s football correspondent for the Guardian discuss.Pelvic Girdle Pain, also known as pubic symphysis dysfunction, affects an estimated one in five pregnant women. It is often mild but can sometimes be debilitating and it's been highlighted by a BBC news report that has come out today. It's not harmful to the baby, but it can affect simple things like the mother's mobility. Kylie Pentelow spoke to Victoria Roberton, who experienced Pelvic Girdle Pain during her first pregnancy - she is now coordinator at the Pelvic Partnership, and Dr Nighat Arif, a GP specialising in women's health.As part of the Radio 4 Fatherhood season, Clare McDonnell and her guests discuss the role of fatherhood in men’s lives. Darren Harriott is a 37-year-old comedian and presenter of Father Figuring. Darren has now lived longer than his dad, who took his own life while in prison, and he is questioning would he be a good dad? What even makes a good dad? They were joined by Dr Robin Hadley who has written a book looking at why men, like himself, do not become fathers.Eleanor of Castile was England’s Queen as wife of Edward I. When she died in Lincoln in 1290, heartbroken Edward brought her body back to London with a 200 mile funeral cortege, commissioning 12 elaborate crosses to be created at every place her body rested. Historian Alice Loxton retraced the walk last year on the anniversary of the procession, a mere 734 years later. She joined Kylie Pentelow to tell her why.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Annette Wells

Transcribed - Published: 15 November 2025

Pelvic Girdle Pain, also known as pubic symphysis dysfunction, affects an estimated one in five pregnant women. It is often mild but can sometimes be debilitating and it's been highlighted by a BBC news report that has come out today. It's not harmful to the baby, but it can affect simple things like the mother's mobility. Kylie Pentelow speaks to Victoria Roberton, who experienced Pelvic Girdle Pain during her first pregnancy - she is now coordinator at the Pelvic Partnership, and Dr Nighat Arif, a GP specialising in women's health.It’s been one month since the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire began, aimed at halting the war, returning hostages, and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the truce. Despite the fragile ceasefire, some see hope for lasting peace. Kylie is joined by Layla Alsheikh from the West Bank, and Mor Ynon from Tel Aviv - both are members of the Parents Circle Families Forum, a group of bereaved families working for reconciliation.Witches are haunting London’s Kiln Theatre for a brand new, all-female musical about the 1633 Pendle Witch Trials. Co-composer of Coven, Rebecca Brewer, and one of its stars, Diana Vickers, join Kylie to talk about sisterhood, survival and whether their show could be the next SIX.There’s a brand new podcast launching today: CBeebies Parenting Download. It will focus on topical parenting stories, hearing real life experience along with expert advice and parenting dilemmas. Kylie is joined by its presenters: Radio 1 host, author and mum Katie Thistleton, and award-winning rapper and dad of two, Guvna B. Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Corinna Jones

Transcribed - Published: 14 November 2025

Runa Khan is a globally recognised leader in social innovation. She founded Friendship in 2002, an NGO helping marginalised communities in Bangladesh. Last week, the organisation won the Earthshot Prize in the Fix Our Climate category. Founded by Prince William, the prize is the world’s most prestigious and impactful environmental award. They will use the £1 million awarded to scale up their projects to repair the climate and deploy solutions that are replicable across the globe. We discuss a new drama about the impacts of social media on girls. Nicôle Lecky is the creator and one of the stars of Wild Cherry, a series that launches on BBC One and iPlayer this Friday. It’s the story of a group of mothers and teenage daughters growing up in the super privileged, (imagined) gated community of Richford Lake. A global review has found that high blood pressure in children has nearly doubled over the last 20 years, driven by unhealthy diets and inactivity. The study found that more than one in 20 children, across 21 countries under the age of 19 had high blood pressure in 2020. We talk to Dr Simon Russell from the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health who specialises in obesity research alongside Nichola Ludlam-Raine, dietitian and nutritionist.Eleanor of Castile was England’s Queen as wife of Edward I. When she died in Lincoln in 1290, heartbroken Edward brought her body back to London with a 200 mile funeral cortege, commissioning 12 elaborate crosses to be created at every place her body rested. Historian Alice Loxton retraced the walk last year on the anniversary of the procession, a mere 734 years later. She joins us to tell us why.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Simon Richardson

Transcribed - Published: 13 November 2025

As part of the Radio 4 Fatherhood season, Clare McDonnell and her guests discuss the role of fatherhood in men’s lives. Darren Harriott is a 37-year-old comedian and presenter of Father Figuring. Darren has now lived longer than his dad, who took his own life while in prison, and he is questioning would he be a good dad? What even makes a good dad? They are joined by Dr Robin Hadley who has written a book looking at why men, like himself, do not become fathers.In 2016 Natalie Queiroz was stabbed 24 times by her partner while she was eight months pregnant. He is currently nine years into an 18 year sentence for attempted murder and attempted child destruction. Natalie and her unborn daughter nearly died. Earlier this year she learned that changes by the Ministry of Justice meant that her attacker could be transferred to an open prison many years earlier than she had expected.  She's been campaigning against this but has recently learned his application for a transfer has been approved. Clare hears from Natalie and Ellie Butt from Refuge.Laura Mulvey, filmmaker and pioneering feminist theorist, first coined the term ‘the male gaze’. The British Film Institute’s Fellowship is a pretty starry list – Bette Davis, Martin Scorsese, Judi Dench, Tilda Swinton, Christopher Nolan, Tom Cruise....to name a few and now Laura has been added to that prestigious list. Tomorrow Women’s Super League Football will officially unveil Design Guidelines for the Delivery of Elite Women’s Stadiums in England – a world first framework supporting clubs, local authorities, and architects in building or upgrading venues specifically for their women’s teams. They say the rapid growth of the women’s game has demonstrated that football venues, historically built and designed for male players and fans, need to be better equipped to cater towards the specific needs of female athletes and supporters. Hannah Buckley, Head of Infrastructure, Safety and Sustainability for WSL football and Suzy Wrack, women’s football correspondent for the Guardian discuss. Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Transcribed - Published: 12 November 2025

The UK's medicines watchdog has said criminal gangs in the UK have started making their own weight-loss drugs, with packaging and branding designed to look like legitimate products. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned that the new trend poses a significant threat. Presenter Clare McDonnell is joined by Sukhi Basra, vice chair of the National Pharmacy Association who also runs a weight loss practice, to dicuss the risks. 'Buy now, pay later' credit schemes are increasingly being used to pay for everyday items like food, bus passes and school uniforms. Leading debt advisors have told the BBC that more women are juggling these debts as they struggle to cope with the cost of living. BBC Yorkshire investigations reporter, Stephanie Miskin, and Rebecca Routledge from debt advice organisation Money Wellness talk to Clare. Jackie Clune is an actor, writer and performer whose eclectic career has included a Karen Carpenter tribute act, Shakespeare, Mamma Mia! and most recently the narrator in a UK tour of The Rocky Horror Show. On screen, she’s familiar to many as Motherland's school secretary Mrs Lamb, but she’s also written novels and a memoir about unexpectedly becoming a mum to triplets at 39 and finding herself with four children under 19 months. She’s now on stage in The Meat Kings! (Inc.) of Brooklyn Heights at London’s Park Theatre, playing a tough, no-nonsense boss fighting to keep the family business afloat. She joins Clare to discuss the play, parenting and grief. A rare 500-year-old English parchment birth scroll is to be shown in the UK for the first time following recent pioneering analysis that confirmed its use during pregnancy and childbirth. The medieval scroll is central to Expecting: Birth, Belief and Protection at the Wellcome Collection exploring the protective practices and beliefs around pregnancy, childbirth and infertility that existed in medieval times. Dr Elma Brenner, Research Development Lead at Wellcome Collection and Professor Valerie Worth, Fellow of Trinity college oxford who holds a research grant from the Leverhulme Trust talk to Clare.Presented by: Clare McDonnell Produced by: Dianne McGregor

Transcribed - Published: 11 November 2025

Caroline Flack was a Bafta-winning TV presenter, host of shows including Love Island and The X Factor. In February of 2020, she took her own life ahead of a court case in which she was charged with the assault of her then boyfriend, after weeks of press scrutiny. Her mother Christine Flack tells Clare McDonnell about spending the past five years uncovering documents from the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service to try to find out more about the events around Caroline’s death and she also questions the role of the press. That journey is documented in a two-part documentary out on Disney+ called Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth.A new schools inspection system begins in England today. Overall judgements, such as 'good' or 'requires improvement,' have been scrapped and schools will now be given one of five grades in several different categories. The changes were prompted by the death of the head teacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life in January 2023 whilst waiting for the publication of an Ofsted report she knew would grade her school as "inadequate." Clare speaks to the BBC Education Reporter Vanessa Clarke and Tom Middlehurst, Deputy Director of Policy at the Association of School and College Leaders.Louise Penny is the multi award-winning Canadian crime novelist. Her books have sold over 18 million copies worldwide and this year marks the 20th anniversary of her hugely popular Inspector Gamache series. Her latest novel is called The Black Wolf and follows on from her previous one The Grey Wolf. Gamache has foiled a plot to poison Montreal’s drinking water, but has discovered that this is simply phase one of a dark master plan and he needs to take on not only an organised crime syndicate, but also delve into the murky depths of government and power to discover who the black wolf is. There is a brand new podcast out from a familiar voice - Emma Barnett: Ready to Talk, in which Emma invites listeners into her world for bold, honest, and deeply human conversations about the experiences in life that shape and connect us. In the first episode Emma talks to her friend, the journalist and presenter Kate Thornton, about something she’s never spoken about publicly before: perimenopause. In the UK, 13 million women are currently experiencing the perimenopause, or menopause, but information about what it is and what can help can be hard to find. Emma tells Clare about her own experience.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Andrea Kidd

Transcribed - Published: 10 November 2025

In Margaret Atwood’s 64-year career she has published world-renowned, prescient novels like The Handmaid’s Tale, Cat’s Eye, Alias Grace and Blind Assassin, and now a memoir. Margaret joins Nuala McGovern to discuss Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts and reflect on her life, her work and the power of knowing her own mind.Pornography featuring strangulation or suffocation - often called choking - is due to be criminalised across the UK as part of government plans to tackle violence against women and girls. It follows an independent review which found depictions of choking were "rife" on mainstream porn sites and had helped normalise the act among young people. Gemma Kelly, policy consultant on the review, and Professor Clare McGlynn, leading expert on VAWG and gender equality, discuss. The Mercury Prize-nominated singer-songwriter Cat Burns has also just released her new album, How to Be Human. She joins Nuala to discuss her new album and taking part in Celebrity Traitors. Writer and producer Nova Reid joins Anita Rani to talk about the late Dame Jocelyn Barrow, the race relations campaigner and the first black female governor of the BBC whose story Nova tells in her new podcast, Hidden Histories with Nova Reid. The interview includes a clip of Jocelyn from 2017 sharing her thoughts with The University of Law on what she considered to be the greatest improvements in diversity.Is having a boyfriend now embarrassing? Writer Chanté Joseph recently explored this idea in an article for Vogue and on social media, observing a noticeable shift in how people - particularly heterosexual women - present their relationships online. Instead of posting clear photos of their romantic partners, many are choosing subtler signals: a hand on a steering wheel, clinking glasses, or even blurring out faces in wedding pictures. But why the change? Anita hears more from Chante. A grande dame of musical theatre, Elaine Paige made her West End debut in the 1960s and shot to fame in 1978 playing Eva Perón in Evita, going on to star in Cats, Chess, Sunset Boulevard and many more. Elaine talks to Anita about her damehood, fostering the next generation of talent and having stage fright. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

Transcribed - Published: 8 November 2025

NB: The music in this broadcast has been removed from this podcast for rights reasons.A grande dame of musical theatre, Elaine Paige made her West End debut in the 1960s and shot to fame in 1978 playing Eva Perón in Evita, going on to star in Cats, Chess, Sunset Boulevard and many more. She talks to Anita Rani about becoming an actual Dame this week, and how she’s fostering the next generation of talent.American author Gish Jen and her mother never got along. In her latest novel Bad Bad Girl, Gish tries to figure out why that was. Reconstructing, then fictionalising her mother’s life as she moves from a wealthy childhood in China to an up-and-down immigrant existence in the US. Gish joins Anita to talk about the real life events behind her book.Restaurant chain McDonald's has announced it will bring in new sexual harassment training for managers. These are strengthened measures that were agreed with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to protect McDonald's staff from abuse. A BBC investigation that started two years ago found that workers as young as 17 were being groped and harassed. Anita gets an update from BBC reporter Noor Nanji.Writer and producer Nova Reid joins Anita to talk about the late Dame Jocelyn Barrow, the race relations campaigner and the first black female governor of the BBC whose story Nova tells in her new podcast, Hidden Histories with Nova Reid. The interview includes a clip of Jocelyn from 2017 sharing her thoughts with The University of Law on what she considered to be the greatest improvements in diversity.Pauline Collins, the star of the film Shirley Valentine, for which she was Oscar nominated in 1990, has died at the age of 85. Her career spanned stage and screen but she will be best remembered for her portrayal of disgruntled housewife Shirley, in the award-winning film, based on the stage play by Willy Russell. It won Pauline a Golden Globe and a BAFTA. We hear a clip of Pauline Collins playing Shirley in Lewis Gilbert's 1989 film, Shirley Valentine, distributed by Paramount Pictures, and also part of an interview Pauline recorded with Jane Garvey on Woman's Hour in 2017. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Transcribed - Published: 7 November 2025

NB: The music in this broadcast has been removed from this podcast for rights reasons.You might recognise Cat Burns from The Celebrity Traitors, where she’s been cunning and inscrutable as a Traitor, winning over audiences with her strategic gameplay. The Mercury Prize-nominated singer-songwriter has also just released her new album, How to Be Human. Ahead of the show’s final, Cat joins Anita Rani in the studio.Mahnoor Omer is a young lawyer taking the Pakistan government to court over its unfair ‘period tax’ which she says adds 40% to their costs. She wants to create public pressure on them to make sanitary products affordable in a country where they cost too much for most women. Mahnoor joins Anita to discuss her campaign.Goalkeeper Mary Earps played a pivotal role in England’s Euro 2022 win and helped the Lionesses reach the final of the 2023 World Cup, earning the Golden Glove after standout performances, including a heroic penalty save against Spain. In May 2025, just weeks before the Lionesses began their defence of the Euros, Mary announced her retirement from international football. Twice named FIFA’s Best Women’s Goalkeeper and BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023, she’s now shared her story in her autobiography, All In: Football, Life and Learning to be Unapologetically Me.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

Transcribed - Published: 6 November 2025

In Margaret Atwood’s 64-year career she has published world-renowned, prescient novels like The Handmaid’s Tale, Cat’s Eye, Alias Grace and Blind Assassin, and now a memoir. Margaret joins Nuala McGovern to discuss Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts and reflect on her life, her work and the power of knowing her own mind. We also reflect on the impact Margaret Atwood has had on writers and academics. Author Naomi Alderman and academics Dr Rosamund Portus and Dr Megan Douglas join Nuala to discuss how Margaret has encouraged and inspired their work across literature, science and beyond. Health Secretary Wes Streeting in an interview in The Guardian today says an “ugly” racism reminiscent of the 1970s and 1980s has become worryingly commonplace in modern Britain and NHS staff are bearing the brunt of it. In recent weeks, organisations representing nurses, social workers and carers - many of those being areas are dominated by women - have been sounding the alarm saying their members are encountering unprecedented levels of racism. We talk to Patricia Marquiss, Director for England at the Royal College of Nursing, Nadra Ahmed, Executive Chairman of the National Care Association and Harvey Gallagher from the Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers.Is having a boyfriend now embarrassing? Writer Chanté Joseph recently explored this idea in an article for Vogue and on social media, observing a noticeable shift in how people - particularly heterosexual women - present their relationships online. Instead of posting clear photos of their romantic partners, many are choosing subtler signals: a hand on a steering wheel, clinking glasses, or even blurring out faces in wedding pictures. But why the change? Even Zohran Mamdani, the new Mayor of New York, was asked whether it’s still okay to use the term boyfriend. Chanté joins us.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Simon Richardson

Transcribed - Published: 5 November 2025

A survey of boys in secondary schools by Male Allies UK has found that just over a third said they were considering the idea of an AI friend. With growing concern about the rise of AI therapists and girlfriends, Lee Chambers, the founder and chief executive of Male Allies UK, and feminist sociologist Professor Jessica Ringrose, join Nuala McGovern to discuss the potential effect these AI companions could have on the mental health of teenage boys.Pornography featuring strangulation or suffocation - often called choking - is due to be criminalised across the UK as part of government plans to tackle violence against women and girls. It follows an independent review which found depictions of choking were "rife" on mainstream porn sites and had helped normalise the act among young people. Gemma Kelly, policy consultant on the review, and Professor Clare McGlynn, leading expert on VAWG and gender equality, discuss.The latest edition of the popular Football Manager video game features female football players and managers for the first time in its history. The game has been played by 19 million people and has origins that go back 30 years. We hear from Tina Keech, head of women's football research at Sports Interactive, the company behind Football Manager. Over the past 25 years Pulitzer Prize-winning war photographer Lynsey Addario has covered almost every major conflict of the modern era. She’s been kidnapped twice - once in Iraq and once in Libya - yet continues to return to the frontlines, driven to tell the stories of those caught in conflict. A new documentary, Love + War, follows her extraordinary career and what it’s like returning home at the end of an assignment to ‘normal’ life with her partner and two children. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Transcribed - Published: 4 November 2025

World Health Organisation figures say one in six people are affected by infertility. Fertility Matters at Work, who provide training for fertility support in the workplace, have published a cost analysis. They have explored the economic impact of not providing time off for fertility treatment - not only on those people directly involved in seeking help, but on businesses and the economy more widely. To discuss further, Nuala McGovern is joined by Alice Macdonald, MP for Norwich North, who will be asking MPs if they agree that a legal right should be given to people to take paid time off work to attend medical appointments for fertility treatment, and Natalie Silverman, co-founder of Fertility Matters at Work.Bella Culley was freed by the Tbilisi City Court today. The 19-year-old, who is eight months pregnant, is from Billingham in Teesside. She was arrested at Tbilisi airport after police found drugs in her luggage and had been held in Georgia on drug trafficking charges since May. Before news of her release, Nuala spoke to Rayhan Demytrie, BBC News Caucasus correspondent, outside the court.The case of Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing US health insurance CEO Brian Thompson, is one of the most closely followed legal cases of recent years. The 26-year old-was arrested in December and accused of shooting Mr Thompson, a father of two, outside a Manhattan hotel. He faces the charges of murder and stalking, charges which Mangione denies. While the case continues, something else has been happening. Mangione has attracted an intense, mostly female online following: people sharing pictures of him, writing letters, posting fan edits and memes, and debating his appearance and behaviour in forensic detail. So why does a man accused of violence become the object of fascination and even desire to some women? And what does that say about the digital age we’re living in? Nuala talks to Professor David Wilson, criminologist and former prison governor, and Faye Curran, journalist at The New Statesman, who has immersed herself in Mangione’s online fandom.Anyone watching Celebrity Traitors at the moment, or indeed the previous Traitors series, has probably noted Claudia Winkleman’s iconic looks that seem to sum up both chilly Scottish castle chic and punk power dressing with a smidge of sinister gothic Victorian melodrama thrown into the mix. Claudia's stylist, Sinead McKeefry, has a huge following online by people keen to pick up tips. The power of social media is such that when items are worn by Claudia and flagged online, it can have quite an impact, as small-business owner Lauren Aston found when one of her designs appeared on the show. She joins Nuala to explain what has happened, as does Alison Lynch, head of content at Good Housekeeping Magazine, who has not only written about the Claudia fashion phenomenon, but has even dressed as Claudia in the Traitors herself for a week.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Andrea Kidd

Transcribed - Published: 3 November 2025