5 Live News Specials

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Showcasing BBC Radio 5 Live's news specials, including in-depth interviews and documentaries.

BBC Radio 5 live


    • Jun 26, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 38m AVG DURATION
    • 429 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from 5 Live News Specials

    Names Will Be Made: LIVE

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2025 56:10


    Join Naga Munchetty and Jeanette Kwakye as they talk to people from women's football, rugby, cricket, netball, athletics, swimming and so much more.In this Names Will Be Made: LIVE news special, some of the biggest names in women's sport get together at Loughborough University to celebrate this summer's upcoming events, and discuss the issues around it.If you've been affected by some of the issues in this discussion, there is a range of organisations and websites that can offer you advice and support.You can find them listed on the BBC's Actionline website at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

    That Time of the Month: IBS

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2025 50:12


    Naga and the team are joined this month by IBS sufferer Lena Holder and consultant gastroenterologist Dr Ajay Verma. IBS or irritable bowel syndrome is a condition which causes stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. It's thought to impact around 13 million people in the UK. That Time of the Month, part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social media.

    That Time of the Month: Vulvodynia

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 50:22


    Naga and the team are joined by campaigner Philly Baines to talk about vulvodynia. It's a condition which impacts around 1 in 7 women causing burning, throbbing and soreness around the vulva. It can be constant or come and go and it can impact your sleep, your concentration, your sexual relationships, and your everyday activities. That Time of the Month, originally broadcast on BBC 5 Live on 13th May 2025.

    VE Day 80 in Letters

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 13:09


    Celebrations and events are being held around the world to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day – the day when fighting against Nazi Germany in Europe came to an end. In this 5 Live News Special, we're highlighting some of the personal stories from the time through letters written to loved ones, which are read for us by relatives of the authors. The letters have been collected by the Imperial War Museum. You can see the whole collection at https://ve-vjday80.gov.uk/letterstolovedones/

    That Time of the Month: Prolapse

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 75:28


    Naga and the team are joined by ‘Why Mums Don't Jump' author and podcaster Helen Ledwick to talk about prolapse. Pelvic organ prolapse is when one or more of the organs in the pelvis slip from their usual position and bulge into the vagina. It's thought to affect around 1 in 3 women. That Time of the Month, part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social media.

    A Safer UK? – Nicky Campbell discusses violence against women with an invited audience

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 83:44


    As part of a special series looking at violence against women and girls in the UK, Nicky Campbell hosts an invited audience at the People's History Museum in Manchester to discuss violence against women and girls.

    A Safer UK? – 5 Live's exploration into violence against women and girls

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 66:13


    As part of a special series looking at violence against women and girls in the UK, 5 Live has been speaking to Ofcom, the domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales and has had access into two separate training programmes for bystanders and perpetrators of abuse.

    That Time of the Month: Libido

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 65:19


    Naga and the team are joined by psychosexual therapist and author Kate Moyle to talk about libido. They discuss the impact both a low and a high libido can have on a relationship and answer questions from the 5 Live audience. That Time of the Month, part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social media.

    That Time of the Month: Lichen Sclerosus

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 57:52


    Naga Munchetty is joined by campaigner Clare Baumhauer to talk about the impact the skin condition lichen sclerosus has had on her life. They're joined by Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi who offer help and advice and answer your questions. That Time of the Month, part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social media.

    That Time of the Month: Hysterectomy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 62:56


    Naga Munchetty speaks to the TV presenter and broadcaster Jenny Powell about her journey before and after having a hysterectomy. Naga is also joined by regular experts Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi to listen to your stories and answer your questions. That Time of the Month, part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social media.

    That Time of the Month: Review of the Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2024 51:32


    Naga Munchetty, Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi review their first year of That Time of the Month, looking back on some of the guests who have shared their experiences on health issues including fibroids, Endometriosis, PMDD and MRKH. That Time of the Month, part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social media.

    That Time of the Month: PCOS

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 49:15


    Naga Munchetty speaks to Rachel Morman about living with the condition PCOS, or Polycystic ovary syndrome, and her work to raise awareness through the PCOS charity, Verity. Naga is also joined by regular experts Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi to listen to your stories and answer your questions. That Time of the Month, part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social media.

    Miracle baby: womb transplant

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 25:53


    Naga Munchetty speaks to Prue Craven from Melbourne in Australia, who was born with the condition MRKH or Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome. It means she has ovaries but no womb, a condition which affects around 1 in every 5,000 women. In 2023 Prue underwent a womb transplant from a living donor, a family friend, and a year later gave birth to her daughter Rose. Part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series.

    5 Live listeners question the Policing Minister

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024 27:57


    The Crime and Policing Minister, Dame Diana Johnson MP, takes questions from 5 Live listeners.

    Church of England abuse: Su's story

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 23:59


    In the wake of the Archbishop of Canterbury's historic resignation, Nicky Campbell has been talking to people about their experiences of the Church. Su, a survivor of historic sexual abuse by a then-trainee minister, waived her automatic right to anonymity to tell her story publicly for the first time. She says before and during her abuser's trial - which concluded in an indecent assault conviction in March - the Church was "notable by its absence" in terms of support for her. "Nowhere was an offer to stand by me in court, to pray for me, to support me," she told Campbell, adding that after she contacted the safeguarding team she was asked to "call us" if she needed anything. Su also called on the Church to make it easier for abuse survivors to have a voice and be part of reviews into its processes around safeguarding.A member of the General Synod & the Archbishops' Council, who started the petition calling for Justin Welby to resign, said he'd meet Su to discuss the lack of support she got.If you've been affected by issues in this discussion, there is a range of organisations and websites that can offer you advice and support. You can find some of them listed on the BBC's Actionline website at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

    That Time of the Month: Endometriosis

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 49:36


    Naga Munchetty speaks to Dearbhail Ormond who suffered with endometriosis for almost 20 years before getting a diagnosis and has since founded a company called 'Frendo' to help other women who suffer with the condition. She is also joined by experts Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi to answer your questions. Each month Naga and the team look in depth at a key sexual or reproductive health issue. Part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social media.

    That Time of the Month: Chronic UTIs

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 65:51


    Naga Munchetty speaks to Joanne McKinlay about suffering with chronic urinary tract infections for more than 20 years and how she founded a group – Chronic TUI Global Support – to help others. Naga is also joined by regular experts Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi to listen to your stories and answer your questions. That Time of the Month, part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social media.

    Sir Chris Hoy: Finding Hope

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 26:06


    Sir Chris Hoy sits down with BBC Breakfast's Sally Nugent for his first TV interview since revealing his cancer diagnosis is terminal.The six-time Olympic champion talks about the heartbreaking moment he told his family and the huge response since going public.He shares how he wants to bring hope to others with stage four cancer and how he wants to raise awareness and improve testing for prostate cancer.You can also watch this interview in full on BBC iPlayer.

    That Time of the Month: Born without a womb

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 48:10


    Naga Munchetty speaks to Betty Mukherjee, who took part in the BBC's Race Across the World, about being diagnosed with MRKH at the age of 16 and her decision to talk publicly about it on the programme. MRKH, or Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome, is a rare condition that means a woman is born with ovaries but no womb. Naga is also joined by Ally Hensley, who has written a book about her experience of the condition, as well as the regular experts Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi to listen to your stories and answer your questions. That Time of the Month, part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social media.

    'Coconut' placard: Is it ok to use the term?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2024 25:36


    Marieha Hussain, a former teacher, has been found not guilty of racially aggravated public order offence.She was thrust into the media spotlight after holding a placard at a protest depicting former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and former Home Secretary Suella Braverman as coconuts.It's a word that is sometimes used about a person of colour, to imply a betrayal of their ethnicity.Marieha joined Naga Munchetty to discuss the impact the case has had on her and her familyNaga also spoke to Professor Kehinde Andrews and campaigner Femi Oluwole about the meaning of the word.This item broadcast on Naga Munchetty's programme on Tuesday 8 October 2024.

    That Time of the Month: Perinatal OCD

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 48:50


    Naga Munchetty chats to Shakira Akabusi about the debilitating OCD which developed after the birth of her first child and her journey back to health. She's also joined by regular experts Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi to listen to your stories and answer your questions. That Time of the Month, part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social media.

    That Time of the Month: Supporting a partner

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024 49:19


    Naga Munchetty chats to Jen and Chris Moore about what it's like supporting a partner going through terrible menstrual pain and the lengthy battle for treatment. She's also joined by regular experts Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi to listen to your stories and answer your questions. That Time of the Month, part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social media.

    That Time of the Month: Women & Sport

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 43:50


    Naga Munchetty chats to former Olympic swimmer Hannah Miley about the challenges facing women when it comes to playing sport and doing exercise while on their period. She's also joined by regular experts Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi, as well as Dr Jennifer Maynard from the Hologic WTA Women's Health Taskforce, to answer your questions. That Time of the Month, part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social media.

    That Time of the Month: PMDD

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2024 59:48


    Naga Munchetty is joined by TV personality Vicky Pattison to talk about what it's like living with PMDD (Premenstrual dysphoric disorder). She's also joined by experts Dr Nighat Ari and Dr Christine Ekechi to answer your questions on the condition. Each month Naga and the team look in depth at a key sexual or reproductive health issue Part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social media.

    That Time of the Month: Endometriosis

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2024 49:36


    Naga Munchetty is joined by experts Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi to answer your questions on endometriosis. Each month Naga and the team look in depth at a key sexual or reproductive health issue. Part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social media

    That Time of the Month: getting pregnant

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 48:31


    Naga Munchetty is joined by experts Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi to answer your questions on trying to conceive. Each month Naga and the team will take your questions on a key sexual or reproductive health issue. Part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social.

    Tourette's: Care provision and tackling stigma

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 78:49


    5 Live takes an in-depth look at the available care provision to diagnose and support people with Tourette's, a neurological condition that causes a person to make involuntary movements and sounds. Only 1 in 5 of the NHS Mental Health Trusts in England and Health Boards in Wales contacted by the BBC say they provide at least one specialist in tic disorders, including Tourette's syndrome. Producer Isabel Kimbrey, who was diagnosed at the age of 7 picks up the story and explores some of the stigmas. In this podcast you'll hear from presenter Aidy Smith, comedian Joe Black, and TikTok campaigner Holly-Anne Maria as well as from a range of experts and others with the condition. This content was first heard on 5 Live during Neurodiversity Celebration week in March 2024 and forms part of the BBC 5 Live's Me, My Health and I series.

    Autism: Girls and boys, why the big difference?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2024 47:49


    5 Live takes an in depth look at autism, specifically how it presents in girls and women. Three quarters of girls with autism may not have been diagnosed with the condition. The N-8 Group, which is a collection of universities in the North of England, also found that ten times as many boys as girls are referred. As part of a day of coverage presenter Clare Mcdonnell visited Limpsfield Grange school in Surrey, the only state school in the UK for autistic girls to meet with students and staff and some goats!This content forms part of 5 Live's 'Me My Health and I' series and was broadcast during Neurodiversity Celebration Week.

    Inside MI6

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2024 86:29


    Nihal Arthanayake speaks to staff at the UK's Secret Intelligence Service.

    That Time of the Month: Fibroids

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 2024 48:31


    Naga Munchetty is joined by experts Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi to answer your questions on fibroids. Each month Naga and the team will take your questions on a key sexual or reproductive health issue. Part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social.

    That Time of the Month: Periods

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2024 41:06


    Naga Munchetty is joined by experts Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi to answer your questions on periods. Each month Naga and the team will take your questions on a key sexual or reproductive health issue. Part of 5 Live's Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social.

    Westminster's Toxic Culture

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2023 49:36


    Parliament is once again under fire over complaints about sexual harassment and bullying, with MPs suspended from their parties and claims of a toxic workplace culture going unchecked. 5 Live's Naga Munchetty speaks to staff members and MPs who give their accounts of sexual harassment and bullying. Exactly five years after parliament set up a new system to deal with complaints, many of those campaigning to clean up the House have lost faith in it, saying it is too slow and complex. Contains some strong language, and some distressing content, including descriptions of sexual assault and harassment. If you've been affected by issues in this discussion, there is a range of organisations and websites that can offer you advice and support. You can find some of them listed on the BBC's Actionline website at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

    Four famous faces from Northern Ireland discuss recent events

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2023 33:20


    5 Live presenter Colin Murray has brought together three of his friends, actor James Nesbit, presenter Patrick Kielty and journalist Holly Hamilton to discuss their feelings about Northern Ireland. Their conversation came after dissident republican group the New IRA has admitted it shot Det Ch Insp John Caldwell in Omagh. He has suffered life-changing injuries and remains in a stable, but critical condition in hospital.

    Tasha Ghouri: Why deafness is my superpower

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2022 38:03


    Love Island star Tasha Ghouri has a cochlear implant - a small, electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing. It has two parts: one worn like a hearing aid behind the ear and the other surgically implanted. The implant turns sounds into electrical signals, instead of simply making sounds louder, like a conventional hearing aid would. So it's an option for some adults and children when a normal hearing aid won't work. When Tasha went on Love Island this year, she described her cochlear implant as a superpower. Naga Munchetty introduced Tasha to three women who she's inspired.

    Voice of the UK: Accents

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2022 3:09


    Has your accent helped or hindered you? A new study has found one in four people say they've been mocked for their accents at work.

    Voice of the UK: Greta Thunberg Q&A

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2022 7:40


    19-year-old Swedish climate activist, Greta Thunberg joins BBC 5 Live's Nihal Arthanayake and answers listeners questions like ‘What do you find most frustrating about human behaviour?' and ‘What can kids do about climate change?'

    Voice of the UK: Former refugee on migration issues

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2022 11:11


    Dr Waheed Arian arrived alone in the UK aged 15 as an Afghan refugee, he's now an NHS doctor and author. He gives Radio 5 Live's Clare McDonnell his view on the issues at Manston migrant centre.

    Scott Mitchell: ‘Dementia is a cruel illness'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2022 10:40


    Scott Mitchell, husband to the late Dame Barbara Windsor, says the day a loved one is diagnosed with dementia is the “day most people begin their grieving”. Speaking to Radio 5 Live's Naga Munchetty, the Alzheimer's Research UK ambassador shared memories of his life with “Babs”, how she reacted to her diagnosis and his thoughts on social care.

    Liz Truss's Economic Plan: Credibility or Liability?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2022 89:55


    As the Prime Minister is interviewed for the first time since her government announced a raft of controversial economic measures, 5 Live's Nicky Campbell asks listeners if she has their trust. After hearing some of the eight interviews the Prime Minister gave to BBC Local Radio stations, Nicky asks callers if they are reassured that her government's economic decisions have put the UK on the right track, or do they want her to reverse course after days of market instability and warnings about the future of mortgages and pensions? You can hear Nicky talk to listeners every weekday on 5 Live from 9am.

    The Queen: Tributes from around the UK

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2022 7:10


    People from around the UK pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II as the nation mourns her death.

    Truss and Starmer's first PMQs

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2022 54:12


    New Prime Minister Liz Truss and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer faced each other for the first time at Prime Minister's Questions. Chris Warburton was joined by Joey Jones, a former spokesman for Theresa May, and John McTernan, a former political secretary to Tony Blair, to get their thoughts, analysis and reaction to the events in the House of Commons. You can listen to PMQs in full on 5 Live every Wednesday at 12:00 via the BBC Sounds app.

    Sir Keir Starmer: Your Questions Answered with Nicky Campbell

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2022 40:48


    Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer joins Nicky Campbell to answer questions from 5 Live listeners in a special phone-in that was also broadcast on the BBC News Channel.

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