Woman's Hour

One of the most spectacular solar eclipses the UK has seen for decades is taking place this evening. The extraordinary celestial event will see the Moon move across the face of the Sun, creating a partial solar eclipse across the UK. Dr Becky Smethurst, an astrophysicist at the University of Oxford, and Zara Gray, an amateur eclipse chaser discuss the phenomenon.There are now 30 million more men than women in China due to China's one-child policy and that has led to many single men desperate to find a wife. But desperation can also make people vulnerable to exploitation. The authorities in China are warning of a rise in marriage fraud as scammers target those single men. Nuala is joined by the BBC China Correspondent Laura Bicker and Times columnist and author of the Chinese Whispers Substack Cindy Yu Britain's star athlete Keely Hodgkinson is competing in the women's 800m at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. She is in the semi-finals tomorrow, with the final taking place on Friday. Team GB are hoping for gold. It has been called the race of the year, but the record has remained unbroken for 43 years despite huge advances in training, nutrition and technology. BBC sports journalist Emma Middleton explains more.Women climbers have defied altitude, expectations and convention. Journalist and author Rosemary J. Brown joins Nuala to discuss her new book, Moving Mountains, which uncovers the extraordinary stories of pioneering female mountaineers and the peaks named in their honour.When Dr Amanda Cole found out she had Tourette syndrome in her twenties, she thought it would destroy her life. Now a professor of sociolinguistics at the University of Cambridge, she is the subject of a new BBC documentary about her experiences with the neurological condition. Having previously kept her Tourette syndrome hidden, Dr Cole joins Nuala to discuss sharing her diagnosis with students at Cambridge and how being diagnosed has influenced both her personal and professional life.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Dianne McGregor

Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz won three Grammys for her 2024 album Revolución diamantina, and this week sees the work's UK premiere at the BBC Proms, when conductor Gustavo Dudamel leads the second of two LA Philharmonic Proms on Wednesday. Gabriela joins Nuala in the studio to discuss her career and how this work was inspired by Mexico's 2019 Glitter Revolution, the nationwide feminist protests sparked after the rape of a teenage girl by four police officers, during which activists famously covered Mexico City's security chief in pink glitter. A hospital in a rural area of England has suspended its maternity services from today because of unsafe levels of staffing. Instead of going to the North Devon District hospital in Barnstaple, women in labour will have to travel more than 50 miles to Exeter. More than 15,000 people have signed a petition against the plans that was initiated by the Liberal Democrat MP for North Devon, Ian Roome. He joins presenter Nuala McGovern along with Jemima Knight who is currently pregnant with her third baby and lives in the area.Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences – or IPPs - were brought in by the Labour government in 2005, resulting in many prisoners not being given a fixed release date. One woman given a two year sentence spent sixteen years behind bars, with no idea of when she would eventually be released. They were abolished in 2012, but figures show more than 2,000 people are still impacted. As Prime Minister Andy Burnham looks into how they will play a part in his plan to reduce the prison population, we hear from Dr Muin Boase, the barrister who led the recent complaint to the UN on the continued use of this sentencing and how it's impacted women. How can we get children to read more over the summer? It's officially the National Year of Reading and evidence suggests that reading more over the holidays can help children hit the ground running in September when schools go back. But for many busy parents, getting children engaged in books and actively choosing reading over the lure of a tablet, TV or anything else can be a challenge. Liberty Venn, founder of the Children's Book Project, and award-winning author and former primary school teacher Luan Goldie join us to discuss the benefits and share their tips for getting children reading more. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

New York congresswoman and Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has revealed she has decided to freeze her eggs and will be documenting the process on social media - despite what she called a “political risk” for sharing her decision. She also confirmed over the weekend that she had not "ruled out the possibility" of running for president. Dr Emma Long Associate Professor of American History and Politics at the University of East Anglia joins Nuala McGovern.Actor, Tamzin Outhwaite talks about her latest role as the iconic Beverly in Mike Leigh's ferocious black comedy, Abigail's Party. Opening in London's West End next week they'll be discussing suburban life, social class, materialism and sexual tension in 1970s England. For those who don't know - the luteal phase refers to the second part of the menstrual cycle. Dr Nighat Arif & Charlotte Dodds discuss why so-called ‘luteal uglies' are going viral - videos of women sharing the physical and emotional changes they experience during this time. Nuala is joined by Bethany Bell, Germany reporter for the BBC, to shine a light on surrogacy laws there after a recent story involving a high-profile German politician, a baby born through surrogacy, and accusations of hypocrisy. And Kelly Latimer, flight test pilot and aeronautical engineer, is retiring this year after decades spent launching satellites, flying the world's most advanced planes, and even going into space. She reflects on a truly remarkable career. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Listener 'Sarah' tells us about the burden and resentment she feels at caring for a parent who is in her 90s, when she is a pensioner too. This is the time she thought she would have for herself. Clare Jefferies, who co-runs care companies and has written the book: I'm Your Daughter, Not Your Carer, and Caroline Abrahams, charity director of Age UK, discuss the problem with Kylie Pentelow.Have you ever considered working in boat building? We were contacted by Women in Boat Building, a community of women working hands-on in the industry, who wanted to tell us about their experiences and raise the profile of a trade that's largely male-dominated. Abbey Molyneux, a traditional boat builder who runs her own boatyard in Norfolk and is a director of Women in Boat Building, and Vanessa Larmond, who's just starting out in the industry in Southwold, Suffolk, tell us what it is like.Do you ever use dialect when you speak? Do you think of yourself as having an accent? How do you feel about the way you sound? A listener in Yorkshire, Christina Longden, has got in touch with a request to hear from women like herself who are actively keeping regional dialect alive, an endeavour which she says has traditionally been the preserve of men. Christina would also like to discuss accent and dialect bias and why, she says, men have always been more permitted to speak in dialect than women. To discuss why what you say and how you say it still matters and how it's influenced by gender, presenter Chloe is joined from Yorkshire by Christina Longden, a council member of the Yorkshire Dialect Society; by Diana Rackham, chair of Friends of Norfolk Dialect; and by Rob Drummond, professor of sociolinguistics at Manchester Metropolitan University.In two weeks' time, thousands of young people will open their GCSE results - but what about those who don't get the grade 4 they need in maths and English? 41% of pupils in maths and 29% in English won't reach that benchmark, and 82% fail their resits, blocking their path to A levels, T Levels and BTECs. Listener Hannah Gee highlights a hidden alternative: Functional Skills, which have a 60–80% pass rate. Chloe Tilley talks to Hannah and her son Joe, and Claire Green from the Association of School and College leaders.Do men make more noise than women? One of our listeners thinks so and wrote: ‘It seems like a bit of frivolity, maybe, but it is blooming annoying, and I started to wonder if there is something psychological behind it: the noise men make when there is no need to make a noise at all. The coughing, sniffing, ‘ahhing' as they get up and down, the belching, farting etc. It seems to get worse as they get older; or is it that women become less tolerant? Women seem to be silent in a room, but their other half is constantly making some sort of noise.' Janet Street-Porter and Tim Dowling discuss.Presenter: Chloe Tilley Producer: Annette Wells

Listener Week on Woman's Hour is where we bring your stories, ideas and the issues you want to hear about to air.A father has written to us about his daughter's experience of domestic abuse. He says that while she suffered physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her partner in a small town, the harm didn't end when the relationship did. He says that despite knowing the circumstances, many of her friends and those in their community have encouraged her to 'let it go' and they now maintain happy relationships with him. We'll speak with psychologist Dr Jessica Taylor, about our listener's daughter's experience. Do you ever use dialect when you speak? Do you think of yourself as having an accent? How do you feel about the way you sound? A listener in Yorkshire, Christina Longden, has got in touch with a request to hear from women like herself who are actively keeping regional dialect alive, an endeavour which she says has traditionally been the preserve of men. Christina would also like to discuss accent and dialect bias and why, she says, men have always been more permitted to speak in dialect than women. To discuss why what you say and how you say it still matters and how it's influenced by gender, presenter Chloe Tilly is joined down the line from Yorkshire by Christina Longden, a council member of the Yorkshire Dialect Society; by Diana Rackham, chair of Friends of Norfolk Dialect; and by Professor Rob Drummond, professor of sociolinguistics at Manchester Metropolitan University.'Most people expect to lose their parents much later in life, often when they're middle-aged or older. But what happens when it happens in your thirties instead?' Those are the words of Becky Tanswell, who contacted us wanting to share her experience of losing both of her parents before the age of 40. Becky says it changed not only her experience of grief, but also motherhood and her sense of identity. She also wants to explore an aspect of bereavement that's rarely talked about: how grief can coexist with unexpected feelings of freedom, resilience and hope.Granny pants, thongs, shorts, high-legs, bikini briefs. We wear them every single day, but do we spend enough time and money choosing our gussets? And what do you do when your go-to knicker is decommissioned? This is what listener Christine Stainer wanted us to get into, so she joins Chloe along with Kim Hawley, chief wellness tester at Good Housekeeping.Presenter: Chloe Tilly Producer: Simon Richardson

In two weeks' time, thousands of young people will open their GCSE results — but what about those who don't get the grade 4 they need in Maths and English? 41% of pupils in Maths and 29% in English won't reach that benchmark, and 82% fail their resits, blocking their path to A levels, T Levels and BTECs. Listener Hannah Gee highlights a hidden alternative: Functional Skills, which have a 60–80% pass rate. We hear from Hannah and her son Joe, and from Claire Green from the Association of School and College leaders. Do you have an idea that you've been mulling over for a while, but you don't know how to start? Listener Sue will be 60 this year. After building a fulfilling life and career, she wants the next chapter to be just as rewarding. Sue joins Chloe Tilley to discuss ageing, purpose and her podcast idea. They're also joined by Candace Wilson, founder of Your Podcast Producer, to talk about taking the first steps towards making a creative idea happen.For some people, blushing is more than a moment of embarrassment - it can become a debilitating form of social anxiety. Chloe hears from two women about how it's affected their lives and ask clinical psychologist Professor Emma Warnock-Parkes from the Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma at the University of Oxford why it happens and what helps.Are single women treated differently to single men? Woman's Hour listener Ellie says that people always act as though she has no agency as a single 25 year old woman, whereas she feels that single men are the ones calling the shots in their lives. Ellie asks: ‘Why is it so inconceivable that I'm choosing to be single?' Chloe is joined by Ellie and author and content creator Milly Goldsmith, who received thousands of comments from women admitting they'd never had a boyfriend, after she posted a viral TikTok describing herself as ‘chronically single'.Presented by Chloe Tilley Producer: Louise Corley

Listener Week on Woman's Hour is where we bring your stories, ideas and the issues you want to hear about to air.Why isn't more known about Lipoedema? One listener wants to know why there are so few treatment options available, and so little awareness of a medical condition that affects around ten percent of women, and very rarely men. Lipoedema causes a build-up of fat in the hips, buttocks and legs, and sometimes the arms. It causes a disproportionate body shape which can be distressing for women, and can also cause extreme pain and immobility. Kylie Pentelow speaks to Emily Blake, who documents her experiences of Lipoedema on social media, and by Guido Köhler, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital and Spire Norwich Hospital. Do men make more noise than women? One of our listeners thinks so and wrote: ‘I am a big fan of Woman's Hour, and I wanted to run this by you. It seems like a bit of frivolity, maybe, but it is blooming annoying, and I started to wonder if there is something psychological behind it: the noise men make when there is no need to make a noise at all. The coughing, sniffing, ‘ahhing' as they get up and down, the belching, farting etc. It seems to get worse as they get older; or is it that women become less tolerant? Women seem to be silent in a room, but their other half is constantly making some sort of noise.' Janet Street-Porter and Tim Dowling discuss.We'll also be hearing about the experiences of “Third Culture Kids” those who have been raised in cultures that are different to their parents, often educated at international schools, and what it means to their identity. One listener who is a teacher at an international school, has raised her children around the world but now worries about what this means for their sense of home. Also, where are all the female sprinters? Kylie is joined by a Woman's Hour listener who is keen to get more women interested in sprinting competitively. She speaks to sprint coach Kerry Dixon, and former Olympian Dr Jessica Piasecki, who is an associate Professor of Female Physiology at Nottingham Trent University, to explore the health benefits of sprinting and how midlife women can benefit from competitive training. Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Helen Fitzhenry

Listener Week on Woman's Hour is where we bring your stories, ideas and the issues you want to hear about to air.Sarah tells us about the burden and resentment she feels at caring for a parent who is in her 90s, when she is a pensioner too. This is the time she thought she would have for herself. Clare Jefferies, who co-runs care companies and has written the book: I'm Your Daughter, Not Your Carer; and Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director, Age UK. discuss the problem with Kylie Pentelow.How hard is to get a job in midlife? Age 52, Stacey Duguid is a columnist and former fashion editor, who once held positions at some of the world's top fashion brands; Prada, Harrods, Net-a-Porter and Paul Smith. However for the past 16 months Stacey has been unemployed and actively applying for jobs. She estimates she has sent over 150 applications out and received very few replies and not a single job interview. Stacey posted about this on her social media account and received a tsunami of responses from other women. With decades of experience and perspective under their belts, why are so many midlife women struggling to find employment? Stacey joins Kylie with Ingrid Fawcett from Midlife 360, which advises women returning to work.Have you ever considered working in boat building? We were contacted by Women in Boat Building, a community of women working hands-on in the industry, who wanted to tell us about their experiences and raise the profile of a trade that's largely male-dominated. Abbey Molyneux, a traditional boat builder who runs her own boatyard in Norfolk and is a director of Women in Boat Building, and Vanessa Larmond, who's just starting out in the industry in Southwold, Suffolk, tell us what it is like.How many people can call themselves a fashion/style influencer in their 80s? A listener suggested we interview Viv the Carer about timeless fashion as women get older. She adds I love her energy. Viv Truran is 82 and shares her morning outfit-of-the-day posts with more than 800,000 followers online.PRESENTER: Kylie Pentelow PRODUCER: Melanie Abbott

Listener Week on Woman's Hour is where we bring your stories, ideas and the issues you want to hear about to air.How much of the detail about your marriage or long-term relationship do you share with your best friends? One listener says her husband is unwilling to discuss any of their issues, or go to therapy, but that she feels she can't talk to friends honestly about their relationship either. To discuss, Kylie Pentelow is joined by psychotherapist Julia Samuel and Natasha Lunn, author of Conversations on Love, a bestselling book.Are library closures misogynistic? Woman's Hour listener Kirsten thinks so. She believes that libraries help women in a whole range of ways - from providing employment to toddler groups - and so closing them disproportionately affects them. She'll join Isobel Hunter, Chief Executive of Libraries Connected, to discuss. Over 70,000 babies each year require specialist care on a neonatal unit (NICU). Parents of these babies feel the impact on their mental health from time spent in NICU is overlooked. With one in seven babies spending time in NICU, listeners Lorna Tallowin and Lottie King contacted the programme to highlight the long-term impact on the families affected.Judith got in touch to share the benefits of intergenerational friendships and the difference they can make to our lives. Judith and Iona are best friends. She's 76 and Iona is 22. They join Kylie to discuss. Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Last month, two reports into maternity services in England were published. Donna Ockenden's review of maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Baroness Valerie Amos's investigation into maternity and neonatal services in England. These reports raised important issues about maternity services in England, but what impact have they had on the morale of those working in this area - particularly midwives? Nuala McGovern was joined by author and midwife Leah Hazard, Claire, a midwife practising in Wales, and Safia Saad, a student midwife and founder of Fund Future Midwives UK.Prenups are popular amongst the rich and famous, but research suggests that prenuptial agreements are on the rise for younger couples in the UK. Nuala spoke to Claer Barrett, Consumer Editor at the Financial Times, and Woman's Hour listener Bethan, who has a prenup with her husband, to discuss why more couples are drawing up legal contracts with their partners before they tie the knot.New analysis on mummies of Egyptian princesses shows they were warriors not just pampered queens with the signs pointing to them being highly skilled archers. They even carried wounds consistent with those made by daggers at close combat. It's an intriguing finding but perhaps an even bigger question is why discoveries like this still have the power to surprise us. We delve into how much of history is shaped not just by the evidence itself but by the assumptions we bring to it. Historian, broadcaster and author Bettany Hughes, whose new children's book explores the lives of people in Ancient Egypt, joined Kylie Pentelow along with Professor of History Olivette Otele.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Annette Wells

There's been a lot of opposition to FIFA's plans to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors. UEFA, the governing body of football in Europe, have said they would boycott Fifa events if the plans go ahead. The Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf, which governs football in North and Central America, have also opposed the plans. BBC sports correspondent Patrick Gearey explains how this might affect women's football.A new study is investigating why autistic women are less likely to attend cervical screening. Many report pain, anxiety, sensory sensitivities and feeling dismissed during smear tests. Willow Holloway, who is autistic, joins Kylie Pentelow to describe her experience. Researcher Dr Aimee Grant, explains the barriers autistic women face, and why alternatives, like at-home HPV testing, could help improve access to life-saving screening. Do you remember your first kiss? Or perhaps your worst kiss? And what was your last kiss - a smacker, a snog, a pash - or rather a quick peck on the cheek? Maybe just an air kiss? Or perhaps you would rather keep your lips to yourself - and wish others would too. Professor Katie Barclay, a historian of emotions based at Macquarie University in Sydney, has taken a deep dive into a thousand years' worth of kisses for her new book The Kiss: A History of Passion & Power. She joins Kylie to explain why our ancestors had a kiss for almost every occasion but kissing is now in decline.In the 1990s the work of the young British playwright Sarah Kane caused controversy with its groundbreaking, unflinching portrayal of violence on stage. Almost 30 years after it was first performed, a revival of Kane's play Cleansed has opened at The Almeida, directed by the theatre's outgoing, Olivier award-winning Associate Director, Rebecca Frecknall. Now accompanied by content warnings, a self-care guide and a decompression space, how might today's audiences approach this confrontational work - and how does it feel to perform it? Kylie discusses with the director Rebecca Frecknall and actor Pearl Chanda, who plays Grace in this production.The UK's only all-women chess team has been crowned champions of the second division of the national league, winning them a historic promotion to the top tier. It is the first time an all-female team has reached the top division in the 33 years of the UK's national league and a big achievement by the She Plays To Win Lionesses, but because of league rules they may have to lose their all-women status, and include a man in the team to be allowed to play in Division 1. Kylie discusses the issue with Anusha Subramanian and Alisha Vyas - two members of the winning team.Presented by Kylie Pentelow Producer: Louise Corley

Last week, the government announced a 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs and music venues from April. These spaces are increasingly used for coffee mornings, parent and toddler groups, book clubs etc. - the new church hall for many - and they've become a really important "third space" for communities especially for groups that support women. The government has said it wants to protect these venues that are the beating heart of many communities. But is this announcement enough to save an industry that has taken a big economic battering in recent years? Joining Kylie Pentelow, Beverley Whitrick, Chief Executive of the Music Venues Trust, sociologist Dr Lisa McKenzie and 22-year-old pub landlady Elsa Mckenna, who's trying to make exactly this model work.Actor Vicky Krieps is known best to UK audiences for acclaimed performances in films including Corsage and the Academy Award winning film Phantom Thread. She has also appeared in many European films including Hanna, Two Lives, and The Chambermaid Lynn. Vicky joins Kylie Pentelow to discuss her latest film, Love Me Tender, a moving and powerful drama about a mother forced to fight for her relationship with her son after choosing to live openly as a gay woman. The film, directed by Anna Cazenave Cambet and based on Constance Debré's novel, is out in UK cinemas early next month.Campaigners who work with women to encourage them to report crime are concerned that the Early Release Scheme proposed by the government could put them off engaging with the justice system altogether.  Andy Burnham has since announced a pause and a review of the scheme, which would have seen around 700 prisoners released from September. Today we hear from a campaigner, herself a survivor of sexual abuse, who fears the policy and the current uncertainty. 'Sam' (not her real name) reported and helped secure the conviction of the man who violently attacked and raped her 23 years ago. A month ago, before the scheme was paused, she received a letter from the Ministry of Justice warning that her attacker would be released early. She joins us alongside Harriet Wistrich, Director of the Centre for Women's Justice.New analysis on mummies of Egyptian princesses shows they were warriors not just pampered queens with the signs pointing to them being highly skilled archers. They even carried wounds consistent with those made by daggers at close combat. It's an intriguing finding but perhaps an even bigger question is why discoveries like this still have the power to surprise us. We delve into how much of history is shaped not just by the evidence itself but by the assumptions we bring to it. Historian, broadcaster and author Bettany Hughes, whose new children's book explores the lives of people in Ancient Egypt, joins Kylie along with Professor of History Olivette Otele.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Simon Richardson

A BBC investigation has uncovered allegations of sexual assault against the Hollywood star and musician Jared Leto. Four women who've spoken to the BBC were all teenagers at the time of the alleged offences, between 2002 and 2014. Nuala McGovern speaks to one of them about her experience and asks director Alice McShane about the process of making her film, Jared Leto: Hollywood's Dark Secret. Some of the details of this story are graphic and the subject matter is distressing.Bestselling author Scarlett Thomas has entered the world of ultra marathons and crypto-crime in her latest novel The Runner. She joins us to discuss writing a male protagonist and turning her hand to standup comedy.Prenups are popular amongst the rich and famous, but research suggests that prenuptial agreements are on the rise for younger couples in the UK. Nuala speaks to Claer Barrett, Consumer Editor at the Financial Times, and Woman's Hour listener Bethan, who has a prenup with her husband, to discuss why more couples are drawing up legal contracts with their partners before they tie the knot.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Helen Fitzhenry

Academy Award-winning actor Helen Hunt is currently performing in the RSC's production of The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov. She joins Nuala McGovern to discuss what it's like being back on a UK stage in her latest role as Russian aristocrat and matriarch Madame Ranevskaya.A rape trial has collapsed after the alleged victim used AI to help prepare for her answers in court. The case at Lewes Crown Court was called off after the complainant, referred to only as C, admitted using an AI chatbot. The barrister acting for the accused, argued that a fair trial was impossible. The Court of Appeal ruled that such practices amount to 'witness coaching' which is prohibited in the UK. Barrister Harriet Johnson, specialising in violence against women and girls, discusses the significance of the case. Last month, two reports into maternity services in England were published. Donna Ockenden's review of maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Baroness Valerie Amos's investigation into maternity and neonatal services in England. These reports raised important issues about maternity services in England but what impact have they had on the morale of those working in this area - particularly midwives? Nuala is joined by author and midwife Leah Hazard, Claire Ashton, a midwife practising in Wales, and Safia Saad, a student midwife and founder of Fund Future Midwives UK.Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Prime Minister Andy Burnham to bring in emergency legislation to stop the early release of hundreds of prisoners. She held a press conference while we were on air, along with rape survivors who are concerned their perpetrators could be let out early. The BBC's home and legal correspondent Dominic Casciani joins Nuala.Labour MP Samantha Niblett wants sex education to continue throughout our lives, not just at school. She discusses her campaign and the controversy over displaying sex toys in Parliament.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

The new Reform police and crime commissioner for Norfolk, former detective Colin Sutton, has said that releasing women from prison ‘would be a kind of a radical, outside-the-box way of creating more prison space'. He joins Nuala McGovern along with Andrea Coomber, the chief executive of The Howard League for Penal Reform. We follow up with BBC Journalist Catrin Nye whose podcast, Swingers, highlighted the story of Ruth, a woman who said she had been pressured into having sex with over 100 strangers. Since its release, 50 women have come forward with their own stories. Catrin tells us the latest.Author Wendy Jones recently observed that seven of the top ten fiction paperback novels on the Sunday Times bestsellers list featured a woman who had been murdered. Nuala talks to authors Saima Mir and Lesley McEvoy about why dead women are a central theme in fiction, and why those books are so popular.A new cycling app "Sofa to Saddle" wants to get one million more Brits peddling by 2028. Olympian and world medallist cyclist Lizzie Deignan and Cicely Lloyd, from Brighton's Multicultural Women's Cycle Club, discuss how the barriers to more women cycling can be overcome.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Melanie Abbott

Actor, writer and director Lena Headey is best known for playing Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones. She has created and stars in Intimacy, a new BBC Sounds audio drama and podcast which follows intimacy coordinator Liza Simmons, whose professional life revolves around creating safe spaces and navigating consent on film sets. When a dream job on a big movie production takes her to a Greek island, long-buried secrets resurface and force her to confront a troubled past. Lena talks about this new series and life after Game of Thrones.As the US and Iran continue exchanging fire, Anita Rani talks to global affairs journalist Tara Kangarlou and researcher at King's College London Dr Ahou Koutchesfahani to ask how life for women in the country has changed since the war.How can we explore distant stars, buried water on Mars, or witness the first moments after the Big Bang? And what can we see without having to leave our back garden? Dr Emma Chapman an award-winning radio astronomer based at the University of Nottingham, and a Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin research fellow, is joined by Clare McDonnell to discuss the radio universe, the upcoming Perseid Meteor Shower and a partial solar eclipse.Could using conscious sedation transform the experience of hysteroscopy? Around 70,000 women undergo this womb procedure every year, but campaigners say many are still left in severe pain with too few options for pain relief. Clare talked to Dawn Lord who says her hysteroscopy left her traumatised, and to Irina Stankeviciute, a hysteroscopy nurse who has helped pioneer a new conscious sedation service aimed at giving women more choice and control.The Commonwealth Games began this week in Glasgow, and Clare was joined by wheelchair racer Melanie Woods who will be competing.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells

As an immersive version of Grease opens for the summer in London, Anita Rani welcomes Didi Conn, who played 'Beauty School Dropout' Frenchy in the original 1978 film.Can you imagine running an entire country on just a few hours of sleep? Japan's Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, who has referred to herself as 'Japan's Iron Lady', says she often functions on zero to three hours a night. Whether it's long work hours, caring responsibilities, new born babies, pain, anxiety or hormones, women can struggle to get sleep, so we wanted to look at how much is enough? And does it differ between men and women? Anita is joined by Dr Kat Lederle, sleep scientist and chronobiologist.The Church of England's Interim Commissioner for Independent Reviews, which investigates cases of historic sex abuse, has published their first report and it's about one woman's experience and how her case was handled, or rather mishandled, by those in charge at the time. Jane Chevous has waived her anonymity to speak to Woman's Hour. She alleges that she experienced rape, plus spiritual and psychological abuse by two clergymen. Anita speaks to Jane and the BBC's Religion Editor, Aleem Maqbool.The Commonwealth Games netball tournament gets underway next week, with all four UK nations set to be involved. England will be hoping to challenge for the medals once again, while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will all be looking to make their mark on one of the sport's biggest stages. Anna Carter, a former player and coach for England, who now runs Elite Netball Academy, gives Anita her take.This weekend, all around the world, thousands will congregate to recreate Kate Bush's iconic debut single music video. Known as The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever, for those who take part, it's a truly special occasion. But how did it start and why is it so important for those who take part? Anita speaks to Georgie Sworder, one of the women who originally inspired the event, and Belinda Burton, who will be organising her own 'mass wuther' in Sydney.

A BBC investigation has revealed that a police officer, Alan Greer, who took his own life in May was a violent rapist who carried out a spate of sexual attacks and attempted murders of women over at least 14 years. To find out more about women's confidence in the police, Anita Rani speaks to former Met Detective Superintendent Shabnam Chaudhri and Janaya Walker, interim director of the End Violence Against Women coalition. As the US and Iran continue exchanging fire, Anita talks to global affairs journalist Tara Kangarlou and researcher at King's College London Dr Ahou Koutchesfahani to ask how life for women in the country has changed since the war.Georgia Hall won the Women's Open back in 2018 - one of the four British women to have ever won a golf major championship. She has since gone on to compete around the world, winning countless titles and cups and was awarded an MBE in 2019. Georgia recently returned to professional golf after giving birth in February, and now sets her sights on another win at the AIG Women's Open, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, right here in the UK.What started as documenting the transformation of her own mouldy rental flat has turned into an award-winning mission to help some of the most vulnerable people. Content creator Bea Elton, known as Clean with Bea, has gained millions of followers by documenting her free extreme cleans in homes affected by poor mental health and financial hardship. She restores properties that could otherwise cost thousands of pounds to clean and discusses the link between our living environments and wellbeing. Anita talks to Bea about why her videos have become such a social media phenomenon and the lives she's helping to change. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

According to experts at Imperial College London, England is seeing a "worrying increase" in young women in their 20s developing type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is serious and can lead to severe complications such as heart attacks and strokes. Lead researcher Dr Shivani Misra joins Anita Rani to unpick why this is happening.Actor, writer and director Lena Headey is best known for playing Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones. She has created and stars in Intimacy, a new BBC Sounds audio drama and podcast which follows intimacy coordinator Liza Simmons, whose professional life revolves around creating safe spaces and navigating consent on film sets. Her personal life is far less under control. When a dream job on a big movie production takes her to a Greek island, long-buried secrets resurface and force her to confront a troubled past. Lena talks about this new series and life after Game of Thrones.Women in the armed forces and veterans say they are still being issued ill-fitting kit that doesn't fit their body shape. A 2021 review called for urgent improvements, but current and former service women have told the BBC key problems remain. Investigative journalist, Rebecca Ricks and Erin Grieve from NP Aerospace which makes female-adapted body armour systems discuss.When the Taliban first ruled Afghanistan in the 1990s, Zahra Joya bravely disguised herself as a boy so that she could attend school. After the US-led invasion, girls were granted access to education and opportunities and Zahra went on to become a journalist, setting up Rukhshana Media to tell the stories of Afghan women. When the Taliban returned in 2021, women's freedoms and opportunities vanished overnight, and Zahra was one of many forced to flee their homeland, forging a new life in the UK. She discusses her memoir, The Vanishing Girl of Kabul, and her continuing fight for women's rights in Afghanistan.

We look at the women in Andy Burnham's government. Three out of four of the great offices of state are now occupied by men, but there are lots of female MPs joining - and re-joining - the top table. Clare McDonnell talks to broadcaster and former Labour advisor Baroness Ayesha Hazarika and Bloomberg's UK political commentator Rosa Prince.Could using conscious sedation transform the experience of hysteroscopy? Around 70,000 women undergo this womb procedure every year, but campaigners say many are still left in severe pain with too few options for pain relief. Clare McDonnell hears from Dawn Lord who says her hysteroscopy left her traumatised, and from Irina Stankeviciute, a hysteroscopy nurse who has helped pioneer a new conscious sedation service aimed at giving women more choice and control.The Commonwealth Games begin on Thursday in Glasgow. Which female athletes we should be keeping our eyes on, and what we can look forward to in this year's competition? BBC Sport Journalist Matt Henry gives his picks, and Clare is also joined by wheelchair racer Melanie Woods who will be competing.Gentle Things is a novel set in 1660s London, as the city reels from the impact of the Great Fire and the Plague. Writer Danielle Giles joins Clare to discuss why the world of 17th century apothecaries, who created medicinal cures from herbs, spices and sometimes from human body parts, was the perfect setting for a Gothic novel.

As Andy Burnham takes over as Prime Minister, we ask leading campaigners and experts on women's issues what they think he should prioritise on day one of his premiership. Clare McDonnell is joined by Labour MP and former Violence against Women and Girls minister Jess Phillips, senior midwife Donna Ockenden who led the recent review into maternity care failings in Nottingham, and Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society Penny East.Fatboy Slim, one of the biggest DJs of the 1990s, has just finished playing four nights to appreciative crowds in his home town of Brighton. And among the crowd were a number of midlife women. More women in their forties and fifties, who are often experiencing the pressure of caring for both children and older parents, are exchanging an early night for being up raving at 4am. Clare McDonnell finds out more from Alinka Greasley, Professor of music psychology at the University of Leeds who has carried out research into women and raving and is a raver and DJ herself. How can we explore distant stars, buried water on Mars, or witness the first moments after the Big Bang? And what can we see without having to leave our back garden? Dr. Emma Chapman an award-winning radio astronomer based at the University of Nottingham, and a Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin research fellow. She will be appearing at the Buxton International Festival this Friday. She joins Clare McDonnell to discuss the radio universe, the upcoming Perseid Meteor Shower and a partial solar eclipse.English Heritage has warned the tradition of sending postcards could become “a distant nostalgic memory", after half of Brits surveyed said they never send them. But with the rise in popularity of 'Snail Mail', largely driven by social media, how are women leading the charge to stay connected through post? To discuss, Clare McDonnell is joined by Great British Bake Off finalist Alice Fevronia, who set up The Artful Baker Club, and Rebecca McMillan, who co-founded The Sunday Letter Project.Presented by Clare McDonnell Producer: Louise Corley

What impact do hormones have on women with ADHD? A pioneering study by Kings College and Queen Mary University in London is putting the link to the test, by asking 50 women who are medicated for their ADHD to track their menstrual cycle. Report academic Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais and Laura Mears-Reynolds from the charity ADHDAF+ join presenter Nuala McGovern to discuss why the research matters.This weekend Dalia Stasevska conducted the first night of the BBC Proms. The Finnish-Ukrainian Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra also has a new album, Ukrainian Mixtape, recorded with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, showcasing rarely heard works. Dalia joins presenter Anita Rani to discuss her route into conducting and her passion for Ukrainian music.New analysis in The Economist suggests that, after years of progress, fewer women are reaching executive positions and there may also be signs that younger women are becoming less interested in promotion. Nuala speaks to the author of that report, Vinjeru Mkandawire, and Sanchia Neilson who left an executive role to rebalance her life.Australian surf and fashion photographer Cait Miers is photographing 1,000 women globally, bare-faced, for a project she has called Laugh Lines. Anita talks to Cait about her mission to challenge beauty standards and also Alexis Zahner, one of the first women to be photographed for the project.Actor Sarah Hadland will be a familiar face to many, having played numerous roles over the years, but is probably best known as Stevie in the BAFTA-nominated sitcom Miranda. Currently on stage in London's West End, she joins Nuala to discuss her latest role as Alice in The Truth, a fast-paced comedy of infidelity and duplicity.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty McQuire

There is speculation today that the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will become Chancellor when the incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham announces his Cabinet on Monday. Whoever takes on the role will face quite the in-tray: high debt, low growth, welfare reform, defence spending, and the economic fallout from the US-Israel war with Iran, to name a few issues. So, if it's Shabana Mahmood, how might she fare and what do we know about her? Anita Rani speaks to Lucy Fisher, Whitehall Editor of the Financial Times and Host of the FT's Political Fix podcast.Australian surf and fashion photographer Cait Miers says that on shoots women often criticise and apologise for their looks before a single photo is taken. She is now photographing 1,000 women globally, bare-faced, for a project she has called Laugh Lines. Anita is joined by Cait to talk about her mission to challenge beauty standards and also by Alexis Zahner, author of Real: Reconnecting to Yourself in a World of Likes and Lies, and one of the first women to be photographed for the project.Dr Suzanne Huurman is the only woman to head a country's medical staff in the men's 2026 FIFA World Cup, meaning there is just one woman and 47 men in the lead role for the teams taking part this year. Anita talks to Suzanne about being a trailblazer, how she - as head of medical staff for Curacao's national men's side - got to become only the third-ever female team doctor in the 96-year history of the tournament and what she thinks could be done to increase female representation in football.The Young British Artists, YBA movement of the 1990s is the inspiration for a new novel, Exhibition, by Alex Hyde. The protagonist, Rabble, an aspiring photographer, finds herself in the YBA scene after meeting an artist always referred to in the novel as “you”. Anita talks to Alex about how, through Rabble, her novel explores the inspiration and process of creating art - and the question of ownership, referencing real works.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

New research from the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse suggests one in five girls and one in ten boys experience sexual abuse during childhood. Yet the organisation says only a fraction of those children are ever identified by professionals. We discuss the findings with the Centre's Deputy Director, Anna Glinski, and ask why so many children are still being missed.The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has worked with female athletes to develop new guidelines that aim to avoid sexualising the action with unnecessary camera angles. UK Athletics President Denise Lewis and Danielle Sellwood, sports documentary maker, gives us their thoughts. AI ethicist Dr Eleanor Drage discusses her new book What If We Got AI Right? and why putting women at the centre of artificial intelligence could help create a fairer future.Tomorrow night Dalia Stasevska will open the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, the biggest night in classical music. Dalia is the Finnish-Ukrainian Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Away from the podium, she's become one of the fiercest champions of Ukrainian composers and her new album Ukrainian Mixtape, recorded with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, showcases rarely heard works. Dalia joins Anita to discuss what we can expect from the first night of BBC Proms, her passion for conducting, and Ukrainian music.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Simon Richardson

A new report from the Health and Social Care Committee says customers are being pushed towards products high in fat, sugar and salt which are typically cheaper than more nutritious food and that the government's food policy needs overhauling. The chair of the committee, Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, talks to Nuala McGovern about their recommendations.New analysis in The Economist suggests after years of progress fewer women are reaching executive positions and there may be signs that younger women are becoming less interested in promotion. Nuala McGovern speaks to the author of that analysis and a woman who left an executive role to rebalance her life. We hear from Sarah Ruggins who recently broke the world record for cycling the length of Europe - a distance of over 6,000 kilometres – double the length of the Tour de France. She only started cycling three years ago having spent a decade recovering from a condition that saw her bedridden and immobile – Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, one of medicine's most painful conditions. Sarah now holds three ultra-cycling records.Known at one point as the Diana of the Middle East and the rose of the desert, Asma al-Assad, the wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, quickly became a well-known face around the world. But just how much do we know about the London-born former First Lady and the role she played in her dictator husband's oppressive dictatorship where peaceful protests against his regime were violently repressed, eventually leading to 13 years of civil war that saw more than half a million people killed. Nuala speaks to investigative journalist Chloe Hadjimatheou about her new podcast, We Call Her Emma. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

What impact do hormones have on women with ADHD? A first of its kind study by Kings College and Queen Mary University in London is putting the link to the test, by asking 50 women who have ADHD and are taking medication for it to track their menstrual cycle. They will log the impact it has on their ADHD symptoms, and daily life more broadly. Report academic Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais and Laura Mears-Reynolds from the charity ADHDAF+ join presenter Nuala McGovern to discuss. We hear about the current government consultation aiming to give added financial security to more than 3.5 million unmarried couples when they separate. It's hoped the overdue reforms will help protect women and better meet the needs of modern relationships. Nuala discusses this with Mandip Ghai, a lawyer from the legal charity Rights of Women, who have campaigned for new laws, and Jenny Allen who is feeling the long-term impact of her separation on her finances now she is semi-retired.Parents of school-age children will know that this is the time of year when thoughts turns to a present for their teacher. But collections can be divisive when so many families are feeling financial pressure. The question of how much to give, who should be included or whether to contribute at all can be fraught. Author and comedian Helen Thorne from the Scummy Mummies comedy duo shares her thoughts on the hot topic dominating many school whatsapp groups.Video game God of War will have a female protagonist for the first time in the form of Laufey, both a powerful woman and a mother. Nuala is joined by player and journalist Vicky Jessop and The Guardian's games editor Keza Macdonald to discuss the significance and online backlash.Presented by: Nuala McGovern Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Sarah Hadland will be a familiar face to many, having played numerous roles over the years, but is probably best known for her role as Stevie in the BAFTA-nominated sitcom Miranda. Currently on stage in London's West End, she joins Nuala McGovern to discuss her latest role as Alice in The Truth, a fast-paced comedy of infidelity and duplicity. The second phase of the Southport inquiry will resume in September. It was set up after Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar were murdered at a dance class in 2024. Its chairman Sir Adrian Fulford wants to find ways to respond to the dangers posed by violence-fixated individuals - individuals who may carry out extreme violence, where ideology is not the primary driver. The government programme Prevent focuses on tackling extremist ideologies that lead to violence and aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Lord Anderson was the Independent Prevent Commissioner from January 2025 to April 2026, who published an independent review 'Lessons for Prevent' which also looked at why Prevent failed to stop the Southport attack. Some are asking whether misogyny should be considered an ideology within government schemes. Nuala discusses with Lord Anderson and Dr Ruth Tulley, a consultant forensic psychologist. We're in the middle of our third heatwave of the year - and temperatures are set to climb again later this week. Scientists say that what makes this year's heatwaves distinct is that right across Europe temperatures have remained high overnight as well as in the day. In June, London alone recorded five consecutive nights over 20 degrees Celcius, what meteorologists call "tropical nights". The temperatures inside many homes will have been much higher. Lots of us are reporting struggling to sleep. Consultant Paediatrician, Dr Guddi Singh and GP, Dr Sarah Jarvis join Nuala to discuss what to do if you are caring for a baby. The author Jennifer Saint has retold some of the best-known stories from Greek literature and mythology through the eyes of women: Ariadne, Atalanta, Electra and Hera. In her latest novel, This Immortal Heart, Jennifer turns to Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love and reimagines Aphrodites' relationship with Ares, the god of war. Jennifer joins Nuala to talk about how stories that originated over two thousand years ago and their themes can tackle contemporary questions about female agency and identity – and what happens when two seemingly opposite forces – love and war - are drawn irresistibly together.Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

Emma Grede is a British entrepreneur and philanthropist who has been featured on Forbes' America's Richest Self-Made Women list. Emma joins Nuala McGovern to discuss her book Start With Yourself: A New Vision for Work and Life.Parents are being warned about the risks of posting images of their children online due to an increase in AI-generated child abuse imagery. The Internet Watch Foundation found 3,440 AI-generated videos of child sexual abuse in 2025, compared with just 13 in 2024. Nuala is joined by Emma Hardy of the Internet Watch Foundation and Dr Elaine Kasket, cyber-psychologist and the author of Reset: Rethinking your Digital World for a Happier Life.Many of us are familiar with the often painful process of sorting through the wardrobes of our loved ones who have died. Anita Rani discusses what people can do to keep memories alive with Sophie Lewis, founder of The Reincarnation Club, a service which creates new outfits out of old and Pip Housam, of Love Keep Create, a company which transforms clothing into keepsakes.New research into IVF and donor eggs suggests that older women face a lower chance of fertility treatment working, even when using young donor eggs - with a marked drop-off from around the age of 49. Researchers believe age-related changes in the womb lining may be the cause. Nuala is joined by Dr Ippokratis Sarris, chair elect of the British Fertility Society, and writer Grace Ackroyd who had a baby at 47 using donor eggs.The Bayeux Tapestry arrived in London in the early hours of Friday morning, the first time it had left France for over 900 years. Meanwhile in Cambridgeshire, one woman has been painstakingly recreating the tapestry for the last decade. Mia Hansson joins Kylie Pentelow to explain why she took on this challenge.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Kirsty McQuire

This programme was recorded before the police announced an investigation into Ann Widdecombe's death.Ann Widdecombe's political career spanned decades, serving as Conservative MP for Maidstone for 23 years, and a minister in John Major's government, then later becoming an MEP and joining Reform UK in 2023. She was also well known for her TV appearances including taking part in Strictly Come Dancing. Kylie speaks to her colleague in the Conservative party Baroness Anne Jenkin and BBC political correspondent Nick Eardley.Campaigners and a cross-party group of MPs and peers presented a petition to Downing Street yesterday, signed by over 100,000 people, urging the government to increase bereavement support for the first time in nearly a decade. Widow's Fight – who started the petition - say bereaved young families are falling into poverty. Kylie is joined by Holly O'Connor from Widow's Fight and Caroline Voaden, Liberal Democrat MP for South Devon, who was widowed when her children were young, and is supporting the campaign.The Bayeux Tapestry arrived in London in the early hours of this morning, under the cover of darkness, the first time it has left France for over 900 years. Meanwhile in Cambridgeshire, one woman has been painstakingly recreating the tapestry for the last decade.  Mia Hansson joins Kylie to explain why she took on this massive project.This week we have heard about three different new diagnostic tests being developed for endometriosis, a condition thought to affect one in 10 women. We find out what these tests are, how long before they are available, and whether they could reduce the average nine year wait for a diagnosis in the UK. Kylie Pentelow hears from Evelyn Scott, author of A Bloody Scandal - How Medicine Fails Women in Pain and Elisabeth Bean, an NHS consultant gynaecologist and diagnostics chair of the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy.Saint Olga of Kyiv, patron saint of Ukraine has her saint's day tomorrow. In Ukraine, she's a beloved religious figure, but she was also a real woman, known for exacting brutal revenge on those who crossed her. BBC Ukrainian's Irena Taranyuk joins Kylie to discuss Olga's mythological story, what she symbolises for Ukrainians and why her story is still relevant to women today.

Iranian writer, Shahrnush Parsipur, who spent her life documenting what it meant to be a woman living under repression in Iran, died this week in the US, at the age of 80. Anita Rani talks to Iranian journalist Paxima Mojavvezi about Shahrnush, a pioneer of feminist literature, whose book Women Without Men was banned in Iran, but nevertheless became an underground bestseller. According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, around two-thirds of women will develop at least one uterine fibroid during their lifetime - that's a non-cancerous growth that develops in or around the womb. Despite being a common reproductive health issues, fibroids remain under-discussed and can leave some women without the knowledge to seek treatment. Anita is joined by a gynaecologist Dr Michelle Griffin, author of a new book, Fibroids: Everything You Need to Know from Symptoms to Diagnosis and Beyond and Dawn Heels who suffered for decades with fibroid symptoms and is now a campaigner for the condition. Many of us are familiar with the onerous, often painful process of sorting through the wardrobes of our loved ones who have died. It raises difficult choices about what to do with clothes that can carry emotional weight and evoke many memories. Anita discusses what people can do to keep memories alive with Sophie Lewis, founder of The Reincarnation Club, a service which creates new outfits out of old and Pip Housam, general manager of Love Keep Create, a company which transforms cherished clothing into lasting keepsakes.Is it correct to assume that a former elite athlete is always healthy? A research project from the University of Edinburgh is exploring just that by looking at the current health status of retired female Olympians and how this compares to females in the general population. Anita speaks to lead researcher Dr Lauren Guilfoyle and five-time Olympian runner, Jo Pavey.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

Emma Grede is a British serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, and mother of four. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Good American, and a founding partner of SKIMS. Recognised for her achievements, Emma has been featured on Forbes' America's Richest Self-Made Women list. She made history as the first woman of colour to serve as a judge on ABC's Shark Tank. Emma joins Nuala McGovern to discuss her book Start With Yourself, a bold and empowering guide with advice on how women can build meaningful success on their own terms.Today the goverment will announce plans to boost support for foster carers. The aim is to encourage more people to provide homes for vulnerable children in England. It's the latest step in the government's drive to recruit an additional ten thousand foster carers, as they announced back in February. BBC's Social Affairs Editor, Alison Holt explains.At least 5,000 pregnancies a year in the UK end due to Termination for Medical Reasons, but the persistent taboo in society can mean that families keep it secret, in fear of other people's reactions. The stigma and silence around it mean people can feel incredibly alone in their grief and often feel excluded from the wider baby loss community, increasing their sense of isolation. July is Bereaved Parents' Awareness Month and to discuss this issue, Nuala talks to a grief coach and bereaved mother, Tanya Wilkinson and to Tommy's Co Midwifery Manager, Amina Hatia.What do you do with your wedding and or engagement rings after divorce? It's been reported that a growing number are said to be turning them into something entirely new. The so-called "divorce ring" trend is seeing women reset engagement diamonds into bold pieces that symbolise independence and a fresh start. So what's driving the trend, and what does it tell us about the changing meaning of jewellery after marriage? Nuala is joined by gemmologist and jewellery expert, Helen Dimmock and author and jewellery historian Rachel Church, to discuss.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Simon Richardson

New research into IVF and donor eggs suggests that older women face a lower chance of fertility treatment working, even when using young donor eggs - with a marked drop-off from around the age of 49. Experts studying more than 1700 women say the findings challenge the idea that donor eggs can fully "reset" the reproductive clock - BUT that they should not put older couples off trying. Researchers believe age-related changes in the womb lining may be the cause. Nuala McGovern is joined by Dr Ippokratis Sarris, who is chair elect of the British Fertility Society, and writer Grace Ackroyd who had a baby at 47 using donor eggs. Have you ever found love in an unexpected place? At a gig? A restaurant?... What about a library? Four couples have found love in the stacks of Anlaby Park Community Library, in Hull. Nuala is joined by one of them, Mandy and Adrian Strickland, who share their story. What do we know about domestic violence in post-conflict societies, and how important is this knowledge for tackling violence against women in Northern Ireland? Do we see the history of conflict in Northern Ireland reflected in patterns of abuse and violence that women face today? Our guests share their views. Monica McWilliams is a long-standing peace activist and Emeritus Professor at the Transitional Justice Institute Ulster University and Aisling Swaine is Professor of Peace, Security and International Law in Uni College Dublin.Trish Patterson, a 41-year-old mother of twins, has just set a new world record for the National Three Peaks challenge, running 425 miles over five days. We talk to her about her extraordinary feat and what motivates her to keep going.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Parents are being warned about the risks of posting images of their children online due to an increase in AI-generated child abuse imagery. The Internet Watch Foundation found 3,440 AI-generated videos of child sexual abuse in 2025, compared with just 13 in 2024. The National Crime Agency says it is increasingly seeing offenders exploit AI technologies to target children in new ways. What's behind this rise, and what advice is there for parents? Nuala McGovern is joined by Emma Hardy, Director of Communications at the Internet Watch Foundation and Dr Elaine Kasket, cyberpsychologist and the author of Reset: Rethinking your Digital World for a Happier Life.Should emergency contraception – sometimes referred to as the morning after pill – be available to buy next to the condoms on the supermarket shelf? President of the College of Sexual and Reproductive Health Dr Zara Haider thinks so and joins Nuala to discuss.Schools have already broken up for summer in Scotland and schools in England and Wales will begin their holidays later this month. The Great British Summer Savings scheme is, a UK government initiative that recently came into effect with the aim of helping families enjoy the weekend treats, the days out, the small plans that make life enjoyable during the cost of living squeeze. To explain more about what is being made available and the difference this could make to families, Nuala hears from marketing expert and CEO of Get Savvy, Catherine Shuttleworth.At least 11 people have been killed in Kyiv following a second night of Russian strikes on the Ukrainian capital in a week, the city's top military administrator has said. For more than four years Ukrainians have been enduring Russian attacks on their cities.  Ukraine is now also carrying out its own drone strikes on targets deep inside Russia.  With no end to the war in sight people in Ukraine have found different ways to cope.  Some women turn to beauty and fashion as a way of dealing with the trauma of war, and as a sign of defiance. Isabella Jewell reports from Kyiv.Trouble Was is the debut novel by the journalist Charlotte Edwardes. It's the story of a mother who takes her children to live with relatives in Devon in the long hot summer of 1976 – and the unravelling of family secrets, all told from the perspective of nine-year-old Frank. Charlotte joins Nuala to talk about the baby blues, breakdowns and the realities of ‘70s life that she has fictionalised.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Dianne McGregor

Annabel Rook dedicated her life to supporting vulnerable women, yet her own life was violently taken by her partner. Annabel co-founded MamaSuze, a creative grassroots arts organisation in North London to enhance the lives of women who have survived violence. Her co-founder, Catherine Milne and Annabel's sister Sophie join Chloe Tilley to discuss Annabel's impact and what people can learn from their loss.Money is broken for women, according to the founders of Female Invest - a subscription-based financial education app founded in Denmark. In their new book, It's a Rich Man's World, they explore the life events and systemic obstacles that women face in building and holding on to wealth. Krupa Padhy talks to co-founder Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen about the possible solutions.As part of Radio 4's Once Upon a Time season we're looking at fairytales through a feminist lens. Award-winning author Kirsty Logan joins us down the line from Glasgow and the mythologist and psychologist Dr Sharon Blackie joins us from Cumbria. They tell Nuala McGovern why they believe women need fairy tales now more than ever and, crucially, why we should keep re-writing them for ourselves.In the week that Baroness Amos released her long-awaited National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation into maternity service failings in England, we hear reaction from the Labour MP and Government Maternity Advisor Michelle Welsh.When the award-winning poet Helen Mort became a stepmother, she went in search of literary role models, but was sadly disappointed by portrayals from the fairytale ‘wicked queen' to the put-upon parent of the modern blended family. She talks to Anita Rani about creating her new collection, Stepmother, to re-write the role.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Kirsty McQuire

Joining Nuala McGovern and Anita Rani on stage is Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty, host of the BBC Podcast Fame Under Fire, which focuses on celebrity court cases. Anoushka talks to Nuala about how attitudes to women in high profile trials, such as the trial of P Diddy, influence culture. They are in conversation with Dr Kathryn Higgins who has written about misogyny in the media in her book Believability: Sexual Violence, Media, and the Politics of Doubt. When award-winning poet and author Helen Mort became a stepmother, she went in search of some literary role models, but was sadly disappointed. From the fairytale ‘wicked queen' to the put-upon parent of the modern blended family. She talks to Anita about writing her new collection, Stepmother, which explores the origins of these maligned female archetypes alongside her own real-life experiences. Lisa Lloyd is a campaigner for SEND children and the author of the best-selling book Raising the SENBetweeners. Following her own diagnosis with autism in her forties, Lisa explains how becoming a mother led her to discover she was autistic, and the challenges of parenting when you're neurodivergent. Lisa is joined by Prof Megan Freeth from Sheffield University's Autism Research Lab, who explains how autistic women can experience motherhood. And Nuala and Anita are also joined by Sheffield sportswoman Vanessa Ellis, head coach of the Sheffield Hatters Women's Basketball Team. She explains how she's followed in the footsteps of her mother, Betty Cadona, who set up women's Basketball in Sheffield in 1961.Presenters: Anita Rani and Nuala McGovern Producer: Olivia Skinner Editor: Karen Dalziel

Today the Prime Minister is expected to apologise on behalf of the state for its role in historical forced adoptions. Thousands of unmarried women were pressured into giving up their babies in the 30 years after the Second World War. Krupa Padhy talks to two women who are keenly awaiting this apology - Zara who was adopted, but tracked down her birth mother when she was aged 23 and Susan whose baby was taken from her when she was 16.A large multinational cohort study published in June provides important new evidence of the increased risk of cardiovascular events for women who have premature and early menopause, across ethnic groups. To discuss what this could mean for you, Krupa is joined by Dr Ellie Cannon, GP and author of The Little Book of HRT, and Professor Anne McGregor, menopause specialist and trainer at the British Menopause Society.Some female massage therapists are refusing to take on any more male clients after being subject to sexually inappropriate behaviour. Krupa is joined by Maria Slowik-Capanni, a therapist and Ruth Duncan, Chair of the General Council for Manual Therapies with 26 years of experience in the industry. They discuss why the idea of regulating massage therapy is such a complex issue and what can be done to protect therapists in their workplace.Money is broken for women, according to the founders of Female Invest, a subscription-based Danish financial education app. Their aim is to close the financial gender gap by educating women about investing and in their new book, It's a Rich Man's World, they explore the life events and systemic obstacles women face to build and hold onto wealth and what can be done to change things so women can thrive. Krupa speaks to Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen, one of the co-authors of the book.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Before the potential Prime Minister has even taken up office, a draft letter has been written for Andy Burnham asking him to appoint as many women as men in his government. It's from the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and asks for change to address the toxicity and misogyny within the Labour party and government. Political correspondent Nick Eardley discusses the letter and its context with Chloe Tilley. What happens when you're worried about your child's mental health, but help is months or even years away? A new report by the Children's Commissioner for England paints a stark picture of growing demand and long waits. Referrals have almost doubled since 2018, with more than a million children now in contact with services. Professor Jessica Deighton from the Anna Freud Centre discusses what it means for children and families. And Emma Kluibenschadl tells us how her 15 year old son took his life after being refused help for his mental health problems.Amanda Wakeley OBE is a self-taught fashion designer. Her designs are much loved by the Royal Family and she's known for her timeless British womenswear. She joins Chloe today to discuss her new book, Style DNA, in which she encourages women to spend time reflecting on their autobiographical relationship with their clothes. In understanding how our lives shape how we dress, Amanda hopes to give women the tools to work out who they are so their style sits in harmony with their sense of self, and how they'd like to position themselves in the world.Annabel Rook dedicated her life to supporting vulnerable women, yet her own life was violently taken by her partner. In June last year, at their home, Clifton George attacked her, attempting to strangle her before stabbing her 31 times after she had tried to end their relationship of more than ten years. He then caused an explosion at the property. Annabel co-founded MamaSuze, a creative grassroots arts organisation in North London to enhance the lives of women who have survived violence. Her co-founder, Catherine Milne, wrote a moving article about the death of her best friend, how she tried to support her, and the question of whether she could have done more. Her and Annabel's sister Sophie discuss Annabel's impact and what people can learn from their loss.Presenter: Chloe Tilley Producer: Melanie Abbott

As Baroness Amos releases her long-awaited National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation into maternity service failings in England, we discuss her key findings and what happens next. Presenter Nuala McGovern is joined by former MP and maternity campaigner Theo Clarke, Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Dr Karen Joash, and Legal Lead for the advocacy charity Birthrights, Laura Mullarkey. We'll also hear from MP and Maternity Advisor Michelle Welsh about the government's plan to appoint the UK's first Maternity and Neonatal Commissioner, one of Amos' eight key reccomendations. Summer holidays have already started for some in schools in Scotland and for many families across the UK it's set to be a challenging time juggling finances, time off work and childcare. Marketing expert Catherine Shuttleworth shares her top tips on how to survive financially whilst also trying to have fun and create those lifelong memories. Despite the male-dominated history of the internet's development, women and sex workers have been pioneering online culture since long before the social media platforms we know today existed. For artist and UCLA professor Mindy Seu, this is at the heart of her work, and on the London leg of a global lecture tour, she joins Nuala in the studio to discuss an alternative history of the internet. Glamorous, fashion-forward, fun – wigs are having a moment, with celebrities leading the way and sales up by 10%. But should you go for something flamboyant, or a more natural style? Guardian journalist Leah Harper tried a different wig every day for a week. She joins us to share her experience along with Melanie Burrell, who owns a wig company in Glasgow, to discuss what might be driving this rise in sales. Presented by: Nuala McGovern Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

The most prestigious tennis tournament in the world begins today. But Wimbledon has already attracted global attention before the courts even open, with the wildcard return of tennis legend Serena Williams announced earlier this month, and the shock exit of British number one Emma Raducanu due to a stress fracture in her lower right leg. Nuala McGovern is joined by former British number one tennis champion, Annabel Croft. The Metropolitan Police says that harm to women by London's most dangerous men has been cut by more than half under their V100 initiative. Over 200 of the worst perpetrators of violence against women and girls have been convicted since they threw out the normal tactics and started employing counter-terrorism techniques, allied with data crunching. Nuala speaks to Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes about how it works.Long before she picked up a pair of forceps as Nurse Trixie Franklin in the BBC drama Call the Midwife, actor Helen George trained in musical theatre. She's returning to those roots to play Tracy Lord in Cole Porter's High Society, a role made famous by Grace Kelly. She tells Nuala about coming back to the stage and treats us to a live performance of a classic Cole Porter song. As part of Radio 4's Once Upon a Time season we're delving into shape-shifting feminist fairy tales, stories which have been constantly evolving ever since the early oral tradition, via the ground-breaking works of writers like Angela Carter to the present day. Award-winning author Kirsty Logan, joins us down the line from Glasgow and the mythologist and psychologist Dr Sharon Blackie joins us from Cumbria. They'll tell us why they believe women need fairy tales now more than ever and, crucially, why we should keep re-writing them for ourselves.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Joanna Cherry was elected as an MP in 2015, part of the SNP landslide when they took 56 out of 59 Scottish seats, just a year after the referendum on Scottish independence resulted in a No vote. Joanna went on to lose her seat in 2024 and has become a vocal critic of the party, and of Nicola Sturgeon's leadership. She was also well-known for expressing gender-critical views and concerns at a time when the SNP was trying to deliver a gender self-ID law in Scotland. She joins presenter Nuala McGovern to talk about what she describes in her memoir as a "tumultuous decade" in Scottish politics.More than 500 mothers and babies came to harm or died as a result of inadequate care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. That's according to Donna Ockenden's review into the maternity services there. Anita Rani speaks to mothers Sarah Hawkins and Sarah Andrews whose babies, Harriet and Wynter, both died from preventable errors.An inclusive fashion show happening in Manchester this weekend is hoping to shine a light on how difficult it can be for people with disabilities, including autism, to find clothes which suit their bodies and feel good. Ellie Brown, the founder of inclusive clothing brand ReCondition, is behind the fashion show and joins Nuala alongside Sam Stein, a YouTuber who makes content about living with autism, who shares how small changes can go a long way.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty McQuire

Varsha Gohil's 23 year case against her ex-husband changed the law for anyone whose spouse hides their wealth in divorce proceedings. It is thought to be the one of the longest-running financial disputes in English family law. Varsha tells Anita Rani about a two-decade battle that included gaining a law degree and representing herself in court. For three decades, the singer-songwriter, Beth Orton has remained one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music. She's developed a devoted audience, winning a BRIT Award and Mercury Prize nominations for albums such as Trailer Park and Central Reservation. She has collaborated with artists such as The Chemical Brothers, Andrew Weatherall and Nick Cave, and she's performed at venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Sydney Opera House, Glastonbury Festival and Carnegie Hall. Her 2022 album, Weather Alive, became a major critical breakthrough. Her first self-produced album, it earned widespread acclaim, with The New York Times praising its “modal vocal phrases". Beth joins Anita to discuss her new album The Ground Above, and to perform live.DJ Smokin Jo has been a trailblazer in an industry largely dominated by men. A resident at the legendary Trade parties in London in the early 90s she was soon playing the world's biggest clubs and was the first - and still only - woman to be named DJ Magazine's DJ of the year. Jo joins Anita to discuss her memoir which details the highs and lows of her career, from finding her community on the dancefloor to rehab, misogyny and what has and hasn't changed for women in dance music. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Simon Richardson

More than 500 mothers and babies came to harm or died as a result of inadequate care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. That's according to Donna Ockenden's review into the maternity services there. Anita Rani speaks to the Times' Health Editor Eleanor Hayward, and mothers Sarah Hawkins and Sarah Andrews whose babies, Harriet and Wynter, both died from preventable errors.Sarah Vine's memoir, How Not to Be a Political Wife, is out in paperback this week, coinciding with the 10 year anniversary of the Brexit vote. The Daily Mail columnist was married to the former Conservative minister Michael Gove, a leading figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union. She gives Anita her take on some of the most turbulent years in modern British politics, and how the pressures affected her friendships, her family, and ultimately her marriage.Over half of women diagnosed with breast cancer are outside the current 50-70 age range for screening, according to new research by a youth focused breast cancer awareness charity. It's calling for the age of women given screening to be lowered. Anita is joined by Sophie Dopierala-Bull, Director of Services and Engagement at CoppaFeel! A new exhibition at the Tate Modern in London looks at how and why the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo became a global icon and a key influence on a generation of artists. Anita speaks to Bea Garcia, co-curator of the exhibition Frida - the making of an icon, and author Hettie Judah.