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BBC Radio 4

Woman's Hour

Four years after Taliban fighters retook the capital Kabul on 15 August 2021, UN Women, the gender equality agency, is warning that the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan is increasingly untenable. They say without urgent action, this untenable reality will become normalised and women and girls will be fully excluded. To discuss further Anita Rani is joined by Fawzia Koofi, former deputy speaker of the Afghan Parliament & peace negotiator, and BBC senior Afghan reporter Mahjooba Nowrouzi, recently returned from Afghanistan.
 
The synth-pop visionary Alison Goldfrapp has had multi-platinum album sales, unforgettable Glastonbury performances, Brit and Grammy nominations. She received an Ivor Novello for Strict Machine as well as the Ivor’s Inspiration Award in 2021. Last year she completed a sold-out UK headline tour, cementing her reputation as one of the most compelling, dynamic and hypnotising live acts. Alison talks about her solo career and the idea behind her latest album Flux.

Topshop is relaunching this weekend with Cara Delevigne walking a catwalk show in Trafalgar Square. But with River Island closing stores around the country and Claire's Accessories also under threat, how healthy is the high street as a fashion shopping destination? Retail analyst Catherine Shuttleworth looks at what high street shopping is really like these days, how brands are diversifying, and whether Topshop can make a success of a relaunch. 

Eighty years ago today, Japan unconditionally surrendered, following the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The war in Asia and Pacific ended, and World War Two was finally over. Tens of thousands of British, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers from across Britain’s empire had fought Japan. Thousands were taken as prisoners of war and held in appalling conditions. British civilians were also captured and interned. We learn about Shelagh Brown who was held captive for three and a half years, after fleeing her home in Singapore, then a British colony, when the Japanese invaded.

The Women's Rugby World Cup, being held in England, starts a week today. The BBC's Rugby Correspondent Sara Orchard runs us through everything we need to know. 

Presenter: Anita Rani
Producer: Kirsty Starkey
Editor: Karen Dalziel

Women in Afghanistan, Alison Goldfrapp, VJ Day, High St shopping

Rooprit Gill ran the Post Office in Handsworth, Birmingham, a business started by her father. But that came to an end when, like hundreds of other postmasters and mistresses, she was falsely accused of stealing money due to a faulty Post Office computer system. Rooprit — known as Roopie — joins Anita Rani on her first day back in the family Post Office after more than a decade.
 
As rugby fans across the UK look forward to the Women’s Rugby World Cup, Anita speaks with rugby trailblazer Deborah Griffin. An amateur player since university, Deborah co-organised the first ever Women’s Rugby World Cup, held in Wales in 1991. Earlier this month, she became the first woman to take up the role of President of the Rugby Football Union.
 
Annie & The Caldwells are a powerhouse gospel-soul family band from West Point, Mississippi, led by matriarch Annie Caldwell — a former member of the trailblazing 1970s gospel group Staples Jr. Singers. Formed in the 1980s with her guitarist husband Willie Joe Caldwell, the band was created to keep their children rooted in gospel music. They recorded their album Can’t Lose My (Soul) live in their hometown church. The Caldwells join Anita to talk about family, faith, and funky gospel soul.
 
Filmmaker Victoria Mapplebeck discusses her new documentary, Motherboard. The film captures the highs and lows of motherhood, her son Jim’s adolescence, and the deep maternal bond they share — much of it filmed on her smartphone. Motherboard is in cinemas from tomorrow.

Presenter: Anita Rani
Producer: Dianne McGregor

Post Office scandal, RFU President Deborah Griffin, Annie & The Caldwells

As a heatwave grips the UK, we ask whether soaring temperatures impact women differently to men and what should be done about it. Professor Mike Tipton, Professor of Human and Applied Physiology at the University of Portsmouth, joins Nuala McGovern to explain.
 
The author Paula Sutton has written her second novel, The Body in the Kitchen Garden. The interiors stylist and TV and social media personality talks to Nuala about creating plots to challenge her fictional detective Daphne Brewster, and her real-life passion for cottagecore and swapping city living for a cosy rural lifestyle.
 
Several newspapers this morning are talking about the decision by Surrey Police to send undercover female officers out jogging to catch catcallers. They went running during rush hour to expose the frequency that women are harassed while exercising in public. A 2021 survey by Runner's World revealed that 84% of women had been harassed while jogging. Inspector Jon Vale, Borough Commander of Reigate and Banstead and Surrey's violence against women and girls safer spaces lead, joins Nuala.
 
A woman in Wales who felt forced to terminate her pregnancy after being unable to access the anti-sickness medication she needed is calling for the drug to be made more widely available. Sarah Spooner was suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum which left her vomiting more than 20 times per day and unable to eat or drink. But she found it virtually impossible to access Xonvea, a medication which is recommended as a first-line treatment in England but not in Wales. Nuala hears Sarah's story, and speaks to Dr Caitlin Dean from Pregnancy Sickness Support about why there is a postcode lottery across the UK for women needing Xonvea.
 
Sydnie Christmas captivated television audiences when she won Britain's Got Talent in 2024, becoming the first female singer to win the contest. With a background in musical theatre, the singer and actress impressed the judges with her powerhouse vocals. Since her win, she has released a debut album, topping the iTunes charts in the UK and US, and now she's starring as villain, Cruella De Vil in 101 Dalmatians, the musical at Eventim Apollo, London.
 
Presenter: Nuala Mcgovern 
Producer: Emma Pearce

Women and heat, Surrey Police on catcalling stunt, Pregnancy sickness

The chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing says their members are facing "abhorrent" levels of violence in accident and emergency departments. Nicola Ranger tells Nuala McGovern that their Freedom of Information request to hospital trusts in England found that there were more than 4,000 incidences of physical violence against staff in 2024, almost double the amount five years ago. She believes this could be linked to an increase in waiting times.

Emma Holten tells us we need a feminist revolution. The author has spent years investigating the true value of care - and how rethinking it could transform our societies. Her debut book, Deficit: How Feminist Economics Can Change Our World, examines how mainstream economics systematically undervalues care work and advocates for reshaping policy to reflect its true worth.

How is it possible to sail around the British Isles solo when you use a wheelchair, can’t swim and may suffer a seizure? Jazz Turner explains how she managed this in her yacht Fear. She has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which affects the joints but, in some cases like hers, can affect internal organs. Despite this life-limiting disease, Jazz now plans to sail around the world.

Historian Dr Fern Riddell has written a book looking into the relationship between Queen Victoria and John Brown. It has been a source of gossip for over a hundred years, but Dr Riddell has found new evidence which might support the theory that they secretly married, and even had a child together.

Presenter: Nuala McGovern
Producer: Melanie Abbott

Nurses facing abuse in A&E, Sailor Jazz Turner, What is the true value of care?

England goalkeeper and Lionesses legend Hannah Hampton joins Nuala McGovern on Woman's Hour fresh from winning the UEFA European Women's Championship. Born with a serious eye condition, doctors told her she should never play football. She came into the recent Euros with questions over her ability to fill the gloves of recently retired Mary Earps. To add to that, she revealed her grandfather had died just days before the biggest tournament of her life began earlier this summer. Despite this, Hannah had an extraordinary tournament, particularly in those agonising penalty shootouts. She joins Nuala McGovern to chat all about it.
 
In June this year in Pakistan, Bano Bibi, a mother of five, and Ehsanullah Samalani, a father of three, were accused of having an affair and were shot - on the orders of a tribal leader, according to police. The event caused outrage, not just because it was another so-called ‘honour killing’, but because the authorities only took action after a video of the shootings went viral, more than six weeks later. Nuala is joined by Azadeh Moshiri, Pakistan Correspondent for BBC News, and Sheema Kermani, a woman's rights activist, dancer and theatre director who has been working with women in rural and marginalised communities for 50 years.
 
Writer and director Celine Song’s semi-autobiographical debut Past Lives earned her two Oscar nominations and a host of other accolades when it was released in 2023. She talks to Nuala about her second film, Materialists, a romantic dramedy starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans, and how it was inspired by her own time working as a matchmaker for high-net-worth individuals in New York.
 
Construction employs around 1.4 million people in Great Britain, according to the Office for National Statistics, but only around 15% of those people are women. And they don’t always have a positive experience, with 30% having reported sexual assault at work and 64% saying men were paid more for the same role. So, as the industry faces a recruitment crisis, how could it evolve to become a safer and fairer place to work and encourage more women into construction? Nuala explores the problems and the opportunities with Faye Allen, author of Building Women, and Dr Carol Massay of Unity for Construction, who’ve both worked in the industry for more than 30 years.
 
And we remember long-serving Blue Peter editor Biddy Baxter, renowned for turning the children's show into a television institution, who has died at the age of 92.

Presented by: Nuala McGovern
Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, Celine Song on Materialists, Women in construction

What happens when a woman earns more than her partner, or is the sole earner in a household? For some couples, it’s a practical arrangement that works well. For others, it can bring unexpected tensions, challenging traditional ideas about gender, identity and power. Listener Karla emailed the programme to say that she wanted to talk about what it means to be a female breadwinner. She joined Anita Rani along with Melissa Hogenboom, author of the book Breadwinners.

After 30 years of marriage, Margaret Murphy moved from the family home in Australia to the UK—alone. Fifteen years later, she and her husband are still married, despite living on opposite sides of the world. She talks to Nuala McGovern about how she believes her later-life choices reflect a freer, more modern way to look at traditional married life. 

Listener Brenda wrote in about her situation: 'I would love to hear you talking about a mother's play-book or instruction manual for getting through cancer. I would love to know how others are doing it.' Ailsa McDonagh also got in touch after an on-air shout out. She has been living with cancer for almost ten years and received her diagnosis when her children were aged one and three. Both Brenda and Ailsa joined Anita to discuss.

Mary-Havana Little is a traditional fibrous plasterer. She got in touch for Listener Week to suggest we talk about traditional crafts. Mary is one of the few women in the plastering world, working to create ornate decorative mouldings using techniques from hundreds of years ago. She joined Anita to speak about working in this male-dominated craft, and why she wants to inspire more women and girls into the industry.

Listener Sally Ruffles describes herself as a 68-year-old woman with one daughter and no grandchildren. She got in touch with Woman's Hour for Listener Week to say: 'There’s this common assumption that having grandchildren is always a wonderful thing. But nobody really stops to think that not having them might also be okay—or even a positive thing for some people.' She joined Nuala with her daughter Hannah, who persuaded her mother to write to Woman's Hour, to discuss why it can be difficult to talk about not being a grandparent.

To kick this week off, we heard from listener Melanie Williams. Melanie is forever having to adjust her seatbelt because of her bust size. She worries if she were to be in an accident she would end up choking or being strangled by her seatbelt rather than protected by it. Melanie joined Nuala, along with motoring journalist Maria McCarthy who has been looking into the issue.

Jess wrote in to tell us about a poem she came across on social media about the post-partum period, calling it 'absolutely beautiful'. She added: 'There are hundreds of comments across Instagram and TikTok of mothers feeling exactly the same way. Please check it out, I would love to hear more from this poet.' We’ve tracked her down and her name is Amy Williams. She joined Nuala to perform the poem live in the studio.

Presenter: Anita Rani
Producer: Annette Wells 
Editor: Rebecca Myatt

Weekend Woman’s Hour: Female breadwinners, Married but living apart, Traditional craftswomen

It's the final day of Woman's Hour's Listener Week, where all the topics in the programme have been decided by YOU!

Listener Brenda wrote in about her situation: “I would love to hear you talking about a mother's play-book or instruction manual for getting through cancer. I would love to know how others are doing it.” Ailsa McDonagh also got in touch after an on-air shout out. She has been living with cancer for almost 10 years and received her diagnosis when her children were aged one and three. Both Brenda and Ailsa join Anita Rani to discuss. 

Therapist Cate Campbell joins Anita to offer advice to a listener considering radical solutions for her sexless marriage.

Woman’s Hour listener Kudzai wrote to us about hybrid working. She has the option to work from home but she chooses to go in every day, and she’s been wondering what impact those choices have, especially for younger women just starting out in their careers. Kudzai speaks to Anita along with listener, El, who embraces the benefits of working from home. They’re also joined by Rebecca Florisson from the Work Foundation at Lancaster University. 

Listeners Yara and Davina are an art collective, working in a unique job share to create socially engaged public art. They contacted us to highlight their work and explore the issues that come alongside working in the non-commercial art sector, being mothers and working part time. 

And what is Pickleball? Listener Caroline got in touch to say that taking up the sport in her 40s has been “lifechanging”, helping her to navigate grief and build resilience and self-belief. It just so happens it is also the Pickleball English Open this weekend, so Caroline joins us along with Karen Mitchell from Pickleball England to discuss the sport and its growing popularity.

Presenter: Anita Rani
Producer: Corinna Jones

Listener Week: Living with an incurable diagnosis, Sex therapy, Hybrid working

Listener Week continues on Woman's Hour as we bring your stories, ideas and the issues you want to hear about to the air.

What happens when a woman earns more than her partner, or is the sole earner in a household? For some couples, it’s a practical arrangement that works well. For others, it can bring unexpected tensions, challenging traditional ideas about gender, identity and power. Listener Karla emailed the programme to say that she wanted to talk about what it means to be a female breadwinner. She joins Anita Rani along with Melissa Hogenboom, author of the book Breadwinners.

Lynne got in touch with the show to share her experience of being a stepmother and ask why people question the validity of her role and other her. Lynne explains that her bonds with her partner and her stepdaughter are incredibly strong, but expresses confusion and anxiety at how people react to her being a stepmum. Lynne talks to Anita and Professor Lisa Doodson, a chartered psychologist, author and stepmother herself, who has carried out research into this topic.

After our recent series about women and gaming, listener Jacqueline got in touch to say, 'I use games to 'check out' of life and to cope with an overwhelming amount of stuff that I need to manage. The games are an escape, but all those issues just come rushing back afterwards. I don't know where to turn for help.' Jacqueline joins Anita to share her experience, alongside consultant psychiatrist Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones, founder and Director of the National Centre for Gaming Disorders.

Last weekend Laura Hollywood was crowned Europe’s Strongest Woman at the Official Strongman European Championship. We heard about her achievements from her friend Helen, who is a Woman’s Hour listener. As well as being a ‘strong-woman’, Laura is also a strength coach, supporting women through the perimenopause, helping them to embrace their strength, enhance their performance, and build their best self. Laura joins Anita to explain what it take to become a ‘strong woman’.

Mary-Havana Little is a traditional fibrous plasterer. She got in touch for Listener Week to suggest we talk about traditional crafts. Mary is one of the few women in the plastering world, working to create ornate decorative mouldings using techniques from hundreds of years ago. She joins Anita to speak about working in this male-dominated craft, and why she wants to inspire more women and girls into the industry.

Presenter: Anita Rani
Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Listener Week: Female breadwinners, Attitudes to stepmothers, Traditional craftswomen

Motor Neurone Disease is a condition that affects nerves found in the brain and spinal cord which tell our muscles what to do. The disease is life shortening and there is no cure. One listener, Diana Keys, was diagnosed in May 2023. She tells us about her experience and asks why does representation of MND in the media skew so heavily towards men? Diana is joined by Dame Pamela Shaw, an academic neurologist and world-leading researcher in MND.

Listener Sally Ruffles describes herself as a 68 year old woman with one daughter and no grandchildren. She got in touch with Woman's Hour for Listener Week to say: "There’s this common assumption that having grandchildren is always a wonderful thing. But nobody really stops to think that not having them might also be okay—or even a positive thing for some people." She joins Nuala with her daughter Hannah, who persuaded her mother to write to Woman's Hour, to discuss why it can be difficult to talk about not being a grandparent. 

We talk to women living full time on the UK’s waterways. Charlotte Ashman is an artist and print maker and Jo Bell is a writer and former UK Canal Laureate. They tell us about their lives, their work and the pros and cons of narrowboat living.

Have you ever thought about going back to school? Recent graduates Sue Goldsmith & Rahat Ismail both returned to studying later in life. They join Nuala to discuss what took them back to education and the value of lifelong learning.

Presenter: Nuala McGovern 
Producer: Emma Pearce

Listener Week: MND and women, Not being a granny, Studying later in life

Listener Week continues on Woman's Hour as we bring your stories, ideas and the issues you want to hear about to the air.

Carola got in touch to ask if we could find out more about the benefits of testosterone for post-menopausal women. Dr Joyce Harper, Professor of Reproductive Science at the Institute for Women’s Health at University College London, joins Nuala McGovern to discuss the evidence.
 
When we think about children in situations of domestic abuse, it’s often young children we think of - but what about adult children? We received a letter from a listener telling us about a dilemma she is facing. After previously being in an abusive relationship with the father of her four adult children, she’s now considering whether to tell them that their parents’ relationship was coercive. Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, and coercive control expert Dr Gemma Katz join us to discuss the issues around a parent deciding whether to be honest with their grown-up children or continue to protect them from their reality.
 
Jess wrote in to tell us about a poem she came across on social media about the post-partum period, calling it “absolutely beautiful”. She added: “There are hundreds of comments across Instagram and TikTok of mothers feeling exactly the same way. Please check it out, I would love to hear more from this poet.” We’ve tracked her down and her name is Amy Williams. She joins us to perform the poem live in the studio.
 
Listener Sarah Hutchinson wants to know more about dreams. Specifically, why she has been having more vivid, memorable dreams during the recent heatwaves, and whether women’s experience of dreaming is linked to the menstrual cycle? Sarah joins Nuala along with Caroline Horton, Professor of Sleep and Cognition and director of the DrEAMSLab at Bishop Grosseteste University.
 
And listener Heather tells us what it was like setting up one of the first dating agencies in the 1980s, aimed at helping people in rural communities find love.
 
Presented by: Nuala McGovern
Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths and Di McGregor

Listener Week: Testosterone, Talking to adult children about abuse, Why we dream

What goes on in the ladies? Office gossip, getting locked-in, the most embarrassing moments, confessing to a stranger, a place for bonding, bullying, and bunking-off? We hear your stories about women’s toilets, with Comedian Shazia Mirza and Historian Claudia Elphick. 

Dame Stephanie Shirley – always known as Steve – joins Jane to talk about her career-spanning book of speeches So to Speak. Now 87, she’s a successful IT entrepreneur who revolutionised the workplace for women and is now a major philanthropist. She's in demand for public speaking and often starts by giving her own story of arriving here on the Kindertransport in 1939, one of 10,000 Jewish children fleeing Nazi Germany. She says she has done more since that day than she would ever have believed possible.

We continue our series on family secrets. Today we hear about a woman in her late forties who has a secret which has affected her life since she was a teenager. 

And we get the latest about vaccines from GP Sarah Jarvis.

Ladies' Loos, Family Secrets, Dame Stephanie Shirley

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