Woman's Hour

The programme that offers a female perspective on the world

The negative effects that smartphones and social media access can have on students has become a national conversation in recent months, with differing views on who should take the lead in protecting children. Anita Rani was joined by secondary head teacher Emma Mills, whose school in Warrington has banned smartphones. Birchwood High attracted national attention two years ago when teenage student Brianna Ghey was murdered. Paula Radcliffe held the marathon world record for more than 16 years. The four time British Olympian secured the Six Star Medal last week, and has now run all six original marathons: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City. Recently she's had her resilience tested in a whole new way - supporting her teenage daughter Isla through a rare and aggressive form of ovarian cancer. Now in recovery, Isla ran the London marathon last Sunday and Paula joined Nuala McGovern to discuss the experience. With the Met Gala fast approaching, we take a closer look at the business behind the red carpet with International Style Correspondent for the New York Times, Elizabeth Paton, and Fashion Editor for Glamour Magazine, Rosie Lai. For the last decade, Frances Ryan has been a columnist and reporter at The Guardian. She joined Nuala McGovern to discuss her new book - Who Wants Normal? The Disabled Girls’ Guide to Life. Part memoir, part manifesto, it explores six facets of life: education, careers, body image, health, relationships and representation, as well as how to survive life's bumps in the road. And London Grammar frontwoman Hannah Reid joined Nuala to discuss more than a decade at the helm of the band, their fourth album The Greatest Love, and what it’s been like navigating the music industry as a new parent. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Headteachers are gathering today in Harrogate for the annual conference of the National Association of Head Teachers. The negative effects on their students of smartphones and social media access has become a national conversation in recent months, with differing views on who should take the lead in protecting children; the Government, schools, parents, or tech companies. Anita Rani talks to secondary head Emma Mills. Her school, Birchwood High in Warrington, attracted national attention two years ago when teenager Brianna Ghey was murdered. Emma joins Anita to explain why she implemented the ban and what the effects have been so far. Barrister and campaigner Charlotte Proudman first came to prominence ten years ago when she called out a lawyer on LinkedIn who praised her profile picture. Never afraid to speak her mind, she talks to Anita about her new book ‘He said, She Said: Truth, Trauma and the Struggle for Justice in Family Court’. Writer George Eliot is brought to life in a new stage setting, accompanied by contemporary music by British female singer songwriters and using mainly her own words to tell her story. Author of seven novels, a poet and translator, George Eliot - real name Mary Ann Evans - was ahead of her time, befriended pioneering feminists and at one point became the second richest woman in England after Queen Victoria. Performers SuRie and Hermione Norris join Anita to discuss their celebration of her extraordinary and ground breaking life. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Laura Northedge

A recent investigation has unearthed previously unknown information about the death of a female Ukrainian journalist who had been looking in to war crimes in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Viktoriia Roshchyna, herself Ukrainian, was captured in 2023 whilst reporting from the occupied territories. She died in 2024 after a year in detention, where she was held without charge and without legal assistance. Editor on the Investigations team at The Guardian, Juliette Garside, joins Anita Rani to discuss the report. Have you ever wondered how much impact the name you were given has had on your life? Florence Knapp’s debut novel The Names begins with a dilemma; Cora is about to register the birth of her baby son, but should she call him Bear, the name chosen by her nine-year-old daughter Maia, Julian, which is her choice, or Gordon, the name she is expected to give him and also the name of her abusive husband and his father before him? Florence joins Anita to discuss her new book and the fateful decisions we make every day. It’s been a big week for Chelsea who last night won the Women's Super League title for the sixth year in a row, beating Manchester United 1-0 after a goal from Lucy Bronze. The victory marks the first Women's Super League title for Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor, who took over from Emma Hayes last summer. It also follows a defeat against Barcelona in the Champions League over the weekend. BBC Sport’s Emma Sanders joins Anita to discuss Chelsea’s season. With the Met Gala fast approaching, we take a closer look at the business behind the red carpet with International Style Correspondent for the New York Times, Elizabeth Paton, and Fashion Editor for Glamour Magazine, Rosie Lai. A new play, Conversations After Sex, tells the story of one thirty-something woman’s life through vignettes following sporadic sexual encounters with a revolving cast of men. Anita explores the theme of intimate conversations with strangers, with the play’s main protagonist and producer Olivia Lindsay and psychotherapist Charlotte Jefferson. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Emma Pearce

The programme that offers a female perspective on the world

London Grammar frontwoman Hannah Reid joins Nuala McGovern to discuss more than a decade at the helm of the band, their fourth album The Greatest Love, and what it’s been like navigating the music industry as a new parent. With US President Donald Trump reaching the 100 day mark of his presidency, who are some of the women in his cabinet? And what impact have those first 100 days had on women's lives in the US? Nuala speaks to Republican Sarah Elliott and Democrat Kristin Kaplan Wolfe to get their thoughts. April, a new film set in the Eastern European country of Georgia, tells the story of Nina, an obstetrician who faces an investigation, after she was unable to save a baby during labour. But the investigation brings scrutiny Nina doesn’t want, as she’s concerned it will shine a light on her secret job – providing unofficial, illegal abortions and reproductive care to women in poorer villages, in their homes. Writer and director Dea Kulumbegashvili joins Nuala to discuss her story and what it was like to film. Over a quarter of domestic abuse services in England and Wales are having to turn children away from vital support amid severe funding shortages, according to a new report by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner. Children were recognised as victims of domestic abuse in their own right for the first time by 2021’s Domestic Abuse Act. Nuala is joined by Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, to hear more about her report and what she wants to see happen next. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

The programme that offers a female perspective on the world.

After suffering complications during the birth of her son, Leo, in 2021, former Made in Chelsea star Louise Thompson developed PTSD. She posted about this to her followers on social media and has now written about it in her new book, Lucky. She told Clare McDonnell about her experience and why she is trying to break the taboo surrounding birth trauma. People who have committed murder, manslaughter or stalking offences should be forced to live in restricted areas after being released from prison on licence, according to a group of campaigners. BBC journalist Gemma Dunstan and law-change campaigners Rhianon Bragg and Dianna Parkes join Anita Rani to discuss. The Prime Minister Keir Starmer has welcomed the UK Supreme Court decision on the legal definition of a woman. His office has confirmed that he no longer believes trans women are women. There have been protests against the decision, with critics saying it is incredibly worrying for the trans community. The ruling followed a long-running legal battle between the Scottish Government and the campaign group For Women Scotland. Susan Smith, one of the directors, spoke to Clare and gave her reflections on the outcome, a week on. TV presenter, writer and self-declared 'homes therapist' Michelle Ogundehin joined Nuala to talk about decluttering and the connection between our home and our wellbeing, her personal wardrobe strategy and her love of curated things that tell our story. Emma-Jean Thackray is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, producer, bandleader and DJ. Her sound has incorporated the widest range of music, from jazz and funk to Detroit house and techno, northern Bassline and catchy rock and pop music. She joined Anita to discuss her new album Weirdo and the inspiration behind it. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

The programme that offers a female perspective on the world

This morning, the UK regulator Ofcom released its Children's Safety Codes. These are the regulations that platforms will have to follow to protect young users and abide by the Online Safety Act. Platforms will have three months to carry out a risk assessment and bring the codes into effect. Ofcom can start enforcing the regulations from July. The most significant aspect is the requirement for strong age verification. Anita Rani hears from Baroness Beeban Kidron, founder of Five Rights, an international NGO working with and for children for a rights-respecting digital world, and Ian Russell, Chair of the Molly Rose Foundation. Ian’s daughter Molly took her life at the age of 14 after being exposed to harmful content online. A new report says 91% of organisations in the UK’s women and girls sector have seen a rise in demand for their services, but only 52% expect to be able to meet it. The report - from Rosa, the UK fund for women and girls - also found that 1.8% of charitable giving goes to women's charities although they represent at least 3.5% of charities. Anita is joined by Rebecca Gill, Executive Director at Rosa UK fund for women and girls and Cecily Mwaniki, Director of Utulivu, who support Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and refugee women, girls, and their families in Reading. According to campaigners, people who have committed murder, manslaughter or stalking offences should be forced to live in restricted areas after being released from prison on licence. Anita is joined by BBC journalist Gemma Dunstan and law-change campaigners Rhianon Bragg and Dianna Parkes. 29-year-old Pippa White shares her daily life as a vicar to millions of viewers on TikTok. She joins Anita to discuss being a young woman in the Church, making religion fun and connecting with a younger audience. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Trans women should use toilets according to their biological sex, according to the equalities minister Bridget Phillipson, this is in response to the UK Supreme Court’s ruling a week ago on the legal definition of a woman. The Prime Minister Keir Starmer has welcomed the decision, saying it provides much needed clarity, and his office has confirmed that the Prime Minister no longer believes trans women are women. There have been protests against the decision, with critics saying it is incredibly worrying for the trans community. The ruling followed a long-running legal battle between the Scottish Government and the campaign group For Women Scotland. Susan Smith, one of the directors, gives her reflections on the outcome, a week on. The historian Tiffany Watt Smith traces the evolution and messy realities of female friendship across the past century in her new book Bad Friend. Tiffany talks to Clare about bad friends through history: the romantic school girls of the 1900s; office gossips; mum cliques; angry activists; and the coven – women who choose to live together in old age – to the present day. The former lioness Eni Aluko had a hugely successful career as a player making over 100 appearances for England. Since then she's gone on to have an equally successful career as a pundit, becoming the first woman to appear on Match of the Day in 2014. Earlier this month her name was in the headlines following the outcome of a civil court hearing involving the ex-footballer Joey Barton. In the first stage of a High Court libel case the Judge found that online posts made by Joey Barton about Eni and her family were "defamatory". Mr Barton is yet to respond, and can appeal, or defend the statements if the case proceeds to trial. In a separate criminal case involving both parties Joey Barton has pleaded not guilty to allegedly posting offensive comments on social media. An Army of Women is a documentary that follows a group of women in Austin, Texas who took on the legal systems that they feel let their rapists walk free – specifically by filing lawsuits against the police department in Austin and the district attorney’s office in Travis County, which prosecutes cases for the county. Those suits were settled in 2021 and 2022. The documentary debuted at the South by Southwest Festival last year, and is being released here in the UK from this Friday. Clare speaks to documentary director Julie Lunde Lillesæter and Hanna Senko, who was the lead plaintiff in one of those lawsuits. Presented by Clare McDonnell Producer: Louise Corley

After suffering complications during the birth of her son, Leo, in 2021, former Made in Chelsea star Louise Thompson developed PTSD. Now, she’s been trying to break the taboo surrounding birth trauma by posting about it to her 1.5 million followers on social media. Louise was invited to Parliament to hear women addressing the Birth Trauma Inquiry last year, led by MP Theo Clarke, and wrote about her experience in her Sunday Times bestselling book, Lucky. The paperback is out now. Louise joins Clare McDonnell. Catholics around the world have been mourning the death of Pope Francis, whose death came just a day after he addressed crowds on Easter Sunday. To discuss his legacy for women's roles in the Church and wider society, Clare is joined by Joanna Moorhead, journalist and former writer with the Catholic newspaper The Tablet, Kate McElwee, Executive Director of the Women's Ordination Conference, and Sister Gemma Simmonds, theologian at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology in Cambridge. It’s estimated that one in seven grandparents in the UK are estranged from their grandchildren but legally they have no automatic right to contact. 18 years ago Jane Jackson set up Bristol Grandparents Support Group when she and her husband found themselves estranged from their seven-year-old granddaughter. Jane joins Clare to discuss supporting grandparents who find themselves in a similar situation. Family lawyer Vanessa Lloyd Platt explains the current legal situation and why she believes there should be an amendment to the Children’s Act. Louise Butcher had a double mastectomy in 2022 and has been running topless ever since. She joins Clare to share her story, ahead of her next challenge, the London Marathon.

Spring cleaning is in the air - so whether you’ve woken up with the urge to clear out the ‘drawer of doom’ this Bank Holiday, are feeling too overwhelmed or time poor (or both) to know where to start, or have just decided to ‘bless the mess’, join us as we take a deep dive into decluttering, our relationship to our stuff and the impact clutter can have on our lives. Presenter Nuala McGovern is joined by two of the UK’s leading professional organisers, Ingrid Jansen and Lesley Spellman from The Declutter Hub. They’ll be exploring why it’s our emotions that hold the key to banishing things that no longer serve a purpose in our lives, along with sharing their best advice for conquering clutter. TV presenter, writer and Homes Therapist Michelle Ogundehin takes a break from judging Interior Design Masters to talk to Nuala about the connection between our home and our wellbeing, her personal wardrobe strategy and her love of curated things that tell our story. The Good Housekeeping Decluttering Study has just been published and the magazine’s Homes and Household Advice Editor Katie Mortram tells us what it reveals about our attitudes to clutter and some of our biggest regrets. And we hear about the birth of ‘clutter’, from the Victorian obsession with doilies to the impact of the wartime Make Do and Mend message, with Professor Jane Hamlett, a historian of the home. Have you heard about The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning? We’ll be exploring the philosophy from Margareta Magnusson’s 2018 book, which encourages you to deal with your stuff before you die, so that someone else doesn't have to do it after you've left this earth. Psychotherapist and author Stelios Kiosses, from Channel 4 programme The Hoarder Next Door, also joins us to explore the psychology behind why we hang on to stuff and the difference between hoarding and being a compulsive hoarder. And with all the will in the world, no clear out will succeed without an ’exit plan’. From recycling to selling, we discuss the best ways to pass our things on. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths Editor: Deiniol Buxton

The Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking has issued a "wake-up call" to the world to act on what they deem "one of the most pervasive human rights issues of our time." The report makes several recommendations specifically for women and girls who make up 54% of the estimated 50 million people trapped in slavery around the world. They are more frequently targeted for forced marriage, sexual exploitation, and domestic labour. Nearly one in four victims are children. To discuss the topic Nuala McGovern was joined by the former Prime Minister, Baroness Theresa May and Nasreen Sheikh, who is a survivor of modern slavery. The Irish writer Edna O'Brien died last year at the age of 93. The last person to be granted an interview with her was the documentary maker Sinéad O’Shea. Her new film Blue Road weaves those final interviews with archive and readings from Edna’s own diaries to tell the story of her extraordinary life. For the first time in its 900 year history, girls will be singing in the choir at St Paul’s Cathedral on Easter Sunday. We hear from some of the girl choristers, and Kylie Pentelow speaks to Dr Katherine Hambridge, Associate Professor of Musicology at the University of Durham and Carris Jones, Vicar Choral and Girls' Voices Project Manager at St Paul's Cathedral about the significance of this moment. Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Emma Pearce

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni - the first woman to occupy that role - has faced one of her biggest international tests yet. She is the first European leader to go to Washington to meet President Trump since his recent announcement of new tariffs on the EU. So how did Meloni's meeting with Donald Trump go, and how is Giorgia Meloni being seen back home, particularly by Italian women? Kylie Pentelow is joined by Laura Gozzi, Senior News and Foreign Affairs Journalist at the BBC. For the first time in its 900 year history, girls will be singing in the choir at St Paul’s Cathedral on Easter Sunday. We hear from some of the girl choristers, and Kylie speaks to Dr Katherine Hambridge, Associate Professor of Musicology at the University of Durham and Carris Jones, Vicar Choral and Girls' Voices Project Manager at St Paul's Cathedral about the significance of this moment. Eczema is a complex long-term condition involving the immune system, genetics, skin barrier and the environment. 1 in 5 children and 1 in 10 adults have it. With NHS waiting times for dermatology appointments varying widely depending on location - many young women have taken to social media to talk about the condition, their own skin journeys and share photographs. Kylie is joined by two of them, Chloe Tatton and Katie Mackie, who both grew up with eczema; and Dr Tess McPherson, Consultant Dermatologist from the British Association of Dermatologists and the author of Skin Conditions in Young People. In Emma Gannon's new novel Table for One, the main character Willow learns to embrace the benefits of her new-found singledom after years of being in a relationship - and that includes learning to do typical couple activities, like going out for dinner, alone. Emma joins Kylie to discuss this, alongside expert on all things self-care, psychologist Suzy Reading. Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Rebecca Myatt

The UK Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. The decision came following a six-year legal case between the Scottish government and the women's rights group For Women Scotland, regarding equalities legislation. Kylie Pentelow is joined by legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg to discuss this decision. Roblox is the UK’s most popular game platform for children aged 8-12, but what are the risks? Kylie speaks to Hannah Estcourt, the Associate Director from Revealing Reality about their research into the risks facing young users, and BBC Senior Reporter Graham Fraser explains how the platform works and why some parents have concerns. Stephanie Yeboah is a writer, journalist, and body image advocate. She joins Kylie to discuss her debut romantic comedy novel, Chaotic Energy - a story full of heart, humour, and honesty, following a confident Black woman – Temz - navigating work, love, and social media mishaps. Rising star of classic retro music Georgia Crandon joins Kylie to talk about her music, upcoming tour and overcoming social anxiety in the music business, and she performs live in the studio. Presented by Kylie Pentelow Producer: Louise Corley

The UK Supreme Court rules that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. BBC correspondent Catriona Renton joins Nuala to discuss the ramifications of the ruling. Parents of disabled children are being forced to spend thousands of pounds of their own money to plug funding gaps in the health and social care system, according to new research by the disability charity Sense. Nearly half of mums polled have had to give up work as they don't get enough support to care for their child, and many families are turning to loans, credit cards and even crowdfunding to plug the gaps. Nuala is joined by Harriet Edwards, Head of Policy at Sense, and mum-of-three Kimberley Hind. The Irish writer Edna O'Brien died last year at the age of 93. The last person to be granted an interview with her was the documentary director Sinéad O’Shea. Her new film Blue Road weaves those final interviews with archive and readings from Edna’s own diaries to tell the story of her extraordinary life. How does parental infidelity impact children, even years later when they become adults? Juliet Rosenfeld, a psychoanalyst and author of Affairs, and Tanith Carey, parenting expert and author of What's My Tween Thinking, join Nuala to discuss. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Dianne McGregor

The Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking has issued a "wake-up call" to the world to act on what they deem "one of the most pervasive human rights issues of our time." The report makes several recommendations specifically for women and girls who make up 54% of the estimated 50 million people trapped in slavery around the world. They are more frequently targeted for forced marriage, sexual exploitation, and domestic labour. Nearly one in four victims are children. To discuss the topic Nuala McGovern is joined by the former Prime Minister, Baroness Theresa May and Nasreen Sheikh, who is a survivor of modern slavery. As the Six Nations passes the half way mark we speak to fans from each of the four nations to discuss their teams. We also look ahead to their hopes for the Women's Rugby World Cup, being held in England later this summer. Nuala is joined by Kate Buck, Betti Ginnelly, Charlotte Williams and Ailbhe O'Nolan. As a teenager, Roxy Longworth was coerced into sending nude images online. After years of shame and struggling with her mental health, she is now 22 and leading the Behind Our Screens campaign about child safety online. Roxy and her mother Gay, co-authors of the memoir When You Lose It, join Nuala to talk about shame, recovery and bridging the generational gap. And a look at the cultural history of the speculum from Dr Shema Tariq. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Corinna Jones

Hundreds of children were caught up in riots with well over 100 arrested and a number charged last summer after the murder of three children in Southport. Since then far right extremism and racism in schools has intensified - an everyday experience in primary and secondary schools, according to the teachers union, the NASUWT. The top priority at their annual conference next week is a motion on behaviour and school safety with the agenda citing problems caused by the Southport riots. Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT joins Nuala McGovern. Frances Mayli McCann stars as Daisy Buchanan in a new musical of The Great Gatsby. The show comes to London following a hit run on Broadway. We speak to Frances and the show’s writer Kait Kerrigan about placing women at the centre of this classic story, celebrating its centenary year. Julie Bindel’s new book, Lesbians: Where are we now? is described as part-memoir, part frontline reportage and part cultural commentary. In it she examines what defines lesbian culture, love, friendship and happiness today and asks why - in her view - lesbians so often seem to face particular hostility? The journalist, feminist campaigner and author is in the Woman’s Hour studio. Today marks 11 years since over 270 girls were abducted from their school in the town of Chibok, Nigeria by Boko Haram. The tragedy sparked international outrage - you might remember the campaign hashtag #bringbackourgirls - and today, global leaders and advocates including UN representatives are gathering in London to mark the anniversary with a photo exhibition and panel discussions. We hear from Dr Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode - lawyer and activist from the Murtala Muhammed Foundation. The Herring Girls were the predominantly Scottish, working-class women who laboured in the UK’s once thriving fishing industry. An itinerant workforce, they went from port to port, following the fishing fleet and working gruelling hours, gutting and packing fish for export in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Artist and farm labourer Joanne Coates has spent six months researching the life and work of this community on the east coast of Scotland. Using art, photography and performance she wants to reclaim their history and reconnect local people with their Herring Girl heritage. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Varada Sethu joined Woman's Hour to talk about stepping into the iconic role of the Doctor Who companion. She tells Datshiane Navanagayam how she went from a guest star to landing the role of Belinda Chandra, why this character feels like her most personal yet, and what it means to her to bring cultural authenticity to the Tardis. With a background in science, classical dance, and Star Wars fandom, Varada brings a fresh energy to the Whoniverse. Grace Davidson was a teenager when she was diagnosed with a rare condition that meant she did not have a uterus. But, following a transplant using her sister's donated womb, she gave birth earlier this year to baby Amy. Nuala McGovern speaks to Isabel Quiroga, the surgeon who led the transplant team at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford, and to Lydia Brain, who is currently on the waiting list for a womb transplant. Emily MacGregor is a music historian and trombonist. After the sudden death of her father, a jazz guitarist, she found she wasn’t able to bear the sound of music. The very thing that once connected them became a source of pain and silence. In her new book, While the Music Lasts, she explains how she reconnected with her father through the pieces left on his music stand, from tangos to Handel, Cádiz to Coltrane. She joined Nuala to talk about how she learnt to navigate grief and how she discovered the joy of music again. BBC2’s Saving Lives in Cardiff is back on our screens from tonight. Based in the largest hospital in Wales, University Hospital in Cardiff, the series highlights the weight of difficult, sometimes life and death decisions surgeons make about who to prioritise next. The first episode follows Dr Indu Deglurkar, a cardiac surgeon, one of only 19 women in this role in the UK. She tells Nuala about the pressures and joys of her job. Have you been watching The White Lotus? The season three finale aired this week and one of the key themes that's had fans talking has been female friendship. It's left us wondering - is three a crowd? In the show the dynamic plays out between a trio of friends Jaclyn, Kate and Laurie, played by Michelle Monaghan, Leslie Bibb and Carrie Coon, who alternate between loving and loathing one another. So can friendships between three people work? TV critic Rachael Sigee and relationships writer at the Independent Olivia Petter joined Nuala McGovern. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Sarah Jane Griffiths