Radio Moments - Clips

Why was the first presenter a man – Alan Ivimey? Why did WH move to mornings? How have the changes in women’s lives been reflected over the years? In this special New Year edition of the programme, Jenni Murray chews over the last seventy years of a programme which began on the Light Programme, then on Radio 2 before moving to Radio 4 in 1973. Jenni speaks to two former editors, Sally Feldman (1990-1997) & Jill Burridge (2002- Nov 2011); and two historians, Juliet Gardiner and Kate Murphy who also produced the show for over a decade until 2011.

As this conversation confirms, the thought of ‘Woman’s Hour’ as a programme title would likely be unthinkable nowadays, but the BBC has wisely stuck with it since it launched on 7th October 1946.

Why was the first presenter a man – Alan Ivimey? Why did WH move to mornings? How have the changes in women’s lives been reflected over the years? In this special New Year edition of the programme, Jenni Murray chews over the last seventy years of a programme which began on the Light Programme, then on Radio 2 before moving to Radio 4 in 1973. Jenni speaks to two former editors, Sally Feldman (1990-1997) & Jill Burridge (2002- Nov 2011); and two historians, Juliet Gardiner and Kate Murphy who also produced the show for over a decade until 2011.