Woman's Hour

Last night was the biggest night in film - the Oscars! The independent film Anora, made for just $5 million, cleaned up winning five awards including best picture and best actress for Mikey Madison - a 25-year-old relative unknown - who was on our programme last month. To give us all the news and highlights, film journalist Karen Krizanovich is in the Woman's Hour studio with Krupa Padhy.

The UK data watchdog has launched what it calls a major investigation into TikTok's use of children's personal information. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) will inspect the way in which the social media platform uses the data of 13 to 17 year olds to recommend further content to them. Zoe Kleinman, the BBC's technology editor and Dr Kaitlyn Regehr, Associate Professor Director of Digital Humanities at University College London, discuss.

Trauma can be a major barrier to seeking medical care. That's according to a new survey from Healthwatch England, which found that women experience trauma more than men and nearly a fifth of respondents who have experienced trauma say they often or fairly often avoid health services. They are calling on the NHS to adopt pocket sized trauma cards for patients to show during appointments, following a successful pilot in Essex. Louise Ansari, Chief Executive of Healthwatch England, the patients champion, and Laura (not her real name), a survivor of sexual trauma and a sessional counsellor for Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse, join Krupa.

What could you do before the internet if you thought you might be a lesbian and needed advice? Did you know there were a number of telephone lines around the country that you could call for advice or just for a friendly listening ear? Writer Elizabeth Lovatt discovered the logbooks of calls made to one of these lines and imagines the calls and tells the history of these help lines in her new book, Thank You For Calling The Lesbian Line. Elizabeth and Lisa Power, sexual health and LGBT campaigner and long-time volunteer at one of these lines, join Krupa to discuss.

Twiggy turned the modelling world upside down with her androgynous style, big round eyes, bold eyelashes, and pixie haircut, becoming a defining figure and fashion icon of the swinging 60s. Considered the world’s first supermodel, she went on to have a successful career in acting and singing, earning two Golden Globes and a Tony nomination, designed fashion ranges, appeared as a judge on America’s Next Top Model, and was awarded a damehood for services to the fashion, arts and charity. Now a new documentary, Twiggy, directed by Sadie Frost, is out in cinemas from Friday. Twiggy joins Krupa.

Presenter: Krupa Padhy

Two of the country’s best-loved stage and screen Olivier award-winning actors, Celia Imrie and Tamsin Greig are currently playing mother and daughter in Backstroke, a new play at the Donmar Warehouse in London, that unpicks the complications of their relationship over a lifetime. They joined Nuala McGovern in to discuss their on-stage relationship.

Esther Ghey’s transgender daughter Brianna was murdered in February 2023 by two 15 year olds. The killers were radicalised online, and 16-year-old Brianna herself was harmfully addicted to her phone, despite all of her mum’s efforts to limit her usage. Esther has now become a campaigner for the safer use of smartphones for children, and for the use of mindfulness in schools. She also decided to forgive her child’s killers, and is now friends with one of their mothers. Esther joined Anita Rani in the Woman’s Hour studio to talk about her new memoir, Under a Pink Sky.

Nigerian American science fiction author Nnedi Okorafor's new book is Death of the Author. It follows the story of Zelu, a novelist who is disabled, unemployed and from a very judgmental family. Nnedi and Nuala talked about the book within her book, success, and how she turned to writing as she recovered from a life-changing operation.

Same Dress Different Bodies began when fashion-loving friends Laura Adlington and Lottie Drynan realised they were both having problems finding clothes they felt comfortable in, Lottie because of bloating caused by IBS, and Laura because she was limited by what was available in plus sizes. They joined Nuala to talk about turning their positive approach to fashion into a live show.

Listener Emma Shaw got in touch with Woman's Hour after hearing author Beth Moran discuss fostering on the programme. She joined Nuala to share her own experience of being fostered alongside her siblings, along with Sarah Thomas, CEO of The Fostering Network, a charity that supports both foster parents and children.

Singer-songwriter and ADHD YouTube influencer RØRY, who has co-written three top 10 hits for other artists including Charlie XCX, has finally broken through the charts with a top 10 album of her own at the age of 40. She joined Anita to talk about her journey from addiction to recovery and her new found success, and performs live in the studio.

Presenter: Nuala McGovern

Simone Ashley plays Kate Sharma in one of Netflix's biggest shows, Bridgerton, and also graced our screens in groundbreaking comedy Sex Education. She joins Nuala McGovern to talk about her new romcom, Picture This, Bridgerton's success and her musical ambitions.

The government has published an independent review into the world of online pornography, Creating a Safer World - the challenge of regulating online pornography, written by the Conservative Peer Baroness Gabby Bertin. It proposes outlawing “degrading, violent and misogynistic content,” including making it illegal to possess or publish pornography showing women being choked during sex. Anita Rani talks to the BBC's Home Editor, Mark Easton and Fiona Vera-Gray, Professor of Sexual Violence at London Metropolitan University, about the review's findings.

Padel – a cross between squash and tennis - is said to be the fastest growing sport in the world. So what about the women in the game? Whether it’s on the local padel court or the business and money-making side, women are currently massively under-represented. Joining Anita are Eloise Tait – GB’s #5 women’s player – who will be competing at 2025’s Britain Padel Tour in London tomorrow – and Astrid Tamms from Spain’s Hexagon Cup.

Singer-songwriter and ADHD YouTube influencer RØRY, who has co-written three top 10 hits for other artists including Charlie XCX, has finally broken through the charts with a top 10 album of her own at the age of 40. She takes Anita on her journey from being addicted to drugs and alcohol to her recovery and new found success, and performs her song, One Drink Away, live in the studio.

Esther Ghey’s transgender daughter Brianna was murdered in February 2023 by two 15 year olds. The killers were radicalised online, and 16-year-old Brianna herself was harmfully addicted to her phone, despite all of her mum’s efforts to limit her usage. Esther has now become a campaigner for the safer use of smartphones for children, and for the use of mindfulness in schools. She also decided to forgive her child’s killers, and is now friends with one of their mothers. Esther joins Anita in the Woman’s Hour studio to talk about her new memoir, Under a Pink Sky.

Presenter: Anita Rani

The BBC board has apologised over "missed opportunities" to tackle "bullying and misogynistic behaviour" by the former BBC Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood. Nuala discusses with BBC correspondent ChiChi Izundu.

Same Dress Different Bodies began when fashion-loving friends Laura Adlington and Lottie Drynan realised they were both having problems finding clothes they felt comfortable in, Lottie because of bloating caused by IBS, and Laura because she was limited by what was available in plus sizes. They tell Nuala about turning their positive approach to fashion into a live show.

The mother of the Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, who took her own life, tried to discourage her from joining the army. Assistant Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg ruled Jaysley died by suicide and that the Army’s handling of a sexual assault complaint against Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber was ‘more than a minimal contributory part in her death'. She was later subjected to relentless harassment by her line manager, Former Bombardier Ryan Mason. He sent her over 4,600 messages confessing his feelings for her and showed her a 15 page love story about her. The Army's failure to take action after she was harassed by him also contributed to her death. Her mother LeighAnn McCready tells us about her daughter and the army's investigation.

Fatma Said is a renowned classical singer – she was the first Egyptian soprano to perform on La Scala’s famous stage in Milan. She has also sung alongside Elton John and Ed Sheeran and was the first female artist to perform at the Grand Egyptian Museum in 2023. Fatma sings in several languages, and her albums span an eclectic mix of genres: El Nour celebrated her cultural heritage, and Kaleidoscope, featured everything from opera to Whitney Houston. She joins Nuala to discuss her latest album – Lieder - in which she turns to 19th Century German romantic music.

Presented by Nuala McGovern. Produced by Melanie Abbott.

Care and support providers are coming together around the UK in a series of protests over the government's plans to increase employer National Insurance contributions. They are warning that care providers may go out of business unless they receive more support. Nadra Ahmed, co-chair of the National Care Association, which represents smaller and medium-sized care providers, joins Nuala from Westminster.

Nuala is joined live in the studio by two of the country’s best-loved stage and screen Olivier award-winning actors – Celia Imrie and Tamsin Greig. They are currently playing mother and daughter in Backstroke, a new play at the Donmar Warehouse in London, that unpicks the complications of their relationship over a lifetime.

Barely two months after the end of the sex abuse scandal which gripped France last year, another horrific trial has begun there. The case of the former surgeon Joël Le Scouarnec, will be the biggest child sex abuse hearing in the country. He is accused of raping or sexually assaulting 299 people, mainly child patients. Some were under anaesthetic as he was operating on them. BBC reporter Laura Gozzi was in court in Brittany and explains how this latest case has affected the French nation.

Music writer Stevie Chick pays tribute to Roberta Flack who has died, aged 88.

At a party recently, journalist Kate Mulvey found it hard to relate to her old friends because of the amount of Botox and filler they had. So now she’s decided to dump those friends. Kate talks to Nuala about the prevalence of these ‘tweakments’, and how it’s affected her friendships.

Presenter: Nuala McGovern

It was a crime that horrified the nation. Three young girls murdered and another eight children and two adults seriously injured at a yoga and dance workshop in Southport in July 2024. Teacher Leanne Lucas, who was running the event, has agreed to speak for the first time about what happened. She's been speaking to the BBC’s special correspondent Judith Moritz who joins Nuala McGovern.

The German election results are in and there’s now a female-led, far-right party in opposition. Journalist and Visiting Research Fellow at Kings College London Katja Hoyer tells Nuala about the role of women in the new German political landscape.

Indira Varma is an Olivier-award-winning actor who has starred in everything from West End hits to Game of Thrones. She is currently on stage at the Old Vic in London, playing Jocasta to Rami Malek’s Oedipus. She joins Nuala in the Woman’s Hour studio.

Nigerian American science fiction author Nnedi Okorafor's new book is Death of the Author. It follows the story of Zelu, a novelist who is disabled, unemployed and from a very judgmental family. Nnedi and Nuala talk about the book within her book, success, and the influence on her writing of being an athlete in her earlier years.

'Sen-betweeners' is the term Lisa Lloyd, a mum of two autistic children, uses to describe her children. She says their neurodivergence is too severe to fit easily into mainstream school, but not severe enough for a special school, so they fall between the gaps. Lisa has written a guide for other parents on ‘Raising the Sen-betweeners,’ in which she, whilst recognising that all children are different and there can be no rules, offers tips and advice for how to handle behaviours. Lisa joined Anita to share what she has learnt.

The Children’s Society are training staff at the fast food chain Chicken Cottage to spot signs of exploitation amongst their teenage customers. Nuala discussed the initiative and issues with the charity’s Head of National Programmes, Lisa Witherden, and Chicken Cottage franchise manager Georgian Balog.

Formula 1 has just turned 75, but how much headway are women racing drivers making? Nuala was joined by Jamie Chadwick, one of the leading British women in this sport, and BBC reporter Charlotte Simpson, who has spent months talking to a wide range of people trying to support more young women to become involved in the sport.

Nussaibah Younis’s debut novel Fundamentally is based on her own experiences working as a peacekeeping consultant in Baghdad. The book follows Nadia, a British Asian woman working for the UN, and her relationship with fellow Brit Sara, a nineteen-year-old three-times widowed member of the Islamic State Group. Nussaibah joined Anita to discuss finding the comedy in a desperate situation.

Harvest, a new documentary, shows the realities of the egg freezing process. Director and writer Sophia Seymour decided to film her journey of elective egg freezing. With the number of women choosing this form of fertility planning rising, Nuala was joined by Sophia to discuss why she decided to do, and film it, and also by Dr Ippokratis Sarris, Consultant in Reproductive Medicine and Director of King’s Fertility.

Nao is a Grammy and Mercury nominated singer songwriter. She's described her unique brand of music as “wonky funk”. She joined Nuala McGovern to talk about fame, motherhood and her new album Jupiter. She performed live in the studio.

Presenter: Anita Rani

We discuss the case of former Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales, who was found guilty of sexual assault for kissing player Jenni Hermoso without her consent at the 2023 World Cup final. Anita is joined by Semra Hunter, a sports broadcast journalist and Virginia Alvarez from Amnesty International Spain.

Nussaibah Younis’s debut novel Fundamentally is based on her own experiences working as a peacekeeping consultant in Baghdad. The book follows Nadia, a British Asian woman working for the UN, and her relationship with fellow Brit Sara, a nineteen-year-old three-times widowed member of the Islamic State Group. Nussaibah joins Anita to discuss finding the comedy in a desperate situation.

Anita speaks to Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips on the day that Raneem’s Law is launched. Domestic abuse specialists will be embedded in 999 control rooms in five forces to ensure that victims of domestic abuse receive more specialist support.

Ukraine is dominating the headlines, but away from the political talks, Ukrainian Fashion Week took place over the weekend in Kyiv. It’s the second time it’s happened in the country since the conflict started three years ago, and the theme was hope. We speak to designer Ksenia Schnaider and organiser Lisa Ushcheka.

In the latest Bridget Jones film: Mad About the Boy, Bridget has been widowed and is now a single mother. When the opportunity arises, she slips back into the lifestyle of casual sex, and enjoys a relationship with a man 20 years younger. How difficult is it as a single mother to enjoy a healthy sex life without fear of shame or stigma? Anita discusses with journalist Rebecca Reid.

Presenter: Anita Rani

A group of 70 female chefs and hospitality professionals have signed an open letter calling out what they call the ‘pervasive’ sexism in British kitchens. It’s in response to chef Jason Atherton saying he had never seen sexism in the kitchen - he has since clarified his comments, saying that he wasn't denying the existence of sexism, just that he hadn't 'witnessed it personally. Anita is joined by chef and founder of the all-female kitchen Darjeeling Express, Asma Khan, and chef and founder of Tiella, Dara Klein, who helped write the open letter.

The beloved 1995 film Clueless, inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma, starred Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, and the late Brittany Murphy. Cher Horowitz is the most popular student at Beverly Hills High, renowned for her unique talent at finding love for others. Clueless the Musical has just opened at the Trafalgar Theatre in London. Anita discusses the adaptation and the story’s enduring appeal with the original writer/director Amy Heckerling and multi-platinum singer-songwriter KT Tunstall who has written the score.

Montage of clips from the 1995 movie, Clueless, written and directed by Amy Heckerling, produced by Scott Rudin and Robert Lawrence, production companies Robert Lawrence Productions, Scott Rudin Productions and distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Amelia Price, a survivor of rape and assault by her ex-partner, has launched her own investigation into the Scottish justice system. Despite her attacker being convicted and sentenced to over four years in prison, the court refused to impose a non-harassment order (NHO) against him. With his release imminent, Price fears he could legally contact her. She has waived her anonymity to raise awareness about the issue and advocate for mandatory NHOs in domestic abuse cases. Anita speaks to her about her campaign alongside Fiona McMullen from ASSIST, a domestic abuse advocacy service.

'Sen-betweeners' is the term Lisa Lloyd, a mum of two autistic children, uses to describe her children. She says their neurodivergence is too severe to fit easily into mainstream school, but not severe enough for a special school, so they fall between the gaps. Lisa has written a guide for other parents on ‘Raising the Sen-betweeners,’ in which she, whilst recognising that all children are different and there can be no rules, offers tips and advice for how to handle behaviours. Lisa joins Anita to share what she has learnt.

Presenter: Anita Rani