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Agony Aunt Mary Killen. Is gossip the glue of life? Disabled foster carers. C4's new drama "Adult Material". Oct 05, 2020

Show notes

Agony Aunt and star of Googlebox Mary Killen joins Jane Garvey to urge us to channel her ultimate British Role model – The Queen . She argues we’d all be a bit happier, wiser and more adept if we adopted the underrated virtues of duty, kindness, discretion, restraint and fortitude as exemplified by Her Majesty.

Could disabled people help to solve the crisis in fostering? Is gossip the glue or life, why do we do it, and who does it most? Plus the writer Lucy Kirkwood and actor Hayley Squires talk about their latest project, the drama "Adult Material"

Presenter Jane Garvey Producer Beverley Purcell PHOTO CREDIT: Hugo Burnand

Guest; Mary Killen Guest; Professor Robin Dunbar Guest; Lucy Kirkwood Guest; Hayley Squires Guest; Alison Bryne Guest; Peter Unwin

Weekend Woman's Hour - Jenni Murray, the Story of Cherry Groce, Butterfly Conservation Oct 03, 2020

Show notes

In her final Woman’s Hour after 33 years at the helm, Jenni discusses the work that still needs to be done when it comes to feminism and equality. She's joined by Helena Kennedy QC, Jude Kelly the founder and director of The WOW Foundation, "Mother of the House" Harriet Harman MP, and poet and novelist, Jackie Kay.

We hear from Lee Lawrence, whose mother Cherry Groce was shot by police in a botched dawn raid. Lee describes his fight to get justice for his mother and his ongoing commitment to challenging racism within the police force.

We hear from the film director Malou Reymann about her new film ‘A Perfectly Normal Family’. It centres around an eleven year old girl whose life is turned upside down when her father tells her he wants to become a woman. The fictional story is based on Malou's own experience.

Live, learn and thrive: that’s what Andrea McLean wants us to do with the help of her new book “This Girl is on Fire”.

The 2020 Woman’s Hour Power List is looking for women who are trying to improve the health of our planet. We hear from Zoë Randle, the Senior Surveys Officer for Butterfly Conservation. She tells us about the thousands of volunteers who are turning their love of nature into hard data which will directly influence UK conservation policy. And Jenni leaves us with a snap-shot of her favourite-ever guests.

Presenter: Jane Garvey Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed Editor: Siobhann Tighe

Republican women standing for Congress, Rhianna Pratchett, Chrissy Teigen's miscarriage Oct 02, 2020

Show notes

We heard about women Democrats standing for Congress last week, and today we discuss Republican women. In 2018 their numbers in the House of Representatives dwindled to just 13, but now a record number are entering the November elections either as incumbents or challengers, so what made the difference and what are their chances of winning? Jane speaks to Olivia Perez-Cubas from Winning for Women, an organisation set up in 2017 to encourage more conservative female candidates, and Sarah Elliott, Chair of Republicans Overseas UK.

Eleven-year-old Emma finds her life turned upside down when her father tells her he wants to become a woman. This is subject of a new Danish film ‘A Perfectly Normal Family’. The fictional story is based on the director Malou Reymann’s own experience. She joins Jane along with her father Helene.

Award-winning video games writer Rhianna Pratchett speaks to Jane about her first book Crystal of Storms which aims to get young girls into the world of fantasy and gaming. Her book is part of Fighting Fantasy, a series of interactive children’s books where the reader takes on the role of the protagonist and chooses their actions by rolling a dice. Rhianna is the first female guest writer of the series.

The model Chrissy Teigen's raw grief at her miscarriage has been very public. Some have been sympathetic; others question whether social media is the place for such things to be shared. Jane discusses with Ruth Bender Atik, national director of the Miscarriage Association.

Jenni Murray says 'goodbye' after 33 years with the programme Oct 01, 2020

Show notes

As Jenni Murray says 'goodbye' to the programme she's presented for 33 years, she looks back at some of the battles we've won, lost and still have to fight in the company of Harriet Harman MP, Jude Kelly director and founder of the WOW Foundation, Helena Kennedy QC and the novelist and poet Jackie Kay.

Plus she talks about some of her own favourite moments of the past 30 years.

Presenter: Jenni Murray Producer: Beverley Purcell Edito:; Karen Dalziel

Guest: Harriet Harman Guest: Helena Kennedy Guest: Jude Kelly Guest: Jackie Kay

Yotam Ottolenghi, Long Covid and Women, Breast Cancer Screening and Talking to Children about Death Sep 30, 2020

Show notes

Flavour is the third instalment in Yotam Ottolenghi’s Plenty series which celebrates the infinite potential of vegetables. Along with co-author and recipe developer Ixta Belfrage they explore techniques and processes such as infusing and charring which brings out the full flavour of the vegetable. They join Jenni to talk about how to Cook the Perfect Spicy Mushroom Lasagne.

We now know that tens of thousands of people in the UK are living with Long Covid – meaning that they have not yet recovered from the effects of the virus, even if their infection was relatively mild, and happened months ago. Symptoms vary but can include breathlessness and fatigue. You might have heard presenter Adam Rutherford yesterday on Radio 4 talking about his own experience of it, and looking at the growing body of science around the condition. A picture is also now emerging of how the condition is affecting women. The Long Covid Support group on Facebook has 23,000 members in the UK and 75% of them are women. Lesley Macniven is one of the group’s campaigners and a gender inequality researcher by trade. She joins Jenni from Edinburgh.

It is estimated that nearly one million women in the UK missed their routine mammogram breast screening programme appointments due to Covid-19. This is according to figures from the charity Breast Cancer Now. Their Chief Executive Baroness Delyth Morgan outlines their concerns and what needs to be done to deal with a backlog of cases.

In our family secrets series Jo Morris speaks to a woman we are calling Liz, who found out her father’s fifty year old secret at the worst possible time, when she was grieving for him.

Isabel Thomas has written more than 150 books about science and nature for young audiences, including Moth, which won the 2020 AAAS Prize for Excellence in Science Books. She has now written Fox - A Circle of Life Story – a picture book inspired by her own experiences of talking to her three children about death, and of having her only parent die at a young age. The book gives an unflinching scientific answer to one of the most difficult questions children ask: what happens when we die?

Presenter: Jenni Murray Producer: Clare Walker

Cherry Groce; Gender Recognition Act; Should parents be friends with their children? Sep 29, 2020

Show notes

On 28 September 1985, Lee Lawrence’s mother Cherry Groce was wrongly shot by police during a raid on her Brixton home. The bullet shattered her spine and she never walked again. Soon after it was reported – wrongly - that Cherry Groce was dead, and two days of rioting took place in Brixton. All this was witnessed by 11-year-old Lee. He became his mother’s carer. After a doctor questioned the cause of his mother’s death in 2011 Lee campaigned fiercely for an inquest, a chance to find out what really happened the day his family’s life was turned upside down. Lee joins Jane tomorrow to talk about his mother, his life as a carer, his fight to get the police to recognise their wrongdoing and his ongoing commitment to challenge racism and fight for justice.

The government has announced it will not go ahead with a change to the Gender Recognition Act which would have allowed trans men and women to self identify rather than go through a medical diagnosis to change their gender. The Equalities and Human Rights Commission has said it was a ‘missed opportunity’ but women's rights groups have applauded the decision as a ‘victory for fairness and common sense’. Jane Garvey hears from two of the women who’ve been campaigning on this issue, Dr Heather Peto who is Co-Chair of Labour’s LGBT+ group and Dr Nicola Williams from the group Fair Play for Women.

The 2020 Woman’s Hour Power List is looking for women who are making a significant difference to the health of our planet. But that power doesn’t have to be held on boards or by leading international organisations. Zoë Randle, the Senior Surveys Officer for Butterfly Conservation, tells Jane about the hugely important role played by hundreds of thousands of volunteers – who are turning their love of nature into hard data that directly influences conservation policy in the UK.

Do you think there should be clearly defined parent/child relationship? Or maybe you think of your family as more of a team or that your child is like a friend. If you’ve been watching the new Netflix series The Duchess which features a mum’s friendship with her child, you may have been asking yourself about your own parenting style. Jane Garvey talks to Dr Holan Liang an NHS Consultant Child & adolescent Psychiatrist in London, a mother and author of the book Inside Out Parenting and Rowan Coleman who’s an author and mother to five children ranging from 19 to twins of 8.

The Government's Early Years review, Andrea McLean, Celebrating 'alonement' Sep 28, 2020

Show notes

The government is carrying out a review into how to improve health outcomes for babies and children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Early Years development review will look at the critical first two and a half years of life which has a significant impact on the physical health, mental health and opportunity throughout life. We hear from the government's Early Years adviser Andrea Leadsom MP.

In August we spoke to Alexandra Wilson about her book “In Black and White” - breaking down barriers of race and class to become a barrister. Last week she tweeted how she’d been mistaken for a defendant three times in one day in court. She joins Jane.

Live, learn and thrive – that’ what Andrea McLean wants us to be able to achieve with the help of her new book “This Girl is on Fire”. In it she shares her own experiences of overcoming toxic relationships, a breakdown and burnout to help us see that we can change ourselves and change our life.

There are many terms that are used to describe spending time alone, but most of them have negative connotations. Journalist Francesca Specter has coined the term “alonement” to describe celebrating the time you spend alone. She shares the inspiration behind the term, how it has helped her during lockdown, and how we can all learn the skills of solitude.

A new study led by researchers at UCL and York University, Canada, shows that skin to skin contact with a parent reduces how strongly a newborn baby’s brain responds to a painful medical jab. Dr Laura Jones explains.

Presenter: Jane Garvey Producer: Dianne McGregor

The Woman's Hour Power List 2020, Mary McAleese, Known Donations, Chutney Sep 26, 2020

Show notes

The 2020 Woman’s Hour Power List is ‘Our Planet’ - the search is on for 30 women based in the UK who are making a significant positive contribution to the environment. Emma Howard Boyd, the chair of the Environment Agency, and Flo Headlam, a horticulturalist and garden designer are two of the judges.

Mary McAleese was twice president of Ireland, studied canon law when her term ended and, to the surprise of many, as she has a deep personal faith, spoke out against misogyny in the global Catholic Church. Her autobiography is called ‘Here’s the Story : A Memoir.’

There’s been a rise in websites and Facebook groups offering Known Donation, where a person seeking to conceive uses a sperm or egg donation from someone they know, or got to know before the treatment. We hear from Sarah Norcross, Director of the Progress Educational Trust; Erika Tranfield, the mother of a donor-conceived child from a known donor; and Natasha Fox, a donor-conceived adult who does not know the identity of her biological father.

Emily Hunt was filmed when she was asleep in a hotel room. A man was convicted of voyeurism, but it took her several years to secure that conviction and she decided to waive her right to anonymity to fight her case. But what do you gain and what do you lose if you do give up your anonymity? Jenni hears from Emily and Leona O’Callaghan who did the same: she waived her right to anonymity when the man who abused her as a child was on trial and then convicted. She also hears from “Rebecca” who doesn’t want to waive her anonymity. She’s pressing the CPS to prosecute a man who she says attacked and raped her.

When actor Shobna Gulati’s mum was diagnosed with dementia in 2017, she was already spending the majority of her time caring for her. Her mother has since died, and she’s written a memoir about her family and her mum’s illness called Remember Me? Discovering my mother as she lost her memory.

It is chutney and pickle season and a great opportunity to use up your remaining fruit and veg. Food historian Lizzie Collingham explains the history behind the relishes.

Presenter: Jenni Murray Producer: Dianne McGregor

The Windrush generation, Jess Gillam, Waiving your right to anonymity Sep 25, 2020

Show notes

Windrush campaigner, Paulette Wilson’s brave decision to speak to Amelia Gentleman about the immigration issues she was facing with the Home Office was crucial in exposing the Windrush scandal. In her book, The Windrush Betrayal, Gentleman tells the full story of her investigation. Campaigner, Glenda Caesar was also caught up in the hostile environment – she came to Britain legally as a three-month-old child and had no reason to think she was not British until she was she was sacked from her job as an NHS administrator. She was one of the first recipients of the first Windrush compensation offers which she rejected as insulting. Lawyer, Jacqueline McKenzie explains why there is such a delay in victims receiving payments. Following her debut album ‘Rise’ which reached No.1 in the UK Classical Chart, award-winning saxophonist Jess Gilliam is back with a new album. She joins us to discuss diversity in classical music and advice for playing an instrument during lockdown. At the beginning of the month, you may have come across the story of Emily Hunt. She was filmed when she was asleep in a hotel room. A man was convicted of voyeurism, but it took her several years to secure that conviction and Emily decided to waive her right to anonymity to fight her case. But what do you gain and what do you lose if you do give up being anonymous? Joining us is Emily. Also Leona O’Callaghan who did the same: she waived her right to anonymity when the man who abused her as a child was on trial and then convicted. And someone who wants to be called “Rebecca” who doesn’t want to waive her anonymity. She’s pressing the CPS to prosecute a man who she says attacked and raped her.

Presenter: Jenni Murray Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

Alison Steadman, Mary McAleese, The Woman's Hour Power List 2020, Chutney. Sep 24, 2020

Show notes

The award-winning actor Alison Steadman joins Jenni to discuss her latest projects. ’23 Walks’ is a film telling a love story in later life, and ‘Life’ is a new BBC1 drama set in Manchester, and follows the stories of the residents of a large house divided into four flats. It explores love, loss, birth, death, the ordinary, the extraordinary and everything in between.

Mary McAleese was President of Ireland twice. When she finished her second term, she turned her sights on the global Catholic Church, and having the credibility of a doctorate in Canon Law behind her, she spoke out against what she saw as the misogyny within it. She did it despite having a deep personal faith that goes back to her childhood. Mary was born in Belfast in the 1950s; witnessed the Troubles as they started and how they went onto to wreak havoc and pain on both sides. She became a barrister even though it wasn’t expected of a woman: especially a woman from a working class background. She’s brought out her autobiography - Here’s The Story.

The 2020 Woman’s Hour Power List is all about ‘Our Planet’ - and the search is on for 30 women based in the UK who are making a significant positive contribution to the environment. This could be through working in conservation or running a local anti-plastic campaign – but there are also less obvious sectors in which women are making a huge difference. Emma Howard Boyd, the chair of the Environment Agency, and Flo Headlam, a horticulturalist and garden designer talk to Jenni about their less conventional journeys into green careers – and highlight the lesser known areas where women are driving change.

With Autumn setting in, it’s chutney and pickle season and a great opportunity to use up your remaining fruit and veg. Food historian Lizzie Collingham explains the history behind these tasty relishes.

Presented by Jenni Murray Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Karen Dalziel

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