Woman's Hour

According to the White House, Melania Trump has taken on an unexpected diplomatic role. It's been reported that she helped to broker a temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. The agreement, due to come into effect today, is intended to allow humanitarian aid into the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky and enable civilians to leave. But how did Melania Trump become involved? Why has she been sucessful and what does this tell us about the influence a First Lady can have on world affairs? Nuala McGovern is joined by Victoria Vdovychenko from the University of Cambridge's Centre for Geopolitics, and Anne McElvoy from Politico.
Philippa Gregory is one of the world’s bestselling historical novelists. Her books have reimagined the lives of powerful and often overlooked women from Britain’s past. She joins Nuala to discuss her latest novel, Royal Witch, which tells the story of Eleanor Cobham, an ambitious noble woman in the court of Henry V who used astrology and other "dark arts" in her attempt to gain power.
Twenty years after the release of Back to Black, Amy Winehouse's era-defining album continues to resonate. A five-time Grammy winner, it produced five hit singles and established Amy as one of the most distinctive voices of her generation. Dr Lucy O'Brien, author of She Bop: The Definitive History of Women in Popular Music, and journalist and music critic Jude Rogers discuss the album’s lasting impact and celebrate Amy's enduring legacy.
How is iron deficiency diagnosed in the UK? And what impact do the effects of pregnancy, menstruation, and inflammatory conditions have? Nuala is joined by Dr Aziza Sesay, a GP who specialises in women's health and by BBC News reporter Zara Salaria, who has been looking into whether social media videos about "Ferritin face" have any scientific basis.
Presenter: Nuala McGovern
Producer: Helen Fitzhenry

Comedian Katherine Ryan’s new memoir explores the impact being a Firstborn Daughter has had on her approach to life. From becoming the family’s ‘Head of Emotional Operations’ at a young age, to her thoughts on marriage, motherhood, fertility and facelifts, Katherine joins Anita to discuss her take on what it means to be woman in modern society.
New research has found that female scientists are 'largely absent' from exam boards’ compulsory learning material for GCSE pupils. The study by the University of Cambridge found only one of 86 scientists featured in the main Key Stage 4 exam specifications for science, was a woman – Rosalind Franklin - she did ground-breaking work on DNA. Skyla White is one of the researchers on the study.
There has been a rise in demand for the shingles vaccine, and this may be because recent studies suggest it could reduce the risk of dementia. Women are at greater risk of developing dementia in their lifetime, and around twice as many women as men have Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of dementia. Nuala hears from two women, Eva and Sally, who are getting the shingles vaccine this winter, in part because of a family history of dementia, and from Lucy Devendra, Head of Research at Alzheimer's Society.
Author Helen Fielding is launching a competition to find new comedy writers from the North of England. The Bridget Jones Prize will be managed by Newcastle-based writing charity New Writing North. From Yorkshire herself, Helen is looking for first-person stand-alone prose, not unlike the diary entries of her fictional heroine, first published anonymously in The Independent newspaper in 1995. Helen explains why she wants more to be made of the northern humour she grew up with.
It was World Menopause Day yesterday, the last before employers of more than 250 people in England, Scotland and Wales are mandated to have a Menopause Action Plan in place. This new legal duty begins in April 2027. What does it actually mean and how will it be enforced? Nuala McGovern is joined by the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson.
Presenter: Anita Rani
Producer: Simon Richardson

For decades, Delia Smith taught us how to cook with confidence through her bestselling books and popular television programmes. She sold more than 20 million books, such was her influence that ingredients and kitchen utensils she featured would often sell out, a phenomenon that became known as the Delia Effect.
In her latest book, Us: Nine Ingredients to Change Our World, she argues that party politics and top-down leadership are no longer working and calls for a different approach that puts people at the heart of politics. She explores what it means to be human through themes including democracy, climate responsibility and the importance of community.
New analysis that has found inequalities in breast cancer diagnosis. Women in England from ethnic minority backgrounds alongside those from deprived backgrounds are almost a third less likely to have the disease detected through routine screening. They are more likely to be diagnosed after an urgent referral or emergency admission. The research was funded by the charity Breast Cancer Now. Nuala discusses with Dr Robert Kerrison, co-author of the study and co-lead for cancer care at the University of Surrey.
First Chance, a new initiative encouraging major employers to offer more opportunities to young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Jenny Hall from Royal Mail, one of the first employers to sign up, joins Nuala, along with Katharine Sacks-Jones from Young Women’s Trust, to discuss the particular barriers facing young women.
Rachel Newton is an award-winning Scottish harpist and singer, named BBC Radio 2 Folk Musician of the Year in 2017. Known for blending traditional and contemporary folk music, she performs on both acoustic and electric harp and is a member of the acclaimed Spell Songs collective. Rachel performs her song A Life Begun from the album In Thin Air, and explains how it gained new personal meaning following her experience of Pregnancy Associated Osteoporosis after the birth of her child.
Presented by Nuala McGovern
Producer: Louise Corley

Raye has just won the Mercury Prize 2026 with her album This Music May Contain Hope. Anita Rani talks to music journalist Sophie Williams, who was one of the judges this year.
New figures from the Care Quality Commission show children and young people are being hit hardest by delays in the NHS. Anita is joined by Dr Ronny Cheung, Consultant Paediatricition and officer for Health Services at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Comedian Katherine Ryan’s new memoir explores the impact being a Firstborn Daughter has had on her approach to life. From becoming the family’s ‘Head of Emotional Operations’ at a young age, to her thoughts on marriage, motherhood, fertility and facelifts, Katherine joins Anita to discuss her take on what it means to be woman in modern society.
Spoken language will be given equal status with reading and writing in an updated curriculum and assessment for schools, the Education Secretary has announced. Anita speaks to Becca Dean, founder of The Girls Network, and poet Kirsty Taylor to discuss what effect this policy will have on girls' ability to speak up for themselves.

Anna Byrne is a women's health journalist who recently went viral on Instagram for her song A Musical Guide to Perimenopause which explores the complex, and sometime frustrating, symptoms many perimenopausal women face. The video has had more than eight million views, and Anna tells Anita how she is on a mission to 'write a hormonal song a day'.
Presenter: Anita Rani
Producer: Corinna Jones

When the writer E L James first self-published Fifty Shades of Grey as an e-book in 2011, she had no idea that her erotic novel would go on to become a publishing phenomenon. Since then, Erika has written eight bestsellers, sold more than 150 million books, and produced three Fifty Shades film adaptations. Few contemporary writers can claim to have changed the conversation around women, sex and popular romance quite so much. E L James has a new novel out – and it’s entirely different to what has gone before. A paranormal romance called Land of Ghosts, the main character is a 17-year old girl. E L James joins Anita Rani to talk about her stellar career and how despite enormous success, she loves anonymity.
The government has announced that pregnant workers and new mothers will have stronger safeguards to protect them from unfair dismissal. From October 2027, employers must consider all reasonable alternatives to dismissal before pursuing it. This comes as part of the Employment Rights Act, and protections will also be extended to employees taking adoption leave, shared parental leave, neonatal care leave and bereaved partner’s paternity leave. Anita speaks to the Minister for the Future of Work, Kate Dearden.
The comedian Russell Brand is in court facing three charges of rape, three charges of sexual assault and one charge of indecent assault against six women – he denies all charges. The allegations span 10 years from 1999 to 2009. He has said he has never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity. The trial at Southwark Crown Court in London began last week on 14th October. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty has been covering the trial and is the BBC presenter of the podcast Fame Under Fire: The Russell Brand Trial. This discussion contains graphic sexual references.
New research has found that female scientists are 'largely absent' from exam boards’ compulsory learning material for GCSE pupils. The study by the University of Cambridge found only one of 86 scientists featured in the main Key Stage 4 exam specifications for science, was a woman – Rosalind Franklin - she did ground-breaking work on DNA. Skyla White is one of the researchers on the study.
Award-winning Irish comedian, writer and actor Catherine Bohart is a debating champion, an Edinburgh Festival favourite, and a familiar face on television, with appearances on Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, QI and LOL: Last One Laughing Ireland. Also a regular voice on BBC Radio 4, her credits include The Now Show, The News Quiz and her own six-part topical series, Too Long; Didn’t Read. She joins Anita to talk about her latest stand-up show, Borrowing Trouble.