Woman's Hour

The number of 'very big' babies born each year has fallen by 71% since 2010, according to figures from NHS England. 'Very big' is defined as babies weighing 11 pounds or more at birth. The average baby in the UK weighs about seven and a half pounds. To discuss the reasons behind the fall, Nuala McGovern is joined by Siobhan Quenby, Professor of Obstetrics at the University of Warwick and consultant at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, who led the Big Baby Trial in 2025.In a recent article, The Guardian reported that Home Office figures provided to the newspaper suggest that nearly six in 10 police drug tests carried out on people arrested on suspicion of domestic abuse were positive for cocaine. This covered the period between July 2025 and June 2026. Some of the tests were carried out after police suspected drug use, but the findings are consistent with a 2023 police pilot study, which found that nearly 60% of domestic abuse suspects tested positive for cocaine or opiates. Charlotte, a survivor of domestic abuse, joins Nuala to discuss her experience. She is joined by two academics researching the issue: Professor Liz Gilchrist, a forensic psychologist at the University of Edinburgh, and Professor Gail Gilchrist, who conducts research at the National Addiction Centre at King's College London.The first in a new series meeting women behind some of the UK's fastest-growing businesses, exploring how they've built their companies, the challenges they've faced, and what it's like to grow a business in Britain. First, Bethan Higson, founder of Mother Root, which makes alcohol-free drinks.A new BBC2 documentary, 'Mums versus Big Pharma', explores the story of the medical scandal around pregnant women in Britain who took the drug sodium valproate. It is an effective medication for treating epilepsy, but if taken during pregnancy, it can have devastating consequences. Around one in nine babies will have a birth defect, and up to four children in every 10 may have problems with early childhood development. These disorders can be seriously debilitating and permanent. 20,000 children in the UK are said to have been impacted. Janet Williams and Emma Murphy - two mothers who have searched for years for answers from the medical establishment and fought for justice for their children - join Nuala to discuss.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Dianne McGregor

Highlights from the Woman's Hour week

The comedian and actor Russell Brand has been convicted of rape and sexual assault, and has been told to expect a substantial prison sentence. He was refused bail and will spend the weekend in custody before being sentenced on Monday. He is also facing further rape allegations made by two women. The Metropolitan Police said its investigation ‘remains ongoing’. Anita Rani is joined by Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty, the BBC presenter of the podcast Fame Under Fire: The Russell Brand Trial.The beauty, personal care and wellness sector is big business. According to the British Beauty Council's annual Value of Beauty report, the industry contributed £28.3 billion to the UK economy in 2025. Research from the Good Spa Guide suggests that women make up most of spa visitors. But, for those living with or recovering from cancer, accessing treatments isn't always straightforward. The UK Spa Association found that more than 25% of spas and salons are turning women away. Anita discusses the issues with Vivienne who has cancer, Dr. Alison Ranger, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the Royal Marsden and Sue Harmsworth MBE, founder of SATCC - Standards Authority for Touch in Cancer Care.From today, online pornography depicting strangulation, suffocation, or incestuous relationships will be banned in England and Wales. Publishing or even possessing banned material could result in up to five years in prison. The new rules were a recommendation from the review into porn regulation last year which found depictions of choking were "rife" on popular porn sites and had helped normalise the act among young people. Conservative peer Baroness Bertin, was the author of that review. Heather Staff is a Labour councillor and community safety lead at Islington council, where they’ve launched a health service for non-fatal strangulation victims. They spoke to Anita. Are we ever too old to start again? Former Financial Times columnist Lucy Kellaway left journalism at the age of 58 to retrain as a teacher and co-found Now Teach, a charity helping experienced professionals move into the classroom. Ten years on, she reflects on second careers, the challenges and rewards of starting again later in life, and why we need more experienced people bringing their skills and expertise into new professions.Described as this year’s weirdest rom-com which has sparked a deluge of viral memes and steamy jokes on social media, the film Wicker stars Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgård and Peter Dinklage. It's based on a twenty year old short story by Stroud-based author Ursula Wills who joins Anita to share how she first came to write The Wicker Husband, what it's been like to work on such a star-studded film, and how her life has changed since.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones

How often do you put the needs of others before your own? That was a question we asked in the poll that Woman's Hour commissioned to mark our 80th birthday last month, and we were intrigued by the response. Over 90% of the 2,000 women surveyed reported putting others’ needs before their own at least sometimes, and nearly two thirds said they do this often or always. It's not necessarily a bad thing to put others before yourself but we want to consider the cost on an individual level and to ask where that instinct comes from. To discuss Anita Rani is joined by clinical psychologist and author Dr Emma Hepburn, also known as The Psychology Mum, Nova Reid, author and activist, and Shani Orgad, who is a feminist sociologist and professor at the London School of Economics.As the dust settles on the US midterms, what do the results tell us about what female voters want – and the women who helped shape the outcome? 24 hours on, we have more detail on the gender breakdown of US voters - an NBC News exit poll highlights 59% of female voters backed the Democrats in these elections. So what issues got women to the ballot box? Sumi Somaskanda, Chief Anchor of BBC News in Washington DC takes us through the results. And Jennifer Ewing, spokesperson for Republicans Overseas, shares what she sees are the main concerns for Republican women and if these concerns pushed them to the Democrats.A town crier in Suffolk who has spent nearly four decades in the role has earned a place in the Guinness World Records as one of the world's loudest women. Brenda Willison, who's the town crier for Newmarket in Suffolk, now holds the titles for the loudest female town crier and for having the loudest shout by a woman. Harriet Clark was just 11 months old when her mother was sentenced to life in prison. Raised by her grandparents, Harriet spent every Saturday visiting her mother in prison for nearly four decades. Harriet joins Anita to discuss how that extraordinary childhood inspired her debut novel The Hill: a story about inherited burdens, the women who raise us, and the lives shaped by incarceration far beyond the prison walls.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty StarkeyThis programme has been edited since broadcast.

The news of big gains for Democrats in the US midterm elections has included some historic wins for women - Texas has its first female Hispanic governor, Georgia its first black woman governor and Minnesota its first female Native American senator. We’ll be discussing this and other wins and losses and what it means for women. A woman who provided round-the-clock care for her elderly mother has been awarded £127,500 from her estate following years of legal proceedings. Bernadette Rogers was prosecuted for theft and fraud after withdrawing £100,000 from her mother's estate but was subsequently acquitted. She joins Clare McDonnell alongside specialist solicitor Laura Stone to discuss her experience and the wider implications of a potentially landmark ruling for family carers.American jazz harpist, composer, and educator Brandee Younger is redefining the instrument, fusing classical traditions with jazz, soul, R&B, hip-hop and funk. She has performed with the likes of Lauryn Hill and John Legend, while her composition Hortense featured in Beyoncé's Homecoming documentary. In 2022, she became the first black woman nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition, for her piece Beautiful Is Black. Early next year, Brandee will bring her unique musical vision to the new Blue Note London. She joins Clare to discuss her sound and latest album, Gadabout Season.Vinita Marwaha Madill is a British space engineer and founder of Rocket Women. Her career includes designing spacesuits at the European Space Agency's European Astronaut Centre and leading lunar exploration missions at Mission Control Space Services in Canada. Clare speaks to Vinita on National Engineering Day.

Bestselling American author Jodi Picoult has sold 60 million copies of her novels worldwide, including My Sister's Keeper, Small Great Things and Nineteen Minutes. As Jodi publishes her 30th book, Hollow Bones, she joins Clare McDonnell in the studio to discuss its key themes, including why she wanted to explore the topic of women's maternal health and also set her latest work in the 25th anniversary year of 9/11.Holly Newton was just 15 when she was stabbed to death in an alleyway in Hexham in January 2023 by her ex-boyfriend Logan MacPhail. Police recorded her murder as knife crime because the law does not recognise those under the age of 16 as victims of domestic violence. Since her death, Holly's parents Micala and Lee Trussler have been campaigning to change that and now the government has told them it plans to create a new law defining teenage abusive relationships because of their work. Clare speaks to Domestic Abuse Commissioner Dame Nicole Jacobs and Dee Kehoe, Refuge’s Programme Director for Prevention and former CEO of Let Me Know, an education charity working with young people to prevent relationship abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault. People having plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedures should be screened for Body Dysmorphic Disorder, or BDD, according to new guidance from NICE, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. BDD is a mental health condition that causes people to become preoccupied with a perceived flaw, often not noticeable to others. Plastic surgeon Dr Marc Pacifico and BDD specialist psychologist Dr Amita Jassi join us to discuss the guidance. Award-winning chef, restaurateur and cookbook author Ruth Rogers is one of the most influential figures in British food. In 1987 she co-founded London’s River Café with her close friend and business partner Rose Gray, helping to launch the careers of some of Britain’s best-known chefs, including Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Her podcast Ruthie’s Table 4, named after the River Café table traditionally reserved for her guests, has featured interviewees such as Tracey Emin, Kamala Harris, Dame Judi Dench and Sarah Jessica Parker. As the podcast returns for its sixth series, Ruth joins Clare to discuss her career and what keeps artists, actors, musicians and world leaders coming back to her restaurant. Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Laura Kuenssberg is the presenter of the BBC’s flagship political interview programme Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, having been the BBC’s political editor between 2015 and 2022. After two decades covering British politics, she joins Clare McDonnell to discuss her new book Pay Attention. It is an attempt to get underneath barely controlled chaos in Westminster, offering insights into women in political life, as well as her own experiences of being trolled and targeted. Some economists and think tanks have warned of a difficult few years ahead after the latest forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility pointed to weaker economic growth and continued pressure on living standards. Chancellor John Healey has argued that last week's Budget will give households some "breathing space" on the cost of living, while acknowledging that government cannot completely shield people from financial pressures. But how is this economic outlook impacting women? Clare is joined by Trinh Tu, Chief Executive of Ipsos UK, who has new polling to share exclusively with Woman's Hour; Louisa Matthews, Chief Executive of Nottingham Women's Centre, which supports women facing hardship; and Professor Sarah Marie Hall from the University of Manchester, who leads the major research project Austerity and Altered Life-Courses.Eighteen-year-old Sofia Demetriades, a violinist, has won the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2026. She won after competing in the competition's first-ever all-female final. For her final performance she played Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto, accompanied by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. It was described by the BBC Young Musician 2026 judges as a performance 'with authority and thrilling virtuosity'. Clare is joined by musician and composer Errollyn Wallen who was one of the Judges of this year's competition.One in three new mothers enter motherhood without the support of their own mother due to either bereavement, estrangement or illness. That figure comes from research from the charity Motherless Mothers who raising awareness of the impact of this loss through its Unmuted campaign. Of the women they spoke to they say most experienced the impact of maternal absence weekly, with nearly 90 percent saying it often leaves them feeling alone. Kennedy Frampton, a mother of two girls and Adina Belloli, a psychotherapist and co-founder of the charity join Clare to discuss. Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Dianne McGregor

Nearly 10 years after the Larry Nassar case exposed the abuse of hundreds of young women and girls in gymnastics in the US, are athletes any safer today? The judge who sentenced him, Rosemarie Aquilina, has spent the years since campaigning for reform and says progress has been far too slow. She argues that too many sporting organisations still prioritise medals and success over athletes' welfare. She explains her concerns to Anita Rani.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 McGovern 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.And millions of people practise yoga worldwide, and women make up the vast majority of practitioners. There is now a growing movement that wants to see yogasana recognised as an Olympic sport and this has been supported by the Indian government who are calling for its inclusion ahead of the country’s bid to host the 2036 Games. To discuss the arguments for and against this, Nuala is joined by yogsana competitor Laura McDonald and yoga teacher Divya Kohli.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Mora Morrison

Bonnie Garmus became a global publishing phenomenon when her debut novel Lessons in Chemistry was released. Set in the 1950s and 60s, the story of talented chemist Elizabeth Zott was inspired by her own experience of sexism in the workplace. It sold nine million copies, has been translated into 40 languages and turned into an Emmy-winning TV series starring Brie Larson. Now Bonnie is back with her second novel, Peck & Peck, which tells the tale of a young man whose life is turned upside down when he starts working at the world’s most prestigious poetry journal. She joins Anita Rani in the studio.The comedian Russell Brand has been in the witness box giving evidence in his defence at the trial in which he faces three charges of rape, three charges of sexual assault and one charge of indecent assault against six women. He has denied all the charges. The allegations span 10 years from 1999 to 2009. The trial at Southwark Crown Court in London began just over two weeks ago. On Wednesday Russell Brand himself took the stand for the first time and yesterday his wife Laura gave evidence. Sima Kotecha, the BBC's Senior UK Correspondent, has been in court and speaks to Anita. This week marks a historic shift for Britain's most famous shopping street. Cars, taxis, cyclists and several bus routes are now banned from large sections of Oxford Street in London as the first phase of a £150 million pedestrianisation project gets under way. Supporters claim the transformation will create a greener, cleaner and more accessible space, while also providing an opportunity to rethink how public spaces can better meet the safety needs of women and girls. Dr Ellie Cosgrave, Director of the Inclusive Cities Team at Publica and Professor of Inclusive Design at Chelsea College of Arts and Abigail Gaines from Make Space York and charity manager of the Friends of Rowntree Park, York join Anita to discuss.If ghosts and witches don't send a shiver down your spine this Halloween, how about the vampiress? Bloodthirsty, seductive, sexually voracious, terrifying- and very much female. We tend to think of vampires as men, thanks to Dracula, but in fact some of the earliest depictions of vampires - and vampiric monsters - were women. To discuss monstrosity and misogyny in culture throughout the ages, Anita is joined by Professor Eleanor B Johnson from Columbia University, author of the new book, Monstrous Bitch: A History of Terrifying Women and by Dr Emily Middleton from the University of Leeds, who is involved in a new exhibition, Quite Shameless: Cultural Reflections on the Vampire.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Simon Richardson

Nearly 10 years after the Larry Nassar case exposed the abuse of hundreds of young women and girls in gymnastics in the US, are athletes any safer today? The judge who sentenced him, Rosemarie Aquilina, has spent the years since campaigning for reform and says progress has been far too slow. She argues that too many sporting organisations still prioritise medals and success over athletes' welfare. She explains her concerns to Anita Rani, along with Claire Heafford, the chief executive of Gymnasts for Change, who analyses the progress made by British Gymnastics.What might the Budget mean for household bills, childcare costs or pensions? And will the measures announced by Chancellor John Healey on Wednesday make a meaningful difference to women’s finances? Daniella Jenkins, Executive Director of independent think tank the Women's Budget Group, gives her reaction.Last week on the programme, we spoke about Menopause Action Plans, which every organisation with over 250 employees will have to adopt by April 2027. They have come after a groundswell of campaigning and awareness-raising on how the symptoms of the menopause can affect women in the workplace, and could be mitigated by employers. However some of the research used to support this approach has been disputed and so we are digging into what we do know about this topic with two leading menopause experts. Endocrinologist Professor Susan Davis, head of the Women’s Health Research Program at Monash University in Australia, and the clinical psychologist Professor Aimee Spector who runs the Menopause Mind Lab at University College London, discuss. Grace Savage is an actor, electronic-pop singer-songwriter and a four-time UK Beatbox Champion. Hailing from Devon, she has carved out a space in the music industry by blending electronic pop with her vocal percussion skills. She won the title of UK Female Beatbox Champion twice and made history as part of the first female duo to win the UK Team Beatbox Championship twice. Now she’s passing on those skills by starting the Savage Sounds Beatbox School. Grace explains how she is helping women overcome self-consciousness and build confidence while using their voices.PRESENTER: Anita Rani PRODUCER: Melanie Abbott