Woman's Hour

Nuala McGovern talks to Thomas Giuffra, the attorney representing a woman in one of the highest profile sexual assault cases in the United States, the alleged rape at Cornell University. He tells Nuala about why his client has decided to bring a civil case, and whether there is a problem with how universities, police and lawyers respond to allegations of rape on campus.
British-Somali boxer Ramla Ali’s new film, In the Shadows, tells the story of her journey from child refugee to trailblazing boxer. After arriving in the UK, she became the first Muslim woman to win an English amateur boxing title, before later choosing to represent her birth country and becoming the first Somali boxer to compete at an Olympic Games. She joins Nuala to talk about overcoming trauma and breaking barriers.
As part of our series meeting women behind some of the UK's fastest-growing businesses, we speak to Hellen Bowey, who gave up a six-figure salary to establish care technology company Alcove, inspired by her experience growing up with a sister with a learning disability. The company helps older and vulnerable people live independently and has grown from seven employees before the pandemic to more than 150 today.
Zoe Smith was 27 when she lost her leg below the knee in a car accident. A few years later she decided to try surfing and loved it. She's now Britain's number one para surfer, and later today will be heading to the International Surfing Association World Para Surfing Championships, which are held in Palm Desert, California. She joins Nuala to share why she was first drawn to surfing, how women are represented in the sport, and her hopes for future accolades.
Producer: Cerys Maidment
Presenter: Nuala McGovern

With much discussion about the conviction of Russell Brand today, Woman's Hour is focussing on the impact this case will have on women. Nuala McGovern speaks to one of the original journalists to investigate the former comedian, Rosamund Urwin, the chief news correspondent of The Sunday Times, in her first full broadcast interview since the sentencing. And Commander Andy Day is the Metropolitan Police's Head of Central Specialist Crime. His unit was responsible for leading the investigation in to Russell Brand. He gives his reaction to yesterday's sentencing of ten and a half years.
What would make someone swim for 35 hours straight? Eva Buzo has spent much of her life pushing the limits of endurance. The human rights barrister and ultra-marathon swimmer is using extraordinary open-water challenges to support communities campaigning over beach access, environmental protection, and tourism developments. She joins us to talk endurance, activism, and life far beyond her comfort zone.
Whether or not to have children can be one of the biggest, most sensitive decisions we make in our lives and one for which women often still feel judged, whatever we decide. Some of course feel that choice is taken away from them by infertility or by circumstance. In the 80th year of Woman’s Hour, as we focus on using our voices to have agency over our lives, we discuss the big picture issue of falling birth rates and ask what it means for women in particular. Nuala hears from Baroness Camilla Cavendish and Anna Louie Sussman.
Presenter: Nuala McGovern
Producer: Kirsty Starkey

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