An estimated three million deepfake images were non-consensually requested from Elon Musk’s chatbot Grok around Christmas of last year, mostly of women and children. Since then, UK investigations have been unable to find or charge any of the users who made those requests. Jess Davies, a presenter targeted by this image abuse, reported it to the police at the time but is now pursuing her own civil action. She joins Anita Rani, alongside BBC Technology reporter Laura Cress, to discuss the developments.After more headlines today about shortages of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), clinicians are urging women to seek advice if their medication has been affected. The warning follows official confirmation from the Department of Health that supplies of major HRT patch brands have been disrupted. Anita is joined by Dr Paula Briggs, Consultant in Sexual and Reproductive Health at Liverpool Woman’s NHS Foundation Trust, and Roisin Hillman, co-founder of Menopause Together, the first menopause charity in Northern Ireland.Shabana Basij-Rasikh is a leading advocate for girls' education in Afghanistan. In 2001, when she was still a teenager, she co-founded a boarding school in Kabul called the School of Leadership (SOLA) to enable girls to learn. Last month Shabana was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 world’s most influential rising stars. She joins Anita to talk about her campaigning career and decision to create a post-graduate scholarship for a woman like her to attend the University of Oxford. Esmée Gummer recently completed her own Guinness World Record challenge, having run between every city in the UK, hosting free 5km clubs in each. An incredible achievement because when she was aged 18, Esmée woke up paralysed following complications during surgery - and she had to re-learn how to walk, and eventually run. Esmée didn't want to make the challenge just about her own achievement, so the record is for the most amount of run clubs held in different cities and those who attended any can apply for a certificate. Esmee tells Anita about her passion to encourage people to connect through running, not racing.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

1 in 10 women of reproductive age suffer from endometriosis. A new report on the condition, just published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Endometriosis and supported by Endometriosis UK, has found that the condition is having a significant impact on women's finances and careers. Nearly half of those surveyed said they'd lost income because of their symptoms, more than a quarter had left a job. Nuala discusses the implications with the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Endometriosis Labour MP Kirsteen Sullvan and Alice Cooper who has endometriosis. In the programme's 80th year we’re reflecting on how women’s lives have changed in the last eight decades and today Nuala digs into the Woman’s Hour archive, to find out how technological advancements have impacted women’s lives over the years. Joining Nuala to discuss Women in Tech is Zoe Kleinman, the BBC’s Technology Editor and Dr Vanessa Vallely OBE, an entrepreneur and champion of women’s visibility in the UK technology industry who has just authored the book 404: Women Not Found.Britain may have reached "peak bedbug". Experts say infestations are on the rise, with some evidence that the insects are becoming increasingly resistant to common pesticides. It is a job that's still overwhelmingly done by men - 94% of the workforce is male. Nuala finds out more from Leah Darby, founder of Complete Bed Bug Solutions.Why are men less concerned about climate change than women? Nuala explores the research behind the gender gap and how traditional ideas of masculinity shape environmental attitudes, with political scientist Ingvild Zinober and Tom Hornbrook from MenEngage Alliance.Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

A new study suggests that women going to the doctor with symptoms of auto-immune conditions are up to 74% more likely than men to be told their symptoms are psychological or psychosomatic. The research, published in the Lancet eClinicalMedicine journal, and led by the University of Cambridge and University of East Anglia, also found that women were more likely to face delays in getting a correct diagnosis, and hence the right treatment. Lead author, Dr Melanie Sloan, joins presenter Nuala McGovern. Often described as "butterfly skin", Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is the name for a group of rare genetic conditions that leave the skin so fragile it can blister and tear at the lightest touch. Emma Fogarty lives with a severe life-limiting form of the condition. She is currently the longest living person with her form of EB in Ireland. Her story, along with her friendship with the actor Colin Farrell, is told in a new HBO documentary film, The Slightest Touch, which has premiered at the London Film Festival. How well do we know our mothers? The novelist Laleh Khadivi’s latest book is about a woman who discovers her dead mother had a secret Iranian revolutionary past. In ‘Female Life on Planet Earth,’ she tells the story of Heti, an Iranian mother of two teenage girls who works in an accountancy firm in Los Angeles – and whose life is upended when an anonymous parcel arrives which contains evidence that her mother had had a secret life. Laleh joins Nuala to talk about her inspiration for the book, the complexity of uncovering and sharing secrets and comparing life for women in America with that of those in Iran. Women’s football is growing rapidly around the world, but many professional players are still dealing with low pay and insecure working conditions, according to a new survey. The players’ union FIFPRO spoke to more than 800 footballers playing in the top tier of their countries. Only 78% said they had a written contract, while just 57% said their pay was enough to cover the costs of playing football. Financial pressures and psychological stress were also among the reasons players gave for potentially leaving the game early. BBC Senior journalist Sally Freedman and former England International player Lucy Staniforth, now FIFPRO Women’s Football Officer, join Nuala to discuss. Presented by: Nuala McGovern Produced by: Sarah Jane Griffiths

Navanetham 'Navi' Pillay, a former International Criminal Court judge and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. In a statement announcing the award, the Nobel Committee praised Pillay's 'efforts to promote peace and international law'. She is the first South African woman to receive the award, and dedicated her win to 'all the survivors of international crime'. In her first interview to be broadcast with the BBC, Navi speaks to Nuala McGovern.How can medical misinformation harm women, and how do we combat dangerous myths? Nuala is joined by former consultant breast surgeon and cancer survivor Liz O'Riordan and Dr Rachael Kent, whose academic research focuses on the impact of digital technology on mental and physical health.Women’s groups have called for an emergency demonstration in Glasgow this Monday evening over concerns about women’s safety, following a rise in reported sexual crimes. We speak to Nicola Love, Communications Manager for Rape Crisis Scotland which is taking part and Beth Templeton, a journalist from local news outlet The Bell.Nigella Lawson is back on our screens as a judge on The Great British Bake Off, but something about her approach has got people talking online… it's the way she eats the cakes - taking big bites, with gusto. So why are some people commenting on a woman actively enjoying food...on a baking show? Nuala is joined by body confidence activist and author, Alex Light, and personal trainer Laura Ghiacy to discuss.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

To mark our 80th anniversary, Woman's Hour commissioned a survey of 2,000 women across the UK to explore how women feel about using their voice in different areas of their lives. One of the questions we asked was: How many times, if any, have you felt unable to say no in a sexual encounter? Anita Rani is joined by Faustine Petron of the Make It Mandatory campaign; Ellie Softley, of the charity Everyone's Invited; and psychotherapist Dr Paula Hall of Pivotal Recovery.To mark 80 years on air, we delve into the Woman's Hour archive, with voices including suffragette Mary Richardson from 1957, Margaret Thatcher talking about childcare in 1990 and Rose McGowan talking in 2018 on reigniting the #metoo movement.Monica Dolan is starring in a new film, The Lost Children of Tuam. In it, she plays Catherine Corless, whose relentless pursuit of the truth helped to expose the story of hundreds of babies from an Irish mother and baby home being disposed of in a disused sewage tank. Monica joins Nuala McGovern, along with journalist Alison O’Reilly, to discuss this powerful tale of community activism.Extreme heat affects pregnancies, newborns and maternity services around the world, according to new research. Anita speaks to Julia Gillard, Chair of Wellcome and former Prime Minister of Australia and Dr Amy Mizen, Co-Principal Investigator for the MAGENTA project, funded by Wellcome.The Party is an ITV drama based on the acclaimed novel by Elizabeth Day and adapted by award-winning writer and actor Sarah Solemani. Elizabeth and Sarah join Kylie Pentelow to discuss this story of class, power, betrayal and secrets.And to celebrate 80 years of Woman's Hour we asked the poet Hollie McNish to write us a birthday poem.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty McQuire

A new review into autism, ADHD and mental health provision by the NHS in England has warned there has been a substantial increase in mental health distress, particularly in young people. The review - led by leading doctors in the field - says the NHS is struggling to cope with the rising demand for services in England. So what does this mean for women and girls? Anita Rani is joined by Professor Gillian Baird, vice chair of the review. A study has found that gender biases seen in the workplace could also be replicated in our interactions with AI. Researchers placed people in a virtual reality office and found that they allocated more money to male AI assistants than female ones, despite using the same technology. Anita is joined by Mary Hausfeld, Assistant Professor in Management at Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick, and one of the study's co-authors, to discuss the findings. Extreme heat affects pregnancies, newborns and maternity services around the world, according to new research. In a survey of 1,000 maternal healthcare professionals across the UK, Australia, India, Brazil and Zimbabwe, nearly three-quarters said they had seen an increase in heat-related complications affecting pregnant women over the past five years. Anita speaks to Julia Gillard, Chair of Wellcome and former Prime Minister of Australia and Dr Amy Mizen, Co-Principal Investigator for the MAGENTA project, funded by Wellcome.As part of our series 'When My Body Surprised Me' listener Katharine talks about how after a mastectomy and emergency surgery, her body amazed her by not only recovering but going on to achieve a multitude of incredible feats, including a black belt in karate.The latest series of Celebrity Traitors may only be a few episodes in but it’s already making the headlines - for its fashion. Claudia Winkleman’s style choices have always been a talking point, but it seems that this year all the Celebrities - the broadcaster and entrepreneur Maya Jama, mathematician Hannah Fry, actors Myha'la and Miranda Hart, the model Jerry Hall amongst others - are taking their fashion to another level. Are they using their fashion choices as part of their game playing? Anita speaks to Ella Alexander, a fashion journalist and author.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

To mark our 80th anniversary, Woman's Hour commissioned a survey of 2,000 women across the UK to explore how women feel about using their voice in different areas of their lives, from the most public to the most private spaces. One of the questions we asked was: How many times, if any, have you felt unable to say no in a sexual encounter? More than one in three women surveyed said this had happened to them, and over a quarter said it had happened more than once. The figures were even higher among younger women. Anita Rani is joined by Faustine Petron, who founded the Make It Mandatory campaign five years ago and has been campaigning for the government to extend Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) to all 16 to 18-year-olds; Ellie Softley, a founding member of the charity Everyone's Invited, she created the organisation's education programme and has discussed consent with young people in schools across the UK; and Dr Paula Hall, founder of Pivotal Recovery and a psychotherapist with more than 30 years' experience specialising in porn addiction.At the peak of her fame, Julianna Glasse had a successful career as a Christian pop singer, a high-profile marriage and a respected place within the evangelical community in which she was raised. She even sang at President Trump's first National Prayer Breakfast. Then she started reading certain books that opened her eyes and changed the course of her life. She left her church, her marriage and eventually became CEO of This Is What Happens When Women Read, a global movement supporting four million women in 67 countries as they seek greater autonomy. She joins Anita to discuss the movement and her memoir of the same name.There aren't many sports in which men and women compete directly against each other, but drag racing is one of them. In Europe, women aren't just competing in the world's fastest motorsport, they're dominating it. Top Fuel drag racing sees two vehicles race from a standing start over 1,000 feet, reaching speeds of up to 300mph in just three to four seconds. Sweden's Susanne Callin is a two-time European Top Fuel Champion and joins Anita. Susanne's story is available to watch on BBC iPlayer by searching Global Women, or on the BBC World Service YouTube channel.Olivia Colman has joined the growing ranks of women embracing grey hair and ditching the dye. Freelance journalist Kate Spicer discusses the appeal.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

Launching the theme of our 80th birthday year: "Use Your Voice", we celebrate live from the Glasgow Women's Library in Scotland, the sole accredited museum of women’s history in the UK.Nuala McGovern is joined by guests: Women's Health Champion for Scotland Dr Anna Glasier, social media influencer and campaigner Fats Timbo, professor of private law Jane Mair and poet and writer and former Makar, Jackie Kay.We hear from some of the Woman's Hour archive including suffragette Mary Richardson from 1957, a woman on breast cancer from 1969, a woman called Candida talking about coming out in the mid 1980s, Margaret Thatcher talking about childcare in 1990, Tracey Emin's reflections on her abortion from 2011 and Rose McGowan talking in 2018 about reigniting the #metoo movement. Our guests reflect on archive from Nancy Astor on being the first female MP in the House of Commons, on a woman talking about the progression of family planning and reactions to the conviction of Sarah Everard's murderer. To mark our 80th birthday we commissioned a poll to ask a nationally representative sample of 2,000 women how they feel about using their voices for themselves – how able do they feel to ask for what they want? Where in life do they feel most able to speak out, and what is most likely to stop them? Nuala talks to Anita Rani who is in the studio in London to find out more.Hollie McNish is the author of five collections of poetry. She was the first poet to record at Abbey Road Studios, in London, and won the 'Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry'. To celebrate our 80th birthday we asked Hollie to write us a birthday poem, and she performs it live on the programme.Then we hear from our listeners - we recently asked you if something you'd heard on the programme over the years had inspired you to use your voice. We hear from listeners Rachel, Barbara, Veronica and Angela. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Corinna Jones

Hundreds of schools in France have closed after clashes between police and student protestors. Chloe Quesnel is a high school teacher in Nice in France. She's been watching her students take to the streets to protest over classroom conditions, lack of resources and the number of teaching staff. Chloe and Paris-based journalist Lisa Louis tell Kylie about the student protest of the last week, and what can be expected from today. The Party is a five-part ITV series based on the acclaimed novel by Elizabeth Day and adapted by award-winning writer and actor Sarah Solemani. At the centre are two men, Ben, a wealthy politician, and Martin, a political journalist, whose life has been shaped by their relationship. While the men drive the central plot of class obsession and co-dependency, the female characters serve as the moral anchors, truth-tellers, and catalysts for the story's climax. Elizabeth Day and Sarah Solemani join Kylie to discuss this tale of class, sex, shame, power, betrayal and secrets.A File on Four investigation has found that one in every 118 children in England who are under 1 years old, are subject to care proceedings - that’s a rise of over 60% in the last two decades. Experts believe that with intensive support many of the 3,000 children who are adopted each year could be cared for or remain in contact with their birth parents. BBC special correspondent Judith Moritz discusses what she's discovered, and Kylie speaks to Prof Karen Broadhurst, co-director of the Centre for Child and Family Justice Research.Artist and poet Cecilia Vicuña is regarded as one of the most important Latin American artists living today - she is often described as an eco-feminist drawing connections between the exploitation of nature and the marginalisation of women. She'll be talking about her new solo exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery in East London.Presenter: Kylie Pentalow Producer: Cerys Maidment

Monica Dolan is starring in a new film, The Lost Children of Tuam, co-produced by Liam Neeson. In it, she plays the extraordinary amateur historian, Catherine Corless, whose relentless pursuit of the truth helped to bring the story of hundreds of babies from an Irish mother and baby home being disposed of in a disused sewage tank to the world in 2014. She joins Nuala McGovern along with journalist Alison O’Reilly to discuss this powerful tale of community activism and how it led to an ongoing mass exhumation.Kemistry is what Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative party leader, is calling her personal brand of conservatism. Almost two years into her tenureship, she has set out her core principles in a 95-page essay. And at their conference in Birmingham yesterday, Badenoch also pledged to scrap the £100,000 earning limit for parents to claim 30 hours a week of free childcare, if her party is elected. Kitty Donaldson, Chief Political commentator at the i Paper gives her thoughts.Broadcaster Ashley James has gone public about the lasting effects of birth complications – including incontinence – and why she believes we need to speak more openly about it. To discuss, Ashley joins Nuala alongside NHS GP Dr Ellie Cannon, who specialises in women’s health.As the weather turns a little more chilly this week, you may be thinking about swapping cereal for something more warming, like porridge. Gina Saarberg has won the coveted Golden Spurtle at the World Porridge Making Championship, which took place in Carrbridge in the Highlands on Saturday. She tells Nuala her tips for a delicious bowl.Stage and screen actor Jane Asher, and Laura Main - best known for Call the Midwife - play The Queen and her dresser in By Royal Appointment, Daisy Goodwin’s play about the quiet power behind the monarch’s public image. It reveals how the Queen expressed what she couldn’t say — through colour, coats and the occasional hat — and how her dresser rose from lipstick advice to real influence. The play is currently on a UK tour – this week they’ll be at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham.

A group of school children have set up a petition calling on the government to ban the use of school uniforms in porn. They say they want to abolish the sexualisation of children through the inappropriate use of school uniform. Kylie Pentelow is joined by two of the campaigners Aylin and Mae, both 15. Kylie also hears from Professor Clare McGlynn, Professor of Law at Durham University and author of Exposed: The problem of Extreme Porn.Helen Rebanks believes the unsung heroes of rural life are often the wives whose behind-the-scenes efforts keep both the family and the business afloat. Descended from generations of Cumbrian farmers, she still lives in the Lake District. Her bestselling 2023 book, The Farmer's Wife, has inspired a play by the same name, running at the Theatre By The Lake in Keswick until 10 October. Helen joins Anita Rani along with playwright Hannah Khalil to discuss the often-overlooked role of farmers wives.A social media-driven resurgence in the popularity of sunbeds is said to be fuelling a rise in cases of skin cancer, particularly among young people, according to some experts. Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is now one of the most common cancers in people aged 15 to 34, according to Cancer Research UK. Meanwhile research by the Teenage Cancer Trust found around 48% of 18 to 34-year-olds in the UK use sunbeds – the highest proportion of any age group. Observer journalist Marine Saint has been looking into this, along with Rosie Vare from the Teenage Cancer Trust.The Women’s Art Collection at Murray Edwards College in Cambridge is marking 40 years since its inception in 1986, with a new exhibition inspired by its very first artwork and two new acquisitions. Joining Kylie to discuss putting women in the frame are Harriet Loffler, Director of the Women’s Art Collection, the artist Professor Dame Sonia Boyce and the art historian and author of The Story of Art Without Men, Katy Hessel.Many parents will have just experienced the departure of their children from the family home as they head for university, turning once-bustling households into so-called 'empty nests'. It can leave those left behind feeling unsettled and cut adrift. Denise Turner, Professor of Social Work at the University of Hertfordshire, is researching the impact this life transition has on parents. They are joined by parenting author and journalist Lorraine Candy to discuss her findings.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

Multiple protests have been taking place in Delhi over the past week. Hundreds of women have come together in India's capital to protest against a series of sexual assaults - most recently the alleged gang-rape of a 17-year-old near Delhi university's campus. Anita speaks to the BBC's South Asia correspondent Azadeh Moshiri.The manufacturers of a new weight loss drug are warning women to beware of dangerous fakes being offered. The new medication is called Retatrutide. Although you can find it for sale on websites, it's not approved and is still in clinical trials. Dr Emily Pegg the UK medical director of the drug company Eli Lilley, the makers of Retatrutide and Dr Alison Cave, the chief safety officer of the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority join Anita Rani to discuss the issues.A photography exhibition starts at the Vagina Museum in London next week called Just Because We Smile, Doesn’t Mean We’re Over It. The images are of more than 100 people who have experienced miscarriage, baby loss or infertility. It is the passion project of Bex Gunn, who along with Laura Buckingham runs The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. Bex and Laura join Anita to explain why they founded their charity and the community that are reflected in these photos.The fourth part of our listener series 'When My Body Surprised Me'. Saba describes the impact weight training for the first time in her 60s has had on her life. Helen Rebanks believes the unsung heroes of rural life are often the wives whose behind-the-scenes efforts keep both the family and the business afloat. Descended from generations of Cumbrian farmers, she still lives in the Lake District. Her bestselling 2023 book, The Farmer's Wife, has inspired a play by the same name, running at the Theatre By The Lake in Keswick until 10 October. Helen joins Anita along with playwright Hannah Khalil to discuss the often-overlooked role of farmers wives. Presented by: Anita Rani. Producer: Louise Corley

New York state prosecutors say they will reopen a criminal inquiry into the alleged rape of a woman at Cornell University in 2024. The woman, referred to in court documents as Jane Doe, alleges in her lawsuit that seven men from Cornell's Chi Phi fraternity chapter assaulted her in an incident involving alcohol and the drug ketamine. The case was investigated by university police but will now go before a grand jury. The case has been discussed widely online, with many including actress Florence Pugh reacting with fury over the reported disciplinary actions taken by the university. Nada Tawfik, BBC North American correspondent, and Tracey Vitchers, Executive Director of It's On Us, a non-profit programme dedicated to college sexual assault prevention, join Anita Rani to discuss.The broadcaster, campaigner and charity founder Dame Esther Rantzen has died at the age of 86. She will be best remembered for presenting the BBC TV Programme That’s Life. She also set up Childline – the telephone helpline for children suffering abuse or neglect – and spent a lot of time campaigning for older people and for assisted dying. Guardian journalist Zoe Williams remembers her and her impact on women's lives. Australia has launched its Endometriosis Management Plan, which gives GPs and patients a much greater role in the management of their endo. Professor Danielle Mazza from Monash University in Melbourne has been instrumental in designing and delivering the plan. She discusses how the UK might benefit from something like this with Dr Sylvia Kama-Kieghe, a GP in Sheffield, and Vice President of Membership and Workforce at the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare.A social media-driven resurgence in the popularity of sunbeds is said to be fuelling a rise in cases of skin cancer, particularly among young people, according to some experts. Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is now one of the most common cancers in people aged 15 to 34, according to Cancer Research UK. Meanwhile research by the Teenage Cancer Trust found around 48% of 18 to 34-year-olds in the UK use sunbeds – the highest proportion of any age group. Observer journalist Marine Saint has been looking into this, along with Rosie Vare from the Teenage Cancer Trust.Producer: Melanie Abbott Presenter: Anita Rani

The Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced an end to the triple lock for the state pension from 2030, and it’s thought that women could be most affected by the proposed changes. Kylie Pentalow is joined by consumer finance expert Sarah Pennells to explain what the news could mean for women’s pensions. The Women’s Art Collection at Murray Edwards College in Cambridge is marking 40 years since its inception in 1986, with a new exhibition inspired by its very first artwork and two new acquisitions. Joining Kylie Pentelow to discuss putting women in the frame are Harriet Loffler, Director of the Women’s Art Collection, the artist Professor Dame Sonia Boyce and the art historian and author of The Story of Art Without Men, Katy Hessel.A group of school children have set up a petition calling on the government to ban the use of school uniforms in porn. They say they want to abolish the sexualisation of children through the inappropriate use of school uniform. Kylie is joined by two of the campaigners Aylin and Mae, both 15. Kylie also hears from Professor Clare McGlynn, Professor of Law at Durham University and author of Exposed: The problem of Extreme Porn.The cultural historian Mineke Schipper was reading proverbs from around the world, when she stumbled upon an idea for a new research project, into what she describes as the last feminist taboo - what happens to women after their husbands die. The research has now become a book called Widows and Mineke joins Kylie to talk about what she's learnt.Have you ever thought about the ways your body has surprised you? Our bodies carry us through every day, and they vary not only between people, but change hugely over the course of our own lives. We’re exploring the question through the experiences of our Woman's Hour listeners. Today we hear from Rebecca, sharing the story of her recovery from breast cancer, and how her body made it through gruelling cancer treatment to find community and joy in the ocean.Presenter: Kylie Pentalow Producer: Olivia Skinner

Many parents will have just experienced the departure of their children from the family home as they head for university, turning once-bustling households into so-called 'empty nests'. It can leave those left behind feeling unsettled and cut adrift. Denise Turner, Professor of Social Work at the University of Hertfordshire, is researching the impact this life transition has on parents. She joins Kylie Pentelow along with parenting author and journalist Lorraine Candy to discuss her findings.Almost half of electronic tags used to track offenders' movements are not fitted on time, with significant delays putting victims in England and Wales at risk, according to a report by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation. It found only 55% of GPS and radio frequency tags were fitted on time, and some criminals are waiting up to five months to be fitted with a tag. Thousands more prisoners will be released from Thursday as part of the new law. Most will require tagging. Farah Nazeer, CEO of Women's Aid, and Andrea Coomber KC, Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, discuss.A new fund has been launched to create 'unstoppable momentum' to end female genital mutilation (FGM). The United Nations has set a goal of elimination by 2030, but progress is not on track as funding declines and legal protections are challenged. This new fund, called Her Horizon Fund, set up by the US-based Wallace Global Fund, seeks to pool $100m from donors to reach a 'tipping point' towards ending FGM within a generation. But Nimco Ali, an FGM survivor and activist, has concerns about this fund. She joins Susan Gibbs, the Wallace Global Fund's senior adviser on women's rights and FGM. The Mexican-American comedian, actor and writer Lara Ricote grew up in Miami before moving to the Netherlands to study politics, where she began performing improv and stand-up comedy. She won the Best Newcomer award at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 2022 for her debut show GRL/LATNX/DEF. She joins Kylie to discuss her role in the romantic comedy series Break Clause, which starts on 1 October.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Ten NHS staff have been removed from duty or suspended after accessing the medical records of three-year-old Noah Woods, without authorisation. A major search for Noah was carried out in the village of Brantham, Suffolk, after the child went missing on 15 September. His body was found the next day in a nearby pond by police divers. An urgent investigation has been launched by East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which says any unauthorised access to patient data is 'completely unacceptable.' BBC Health Correspondent Jim Read joins Kylie Pentelow to discuss the case and the issues it raises, along with Sam Smith, from the organisation Med Confidential, which campaigns for confidentiality in healthcare.South Africa also has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world, and calls are intensifying for more to be done to protect women after the bodies of 10 women have been discovered in Ekurhuleni, east Johannesburg in South Africa in the past two months. It has triggered an outpouring of national grief and outrage, and it's brought the issue of femicide and gender-based violence to the forefront of national discussions. The BBC's Southern Africa correspondent Pumza Fihlani gives an update on developments. What happens when retirement doesn't mean giving up work? Joanne, who is 72, and Karen, who is 66, discuss their experiences of working after retirement.Serenity Falls is the latest thriller novel by C. J. Tudor. The story centres on a British father and daughter who unexpectedly inherit a luxurious house in a seemingly idyllic, crime-free town, Serenity Falls, in the US. Dan and Sadie seize the opportunity for a fresh start and emigrate, but on day one a corpse dressed in an armadillo suit turns up in their swimming pool, and that's just the start of a series of freakish events. C. J. joins Kylie to talk about writing thrillers and her passion for tattoos.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Dianne McGregor

Hollywood star Catherine Zeta-Jones joined Nuala McGovern to talk about her new action thriller series, Kill Jackie and taking on one of her most formidable roles yet, not least because she's finally on screen speaking in a Welsh accent. For months Lucy Godley documented the abuse she suffered at the hands of her former partner. Secretly, she photographed injuries, gathered evidence and sent it to the one person she trusted to keep it safe: her mum, Sharon. The evidence would ultimately help secure his conviction and a 23-year prison sentence. For the first time, Lucy Godley and her mother Sharon spoke to Nuala, together.Morcheeba emerged in the mid 1990s alongside groups like Massive Attack and Portishead, and became pioneers of the British trip-hop scene with hits including Rome Wasn't Built in a Day, The Sea, and Trigger Hippie. They are currently on an international tour, and upcoming dates include the Troxy as part of EFG London Jazz Festival on 13 November. Anita talked to singer Skye about her life and career, and she performs live with bandmate Ross Godfrey, from their album Escape The Chaos.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells

What is the impact of the Durham breast cancer scandal on the women affected? It's been announced that 4,500 patients will have their medical records reviewed. There has been a range of issues including some women who had unnecessary mastectomies. Health correspondent Sharon Barbour and Denise Howarth from the Pink Justice Campaign join Anita Rani to discuss. ‘Donate to charity shops as if you’re giving to a friend’ - that was the advice from author Tansy Hoskins when she joined us on the programme earlier this month. But what can you do with those items in your home that aren’t in good enough condition for a charity shop? From worn-out socks to knickers where the elastic has gone, Laura de Barra, author of Garment Goddess, and Anna Turns, senior environment editor at The Conversation, share what we can do with these items.The leading Dutch dictionary, Dikke van Dale, is adding a new word for the labia to its online edition. Alongside the traditional term schaamlippen, which translates as "shame lips", it will now include vulvalippen or "vulva lips". Campaigners across Europe have spent years challenging language they say reinforces shame and stigma around women's bodies. So why do the words we use for female anatomy matter? Communication researcher Dr Beth Mallory and Shari Klein, co-founder of the Dutch campaign Schaamteloos, which pushed for the change, discuss.It has been 50 years since the groundbreaking play by Ntozake Shange, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf premiered on Broadway. Now, it has a major London run in a production directed by Diane Page for The Yard Theatre's reopening. Blending poetry, music, dance and storytelling, the play follows women, identified only by the colour they are wearing, as they share stories of love, loss, joy and trauma. Diane Page discusses this landmark in African American feminist theatre which celebrates black women's voices while exploring themes of identity, sisterhood and survival.Presented by Anita Rani Produced by Melanie Abbott

Naomi Alderman is an award-winning novelist, broadcaster, TV producer and videogames creator. Her latest novel The Strangers blends memoir and speculative fiction to explore grief, identity and our search for meaning when our lives are uprooted by events out of our control. Naomi joins Anita to discuss why stories can sometimes help us navigate loss more powerfully than facts, and whether the mysteries we cannot explain reveal something essential about what it means to be human.A Scottish nurse has told an employment tribunal she did not believe her union representative took her objections to sharing female changing rooms with a transgender colleague as seriously as she did. It's the second employment tribunal Sandie Peggie has brought over the dispute with Dr Beth Upton – a transgender woman who was born biologically male. And whilst employment tribunals seldom make headlines, this one is about gender-critical beliefs in the country that has been at the forefront of testing these beliefs in policy and law. Anita speaks to Lorna Gordon who is covering this story for BBC Scotland.Morcheeba emerged in the mid 1990s alongside groups like Massive Attack and Portishead, and became pioneers of the British trip-hop scene with hits including Rome Wasn't Built in a Day, The Sea, and Trigger Hippie. They are currently on an international tour, and upcoming dates include the Troxy as part of EFG London Jazz Festival on 13 November. Anita talks to singer Skye Edwards about her life and career, and she performs live with bandmate Ross Godfrey, from their album Escape The Chaos.Why are women waiting months, and sometimes more than a year, for a procedure that can take just minutes? The College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare says access to hormonal coils has become a postcode lottery, with women seeking treatment for heavy periods, endometriosis and perimenopause facing long delays. It launches a campaign today called Why are Women Waiting? Nuala hears from Hattie Simpson, who waited nearly seven months for treatment, and Dr Zara Haider, President of the College.

Hollywood star Catherine Zeta-Jones joins Nuala McGovern to talk about her new action thriller series, Kill Jackie and taking on one of her most formidable roles yet, not least because she's finally on screen speaking in a Welsh accent. She joins Nuala live in the studio.Nearly 30 years after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, 'Swan Song: Diana, My Sister' Earl Spencer recounts his life with his sister and the traumatic days following her death. Does his account help us better understand Diana, the woman who was also a global icon? Nuala discusses with Anne McElvoy, executive editor at Politico and co-host of the Politics at Sam and Anne’s podcast, and Justine Picardie – Social historian and author of Fashioning the Crown: A Story of Power, Conflict and Couture and author of memoir If the Spirit Moves You. The shortlist for the Booker Prize has been announced, and while female writers formed a majority of the 2026 longlist, the final selection includes four male and two female authors. Pulp frontman and Booker Prize judge Jarvis Cocker said that it was a 'surprise' that four books written by men ended up on the shortlist, 'because generally speaking, the male-written books weren't as good as the ones written by women'. Nuala is joined by Gaby Wood, Chief Executive of the Booker Prize Foundation. Good morning Gaby!Hair they say is a woman’s crown. Some 63% of women in the UK have wavy, curly or coily hair. Despite this, it can often be difficult to find a hairdresser who can comfortably style their hair. Paris Tyrell posted a video on social media about her experience, which provoked a lot of discussion. Nuala hears from Paris and Anita Ramshini, Director of Avesta Hair and Academy based in Salford.Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley