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American aristocrats, trans-racial adoption, female cop duos, and partner or baby - which comes first?

Presented by Jenni Murray. As Shirley Maclaine begins filming Downton Abbey, how did the real life 'dollar princesses' take the upper classes by storm?

Presented by Jenni Murray. Filming is well underway for the third series of 'Downton Abbey' in which Shirley Maclaine will be appearing in the new role of Lady Grantham's mother. But who were the real life American women who crossed The Atlantic to marry an English Lord? From Jennie Jerome to Nancy Astor, we explore the 'dollar princesses' and how the tradition of the anglo-american romance continues in high places to this day. In order to get more children out of care quicker, the government wants to make trans-racial adoption easier but is it right to do so? Is a loving adoptive family all that any child needs or should the principle of always trying to match child-parent ethnicity be safeguarded when it comes to adoption? We ask what adoptees themselves think including the poet Jackie Kay. As Scott and Bailey, Manchester's very own Cagney & Lacey, returns to screen, we explore the new appetite to watch female detectives in TV crime drama. And baby or partner - who comes first in terms of time and emotional energy?

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58 minutes

Last on

Fri 9 Mar 2012 10:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Chapters

  • Transracial Adoption

    Jenni is joined by Children’s Minister Tim Loughton, and also by the poet Jackie Kay and by Shama Sutar-Smith, who were both adopted by parents of a different race to themselves.

    Duration: 12:25

  • American Aristocrats

    To discuss American artistocrats, Jenni is joined by Gail MacColl, author of To Marry An English Lord, and by the current Lady Carlisle, columnist for Country Life magazine.

    Duration: 11:01

  • Female Cop Duos

    To discuss female detectives on screen and in literature, Jenni is joined the writer of Scott and Bailey, Sally Wainright, and by Professor Gill Plain of St Andrews University.

    Duration: 07:46

  • Baby or Partner - Who Comes First?

    Can you be too baby-centric, and can it damage your long term relationship? Jenni is joined by two mothers - the journalist Angela Epstein, and writer Valerie O’Riordan.

    Duration: 08:42

Broadcast

  • Fri 9 Mar 2012 10:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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  • Woman's Hour

    Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire.