Main content

Weekend Woman's Hour: Sheila Hancock; Childlessness; Edna O'Brien

Sheila Hancock on her role in Barking in Essex; Joan Smith and Simon Cox discuss the press's fascination with Samantha Lewthwaite; the grief of childlessness; Edna O'Brien.

Sheila Hancock on her latest stage role as the matriarch of a family of East End criminals: what attracted her to a character with such colourful language? We discuss the reporting surrounding so called "White Widow" Samantha Lewthwaite - Simon Cox, presenter of "The Report" on Radio 4, and columnist Joan Smith discuss the on-going fascination.

The school that set a quota for girls to study engineering - on why have they had to abandon the plan - and Yewande Akinola, Young Woman Engineer Of The Year 2012, on why she'd recommend it as an exciting career.

The grief of childlessness: Jody Day describes life for women who are not childless by choice, and the reaction they get. The novelist Edna O'Brien on her new collection of short stories The Love Object. As students start college and university - how do you prepare a child with a disability for independence? Two mothers, Clare McCarthy and Denise Jackson share their stories.

Eliza Carthy and Marry Waterson on growing up as part of a folk dynasty and perform in the studio.

Available now

58 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jane Garvey
Interviewed Guest Sheila Hancock
Interviewed Guest Joan Smith
Interviewed Guest Simon Cox
Interviewed Guest Paula Gwinnett
Interviewed Guest Yewande Akinola
Interviewed Guest Jody Day
Interviewed Guest Edna O'Brien
Interviewed Guest Denise Jackson
Interviewed Guest Claire McCarthy
Interviewed Guest Eliza Carthy
Interviewed Guest Marry Waterson
Producer Louise Corley

Broadcast

  • Sat 5 Oct 2013 16:00

Follow us on Instagram

Get all the pictures, videos, behind the scenes and more from Woman’s Hour

Podcast