Main content

Sheila Kitzinger, Minette Walters, Joy Williams

Crime writer Minette Walters on The Cellar, natural childbirth campaigner Sheila Kitzinger, singer Joy Williams and a celebration of breastfeeding in Bristol. With Jenni Murray.

Minette Walters, crime writer, returns with The Cellar, her first novel in 8 years. It tells the story of Muna whose fortunes change for the better on the day that Mr and Mrs Songoli's younger son fails to come home from school. But everything is not quite what it seems.

Sheila Kitzinger spent fifty years campaigning for women to have choice in the way they give birth. She died on April 11th. Her daughters Celia and Jenny recorded their mother's final thoughts. They share these with Jenni and discuss their mother's autobiography, A Passion for Birth.

Musician Joy Williams is best known for being part of the duo The Civil Wars. The country folk band broke up in 2014, and this year Joy has decided to make a music come back. She joins Jenni to talk about her career, winning four Grammys and performs her new single.

Eva Fernandes, organiser of A Celebration of Breast Feeding in Bristol on breast milk as food.

Available now

58 minutes

Chapters

  • Minette Walters

    Duration: 09:55

  • Sheila Kitzinger

    Duration: 14:37

  • Breastfeeding

    Duration: 06:38

  • Joy Williams

    Duration: 10:09

Sheila Kitzinger

Often referred to as the β€œhigh priestess of natural childbirth,” Sheila Kitzinger spent the last five decades campaigning for women to have choice in the way they give birth. She died on 11 April, and less than a week later Celia and Jenny - her eldest and youngest daughters - came into the Woman’s Hour studio. They let us listen to a recording of some of Sheila’s thoughts in the weeks before she died, and discussed her legacy and her autobiography, A Passion for Birth.

A Passion for Birth, My Life: Anthropology, Family and Feminism by Sheila Kitzinger is published by Pinter & MartinΜύ

Minette Walters

Minette Walters

After a gap of more than eight years the Queen of Crime is back.ΜύMinette Walters’ new book,ΜύThe Cellar, tells theΜύstory of Muna, whose fortunes change for the better on the day that Mr and Mrs Songoli’s younger son fails to come home from school…but everything is not quite what it seems. Jenni Murray talks to Minette about the new book and why, after all these years,Μύshe still likes to shock her readers.

The Cellar by Minette Walters is published by Random House

Bristol Breastfeeding Event

opened on 1 May and continues to 9 May. As a part of that Eva Fernandes has organised a celebration of breast milk as the perfect food. She joins Jenni to explain why and how Bristol has benefited from its UNICEF baby friendly city award over the last few years.

Joy Williams

Joy Williams

Four time Grammy winner Joy Williams is best known for being part of the duo The Civil Wars. The country folk band broke up in 2014, and this year Joy has decided to go solo. She joins Jenni to talk about her musical career and to perform her new single Woman (Oh Mama).

Joy Williams’ new album Venus is out this summer on Columbia

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jenni Murray
Interviewed Guest Sheila Kitzinger
Interviewed Guest Celia Kitzinger
Interviewed Guest Jenny Kitzinger
Interviewed Guest Minette Walters
Interviewed Guest Joy Williams
Interviewed Guest Eva Fernandes
Producer Rebecca Myatt

Broadcast

  • Thu 7 May 2015 10:00

Follow us on Instagram

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

Podcast