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Woman's Hour: Irish singer-songwriter Imelda May

16/04/2021

Irish singer-songwriter Imelda May

BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Irish singer-songwriter Imelda May

Irish singer-songwriter, Imelda May; rape trials in Scotland; van life.

Imelda May- an Irish singer-songwriter discovered by Jools Holland. Jury free rape trials in Scotland? Choosing to live in a van.

Imelda May is an Irish singer/songwriter discovered by Jools Holland when she supported him on tour and subsequently appeared on Later ... with Jools Holland in 2008. She was the queen of rockabilly, with a Fifties-style frock, trademark quiff – and a voice compared to legendary blues singers such as Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan. The quiff is long gone. She joins Anita Rani to discuss her music, her style and her latest album '11 Past the Hour' and the track 'Made to Love', with inspired contributions from feminist thinkers and activists, Gina Martin and Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu.

A review into the way the justice system works in Scotland, when hearing rape and serious sexual offences, has called for new specialist courts where a judge could sit without a jury. The proposals are part of a package of measures aimed at stopping the 'retraumatisation' of victims by their experience of the court system. Lord Justice Clerk, Lady Dorrian - Scotland's second most senior judge, and Sandy Brindley, National Coordinator of Rape Crisis Scotland - one of the groups which took part in the review process - join John Scott QC, president of the Society of Solicitor Advocates. 

The idea of living in a van is not an unusual as you may think and many women are doing it. Search under the #vanlife on Instagram and there are over 9.5 million posts, with seductive photos of people who have refurbished cosy vans for holidays and adventures abroad but also those who have traded living in houses for a permanent life on the road. Anita is joined by George McKimm, who lived in her van from 2016 until 2020, and Missy, who currently lives with her husband Dom, daughter Rosie and their pets. They have been on the road since 2019 in their Sprinter van which they call the sub.


Presenter: Anita Rani
Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Interviewed Guest: Imelda May
Interviewed Guest: Sandy Brindley
Interviewed Guest: John Scott
Interviewed Guest: Valerie MacGregor
Interviewed Guest: George McKimm 
Interviewed Guest: Missy

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