Great Lives

Other

BBC Radio 4 Extra

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Life Stories

Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 LW

Matthew Parris

Ayesha Hazarika

Perminder Khatkar

Great Lives: Ayesha Hazarika on Jayaben Desai

Ayesha Hazarika on Jayaben Desai

BBC Radio 4 - Great Lives, Ayesha Hazarika on Jayaben Desai

Ayesha Hazarika champions her hero Jayaben Desai who led the Grunwick strike in 1976.

4 Extra Debut. Comedian Ayesha Hazarika chooses Jayaben Desai, who led the 1976 ‘strikers in sarees’ dispute. With Matthew Parris. From 2018.

Stand up comedian and political commentator Ayesha Hazarika's hero is Jayaben Desai.

Jayaben led a two year strike at Grunwick Film processing factory in North London. 

The majority of the workers were migrant women and they became known as the 'strikers in sarees'. 

Matthew Parris remembers the strike in 1976 as he was working in Margaret Thatcher's office at the time, but only recalls the violence at the picket line and the fact that the strike failed.

Can Ayesha convince Matthew Parris that Jayaben Desai deserves the accolade of a great life?

With Dr Sundari Anitha, co- author of 'Striking Women'.   

Producer: Perminder Khatkar

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2018.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Great Lives

Ayesha Hazarika on Jayaben Desai

Contributors

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 Extra

About BBC Radio 4 Extra