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Woman's Hour: Searching for Rosemary Kennedy, 40 years of Madonna, Wendy Warrington - nurse/midwife, Nicola Brookes, Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

18/01/2023

Searching for Rosemary Kennedy, 40 years of Madonna, Wendy Warrington - nurse/midwife, Nicola Brookes, Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Searching for Rosemary Kennedy, 40 years of Madonna, Wendy Warrington - nurse/midwife, Nicola Brookes, Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

The little-known story of Rosemary Kennedy.

Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett on the extraordinary cat characters of her childhood, anxiety and recovery from trauma, family love and why she used to say 'I’m not sure I want children'.

(Photo Amy Ní Fhearraigh by Kip Carroll)

Rosemary Kennedy has often been referred to as the "missing Kennedy". She was the sister of former US President John F. Kennedy and despite been part of one of the most famous families in American politics, very little was known about Rosemary. Until recently. Her story has been brought to life by the Irish National Opera in Least Like the Other – Searching for Rosemary Kennedy at the Royal Opera House.  Director Netia Jones and soprano Amy Ní Fhearraigh join Jessica Creighton to discuss the production and its themes.

The First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, told CNN news that it is the women in Ukraine who are bearing the brunt of the war, caring for their children and older relatives, and keeping things going. Someone who knows this only too well is Wendy Warrington, an NHS nurse and midwife who has been going out to give medical help and support to women and children in Ukraine since March last year. She joins Jessica to talk about the situations that she sees every day, and how women really are at the heart of it all.

The Queen of Reinvention, Madonna, has announced her first ever greatest hits tour to mark 40 years since her breakout single, Holiday.  She'll be playing 35 dates around the world.  Performing hits from her 1983 self-titled debut album to 2019's Madame X.  Jess dicusses her influence with Fiona Sturges, Arts writer for The Guardian and the Financial Times.

Yesterday serial rapist David Carrick was formally dismissed by the Metropolitan Police. He pleaded guilty to 24 rapes and multiple sexual offences.  Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, has apologised to his victims for the force’s failings. The force is currently investigating 1,000 sexual and domestic abuse claims involving about 800 of its officers. For survivors hearing about these cases in the news can be very difficult. Jess speaks to Nicola Brookes who was groomed by a police officer. The independent office of Police conduct said he “knowingly targeted and exploited” her.

During the Covid 19 lockdown, the writer Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett decided - like many of us - to get a pet. She acquired Mackerel, a kitten, whose antics over one year helped her examine her desire and fears about becoming a mother and inspired her to write her latest book ‘The Year of the Cat’.  Jessica Creighton asks Rhiannon about cat ladies and the extraordinary cat characters of her childhood, and the deeper themes of her book - anxiety and recovery from trauma, family love and why she used to say, “I’m not sure I want children.”

Presented by Jessica Creighton
Producer: Louise Corley
Editor: Beverley Purcell

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

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Searching for Rosemary Kennedy, 40 years of Madonna, Wendy Warrington - nurse/midwife, Nicola Brookes, Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

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