Woman's Hour

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Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire.

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Woman's Hour: Cynthia Erivo, Eating disorder system failures, Writer Christina Patterson, Cancer gene testing

Cynthia Erivo, Eating disorder system failures, Writer Christina Patterson, Cancer gene testing

BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Cynthia Erivo, Eating disorder system failures, Writer Christina Patterson, Cancer gene testing

Award-winning actor and singer Cynthia Erivo on her new role in Luther: The Fallen Sun.

Multi award-winning actress and singer-songwriter Cynthia Erivo talks about her new role in Luther: The Fallen Sun.

People with eating disorders are being repeatedly failed by the system and radical changes need to be made to prevent further tragedies. That’s according to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman UK, Rob Behrens. He says little progress has been made in the six years since the publication of a report which highlighted serious failings in eating disorder services. Rob joins Nuala to talk about what those failings are, and what needs to be done.

In her memoir Outside the Sky is Blue, writer and journalist Christina Patterson tells her story of what it's like to grow up with a sibling who is mentally ill. Her older sister, Caroline, had her first breakdown when she was fourteen and Christina was nine. Later, Caroline was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was heavily medicated for the rest of her life. Christina joins Nuala to discuss growing up in a family in the shadow of mental illness. 

Actor, singer, songwriter, and all round South London superstar Cynthia Erivo joins Nuala to speak about her role in the upcoming film, Luther: The Fallen Sun, where she appears opposite Idris Elba. She’ll also talk about making the movie version of the musical Wicked, where she is playing the lead role of Elphaba, and being one step away from an EGOT (an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony) award winner.

Would you want to know if you were going to get cancer? Journalist Hilary Osborne was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. She regrets not finding out sooner whether she carries the BRCA2 gene. Whereas comedian Michelle Brasier has been told by doctors she has a 97% chance of developing cancer, and is living life to the full. So, how do you face the stark reality of living with a hereditary and life-shortening illness? Hilary and Michelle join to Nuala to talk about their experiences.  

Presenter: Nuala McGovern
Producer: Lottie Garton

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Cynthia Erivo, Eating disorder system failures, Writer Christina Patterson, Cancer gene testing

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