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Woman's Hour: Ruth Jones, Women and renting, Couples who disagree about having children

Ruth Jones, Women and renting, Couples who disagree about having children

BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Ruth Jones, Women and renting, Couples who disagree about having children

The actor and writer on starring in Sister Act and writing the Gavin and Stacey finale

Three young women talk about how the increasingly difficult challenges of the rental market has affected their lives, plans and sense of stability.

Ruth Jones is live in the Woman’s Hour studio to talk about playing the Mother Superior in a West End production of Sister Act. She discusses getting out of her comfort zone by appearing on stage for the first time since 2018 and working on her fourth novel. Plus what can fans of Gavin and Stacey expect from the Christmas special?

What happens in relationships when one person wants a family and the other definitely doesn’t? Is missing out on the chance to have children a deal-breaker? Or do some couples decide to stay together, with one person choosing the relationship over a baby? As BBC Radio 4 drama The Archers explores the dynamics between a couple in this situation, Nuala McGovern hears from Joanna Van Kampen who plays Fallon Rogers in The Archers and relationship therapist Cate Campbell.

With the cost of renting and living on the rise, housing insecurity is an increasingly harsh reality for many. A survey by Shelter and YouGov found that 54% of women feel that being a renter has held them back. Three young women—Aimee, Rhiannon, and Rebecca—talk about the significant challenges they’ve faced in the rental market, and how this has affected their lives, plans, and sense of stability. Nuala is also joined by Jenny Lamb from Shelter to talk about how to best negotiate renting.

Marina Gibson, a leading female angler who runs the Northern Fishing School in North Yorkshire, has called on the Flyfishers’ Club in London to finally open its doors to women.  The club, which was established in 1884 and counts the King as a patron, describes itself as a club for gentleman interested in the art of flyfishing.  Marina explains why she wants women to be able to join, and how her love of fishing led to a career change. 

Presenter: Nuala McGovern
Producer: Olivia Skinner

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