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Weekend Woman's Hour: Pearl Mackie, Kids and gambling, and the Menopause in literature

Pearl Mackie on being a Doctor Who sidekick and her new role in Pinter's The Birthday Party, protecting young children from gambling, and the menopause in literature.

Pearl Mackie best known as Dr Who's sidekick Bill talks to us about playing Lulu in Pinter's The Birthday Party.

New research from the housing charity Shelter suggests that more than 100,000 female tenants in England have been offered 'sex for rent' in the last year. We hear from Barbara Dickson who has first-hand experience of this issue and from Polly Neate the chief executive of Shelter.

How being in nature and making crafts can help with mental health issues with Emma Mitchell who suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder and has written a creative guide for surviving the winter months.

Twelve percent of children aged 11-15 gambled in the last month, making gambling a more common risky behaviour than smoking or drinking. Professor Heather Wardle the Head of Gambling & Place Research at Geofutures on how children are getting drawn in and how parents can spot hidden gambling .

The midlife crisis is a staple in novels but why is the menopause missing? Alex Clark the literary critic has sought out hot flushes, brain fogs and anxiety in a variety of novels.

How has being a single parent changed over the last 100 years? Rosie Ferguson the chief executive of Gingerbread, and two single mothers Sacha Corcoran and Ayse Inal share their experiences.

Two authors who found love in an unlikely place and turned their real life stories into novels. Emmy Abrahamson met her future husband when he was homeless, living in bush barefoot and dirty and Zoe Folbigg noticed a new commuter on her train and knew immediately that he was the one.

Presented by Jenni Murray
Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed
Editor: Beverley Purcell.

Available now

58 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jenni Murray
Interviewed Guest Pearl Mackie
Interviewed Guest Barbara Dickson
Interviewed Guest Polly Neate
Interviewed Guest Emma Mitchell
Interviewed Guest Heather Wardle
Interviewed Guest Alex Clark
Interviewed Guest Rosie Ferguson
Interviewed Guest Sacha Corcoran
Interviewed Guest Ayse Inal
Interviewed Guest Emmy Abrahamson
Interviewed Guest Zoe Folbigg
Producer Rabeka Nurmahomed
Editor Beverley Purcell

Broadcast

  • Sat 3 Feb 2018 16:00

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