Donna McLean's guest appearances

Donna McLean

Woman's Hour

HodderPod - Hodder books podcast

Talk Radio Europe

Kamala Harris

Cara Delevingne

Dolly Alderton

Cathy Rentzenbrink

Nancy Pelosi

Kate Malone

Hillary Clinton

Eve Ensler

Zadie Smith

London Hughes

Oprah Winfrey

Toni Morrison

Glennon Doyle

Elizabeth McGovern

Brené Brown

OwlTail

Marian Keyes

Marian Keyes writes funny, clever novels about the tough stuff in life. Her new novel Again, Rachel revisits Rachel Walsh whose story of recovery from addiction was told in the 1997 novel Rachel's Holiday. Marian explains how her own experience of addiction and recovery shapes the stories she tells.In the glamorous world of luxury property selling high-end homes can be a cut-throat business. Sophie Leigh and Chloe Cable from the reality show Mega Mansion Hunters discuss their uphill struggle to become successful women in the industry.Donna McLean first heard about undercover cops having relationships with female activists in 2010 when Mark Kennedy, an undercover police officer who had spent years pretending to be an environmental campaigner, was unmasked. She didn’t realise until years later she was also a victim of the Spy Cops scandal. She has written a memoir Small Town Girl: Love, Lies and The Undercover Police.A group of mothers in Massachusetts exorcise their pandemic frustrations by screaming in a group in the middle of a football field. Could the craze come to the UK? We speak to Professor Pragya Agarwal and Dr Rebecca Semmens-Wheeler Last week’s Levelling Up white paper has promised a devolution deal to every part of England that wishes to have one by 2030. But what impact has devolution had on female political representation? We discuss with Jemima Olchawski, Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society; Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire; and Jackie Weaver, Chief Officer of the Cheshire Association of Local Councils.Brit-award winning singer-songwriter Kate Nash introduces her new song Imperfect, and shares her experience of learning to wrestle for Netflix series GLOW.Presenter: Anita RaniProducer: Lucy WaiEditor: Lucinda Montefiore

Marian Keyes writes funny, clever novels about the tough stuff in life. Her new novel Again, Rachel revisits Rachel Walsh whose story of recovery from addiction was told in the 1997 novel Rachel's Holiday. Marian explains how her own experience of addiction and recovery shapes the stories she tells. In the glamorous world of luxury property selling high-end homes can be a cut-throat business. Sophie Leigh and Chloe Cable from the reality show Mega Mansion Hunters discuss their uphill struggle to become successful women in the industry. Donna McLean first heard about undercover cops having relationships with female activists in 2010 when Mark Kennedy, an undercover police officer who had spent years pretending to be an environmental campaigner, was unmasked. She didn’t realise until years later she was also a victim of the Spy Cops scandal. She has written a memoir Small Town Girl: Love, Lies and The Undercover Police. A group of mothers in Massachusetts exorcise their pandemic frustrations by screaming in a group in the middle of a football field. Could the craze come to the UK? We speak to Professor Pragya Agarwal and Dr Rebecca Semmens-Wheeler Last week’s Levelling Up white paper has promised a devolution deal to every part of England that wishes to have one by 2030. But what impact has devolution had on female political representation? We discuss with Jemima Olchawski, Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society; Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire; and Jackie Weaver, Chief Officer of the Cheshire Association of Local Councils. Brit-award winning singer-songwriter Kate Nash introduces her new song Imperfect, and shares her experience of learning to wrestle for Netflix series GLOW. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lucy Wai Editor: Lucinda Montefiore

Weekend Woman's Hour: Marian Keyes, Donna McLean, Mansion Hunters

The celebrations to mark her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee have officially begun. with events up and down the country over the coming months. One woman who's preparing her own very special tribute to the Queen is 92 year old Margaret Seaman. Margaret made headlines last year with her 'knitted Sandringham' which painstakingly recreated the palace and grounds of the Queen's Norfolk estate. Margaret joins Emma from her home in Great Yarmouth.Imagine finding out the love of your life never existed. Donna McLean first heard about undercover cops having relationships with female activists in 2010 when Mark Kennedy, an undercover police officer who had spent years pretending to be an environmental campaigner, was unmasked. She didn’t realise until years later she was also a victim of the Spy Cops scandal. Over 40 years, British police officers were sent undercover to infiltrate left-wing activist groups. Over 30 women, so far, have found out the men they fell in love were actually spying on them. In 2015 a message from an old friend turned Donna’s life upside down. She found out the 2 year long relationship she’d had with locksmith Carlo was in fact a lie. He was an undercover police officer. She has written a memoire Small Town Girl: Love, Lies and The Undercover Police.You may have heard the term 'pregnant people' being used in place of 'pregnant women'.  It's intended to be inclusive of trans men and nonbinary people who are having a baby.  Today a global group of women's health experts publish an article in the journal Frontiers of Global Women's Health, arguing that there are unintended consequences to shifting the language of reproduction in this way.  They say these include compromising the accuracy of some medical research and results, and the dehumanisation of women by using terms that refer to them only by body part or function - for example 'cervix haver' or 'birth-giver'.    Jenny Gamble, Professor of Midwifery at Coventry University, is one of the co-authors of the article and joins Emma.The Gilded Age is a new TV series created by Julian Fellowes - of Downton Abbey fame - which follows the lives of high society women in 1880s New York. But who are the real historical figures who inspired the series? We speak to social and fashion historian Elizabeth Block. Lata Mangeshkar, one of India's most beloved singers, has died aged 92. Described as the 'nightingale of Bollywood', she had a career that spanned more than half a century and her voice was the soundtrack to hundreds of Bollywood films.  Her funeral took place earlier today in India, attended by Prime Minister Modi and stars of the entertainment industry. Two days of national mourning will follow. To reflect on her extraordinary legacy, Emma is joined by BBC presenter Nikki Bedi.Image: Sandringham as knitted by Margaret Seaman Credit: Keiron Tovell

The celebrations to mark her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee have officially begun. with events up and down the country over the coming months. One woman who's preparing her own very special tribute to the Queen is 92 year old Margaret Seaman. Margaret made headlines last year with her 'knitted Sandringham' which painstakingly recreated the palace and grounds of the Queen's Norfolk estate. Margaret joins Emma from her home in Great Yarmouth. Imagine finding out the love of your life never existed. Donna McLean first heard about undercover cops having relationships with female activists in 2010 when Mark Kennedy, an undercover police officer who had spent years pretending to be an environmental campaigner, was unmasked. She didn’t realise until years later she was also a victim of the Spy Cops scandal. Over 40 years, British police officers were sent undercover to infiltrate left-wing activist groups. Over 30 women, so far, have found out the men they fell in love were actually spying on them. In 2015 a message from an old friend turned Donna’s life upside down. She found out the 2 year long relationship she’d had with locksmith Carlo was in fact a lie. He was an undercover police officer. She has written a memoire Small Town Girl: Love, Lies and The Undercover Police. You may have heard the term 'pregnant people' being used in place of 'pregnant women'. It's intended to be inclusive of trans men and nonbinary people who are having a baby. Today a global group of women's health experts publish an article in the journal Frontiers of Global Women's Health, arguing that there are unintended consequences to shifting the language of reproduction in this way. They say these include compromising the accuracy of some medical research and results, and the dehumanisation of women by using terms that refer to them only by body part or function - for example 'cervix haver' or 'birth-giver'. Jenny Gamble, Professor of Midwifery at Coventry University, is one of the co-authors of the article and joins Emma. The Gilded Age is a new TV series created by Julian Fellowes - of Downton Abbey fame - which follows the lives of high society women in 1880s New York. But who are the real historical figures who inspired the series? We speak to social and fashion historian Elizabeth Block. Lata Mangeshkar, one of India's most beloved singers, has died aged 92. Described as the 'nightingale of Bollywood', she had a career that spanned more than half a century and her voice was the soundtrack to hundreds of Bollywood films. Her funeral took place earlier today in India, attended by Prime Minister Modi and stars of the entertainment industry. Two days of national mourning will follow. To reflect on her extraordinary legacy, Emma is joined by BBC presenter Nikki Bedi. Image: Sandringham as knitted by Margaret Seaman Credit: Keiron Tovell

Knitted Sandringham, Donna McLean, Language of reproduction

You live with someone for two years and then...they simply don't exist.Over 40 years, two British police units acted undercover to infiltrate activist groups. At least 20 of those officers deliberately targeted women and entered relationships with them. One of those women was me. This is my story.Men wrote the police files. They wrote the scripts and the headlines. Men wrote the court orders to make us anonymous, and they will sit in judgement at the coming public inquiry. In a system that doesn't see women, you have to fight to be heard. When they take your identity, you have to find your voice.Learning the truth nearly destroyed me - but an accidental activist was born.A voice at the centre of the Spy Cops scandal. The great love story of Donna McLean's life wasn't just built on lies, it was one. With an inquiry underway, Small Town Girl is a reclamation of a truth that was ruthlessly buried.

You live with someone for two years and then...they simply don't exist. Over 40 years, two British police units acted undercover to infiltrate activist groups. At least 20 of those officers deliberately targeted women and entered relationships with them. One of those women was me. This is my story. Men wrote the police files. They wrote the scripts and the headlines. Men wrote the court orders to make us anonymous, and they will sit in judgement at the coming public inquiry. In a system that doesn't see women, you have to fight to be heard. When they take your identity, you have to find your voice. Learning the truth nearly destroyed me - but an accidental activist was born. A voice at the centre of the Spy Cops scandal. The great love story of Donna McLean's life wasn't just built on lies, it was one. With an inquiry underway, Small Town Girl is a reclamation of a truth that was ruthlessly buried.

SMALL TOWN GIRL written and read by Donna McLean - audiobook extract