Katherine Ryan, Public Speaking, Anna Byrne

Raye has just won the Mercury Prize 2026 with her album This Music May Contain Hope. Anita Rani talks to music journalist Sophie Williams, who was one of the judges this year.

New figures from the Care Quality Commission show children and young people are being hit hardest by delays in the NHS. Anita is joined by Dr Ronny Cheung, Consultant Paediatricition and officer for Health Services at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Comedian Katherine Ryan’s new memoir explores the impact being a Firstborn Daughter has had on her approach to life. From becoming the family’s ‘Head of Emotional Operations’ at a young age, to her thoughts on marriage, motherhood, fertility and facelifts, Katherine joins Anita to discuss her take on what it means to be woman in modern society.

Spoken language will be given equal status with reading and writing in an updated curriculum and assessment for schools, the Education Secretary has announced. Anita speaks to Becca Dean, founder of The Girls Network, and poet Kirsty Taylor to discuss what effect this policy will have on girls' ability to speak up for themselves. Anna Byrne is a women's health journalist who recently went viral on Instagram for her song A Musical Guide to Perimenopause which explores the complex, and sometime frustrating, symptoms many perimenopausal women face. The video has had more than eight million views, and Anna tells Anita how she is on a mission to 'write a hormonal song a day'.

Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Corinna Jones