Cush Jumbo, Author Kate Mosse, Sue Gray quits, Women in business

Woman's Hour

The Prime Minister's chief of staff Sue Gray has left her post and has been replaced by Morgan McSweeney. It's led some papers to claim "the lads have won this round". To discuss, Nuala McGovern is joined by Caroline Slocock, former civil servant and author of Margaret Thatcher and Me, which reflects on women and power.

Actor Cush Jumbo has reprised the role of Lady Macbeth alongside David Tennant in Macbeth which has just transferred to the Harold Pinter theatre in London. She joins Nuala to discuss how she is approaching one of Shakespeare’s most famous female characters.

A recent government survey showed a sharp decline in the number of female-led businesses. Last year, only 15% of businesses employing fewer than 250 people were owned or led by women, down from 18% in 2022. Debbie Wosskow, serial entrepreneur and co-chair of the Invest in Women Taskforce, joins Nuala.

Kate Mosse is soon to release The Map of Bones, the fourth and final instalment in her series of novels The Joubert Family Chronicles, which begin in 1562 and follow a persecuted Huguenot family, charting generations of courageous and resilient women.

Adventurer Elise Wortley is following in the footsteps of forgotten female explorers… all whilst wearing the same, historically accurate clothing. She joins Nuala to tell her more about her mission.

Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce