International Women's Day highlights on Radio 4 Extra

Radio 4 Extra celebrates International Women’s Day on 8 March with a range of programming from the BBC archives.

Full details, with broadcast times, can be found in the Radio 4 Extra schedule.

Across the week, Lyse Doucet presents a five-part series - Her Story Made History - featuring in-depth interviews with remarkable women about the relationship between women and democracy; she hears reflections from some of the world's most influential women's rights activists, including former presidents, and shares her own experiences in reporting from some of the most troubled regions.

Madeha Al Ajroush

The series begins with Monica McWilliams, who talks about her role in the Good Friday Agreement; Madeha Al Ajroush discusses Saudi women's battles for the right to drive; Lyse meets Vigdis Finnbogadottir of Iceland, the first elected female head of state; the redoubtable Afghan politician and diplomat Shukria Barakzai, survived death threats for views, and a suicide attack; and Lyse's final guest is Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female head of state.

Deborah Frances-White Rolls the Dice

Comedienne Deborah Frances-White tells the true life story of her search for her birth mother. Deborah is Australian but now living in London. With the vocal assistance of Thom Tuck, Alex Lowe, and Celia Pacquola, she ploughs through Google and Facebook to seek out her long lost family before finally hiring a private detective.

Deborah soon uncovers clues that lead her to the discovery of a genuine relative - her aunt - but not before some odd detours, including possibly being related to a one-armed champion pole dancer.

Eventually, contact is made with Deborah's real mother, Devon, and she must ask the awkward question - why was she given away?

Upping the Tempo: It's 1970 and Annie Nightingale becomes the first female DJ on Radio 1 and then one of the presenters of The Old Grey Whistle Test. The longest serving DJ on Radio 1, Annie's has been a stellar career, but what is her legacy? Jane Garvey explores whether Annie's success has made it easier for women to be recognised as a voice of expertise in music broadcasting.

Baroness Castle of Blackburn

Sentimental Journey - Barbara Castle and Arthur Smith

Arthur Smith joins political veteran, Baroness Castle of Blackburn as she returns to Pontefract - recalling the inequalities that surrounded her as a child - and the father who pointed them out. But there's trouble for Arthur when he arrives late...

Comedy Club

Award-winning comedienne Athena Kugblenu hosts Comedy Club all this week; her guest interviewee on International Women's Day is Eleanor Tiernan.

Newsjack

BBC Radio 4 Extra's topical sketch show Newsjack returns for its 18th series with host Angela Barnes. Featuring Mike Wozniak, Róisín O'Mahony and Joe Barnes

Masala FM is Meera Syal's sitcom about an Asian radio station based in London.

Newsjack's Angela Barnes

In a special episode chosen as part of BBC Radio 4 Extra's Comedy Club line-up for International Women's Day, Maz Mazoo gets an offer from Radio Fun FM; Madoona, the Asian Madonna, is intent on making her mark on Masala FM, and Shanta's sick of the pair of them. This episode stars Meera Syal, Nina Wadia, Nitin Sawheny and Sanjeev Bhaska. With music by Nitin Sawhney.

Hudson and Pepperdine

Written and performed by Mel Hudson and Vicki Pepperdine, the show we've selected for International Women's Day takes on a slightly military feel when Second World War stand-up comedian Edie Trinder joins Mel Hudson and Vicki Pepperdine once again for some Blitz humour - and another war hero literally drops in!

Radio 4 Extra's International Women's Day programmes can all be heard on 8 March. For broadcast times, take a look at the Radio 4 Extra schedule.