Women's football; Ultrasound; TV violence against women

It’s the Women’s FA Cup Final on Sunday and Arsenal Ladies will be playing Bristol Academy. Women’s football is now the UK’s third most popular team sport and its profile has never been as high. Last summer, team GB played in front of massive crowds at the Olympic Games and this summer, the senior England women’s team will be playing in the UEFA European Women’s Championships in Sweden. For years, the women’s game has struggled to make any impact but in October last year the FA announced a 5 year plan to develop women’s football. So, why is Women’s football on the rise and can it simply be attributed to the injection of more cash? What is actually being done at the grassroots level to turn little girls into the female footy stars of the future? Jenni is joined by Kelly Simmons of the FA’s Director of the National Game and Women’s Football. and by Siobhan Chamberlain, goalkeeper for Bristol Academy and England.

Two BBC drama series in recent weeks have caused much comment, not just for the excellence of the acting and scriptwriting but also because of the scenes which depict violence against women. In The Politician’s Husband there was a graphic anal rape scene and in The Fall last week, there was a lengthy sequence of violence against women that made the Radio Times TV editor – Alison Graham – “feel sick.” She believes that scenes like this have “overstepped the mark”. Alison talks to Jenni about the levels of violence against women in TV dramas. They are joined by the BBC’s Head of Drama, England – Kate Harwood.