Slimming clubs; Dr Maisah Sobailhi; Camping

The Irish edition of the Sun newspaper has stopped using pictures of topless women on Page 3, replacing them with photos of women in swimwear. The paper’s editor, Paul Clarkson, has said that decision was taken because the paper caters for a different audience in Ireland and to reflect cultural differences. So how has this development been received in Ireland and what does it mean for the campaign against Page 3 in the UK? Jenni is joined by Laura Slattery, who writes about media issues for The Irish Times and by media analyst, Claire Enders.

A female Saudi academic is the first person from Saudi Arabia to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Dr Maisah Sobaihi’s one-woman show, Head Over Heels in Saudi Arabia, takes on marriage, love and women in Arab society. Maisah joins Jenni to talk about her work and the position of women in Saudi Arabia.

Head Over Heels in Saudi Arabia is at The Merchant’s Hall, Edinburgh, from 11th – 26th August

If you were listening yesterday you’ll have heardKirstie Allopp going on a personal journey to ask why women often don’t get the birth they want. She questioned the role of antenatal classes, the NCT, doctors and midwives. There was a strong reaction and we hear what some of you thought. 

What does camping mean to you? Is it about ‘Wild Camping’ where you get to grips with the elements and sleep in extreme places, escaping reality and absorbing beautiful landscapes or is it about ‘Mild Camping’, sharing a camp fire with friends, family and strangers and creating a little temporary community. Phoebe Smith Author of 'Extreme Sleeps: Adventures of a Wild Camper', and Molly Forbes founder of parenting blog, Mothers Always Right join Jenni to discuss.

All over the country in Britain’s churches and community halls, tens of thousands of people - mainly women - attend slimming clubs every week. Director Vanessa Engle (Walking With Dogs, Money, Women, Jews, Lefties) will be in the studio to talk about her new film ‘Welcome to the World of Weight Loss’ which explores why so many of us struggle to stay in control of what we eat. The documentary follows three slimming groups and a whole range of characters from a Ghanaian mother and daughter to three young students slimming since primary school, and two sisters who have shed 16 stone between them.