Childcare Costs, Funny Women, Active Ageing

Available for over a year

The rising costs of childcare - we look at a new report from The Daycare Trust which shows how much parents are paying out to go to work. At the other end of the scale, we look at the growing numbers of people over 60 and hear arguments for better support for our ageing population taking priority over help with childcare costs. Despite a proliferation of professional funny women, it's men who dominate a shortlist for this year's Chortle comedy awards. Just two female comedians make it to the listing which runs to 13 separate categories. We talk to the man behind the awards and ask why women appear to have lost out. We look at the challenges that arise when same-sex couples enter into informal parenting agreements with donors in order to have a child. Are pre-conception agreements the answer to potential legal battles over the role of the parents involved? Producer Catherine Carr. Presenter Jane Garvey.