Main content

Susan Boyle's Aspergers diagnosis; Sara Thornton; Birgitte Hjort ³§Ã¸°ù±ð²Ô²õ±ð²Ô

Jenni Murray discusses Susan Boyle's Aspergers diagnosis. Plus Borgen's Birgitte Hjort ³§Ã¸°ù±ð²Ô²õ±ð²Ô, Thames Valley chief constable Sara Thornton, and childcare in Fiji.

Singer Susan Boyle has revealed she has Aspergers, a form of Autism. Why is the condition so hard to diagnose in women and what is the impact of finding out later in life? Birgitte Hjort ³§Ã¸°ù±ð²Ô²õ±ð²Ô, talks about playing Katrine Fonsmark in the BAFTA Award winning cult drama Borgen and her new part in Shakespeare's Coriolanus. Powerlister Sara Thornton, Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police. And our series looking at childcare around the world begins in Fiji where communal child rearing has been at the centre of traditional village life for centuries.

Available now

58 minutes

Chapters

  • Power Lister Sara Thornton

    Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police on women in the Police at all levels.

    Duration: 09:20

  • Asperger's in Women

    Why is the condition regularly diagnosed late in women?

    Duration: 08:25

  • Childcare in Fiji

    Our series looking at childcare around the world begins in Fiji.

    Duration: 13:37

  • Birgitte Hjort ³§Ã¸°ù±ð²Ô²õ±ð²Ô

    ³§Ã¸°ù±ð²Ô²õ±ð²Ô talks to Jenni about playing Katrine in the cult drama Borgen.

    Duration: 08:41

Asperger Syndrome in Women

Susan Boyle has revealed aged 52 that she has Asperger Syndrome a form of autism. It’s estimated that one in five people with autism is overÌý60, according to the National Autistic Society. We look at the particular difficulties of identifying the condition in women and whether the services they’re offered following diagnosis are geared up for meeting their needs.

Ìý

More information and advice can be found through .

Birgitte Hjort ³§Ã¸°ù±ð²Ô²õ±ð²Ô: Katrine in Borgen

plays ambitious reporter Katrine Fonsmark in , Â鶹Éç4’s hit Danish TV series that follows the life of Denmark’s fictional first female prime minister. She also takes on the role of Virgilia in Coriolanus at the Donmar Warehouse in London this month. So how much is the real life Sorensen like her characters? And what’s it like being part of such a successful Danish export?

Ìý

Starting next Monday and running all week on Radio 4 is , a radio spinoff from the popular TV series. Read more aboutÌýthe drama seriesÌý.

Power Lister Sara Thornton

And Power Lister Sara Thornton, Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police joins Jenni to talk about women in the Police at all levels, her commitment to building public confidence in the force and the unrelenting pressures of a 24/7 senior role.

Childcare Around The World: Fiji

What’s the best form of childcare for the under 5s if parents need, or want, to work? Our reporter Madeline Morris lives and works in Melbourne and has been looking at how other cultures look after their children. First she travelled to Fiji where communal child rearing has been at the centre of traditional village life for centuries. She looks at how this is changing as more parents need to leave their homes and their children for long periods to find work.

Ìý

On Monday’s programme we will be looking at childcare in the UK and we’d like to hear your experiences. How were you cared for as a child – by your mother at home?Ìý By your extended family? By a nanny? In a nursery? How do you think it affected you? If you have children, what choices have been available to you and how did you decide what was the best option for you and your family?Ìý

Ìý

to more on alternative childcare from the World Service.

Ìý

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jenni Murray
Interviewed Guest Birgitte Hjort Sorensen
Interviewed Guest Sarah Thornton
Producer Emma Wallace

Broadcast

  • Wed 11 Dec 2013 10:00

Follow us on Instagram

Get all the pictures, videos, behind the scenes and more from Woman’s Hour

Podcast