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Mary Chapin Carpenter, Birds, Parole board, Marie Stopes, Upskirting

What now for the future of the parole board? Plus country music's Mary Chapin Carpenter, spring birds, the first-ever sex manual and whether upskirting should be criminalised.

A decision by the Parole Board to release the rapist John Worboys has been quashed. The legal challenge by two victims was upheld by the High Court which said 'further inquiry' was needed into Worboys' offending. Following the decision their Chairman resigned. The case will now be referred back to the Parole Board. Jenni talks to the Victims' Commissioner Baroness Newlove and Dr David Ho, consultant forensic psychiatrist from Essex Partnership University NHS Trust.

Marie Stopes is probably best remembered for opening the first birth control clinic in the UK, in Holloway, North London, in 1921. But 2018 marks 100-years since her book, Married Love, was published, and is featured in today's Home Front episode. On a mission for heterosexual couples to have better sex, the manual proved so popular it was reprinted several times in its first few months. Historian, Lesley Hall, joins Jenni to discuss the book's impact.

Mary Chapin Carpenter has been on the country music scene for 30 years, winning five Grammy awards, two Country Music Awards, and selling over 14 million records. Her latest album, Sometimes Just The Sky, looks back at those years, picking a song from each of her 12 albums to reimagine. She joins Jenni to discuss her three-decade career, and why sometimes, you just have to look up to find perspective in life.

Schoolgirls are wearing shorts underneath their skirts in a bid to avoid upskirting photos taken by other pupils, that's according to teachers. Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, says that school for many girls is not a safe space. Jenni discusses the issue with Dr Bousted and Gina Martin, who is campaigning to make upskirting a sexual offence.

There has been a surge in goldfinches, long-tailed tits and coal tits sightings, according to the results of this year's RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch. These smaller birds suffer particularly badly in cold weather but in the past year have benefited from a good breeding season and a mild winter (minus the beast from the east!) Jenni talks to Kate Risely, Leader of the British Trust for Ornithology's Garden Ecology team, to get some tips for making your garden more bird-friendly.

Presenter: Jenni Murray.

Available now

45 minutes

Chapters

  • Worboys

    Duration: 10:35

  • Married Love, Marie Stopes and Home Front

    Duration: 08:15

  • Mary Chapin Carpenter

    Duration: 10:18

  • Upskirting

    Duration: 08:03

  • Birds

    Duration: 05:27

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jenni Murray
Interviewed Guest Helen Newlove
Interviewed Guest David Ho
Interviewed Guest Lesley Hall
Interviewed Guest Mary Chapin Carpenter
Interviewed Guest Mary Bousted
Interviewed Guest Gina Martin
Interviewed Guest Kate Risely

Broadcast

  • Thu 29 Mar 2018 10:00

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