GUILTY PLEASURES: NO 12. JOHN BIRD ON `WOMAN'S HOUR'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.I'VE NEVER really spoken to anyone about Woman's Hour on Radio 4 before, because it deals with things that men like me generally don't get involved in, like health, dieting and fashion.
But I love it. I probably know more about cellulite now than most women, and if I ever get it then I know the potions to take. I always find myself telling people I'm in the middle of really important, death-defying negotiations, but then sneak off to listen to the show.
If I were honest I would like Woman's Hour to take over the BBC, and I am also of the opinion that the world will only make sense when women run it. Men shoot guns in the air and women always want to know where the bullets fall. And more than that, they worry if they have hit a bird.
I started listening when I was a printer. Because I let everyone else listen to Jimmy Young, Terry Wogan and all that rubbish, they would allow me my Woman's Hour. Unfortunately the women didn't like it because they thought it was posh, and my fellow male printers thought I was, well, a homosexual.
The show reminds me of the 1950s, in the best sense of the word; it's not rushed and has a meditative quality. It's a kind of easy listening, but more than that it's like drifting off to sleep and waking up in the middle of a Women's Institute meeting.
Most other radio shows try and convince you that you are taking your life in your hands if you don't listen, and my wife is always too busy listening to those programmes where you feel you are going to have a heart attack. I guess I am just well in touch with my feminine side. We're not feeling very feminine at The Big Issue at the moment, but we're working on it.
John Bird is editor-in-chief of `The Big Issue'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments