Bonnie Garmus became a global publishing phenomenon when her debut novel Lessons in Chemistry was released. Set in the 1950s and 60s, the story of talented chemist Elizabeth Zott was inspired by her own experience of sexism in the workplace. It sold nine million copies, has been translated into 40 languages and turned into an Emmy-winning TV series starring Brie Larson. Now Bonnie is back with her second novel, Peck & Peck, which tells the tale of a young man whose life is turned upside down when he starts working at the world’s most prestigious poetry journal. She joins Anita Rani in the studio.
The comedian Russell Brand has been in the witness box giving evidence in his defence at the trial in which he faces three charges of rape, three charges of sexual assault and one charge of indecent assault against six women. He has denied all the charges. The allegations span 10 years from 1999 to 2009. The trial at Southwark Crown Court in London began just over two weeks ago. On Wednesday Russell Brand himself took the stand for the first time and yesterday his wife Laura gave evidence. Sima Kotecha, the BBC's Senior UK Correspondent, has been in court and speaks to Anita.
This week marks a historic shift for Britain's most famous shopping street. Cars, taxis, cyclists and several bus routes are now banned from large sections of Oxford Street in London as the first phase of a £150 million pedestrianisation project gets under way. Supporters claim the transformation will create a greener, cleaner and more accessible space, while also providing an opportunity to rethink how public spaces can better meet the safety needs of women and girls. Dr Ellie Cosgrave, Director of the Inclusive Cities Team at Publica and Professor of Inclusive Design at Chelsea College of Arts and Abigail Gaines from Make Space York and charity manager of the Friends of Rowntree Park, York join Anita to discuss.
If ghosts and witches don't send a shiver down your spine this Halloween, how about the vampiress? Bloodthirsty, seductive, sexually voracious, terrifying- and very much female. We tend to think of vampires as men, thanks to Dracula, but in fact some of the earliest depictions of vampires - and vampiric monsters - were women. To discuss monstrosity and misogyny in culture throughout the ages, Anita is joined by Professor Eleanor B Johnson from Columbia University, author of the new book, Monstrous Bitch: A History of Terrifying Women and by Dr Emily Middleton from the University of Leeds, who is involved in a new exhibition, Quite Shameless: Cultural Reflections on the Vampire.
Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Simon Richardson