09/06/2022

Oscar-winner Dame Emma Thompson has graced our screens for four decades. As an actor, she's played all kinds of women, from her role as Elinor Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility to her heart-breaking Karen in Christmas favourite, Love Actually. But now she's taking on a different kind of acting role. Good Luck To You, Leo Grande tells the story of Nancy Stokes, a 55-year-old widow (played by Thompson) who decides to hire a significantly younger male sex worker, played by the Irish actor, Daryl McCormack. She joins Emma to talk about women's pleasure, full frontal nudity and the #MeToo movement. If you’re a woman and you have a baby it’s going to cost you £70,000 in lost earnings over the next decade. That’s according to new research from the Social Market Foundation which is setting up a cross party commission to tackle the spiralling costs of childcare. Emma talks to Director of the Foundation James Kirkup about its findings, and one woman working as a senior mental health nurse who says she takes home just £100 per month after childcare costs. We also get the view of the Early Years Alliance, a charity that represents child minders, nurseries and pre-schools. Since 2009, the artist Kirstie MacLeod has been working on The Red Dress project. Pieces of this burgundy silk dress have travelled around the world to be embroidered by women, many of whom have been marginalised or live in poverty. It’s given them a platform and an opportunity to share their story and identity. After 13 years, 46 countries and 343 embroiderers, the dress is finally complete. Kirstie joins Emma to describe the finished dress. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Alison Carter Photo credit: Nick Wall © GoodLuckLeoLimited