
Yanar Mohammed, MP Phil Woolas, Professor Robin Weiss, Jane Lapotaire
From Last Word by BBC Radio 4
March 20, 2026 · 28 min
About this episode
Matthew Bannister discusses the lives and contributions of Yanar Mohammed, Phil Woolas, Professor Robin Weiss, and Jane Lapotaire.
Matthew Bannister on Yanar Mohammed who campaigned for women’s rights in Iraq and set up a secret network of shelters for those fleeing abusive relationships. She was shot dead on 2nd March. Phil Woolas, a key figure in the New Labour project who became MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth. Professor Robin Weiss, the eminent virologist who carried out important work to understand HIV. Jane Lapotaire, the classical actor who won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Edith Piaf. Interviewee: Nawal Al-Maghafi Interviewee: Nick Jones Interviewee: Jonathan Weber Interviewee: Zoë Wanamaker Producer: Ribika Moktan Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley Archive used: Outlook, BBC World Service, 09/05/2005; News 1800, BBC Radio 4, 14/12/2003; BBC News, 1/04/1992; BBC News, 02/05/1997; Daily Politics: 2010 Election, Debates: The Immigration Debate, 4/05/2010; BBC News at Ten, BBC, 07/05/2009; BBC News at One, 09/12/2010; BBC News, 21/11/1986; Frontiers, BBC Radio 4, 24/02/1996; Piaf, playwright Pam Gems, director Howard Davies, production by Royal Shakespeare Company, broadcast on Arena: Theatre, BBC 12/02/1979; The 35th Annual Tony Awards, dir Clark…
People in this episode
Host: Matthew Bannister
Guests: Nawal Al-Maghafi, Nick Jones, Jonathan Weber, Zoë Wanamaker
Topics covered
- women's rights
- politics
- virology
- theatre
- HIV
- classical acting
Keywords
- Yanar Mohammed
- Phil Woolas
- HIV
- Jane Lapotaire
- New Labour
- theatre
- women's rights
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BBC Radio 4
Books & works: Piaf, Richard II, The 35th Annual Tony Awards
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