
Weekend Woman’s Hour: Maureen Lipman, Women in security, Female birdsong
From Woman's Hour by BBC Radio 4
May 2, 2026 · 57 min
About this episode
Dame Maureen Lipman discusses her new musical play while experts address issues in children's homes and the security profession.
Dame Maureen Lipman joins Chloe Tilley to talk about Allegra, the joyful new musical play that begins a nationwide tour just two days after her 80th birthday. She tells us about playing a woman who finds happiness in a world that can't quite handle it, and the physical demands of singing and dancing eight times a week. The use of illegal, unregistered children's homes in England has surged by more than 370% in five years, according to a new report, Hidden Children: An investigation into Unregistered Children’s Homes, published by Commonweal Housing and written by Public First. Nuala is joined by Fraser McLean, Policy and Communications Manager for the charity Commonweal Housing and Rebekah Pierre, Deputy Director of the charity Article 39. Simone Pennant, the founder and CEO of The TV Collective, has just been presented with the 2026 BAFTA Television Craft Special Award at this year’s ceremony. It was in recognition for her outstanding contribution in championing diversity within the screen industries. Is it time to retire the term 'bouncer'? We hear from Satia Rai, CEO of the International Professional Security Association, who told the largest gathering of the security…
People in this episode
Host: Chloe Tilley
Guests: Dame Maureen Lipman, Rebekah Pierre
Topics covered
- theater
- children's welfare
- security profession
- diversity in media
- female empowerment
- birdsong
Keywords
- musical play
- children's homes
- security
- diversity
- female empowerment
- birdsong
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Commonweal Housing, Article 39, BAFTA, International Professional Security Association
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