Weekend Woman's Hour: Melanie C, Breast reconstruction delays, Sarah Finch

Weekend Woman's Hour: Melanie C, Breast reconstruction delays, Sarah Finch

From Woman's Hour by BBC Radio 4

April 25, 2026 · 29 min

About this episode

The episode features discussions with Melanie C about her new album and body image, the impact of breast cancer treatment delays, and Sarah Finch's environmental activism.

Melanie C has been a household name for the past three decades, since the Spice Girls burst into the charts with Wannabe and went on to become the world’s biggest ever girl group. She says her new solo album Sweat is a chance to bring together all the different aspects of herself, from pop star to superstar DJ, teenage raver to being fit in her 50s. She joins Anita Rani to discuss her latest album, body image, and finding confidence in her 40s and 50s. At the height of the Covid pandemic, hundreds of women undergoing treatment for breast cancer had mastectomies without reconstruction - procedures that would usually happen at the same time, but were paused because they were considered non-essential. Many women were told they would be able to have reconstructive surgery once the restrictions lifted. But five years on, some are still waiting: living with pain and discomfort, and unable to move on with their lives. Joining Nuala McGovern are journalist Rosie Taylor, who has been speaking to the women affected, and Alison from Stockport On Monday, Sarah Finch became the European recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize, for her work against oil drilling in Surrey, with the Weald…

People in this episode

Hosts: Anita Rani, Nuala McGovern

Guests: Melanie C, Sarah Finch

Topics covered

  • music
  • body image
  • breast cancer
  • environmental activism
  • women's health
  • confidence

Keywords

  • Melanie C
  • breast reconstruction
  • Covid pandemic
  • Goldman Prize
  • environmental activism
  • body image
  • women's health

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Goldman Environmental Prize, Weald Action Group, BBC Radio 4

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