Sarah Hadland, Men Fixated on Violence, Author Jennifer Saint

Sarah Hadland will be a familiar face to many, having played numerous roles over the years, but is probably best known for her role as Stevie in the BAFTA-nominated sitcom Miranda. Currently on stage in London’s West End, she joins Nuala McGovern to discuss her latest role as Alice in The Truth, a fast-paced comedy of infidelity and duplicity.

The second phase of the Southport inquiry will resume in September. It was set up after Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar were murdered at a dance class in 2024. Its chairman Sir Adrian Fulford wants to find ways to respond to the dangers posed by violence-fixated individuals - individuals who may carry out extreme violence, where ideology is not the primary driver. The government programme Prevent focuses on tackling extremist ideologies that lead to violence and aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Lord Anderson was the Independent Prevent Commissioner from January 2025 to April 2026, who published an independent review 'Lessons for Prevent' which also looked at why Prevent failed to stop the Southport attack. Some are asking whether misogyny should be considered an ideology within government schemes. Nuala discusses with Lord Anderson and Dr Ruth Tulley, a consultant forensic psychologist.

We're in the middle of our third heatwave of the year - and temperatures are set to climb again later this week. Scientists say that what makes this year's heatwaves distinct is that right across Europe temperatures have remained high overnight as well as in the day. In June, London alone recorded five consecutive nights over 20 degrees Celcius, what meteorologists call "tropical nights". The temperatures inside many homes will have been much higher. Lots of us are reporting struggling to sleep. Consultant Paediatrician, Dr Guddi Singh and GP, Dr Sarah Jarvis join Nuala to discuss what to do if you are caring for a baby.

The author Jennifer Saint has retold some of the best-known stories from Greek literature and mythology through the eyes of women: Ariadne, Atalanta, Electra and Hera. In her latest novel, This Immortal Heart, Jennifer turns to Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love and reimagines Aphrodites’ relationship with Ares, the god of war. Jennifer joins Nuala to talk about how stories that originated over two thousand years ago and their themes can tackle contemporary questions about female agency and identity – and what happens when two seemingly opposite forces – love and war - are drawn irresistibly together.

Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley