Weekend Woman's Hour: Arlo Parks performs, Susannah Constantine and alcoholism & internet sensation Jackie Weaver

Published: Feb. 6, 2021, 5 p.m.

The singer/songwriter Arlo Parks was named the BBC Introducing Artist of the Year in October. She tells us about her debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams – and performs the track Green Eyes. Susannah Constantine the author, journalist and fashionista tells us about her alcoholism. Sober now for seven years, she believes a lot of women are struggling with alcohol addiction during lockdown. She tells us about the feelings of shame surrounding her drinking and how she believes it leads to a sense of isolation and loneliness. We hear why women are at the forefront of protests in India against new farming laws. BBC’s South Asia Correspondent Rajini Vaidyanathan and Usha Seethalakshmi from Makaam, a forum for Women's Farmers Rights in India discuss. The Ministry of Justice recently announced plans for up to 500 new prison cells to be built in women's jails. They say these will be created in existing women's prisons to increase the number of single cells available and improve conditions. But these announcements have drawn criticism from a number of organisations. We hear from Kate Paradine from Women in Prison, Joy Doal the CEO of Anawim, a Women’s Centre in Birmingham, and from Lucy Frazer the Prisons Minister. Zara Mohammed is the first woman and the youngest person to be elected to lead the Muslim Council of Britain - the largest umbrella organisation representing British Muslims. She discusses her new role with us. And the internet sensation Jackie Weaver tells us all about ‘that’ Parish Council Zoom meeting. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed Editor: Lucinda Montefiore Guest: Susannah Constantine Guest: Rajini Vaidyanathan Guest: Usha Seethalakshmi Guest: Arlo Parks Guest: Lucy Frazer Guest: Joy Doal Guest: Kate Paradine Guest: Zara Mohammed Guest Jackie Weaver