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Original poster

I miss the old R4 Woman's Hour. I don't tune in anymore.

185 replies

flashbac · 20/06/2021 22:57

I don't/can't listen to Woman's Hour anymore. It's lost its magic. I miss having it in the background and listening to interesting points of discussion. Now I find it gets on my nerves. It's crap.

OP posts:
Signifyingnothing · 20/06/2021 22:58

Agree

JohnSteinbeck · 20/06/2021 22:58

Agree. It seems to be turning into the R2 Jeremy Vine show.

BikeRunSki · 20/06/2021 22:59

Agree

VestaTilley · 20/06/2021 22:59

Agree. It’s crap. I’m 35 and feel like it’s squarely aimed at women in their 20s. They made such a mistake bringing in those new presenters.

GoingGently · 20/06/2021 23:00

Me too. It's sappy and simpering. Like the awful One Show or something

Roonerspismed · 20/06/2021 23:00

Agree. Irrelevant content to me as a middle aged woman

naichick · 20/06/2021 23:01

Its such a relief when its Anita Rani, I’m trying to like Emma Barnett but she just really grates unfortunately. I understand why they’ve changed it bit when it was Jenny Murray and Jane Garvey it was just nicer and more relaxing!

IvorHughJarrs · 20/06/2021 23:03

I loved Woman's Hour back in the day as it was so thought provoking but can't cope with all the new trendy correctness. Hate it now :(

tunnocksreturns2019 · 20/06/2021 23:03

Same.

FakeTanandProsecco · 20/06/2021 23:04

Agree. I really miss Jenny and Jane! I don't mind Anita but haven't bothered listening recently, only catch it accidentally when driving.

naichick · 20/06/2021 23:04

I guess its hard to be relevant to all ages, I suppose its tried to change to appeal to a wider and maybe younger range of women who realistically probably are more into podcasts etc. It doesn’t seem to have much relevance to me and I’m 33 🤷‍♀️

bastardmonkfisher · 20/06/2021 23:10

I agree. I want to like it, but it just stresses me out. I don't think we need more Paxman style attacking interviews. I love Emma Barnet's clothes style. But nothing else v unfortunately.

MsFogi · 20/06/2021 23:12

Agree I've unsubscribed on Sounds.

MNybvcx54 · 20/06/2021 23:12

I don’t like Emma’s style of interviewing, it’s neither empathetic nor searching. It seems like she is going through the motions and tries to catch people out rather than engage them. Jenni Murray is sadly irreplaceable.

GlencoraP · 20/06/2021 23:13

Same here

GlorianaCervixia · 20/06/2021 23:15

I just unsubscribed from the podcast because I’m not enjoying it anymore. I find Emma Barnett hard to listen to and I miss the warmth of Jane Garvey and Jenny Murray.

Maybe it’s unfair but when I listen I get the sense there’s a group of twenty-something women choosing the topics in line with their own interests. Plus their treatment of Maya Forstater was amateurish.

CherryPieface · 20/06/2021 23:15

Yes, I can’t listen to Emma Barnett. Think she’d work better on Times Radio or LBC. I suppose that’s what the Beeb are hoping for. I like Anita Rani though.

ouchmyfeet · 20/06/2021 23:24

I agree. Sometimes listen to Anita rani on a Friday but Emma Barnett is unbearable and WH doesn't feel feminist to me any more.

Blossomtoes · 20/06/2021 23:29

Emma Barnett sets my teeth on edge, she’s so abrasive. If only it was Anita Rani every day.

1WayOrAnother2 · 20/06/2021 23:31

It has changed - as all things do of course - but too fast. For me it has really gone in the wrong direction too. :( I did love it.

The sudden ejection of two presenters is part of this Losing one at a time allows for new ideas/ways to be introduced but countered and checked and fitted into the whole program. I think that this sort of change helps the previous listeners go along with the new more easily.

The big problem for me is that it seems to be just an 'hour' rather than a 'woman's hour' now.

Cactuslockdown · 20/06/2021 23:36

Same. I used to listen to the podcast every day. It used to be a real treat, funny, warm, interesting… now it grates on me. Sad

GoingGently · 20/06/2021 23:36

It has no bite whatsoever. Anita Rani too nice and would never wade into anything difficult IMO. Now it feels like a programme that sort of talks about women, but is not actually 'for' women. Feels like they're reading from a list of patriarchy-approved subjects! All very party line and ... zzzz...

Anordinarymum · 20/06/2021 23:37

Maybe it is just me but I could not stand listening to Jenny Murray's voice. I listen more now than before

MayIDestroyYou · 20/06/2021 23:42

So it's not just me?

In times past there needed to be a really compelling reason for me to switch it off, if I was around and not concentrating on anything else. Now, I hope for a compelling reason not to switch off as soon as it comes on.

Emma Barnett made such a bad start. I really don't want to be so conscious of feeling negative towards the presenter - it means I just have no confidence at all in her position or attitude towards any item they cover.

BlackeyedSusan · 20/06/2021 23:44

Actively turn it off now.