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

[flashbac]

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.

I don’t enjoy it - they don’t go deep enough into any issue I’m interested in - I find it very unsatisfying. It used to feel warm and supportive and now it just feels stabby and awful. I no longer listen to it.

Same! Have unsubscribed from it on Sounds.

I used to really enjoy it but find myself constantly commenting to myself, 'Where's the feminist angle?' or 'and how does this relate to women specifically?' EB never asks the questions I want the answer to, but she does do that awful thing of repeatedly putting the same thing to the interviewee over and over, even when they've answered it. Horrendous to listen to especially when it's not even some thing that I am particularly on board with. I canlisten to AR more but she's more a Countryfile type presenter to listen to, which again, is not my thing.

Now Fortunately OTOH - I really, really wish that was more than once a week!

If you miss Jane Garvey, listen to the Fortunately podcast. It's much more irreverent than Woman's Hour and lots of laughs. Even in its old incarnation, I found WH a bit worthy sometimes.

I really miss Jane Garvey, but I still listen. Sometimes When Emma is interviewing I'm like, what are you doing? But she'll get there

I fast forward a lot to the cherry pick topical nuggets.

It’s not the same.

Jenni Murray, please start podcasting!

I am in my sixties and was waiting to be old enough to start listening to Radio 4 and Women’s Hour. I guess I have missed the boat !

I agree. I'll listen to it if I happen to be in the kitchen while it's on, but I don't listen to it in the evening if I've missed it. I love Fortunately. I don't mind Emma Barnett - actually there's an episode of Fortunately from a while ago where she's talking to Jane and Fi, and she sounded great there, but I don't think she's quite right for WH.

Tbh I'm glad Jenni left, but I really miss Jane Garvey.

@Anordinarymum

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

You’re joking. She has a voice like velvet and she is such a good journalist.

@sandgrown I started listening at 16 after my English teacher put me onto it, and have loved it since...until now!!

I wonder if the original presenters will get a gig with the times radio?! It seems to be positioning itself as a R4 alternative

I'd thought Emma was OK on Newsnight, but on radio she comes across as totally disinterested. Her tone of voice is often impatient and dismissive and there's not much warmth. It surprised me. Anita, again, I'd liked on Countryfile but find rather simpering when interviewing. Then she got huffy with, presumably, the WH listeners with this tweet -

twitter.com/itsanitarani/status/1398221484779347968
"I’m disgusted by the levels of transphobia on here. @BBCWomansHour is a space to discuss everything including LGBTQ+ issues. Listening to people’s stories helps us understand something and hopefully empathise. Ditch the hate [rainbow emoji]"

She got lots of responses along the lines of 'well call it everything hour then'.

I will give Fortunately a whirl.

Yep - either stressfully abrasive when it's an Emma Barnett day, or stressfully saccharine when it's Anita Rani. Either way, it raises my blood pressure.

They also seem to read out listener tweets and emails far more than they used to in the Jane/Jenni days (possibly to fill time now it's an hour long) and often seem to choose blokey bloke messages. I don't want to hear Barry in Croydon's twist on 'well, you girls wanted equality' on Woman's Hour, thank you.

I find Emma just seems so abrasive and difficult like she is trying to catch people out. Rather than having a good deep discussion. It’s a very poor style.

And it may just be bad luck but several times recently I’ve turned on and it’s been male interviewee after male interviewee. No different to anything else. I never used to turn it off but now I do.

Thought it was just me. Was a regular listener for over two decades but now I occasionally listen when it's Anita Rani but avoid the rest of the week.

I remember when Jane Garvey started on Women's hour and I couldn't stand her. Now I could listen to her all day and think she's wonderful. I think Emma's interviews are a bit pants but I'm hoping she will grow on me with time too.

I hardly listen now Emma is too shouty

Been listening to WH for almost 30 years, but actively avoiding it now. Hate the double loss of brilliant Jenni & Jane, and I don't like how they have approached issues recently - definitely NotWoman's Hour nowadays.

Agree... don't like the new presenter

Emma Barnett is one of the worst 'faces' of feminism they could have found. Honestly just terrible.

Loved Jane Garvey.
Admired Jenni Murray, though she got on my tits at times.
I switched off shortly after Emma Barnett's horrible interrogation of Zara Mohammed.
Not going back any time soon, though I miss the programme it used to be..

Oh no, Jane Garvey’s left as well!? 😭

Its not woman's hour anymore.

That's the top and bottom of it

I can't take to Emma either, I always think of this when she's on:
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/school-aide-laundered-brothel-cash-946427

Agree. And they keep interviewing sodding men on it now. Men are the primary interviewees on every other bloody hour of R4

Another vote here for Fortunately! The first part is like sitting in the kitchen with a couple of mates over a bottle of wine, putting the world to rights. Then a great interview.
Also don't like Emma Barnett... but am currently at the other end of the world where radio is pretty pants so I do still listen, gritting my teeth.