Dancer Michaela DePrince, Women's Magazines, New Screening Tests for Babies

Michaela DePrince was orphaned in Sierra Leone, adopted by American parents and is now a professional ballerina. Michaela talks about her life and how her dream to become a dancer came after a faded picture blew into her orphanage gates.

Every baby born in England from 5th January is being offered screening for 4 additional rare genetic disorders. The early identification of these conditions can prevent death or premature disability, and significantly improve the quality of life for those living with these conditions. The test will be performed using the same blood test that babies currently have at 5 to 8 days old. This sample is already used to test for 5 conditions which form the NHS Newborn Blood Spot Screening Programme such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell. Dr Anne Mackie, Director of Programmes for the NHS Screening Programmes, will join Jenni to talk about the significance of these new tests and how it will help parents manage their children’s conditions. 

Readerships of print magazines are falling in favour of digital and mobile editions. Is online a poor substitute for the real thing or is that view outdated? We get some magazine editors together to ask what is the future of women’s magazines and what are they doing to survive?

This programme also featured part of an interview with the magazine journalist Alice Head - part of the Woman's Hour Collection , classic interviews from the history of the programme

Partial defence or an alleged reason to explain the actions of the perpetrator, can and has been used in cases of domestic homicide. Essentially it means that if successful the charge will be reduced from murder to manslaughter, with a corresponding shorter sentence. After hearing an interview about the use of partial defence in cases of adultery, Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, Chair of the Joanna Simpson Foundation, contacted Woman’s Hour about her friend, Joanna, who had been killed in 2010 by her estranged husband after a divorce battle. Hetti joins Jane Garvey to explain why a Royal Commission on murder needs to take place.