Woman's Hour - 03/11/2008

Presented by Jane Garvey. TV presenter Fern Britton talks about her successful career in television, her battle with depression, her body image and the controversial gastric band. How will the votes of so-called maxed-out moms affect the US election? To find out why the vote of this new group matters so much, BBC correspondent Laura Kuennsberg reports from the US and Jane talks to Cindy Weber, Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Lancaster. The new Woman's Hour serial is A Life of Chekhov by Irene Némirovsky. Michael Hastings, who adapted the book for Woman's Hour, talks to Jane about why this wealthy Jewish émigré was attracted to the life of her famous compatriot, who was himself a grocer's son. Monday Panel: Journalist Amanda Platell, novelist Tim Lott, and youth worker and Director of The Truth Isn't Sexy campaign Aimie Littler join Jane to discuss recent events and to look at the week ahead. Do young girls aspire to be WAGs rather than workers? How honest should you be with your partner? Is there such a thing as the male menopause? And, in these difficult economic times, should we all be embracing the packed lunch? Including drama: A Life of Chekhov (1/5).