Woman's Hour - 07/09/2009

Woman's Hour With Jane Garvey. Including: She's a feminist post-punk lesbian from bible-belt Arkansas, and has been named the Coolest Person in Rock. Beth Ditto's electric stage performances and soulfully howling voice have led to sell-out tours and four albums for her band the Gossip. And her outlandish fashion sense and outspoken pride in her 'fat' physique have made her into both a style icon and champion of misunderstood youth. Beth talks to Jane about Gossip's fourth album, the ironically titled Music For Men, and her decision to launch a range of clothing for plus-sized women. Barbara Taylor Bradford began her career at 15 as a typist for the Yorkshire Evening Post. In 1979 she wrote her first novel, A Woman of Substance, which went on to sell more than 31 million copies worldwide. It told the story of Emma Harte, a Yorkshire girl who founded a retail empire. The popularity of the heroine led Barbara to write a further 6 books in the Harte family series. Her latest novel returns to the themes of love, passion and revenge. Jane talks to Barbara about the enduring appeal of her work. The internet is scattered with adverts offering to reveal the one simple rule we all need to follow to achieve a flat stomach - but is it ever going to be that simple? And should we be seeing the flat stomach as desirable or attainable across the life-course? We find out what actually happens to a woman's stomach during pregnancy and birth, and ask whether it's time for us to get over the overhang. And Iran's first female Minister - how much power will the new Health Minister have, and what does her appointment mean for women and women's rights in Iran now?