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A Girl Called Jack; Sam Bailey; Constance Markievicz

X Factor winner Sam Bailey. Jack Monroe on her budget food blog and how it has changed her life. Plus a celebration of Constance Markievicz, the first woman MP. With Jane Garvey.

Sam Bailey on her X Factor victory, how her life's changed and what it means to be supporting Beyonce on tour.

Two years ago Jack Monroe describe herself as 'unemployed, broke, and broken. Now her blog "A Girl Called Jack" about feeding herself and her son on £10 a week, attracts a huge following, she writes a column for a national newspaper and is about to become the face of one of our biggest supermarkets. We spend time with in her tiny Southend kitchen.

Laurie Graham's husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease last year. It was six years on from when she first noticed that something was wrong. Now she's coming to terms with living with a man who can't even remember their wedding day. We look at the impact of dementia on couples and the peculiar kind of loneliness when you live with someone with the condition.

William Hague recently announced a global summit in London next year to demand justice for victims of sexual violence in warzones. Jane spoke to one of the victims planning to attend, Jineth Bedoya Lima, a top reporter in Colombia. At 26 Jineth was kidnapped, tortured and raped by a right-wing paramilitary group and has since campaigned to give a voice to other victims of conflict-related sexual violence.

And we celebrate the achievements of Constance Markievicz who in 1918 became the first woman ever returned to the Commons at Westminster, but as a member for Sinn Féin she did not take her seat.

Presented by Jane Garvey.
Studio Producer Beverley Purcell
Editor Alice Feinstein.

Available now

58 minutes

Chapters

  • Laurie Graham on coping with her husband’s dementia

    Being married to a man who can’t remember your wedding day

    Duration: 09:46

  • In the Kitchen with Jack Monroe

    The food blogger shares her tips on budget cooking and answers her critics

    Duration: 09:02

  • Sam Bailey, X Factor winner

    The winner of this year's X Factor

    Duration: 08:03

  • Jineth Bedoya Lima

    The Colombian reporter who was kidnapped, tortured and raped by paramilitaries

    Duration: 09:05

  • Countess Constance Markievicz

    The life of the Irish nationalist known as the 'rebel Countess'

    Duration: 07:03

Laurie Graham on coping with her husband’s dementia

Last year Laurie Graham’s husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.ÌýIt was six years on from when Laurie first noticed that something was wrong; her husband had repeatedly forgotten that a good friend had died. Now Laurie is coming to terms with living with a man who can’t remember their wedding day.ÌýShe talks to Jane about how dementia unfolds, the peculiar kind of loneliness she finds herself living with and the dilemmas she faces for the future.

In the Kitchen with Jack Monroe

In 2011 Jack Monroe found herself ‘unemployed, broke and broken’.ÌýShe started writing aÌýblog about feeding herself and her son on £10 a week and her cheap, delicious recipes attracted a wide following. She now writes a regular column in The Guardian, has a book out next year and has announced she is the new face of Sainsbury’s - following on from Jamie Oliver.ÌýHer online petition spurred a Parliamentary debate on the causes of food poverty. Our reporter Henrietta Harrison went to meet Jack and uncover the secrets of her kitchen.

The Blog:

Music included ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ by Kate Rusby,Ìýtaken from the album While Mortals Sleep and Eric Clapton'sÌýCome On In My Kitchin, fromÌýthe album Me And Mr Johnson.

Sam Bailey, X Factor winner

Sam Bailey was crowned the winner of this year's X Factor on Sunday, beating 17-year-old Nicholas McDonald. The 36-year-old had been working as a prison officer before winningÌýthe £1m recording contract prize and the opportunity to support Beyonce in Birmingham on her upcoming European tour.

Jineth Bedoya Lima

Jineth Bedoya Lima is aÌýhigh profile reporter in Colombia, which is one of the world’s most dangerous places to be a journalist. In 2000 she was kidnapped, tortured and raped by a right-wing paramilitary group. Jineth has since campaigned to draw attention to conflict-related sexual violence in Colombia – a weapon of war that is widespread, systematic and largely invisible.

Countess Constance Markievicz

Constance was presented at court to Queen Victoria in the monarch’s Jubilee year, 1887 and she married a Polish Count.ÌýShe was active in the Irish suffragette movement and after takingÌýpart in the Easter Rising, she wasÌýcourt-martialled.ÌýIn the General Election of December 1918 Constance Markievicz became the first woman ever returned to the Commons at Westminster, however, as a member for Sinn Féin she did not take her seat.ÌýDr. Lauren Arrington of the University of Liverpool recently gave The 37th Countess Markievicz Memorial Lecture in Dublin and she is currently writing a biography.

Ìý

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jane Garvey
Interviewed Guest Sam Bailey
Interviewed Guest Laurie Graham
Interviewed Guest Jineth Bedoya Lima
Interviewed Guest Jack Monroe
Interviewed Guest Lauren Arrington
Producer Beverley Purcell
Editor Alice Feinstein

Broadcasts

  • Tue 17 Dec 2013 10:00
  • Tue 17 Dec 2013 10:30

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