Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women

Stella Assange on the life-or-death week for her husband

19 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"If he is extradited... he won't survive in a US prison." This Wednesday, a British high court will decide on whether or not to extradite journalist J...

Sharron Davies reveals the hidden misogyny behind the Olympics

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"We have ground out these opportunities for women and its now as if we aren't entitled to them anymore" This weeks Difficult Woman is trailblazer and ...

Why Baroness Newlove doesn't trust the justice system...

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We all take it as given that the law will be there for you when you need it... the postmasters know its not true..." This weeks difficult woman is Bar...

The Duchess of Rutland and her ghostly mentor...

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"Even now I can feel her, she is right here with me in this room" This week's difficult woman is Her Grace, Emma, The Duchess of Rutland. A farmers da...

From the Vaults - Pippa Crerar

11 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Apart from perhaps Sue Gray, I can’t think of a woman more guaranteed to send chills through the corridors of power than Pippa Crerar. The incoming ...

From the Vaults - Therese Coffey

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s guest is MP for Suffolk Coastal - Therese CoffeyIn this LBC podcast, Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women, Rachel speaks with women who had ...

From the Vaults : Dame Maureen Lipman

27 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There really ain't nothing like DAME MAUREEN LIPMAN CBE 1999 Dame Commander of the order of the British Empire in the 2020 birthday honours for servic...

The assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, as told by her son...

20 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The system she worked trying to expose, is what allowed those men to murder her..." This week's Difficult Woman is Daphne Caruana Galizia, a Malt...

Nadine Dorries on why she was denied a peerage...

13 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

"It's all too easy if you went to Eton, not so much if you were born on a council estate..." This week's Difficult Woman is Former MP, Former Culture ...

Ashley James

16 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Presenter, DJ, and mum Ashley James joins Rachel in the studio today to give us an insight into the word of 'Mumfluencing' and the criticism she faces...

Caroline Lucas

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Caroline Lucas is the UK's only Green MP. A vocal and unabashed advocate for climate policy, Caroline hits out at Sunak, Starmer and even Ed Davey for...

Fatima Whitbread

02 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of sexual assault. Olympic Athlete and World Champion javelin thrower, Fatima Whitbread, was left ...

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan

25 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

From the age of 3, Rosena Alin-Khan knew she was going to be a doctor and no number of setbacks were going to stop her. From her humble beginnings in ...

Alex Crawford

19 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Legendary foreign correspondent, Alex Crawford, joins me this week to discuss her extensive career spanning continents and decades. From being bombard...

Masih Alinejad

11 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Retweeting a picture of Masih Alinejad can land you 10 years in prison. This "Enemy of State" has survived kidnapping attempts, assassination attempts...

Julie Bindel

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes a woman is SO difficult that her story simply cannot be contained in one episode! Listen in as the queen of hot takes gives her verdict on v...

Georgia Harrison

31 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In 2020 Stephen Bear posted online an intimate video of himself and Georgia Harrison that had been filmed without her consent. What followed was a dif...

Shazia Mirza

24 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Witty and outspoken, Shazia Mirza was the first British female Muslim stand-up comedian. Proudly cancelled on multiple counts she isn't afraid to say ...

Andrea Jenkyns

10 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Conservative MP and Queen of the Hard Brexit, Andrea Jenkyns is our guest on this week's podcast. Growing up destitute, her father taught Andrea ...

Felicity Mercer

03 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The outspoken and dare I say infamous wife of Johnny Mercer MP joins me on the podcast this week. Felicity Mercer works alongside her husband, helping...

Kate Mosse

26 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Mosse is a literary titan having sold over 10 million books, translated into 38 languages. She also founded the women's prize for fiction and her...

Suzanne Heywood

19 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

At 7 years old, Suzanne moved onto a seventy-foot yacht with her parents. It was a turbulent childhood with deadly waves, fifty thousand miles of ocea...

Soomaya Javadi

12 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When the Taliban returned to power, Soomaya Javadi’s future as a dentistry student and a woman in Afghanistan was in peril. Her Hazara ethnicity fur...

Mary Killen

05 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week's difficult women is Gogglebox's own Mary Killen! 

Leyla Hussein

30 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Every few seconds, a child's genitals are cut in Africa. Leyla Hussein was one of them... A psychotherapist who now specialises in supporting survivor...

Rabbi Julia Neuberger

22 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rabbi The Baroness Neuberger DBE was the second woman to be ordained as a Rabbi in the UK, and is a British member of the House of Lords. She has...

Katie Hickman

15 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Katie Hickman has lived an enviable life to say the least. A prolific author of both fiction and non-fiction, Katie was the daughter of diplomats...

Emily Sheffield

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Being expelled from school for drugs hasn't stopped Emily Sheffield from having a prolific and impressive career in journalism, she was columnist at t...

Hadley Freeman

01 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions of anorexia and self-harm. Author and Journalist Hadley Freeman is no stranger to being diffic...

Mary Watkins

24 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mary Watkins, Baroness Watkins, is a veritable legend in the world of nursing and there is no more qualified voice to address the current state o...

Maggie Oliver

18 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Maggie Oliver is a former Detective Constable with the Greater Manchester police who made waves as the whistle-blower in the Rochdale grooming scandal...

Kirstie Allsopp

11 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Television presenter, crafter, and national treasure Kirsty Allsopp is this week's difficult woman. Kirsty has never seen a row that she hasn't wanted...

Joeli Brearly

03 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Two days after she informed her employer that she was pregnant with her first child, Joeli Brearley was sacked from her job by voicemail. Off the back...

Diana Parkes and Hetti Barkworth-Nanton

27 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On Halloween in 2010, Joanna Simpson was beaten to death by her estranged husband, Robert Brown. Prior to her death, the mum-of-two had filed for divo...

Christina Lamb

20 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week's difficult woman is the Sunday Times' Chief Foreign Correspondent, Cristina Lamb, freshly back from investigating the stolen children of Uk...

86 - Emma Runswick

13 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Emma Runswick is the BMA's Deputy Chair of Council. In the thick of it during this winter of discontent, not least as her union announced 3 da...

ISABEL OAKESHOTT

08 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This weeks difficult woman is political journalist and ghostwriter Isabel Oakeshott. Though you may be more familiar with her recent involvement in th...

85 - Abi Austen

27 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Abi Austen shot into the public eye after announcing her desire to transition from male to female whilst being an officer in the army. After being for...

84 - Rosie Duffield

20 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rosie Duffield is the Labour MP for Canterbury since 2017 - the first Labour MP to hold that seat, the only Labour seat in Kent - and won on the slimm...

83 - Jennifer Robinson

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Robinson, the Australian human rights and media freedom barrister who graces Doughty Street chambers, is probably best known for her work rep...

82 - Lady Anne Glenconner

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Even though Anne Glenconner has been royal adjacent all her life she is far more than a pawn on the chessboard moving nimbly between the Queen, Prince...

81 - Amber Rudd

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Amber Rudd had one of the most meteoric rises to power in recent political history. With just over a year between her first Cabinet appointment to her...

80 - Jess Phillips

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s difficult woman is Jess Phillips, self-described gobby daughter of brummie socialists and Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley. Jess is the ...

79 - Mary Beard

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week's difficult woman is classicist, scholar, and broadcaster Mary Beard. Described by the new yorker as a "Celebrity Historian" her distinct ch...

78 - Marjorie Wallace.

03 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week's difficult woman is the veteran journalist, author, broadcaster and campaigner Marjorie Wallace. Marjorie began her career in television, w...

77 - Catherine Mayer

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week's difficult woman is the writer and activist Catherine Mayer. Catherine started her career as a journalist before going onto write a bestsel...

76 - Sarah Standing

12 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week's difficult woman is the journalist and writer Sarah Standing. Sarah's career in writing began at 14 when she won a Vogue Young Writers comp...

75 - Karen Ingala Smith

05 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week's difficult woman is the campaigner and writer Karen Ingala Smith. Karen has become a leading feminist voice, tackling male violence against...

74 - Jenni Murray

28 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week's difficult woman is the journalist and broadcaster Dame Jenni Murray. Dame Jenni has enjoyed success in both TV and Radio, presenting Newsn...

73 - Anna Pasternak

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week's difficult woman is someone who has scarcely been in the public eye but who has always brought a storm of controversies when she does make ...

72 - Camilla Long

07 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This weeks difficult woman is notorious television critic and Sunday Times Columnist Camilla Long. A woman who by her own admission has embraced being...

71 - Kate Bingham

30 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This weeks difficult woman is Kate Bingham. The Chair of the UK's vaccine taskforce, charged with delivering this countries world beating covid vaccin...

70 - Baroness Sayeeda Warsi

23 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week's difficult woman is Baroness Sayeeda Warsi. Lawyer, Politician, Baroness, and former Co-Chair of the conservative party Baroness Warsi has ...

69 - Hilary McGrady

16 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week Rachel talks to Hilary McGrady, the Director General of the National Trust, founded to care for our countryside and Britain's many historic ...

68 - Celia Walden

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week Rachel is joined by journalist and novelist Celia Walden. A woman who seems to have it all, Rachel dives into her imposter syndrome, her rel...

67 - Alexandra Shulman

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week Rachel speaks to the longest serving Editor of British vogue, Alexandra Shulman

66 - Sangita Myska

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel Johnson speaks to Journalist, broadcaster & LBC Presenter Sangita Myska about the moment a listener questioned her Britishness, and how she res...

65 - Patience Wheatcroft

12 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel Johnson speaks to Patience Wheatcroft, a British journalist and life peeress, who was editor-in-chief of The Wall Street Journal Europe.

64 - Baroness Beeban Kidron

05 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Baroness Beeban Kidron is the filmmaker turned internet safety activist, whose time in the silver screen boasts directorial credits on Bridget Jones: ...

63 - Dame Maureen Lipman

28 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There really ain't nothing like DAME MAUREEN LIPMAN CBE 1999 Dame Commander of the order of the British Empire in the 2020 birthday honours for servic...

62 - Minette Batters

21 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Minette Batters is president of the National Farmers Union and has repped the interests of 55,000 farmers in England and Wales through arguably the in...

61 - Rachel de Souza

15 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It is almost impossible to think of a more important role in modern life than the one held by RACHEL DE SOUZA. Made a dame in 2014 for services to edu...

60 - Frances Morris

08 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most overused words in modern life - curate - when we curate our scatter cushions and sandwiches this must be galling for this week’s Dif...

59 - Shelagh Fogarty

01 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Shelagh Fogarty’s name and voice will need no introduction to many listeners and subscribers - she left the BBC and became the host of the lunch to ...

58 - Barbara Amiel

11 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Barbara Amiel, Lady Black, started life as a journalist, producer, writer, whatever and whose midlife marriage to a Canadian press baron Conrad Black ...

57 - Lynn Barber

04 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s Difficult Woman Lynn Barber is a journalism legend and grand dame. Winner of the Interview of the Year press Oscars a record six times, ...

Coming Soon : The Followers

28 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hey Difficult Women listeners, here’s a brand new podcast we think you’d like, called The Followers. Shelagh Fogarty began her LBC career as a gue...

56 - Julia Hobsbawm

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s hard to sum up Julia Hobsbawm. When I asked my husband he said “human dynamo” and “tireless promoter” She was the first ever professor ...

55 - Rosie Boycott

20 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I only invite women I admire to guest and I have admired Rosie Boycott, the co-founder of both the feminist magazine Spare Rib and the feminist publis...

54 - Luciana Berger

14 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Luciana Berger was a Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree for nine years and bears the scars on her back – in her words, it wasn’t easy being “youn...

53 - Tina Brown

06 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If anyone ever asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up I would answer Tina Brown, the magazine editor’s magazine editor, she has helmed with piz...

52 - Abi Morgan

30 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Abi had early ambitions to be an actress and asked her mother to judge her prospects, her mother said no darling, which lead her to an incredibly succ...

50 - Alison Jackson

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The artist Alison Jackson, 61, grew up in the shires among the landed gentry but its been rock n roll and upsetting the establishment applecart since ...

49 - Kemi Badenoch

09 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Spectator magazine has anointed this week’s Difficult Woman as not only a possible saviour of the Tory party but also a future PM. “ The curre...

48 - Gabby Bertin

03 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Gabrielle Louise Bertin, Baroness Bertin is a British Conservative member of the House of Lords and political aide best known for her association with...

47 - Carole Cadwalladr

26 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carole Cadwalladr is a British author, investigative journalist and features writer. She is a features writer for The Observer and formerly worked at ...

46 - Dame Evelyn Glennie

18 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Solo percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie is a double GRAMMY winner, BAFTA nominee, recipient of the Polar Music Prize and the Companion of Honour. In...

45 - Lucy Easthope

11 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Professor Lucy Easthope is the country’s leading authority on recovering from disaster. In this LBC podcast, Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women, Ra...

44 - Sarah Sands

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel Johnson speaks to Sarah Sands, a British journalist and author and former editor of the London Evening Standard, she was editor of Today on BBC...

43 - Emily Thornberry

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Emily Anne Thornberry is a British politician who has been Member of Parliament for Islington South and Finsbury since 2005. A member of the Labour Pa...

42 - Claire Fox

21 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week Rachel speaks to Claire Fox who is a British writer, journalist, lecturer and politician who sits in the House of Lords as a non-affiliated ...

41 - Caroline Dinenage

14 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s guest is Baroness Lancaster of Kimbolton, DBE and MP Caroline Dineage. In this LBC podcast, Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women, Rachel ...

40 - Delia Smith CH CBE

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s guest is celebratory chef, television presenter and Norwich City F. C. shareholder - Delia Smith CH CBE. In this LBC podcast, Rachel ...

39 - Salma Shah

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s guest is partner at Portland Communications, Broadcaster, Political Commentator and School Governor - Salma Shah In this LBC podcast,...

38 - Laura Dodsworth

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s guest is film maker and author - Laura Dodsworth In this LBC podcast, Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women, Rachel speaks with women who ...

37 - Jackie Weaver

15 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s guest is Cheshire Government Official and internet sensation - Jackie Weaver. In this LBC podcast, Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women, ...

36 - Merryn Somerset Webb

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s guest is Editor in chief of MoneyWeek, writer for the Financial Times and commentator on financial matters - Merryn Somerset Webb. In...

35 - Tracey Crouch

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s guest is MP for Chatham and Aylesford - Tracey Crouch. In this LBC podcast, Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women, Rachel speaks with wome...

34 - Kim Leadbeater

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s guest is MP for Batley and Spen - Kim Leadbeater. In this LBC podcast, Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women, Rachel speaks with women who...

33 - Natalie Livingstone

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s guest is journalist and writer - Natalie Livingstone. In this LBC podcast, Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women, Rachel speaks with women...

32 - Emma Tucker

10 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s guest is Editor of the Sunday Times, - Emma Tucker In this LBC podcast, Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women, Rachel speaks with women wh...

Introducing Hunting Ghislaine: The Trial

07 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hi Rachel Johnson listener. We’ve got a new podcast we think you’ll enjoy! Last year LBC’s Hunting Ghislaine podcast was listened to over 4 mill...

31 - Julia Langdon

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s guest is political journalist - Julie Langdon In this LBC podcast, Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women, Rachel speaks with women who had...

30 - Julie Burchill

29 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s guest is novelist and columnist - Julie Burchill In this LBC podcast, Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women, Rachel speaks with women who ...

29 - Anne Robinson

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s guest is journalist and television presenter - Anne Robinson. In this LBC podcast, Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women, Rachel speaks wi...

28 - Lionel Shriver

15 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s guest is author and journalist - Lionel Shriver. In this LBC podcast, Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women, Rachel speaks with women who ...

27 - Caroline Nokes

08 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s guest is MP for Romsey and Southampton North - Caroline Nokes In this LBC podcast, Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women, Rachel speaks wi...

26 - Live Show - Jo Wood

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This special episode is a live podcast recording and features model, television personality, entrepreneur and former wife of The Rolling Stones guitar...

25 - Beth Rigby

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s guest is Political Editor for Sky News - Beth Rigby In this LBC podcast, Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women, Rachel speaks with women w...

23 - Nus Ghani MP

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s guest is MP for Wealden in East Sussex - Nus Ghani MP In this LBC podcast, Rachel Johnson's Difficult Women, Rachel speaks with women...