On 7 October 1946 a male presenter introduced the very first episode of Woman’s Hour.

Created as a time-filler for housewives, its early broadcasts were criticised for being “patronising” and obsessed with the routine of domestic chores.

Three months after the programme’s launch, the first female presenter was at the helm and the show went on to become a Radio 4 staple – the longest-running radio magazine programme in British broadcasting.

From how to cook with whale meat to contraception and “the perfect affair”, the shifting nature of its subjects shines a light on the changing nature of the issues affecting women.  More