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Blake Morrison on his play about the Brontes, Thyroid Cancer and Penalising Truancy

With Jenni Murray: Blake Morrison's new play about the Brontes; thyroid cancer; penalising parents for their children's truancy.

Blake Morrison has written a new play about the Bront毛 sisters called We Are Three Sisters, loosely based on Chekhov's Three Sisters. The play has its World premiere in Halifax on 9 September, then tours the country.

Thyroid cancer affects three times as many women as men. There are currently about two thousand new cases of thyroid cancer each year and rates are going up. So what is thyroid cancer, and how is it diagnosed and treated?

Penalising parents for their children's truancy: currently they can be fined, but now it has been suggested that Child Benefit could be withdrawn. So would it work?

In mid-September every year, in the province of Quebec in Canada, women get together to learn how to hunt bear with The Quebec Hunting and Fishing Federation. It's an attempt to get more women involved in a traditionally male pastime. Critics say it's a sign of how desperate the hunting lobby has become to increase its numbers. They say bear hunting is cruel and unnecessary, but supporters say it's part of the Canadian way of life. Anne Kostalas reports.

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45 minutes

Chapters

  • Child Benefit and Truancy

    Kathy Gyngell, from the Centre for Policy Studies and Amber Rudd, Conservative MP for Hastings and Rye join Jenni to discuss how far the suggested measures could tackle the problem of truancy.

    Duration: 10:34

  • We Are Three Sisters

    The Bront毛 expert Juliet Barker and author Blake Morrison join Jenni to discuss Blake's new play about the Bront毛 sisters called 'We Are Three Sisters'.

    Duration: 11:12

  • Bear Hunting in Quebec

    Every September in Quebec women get together to learn how to hunt bear, in an attempt to get more women involved in a traditionally male pastime. Anne Kostalas reports.

    Duration: 11:01

  • Thyroid Cancer

    Thyroid cancer affects three times as many women as men. Although it's a relatively rare condition, the numbers diagnosed are increasing.

    Duration: 08:44

Broadcast

  • Fri 9 Sep 2011 10:00

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