Womanhood cast
TV

BBC Two’s Womanhood explores topical issues with Kirsty Wark and cast

Strictly's Shirley Ballas is one of the famous faces

Six famous women discuss some of the most controversial and topical issues affecting women today in BBC Two’s Womanhood – so who’s in the cast?

The familiar faces come from vastly different backgrounds and cover almost every age range.

They each bring their diverse experience and knowledge to the discussion.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Womanhood on BBC Two
Jacqueline Gold, Shirley Ballas, Sinitta, Chidera Eggerue, Suzi Ruffell and Kirsty Wark take part in Womanhood (Credit: BBC Two)

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Womanhood on BBC Two – what’s it about?

Six famous women spanning different age ranges, background and experience come together in Leeds.

Their aim? To tackle some of the mostly hotly contested issues affecting women today.

News presenter Kirsty Wark brings together six well-known women to spend a week exploring issues concerning women today.

Topics include cosmetic surgery, relationships, childcare, sexuality, sexual consent, the trans community and safety on the streets.

It’s a thought-provoking film, that often enforces that women’s place in society remains as beset with challenges as ever.

Broadcaster Kirsty Wark hosts.

Strictly judge Shirley Ballas joins Kirsty, as does writer Chidera Eggerue, businesswoman Jacqueline Gold, singer Sinitta Malone, and comedian Suzi Ruffell

How many episodes is it and how can I watch it?

Womanhood on BBC Two is a feature-length episode and a one-off.

The 90-minute show will air on Friday November 26 2021 at 9pm on BBC Two.

It will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer immediately afterwards.

Kirsty Wark
Kirsty Wark joins other famous faces for an unofficial weekend summit about womanhood (Credit: BBC Two)

Read more: Sinitta ‘hopes Simon Cowell doesn’t step back from fronting TV shows permanently after Walk the Line decision’

Womanhood cast – Kirsty Wark

Kirsty Wark is a Scottish journalist and broadcaster.

Viewers know her best for fronting BBC Two’s news and current affairs programme Newsnight.

She’s fronted the prestigious news show ever since 1993.

Kirsty, 66, also hosted its weekly arts spin-off Newsnight Review.

She’s also known for participating in the 2011 series of Celebrity MasterChef where she reached the final and narrowly lost out to Phil Vickery.

In January 2012, she appeared in a cameo role as herself in the revival of the BBC’s Absolutely Fabulous.

Kirsty has also taken part in the celebrity version of The Great British Bake Off, where she was awarded Star Baker.

Since 2020, she has presented the BBC Radio 4 series The Reunion.

The mum-of-two has also written two fictional novels, The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle and The House by the Loch.

Womanhood cast – Shirley Ballas

Shirley Ballas, 61, is a ballroom dancer and teacher.

She specialised in the International Latin division during her career, where she won several championship titles which earned her the nickname The Queen of Latin.

Of course, Shirley is best known for being the head judge on Strictly Come Dancing.

In 2017, the BBC appointed her as head judge on the BBC TV show following the departure of Len Goodman.

In Womanhood, Shirley struggles to accept a young woman monetising her sexuality.

She’s been twice-married and twice-divorced and has a son called Mark, who is also a professional ballroom dancer.

Shirley Ballas
Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas joins the debate in Womanhood (Credit: BBC Two)

Womanhood cast – Chidera Eggerue

Chidera Eggerue is a writer and fashion blogger, also known by her pen name The Slumflower.

She’s a British Nigerian activist best known for her books, What a Time to Be Alone, and How to Get Over a Boy.

Chidera, 26, is also known for her online campaign #SaggyBoobsMatter.

The hashtag gained prominence and aimed to challenge the convention that women with large breasts must wear a bra if their breasts sag.

Chidera admits that, as a teenager, she felt insecure because her breasts did not look like a model on the packaging of her first bra.

She has spoken openly about suffering from traction alopecia.

In January 2020, she presented a C4 documentary Bring Back the Bush, examining why women shave their pubic hair.

During Womanhood on BBC Two, Chidera re-evaluates her views after hearing the legal arguments regarding sexual consent.

Womanhood cast – Sinitta Malone

Sinitta Malone, 58, found fame as a singer in the mid-1980s with the single So Macho.

She is best known for her friendship with Simon Cowell, and her appearances on The X Factor alongside him.

The singer is also famous her appearances on reality TV show including Celebrity Come Dine with Me, The Jump and I’m A Celebrity.

In October 2021, Sinitta announce the release of her first Christmas track I Won’t Be Lonely This Christmas.

She has two adopted children from her former marriage to Andy Willner.

Sinitta has spoken openly about being the victim of sexual assaults and, during Womanhood, becomes tearful recalling a coercive relationship.

Sinitta Womanhood
Sinitta attends the Reclaim the Night march in Leeds (Credit: BBC Two)

Womanhood cast – Suzi Ruffell

Suzi Ruffell, 35, is a comedian, writer, and actress.

She began her stand-up comedy career in November 2008, and has been performing stand-up full time since 2012.

Before she began touring as a solo performer, Suzi supported the likes of Alan Carr, Kevin Bridges, Josh Widdicombe, Joe Lycett, Romesh Ranganathan, and Katherine Ryan.

She’s also written for several TV shows, including 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Last Leg, Stand Up for the Week, and Mock the Week.

Regarding her sexuality, Suzi has said that she realised she was gay at the age 14 but did not come out until she was 21.

Suzi Ruffell
Suzi Ruffell, seen here on Between the Covers, takes part in Womanhood (Credit: BBC Two)

Womanhood cast – Jacqueline Gold

Businesswoman Jacqueline, 61, inherited the Ann Summers franchise from her dad.

Her father appointed her CEO of Ann Summers in 1987, and she transformed it into a multi-million pound business.

Jacqueline is worth £470 million, according to The Sunday Times Rich List in 2019, and is estimated to be the 16th richest woman in Great Britain.

She subsequently took over Knickerbox in 2000.

In March 2008, Gold appeared in a celebrity edition of The Apprentice.

She has been the subject of several documentaries including Back to the Floor, Ann Summers Uncovered, So What Do You Do All Day, and Break with the Boss.

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Womanhood airs on Friday November 26 2021 at 9pm on BBC Two.

What do you think about the cast of Womanhood on BBC Two? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix.


Helen Fear
TV Editor

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