The Naked Week: Ep6. Swearing, Steeplechase, and Strikes.

Summary

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 — The Naked Week: Ep6. Swearing, Steeplechase, and Strikes (April 17, 2026)

---

Overview

This episode of The Naked Week, hosted by Andrew Hunter Murray and featuring correspondents Katie Norris and Kat Neilan, delivers a sharp and topical comedic take on the week’s events. Broadcasting from Cambridge, the show navigates the murky waters of media censorship and political language, explores the legacy of forced adoption in the UK, lampoons British traditions like the Grand National, and wraps up with a satirical look at NHS doctors’ strikes and media workplace grievances. The tone is irreverent, witty, and packed with biting satire.

---

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Political Swearing and the BBC's Broadcasting Standards

• The Trump F-bomb Controversy (01:16–11:25)
  • Donald Trump’s Easter message on Truth Social was deemed too obscene for BBC broadcast.
  • Satirical coverage of how different news outlets and the BBC handle presidential swearing and profanity, highlighting the paradoxes in broadcasting standards.
  • Examination of Ofcom rules: what the BBC can and cannot say at different times of day, and the inconsistencies in how profanity is reported depending on context (news, comedy, fictional script, etc.).
  • Key Insight:
    • “We are now living in a world where the President of the United States of America issues an official public statement too obscene to be broadcast on Radio 4 at 6:30pm.” — Andrew Hunter Murray (03:24)
    • BBC’s swearing policy seems less clear when the subject matter is politically important but contains strong language.

2. The Week in Haikus (11:25–12:47)

• A brief segment where current events are recapped as haikus, blending poetry with playful cynicism.

  Example not given directly in transcript, but referenced as “The news in haikus.”

3. Satirical Grand National Tips (12:47–15:31)

• Traditional Grand National horse race reimagined through political satire.
• Racehorse-inspired puns based on current issues and public figures (e.g., “Utility Bills,” “Ukraine Conflict,” “North Sea Bullshit”).
  • "What we found time and time again this year is that once supermarket shoplifter takes off, there is no catching them." — Andrew Hunter Murray (14:28)
• Lampoons the intersection of British culture, tabloid coverage, and political scandal.

4. Investigation: The Forced Adoption Scandal (15:31–22:09)

• Topic intro: Revisiting the UK’s history of forced adoptions (1949–1976), in which 185,000 babies were taken from unmarried mothers due to social stigma.
  • “The survivors want an apology... This week, the Church of England announced it would do exactly that.” — Kat Neilan (16:37–16:48)
• Westminster’s Lag in Apologising: Other UK governments have already apologised, but not Westminster.
  • Kat Neilan: “It’s just Westminster we’re waiting for.” (17:33)
• Satirical take on Keir Starmer's hesitancy:
  • “Keir Starmer at his most urgent.” — Andrew Hunter Murray (17:21)
• Diethylstilbestrol (DES) Exposure:
  • Women forced to give up babies were given DES to halt lactation, even after its dangers (cancer, birth defects) were known.
  • In the UK, DES was used on pregnant women into the 1980s.
  • “Another reason why this area desperately needs more study in this country.” — Kat Neilan (20:55)
  • Studies show adverse effects could reach the third generation.
  • Health Secretary Wes Streeting apologised for DES use but not its role in forced adoption.

5. Operation Easter Fury and Further Satire (22:09–23:11)

• Trump’s post-holiday mood lampooned.
• Neil Oliver and the intersection of fringe media, geopolitics, and British traditions.
  • “Everyone with a rosette is a declared friend of the Israel that's committing genocide in Gaza. Oh, well, on the plus side, he has just been announced as Kanye's support act.” — Andrew Hunter Murray (22:36)

6. Gardeners' Question Time (with a Twist) (23:11–23:41)

• Horticultural advice mixed with black humour about the current state of geopolitics and nuclear threats.
  • “If you're not doing very well, you perhaps use tactical nuclear weapons.” — Andrew Hunter Murray (23:21)

7. NHS Resident Doctors’ Strike and Media Workplace Parody (23:41–28:32)

• Satirical coverage of the NHS doctors’ 15th strike in three years.
  • "Resident doctors are what we used to call junior doctors, but their title has had a bit of a glow up.” — Andrew Hunter Murray (24:40)
• Parallels drawn between the plight of actual NHS doctors and the correspondents’ own comedic “strike” during the show.
  • Katie Norris refuses to deliver her lines, parodying real strike action and workplace demands:
    • “…being trained for jobs that don’t exist. Tick, tick, tick.” — Katie Norris (26:25)
  • Running gag about BBC sidekick job insecurity and the fate of former quiz show co-hosts.

8. Showdown, Credits & Final Satirical Chants (28:32–29:01)

• The episode ends in chaos with a send-up of industrial action chants and a tongue-in-cheek appeal for the return of The News Quiz.
  • “What do we want? The news quiz back! When do we want it? From day to Friday.” — Katie Norris (28:38)
  • “Close the show, you crazy bastard.” — Katie Norris (28:51)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Honestly, it’s like an ape throwing magnetic fridge poetry at a bin.”
  — Andrew Hunter Murray on Trump’s Easter message (03:27)
• “One of the limitations of the BLEEP method is that... if the first letter is left in, the listener knows very well what’s being bleeped, which sort of undermines the point.”
  — Andrew Hunter Murray (06:07)
• “The BBC won’t let us play you news footage directly quoting the President of the United States... but will play you an actor quoting a fictional character… but won’t let The Naked Week play you exactly the same F bomb…”
  — Andrew Hunter Murray (10:51)
• “DES was linked to cancer as far back as the 1930s...It was subsequently banned from being given to chickens... but still OK for women, apparently.”
  — Kat Neilan (18:01–18:26)
• “Sorry seems to be the hardest word.”
  — Andrew Hunter Murray (21:55)

---

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–01:16 – Adverts, show intro, Cambridge location gag
• 01:16–11:25 – Political swearing, BBC standards, media contradictions
• 11:25–12:47 – News in Haikus segment
• 12:47–15:31 – Satirical Grand National horse race commentary
• 15:31–22:09 – Forced adoption scandal and DES investigation
• 22:09–23:11 – Satire on post-Easter events, Neil Oliver, geopolitics
• 23:11–23:41 – Frank Gardiner’s Question Time (w/ nuclear horror twist)
• 23:41–28:32 – NHS resident doctors’ strike, comedic “media strike”
• 28:32–29:01 – Closing chants, satirical conclusion, credits

---

Episode Tone

Irreverent, sardonic, and cerebral—as ever for The Naked Week. The hosts and correspondents skewer political absurdity, poke fun at the bureaucracy of British institutions, and employ extended comic metaphors. The language stays within the bounds of BBC acceptability, illustrating the very inconsistencies and absurdities they mock.

---

For New Listeners

This episode is especially rich in rapid-fire satire and topical references. The comedic analysis tackles real news—from censorship and swearing to public health and political apologies—using parody, wordplay, and sharply drawn character sketches. It’s a clever, dense slab of British radio comedy that rewards attention and a taste for the absurdities of public life.

Transcript

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser]

And, Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual, even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 2]

Hey, everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 3]

Oh, no.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser]

We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 3]

We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Katie Norris]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser]

Anyways, get a [e-mail] or with your local agent.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 2]

Liberty, Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.

[Safeway/Albertsons Advertiser]

Save on family essentials at Safeway and Albertsons. This week at Safeway and Albertsons, fresh cut cantaloupe, watermelon, pineapple or melon medley bowls. 24 ounces are $5 each, and wild caught lobster tails are $4.99 each. Limit eight member price. Plus selected sizes and varieties of Doritos, Lays, Cheetos, Sun Chips and Kettle cook chips are $1.99 each. Limit four member price. Hurry in. These deals won't last. Visit safewayoralbertsons.com for more deals and ways to save.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Hello, and welcome to the Naked Week. Imagine PM with Evan Davies if it carried on bombing the world at one, even after a ceasefire. This week, we're coming to you from Cambridge, very much the Oxford of the East. Still to come on the Naked Week, Nigel Farage takes irony to frightening new heights. I think if we start banning people from entering the country, I worry where that ends up. Where it ends up, Nigel, is with Alanis Morissette. Exploding. Donald Trump sailed through yet another medical with his doctors saying he has matted

[Safeway/Albertsons Advertiser]

fur, overgrown nails and multiple rotted teeth, but is otherwise in excellent health.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Also what you'll see on Lee Anderson's Tinder profile. And Lord Michael Gove chooses his new bedroom wallpaper, Shabana Mahmood Images. You think that's bad? Wait until you hear what he uses as past what a week. But at least we now know the answer to the question, who are the luckiest four people in the world?

[Neil Oliver]

And to all of you down there

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

on Earth and around Earth, we love you from the moon. Not because they've seen sights no human has ever seen, not even because they came safely back into contact with Earth, but because for 40 glorious minutes at the weekend, they did not have to listen to this.

[Neil Oliver]

Happy Easter. We had a great Easter. Please keep calm. God was watching us. Well, men, gays, they just don't want to say uncle. How about gays for Iran? This is about eggs. Tough, smart and sick. Really sick. Ideological eggs. You know what hit this one was a shoulder. Eggs. Handheld shoulder missile. What am I going to do about eggs? Let's go. Come on, get in. Let's go. Poir, tell me what's wrong with eggs.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Honestly, it's like. It's like an ape throwing magnetic fridge poetry at a bin. But this was ceasefire week. Terms and conditions apply this week. We've seen threats to civilians, we've seen threats to infrastructure, threats that a whole civilization will die tonight. And it all started on Sunday with Trump's Easter message of hope that he posted on Truth Social. Open the straight, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in hell. Just watch. Praise be to Allah. That was CNN reading out the President's potty mouth post. It simply had to be heard to be believed. I say it had to be heard to be believed. You can't actually hear it, at least not on this program, because we are now living in a world where the President of the United States of America issues an official public statement too obscene to be broadcast on Radio 4 at 6:30pm the slot that once played host to quote unquote is unable to broadcast the utterances of the quote unquote leader of the free world. CNN there read out the word in full. That bleep is ours because of the rules. But at the BBC, swearing is not just a 6:30 Radio 4 problem. Here is how BBC TV news covered it.

[Kat Nealon]

Open the.

[Katie Norris]

And that's where the President uses an expletive straight. You crazy bastards all.

[Kat Nealon]

You'll be living in hell. Just watch.

[Katie Norris]

Praise be to our President, Donald J. Trump.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

So no F word, but we can have a bastard. Praise be to off. Problem. We can have a bastard. That, by the way, is the same criteria they use when selecting a new Director General. But in case you missed it, the forbidden word is the F word. Because it seems we now have an American president setting a new American precedent as he ordered his tiny bruised hands to drop an F bomb on the world via social media. But of course, we cannot have that falling on us at 6:30pm and neither can we at midnight. It seems the midnight bulletin on Radio 4 told its audience Trump had used

[Katie Norris]

highly offensive language, which it then proceeded

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

to bleep out anyway. Open the F straight, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in hell. Does sound gentler in an English accent, doesn't it? I'm just saying naughty word, covered up. Because of the BBC's strict policy on cover ups. Sorry, I mean, sorry, I mean on naughty words if recent history has taught us anything, it's that the BBC has no policy on cover ups. As you're probably aware, Ofcom has incredibly strict rules around broadcasting profanity. It all depends on audience expectation. So, for example, on Radio 4's Spooky Ghost Investigating uncanny Danny Robbins can say, bloody hell, Ken. And yet I can't say, stop exploiting the mentally ill Danny Robb. For its part, the Today programme being at breakfast time was even more elusive, referring to Trump's rhetoric as an expletive laden tirade, which is also how Emma Barnett greets Nick Robinson every morning. But in fact, the President's language left news organisations worldwide unsure how to report the story. Should they cover the President's words accurately and potentially cause offence, or censor them and risk minimizing the impact of an unprecedented political development? Some broadcasters, like the BBC, bleeped the word. Some newspapers replaced it with asterisks. So thank heavens for the fearless truth tellers of GB News, whose love of free speech means they would never bow to the censors. Open the effing straight. You crazy? They bowed to the sensors, but it was a Sunday. And that, of course, is free speech's traditional day of rest. Now, as I say, we cannot say the word without bleeping it. But one of the limitations of the BLEEP method is that, as we heard on the midnight news, if the first letter of the word is left in, the listener knows very well what's being bleeped, which sort of undermines the point of the bleep in the first place. Or does it? Smut, after all, is in the ear of the beholder. And to show you what we mean, the Naked Week has teamed up with the bleeps to show you just how easy it is for your mind to find naughty words where there are none. So. If I tell you, I'm going to say, and I am going to say, five cold sheep. And then we broadcast, We've immediately broken OFCOM rules on depiction of animal welfare. But you didn't think five cold sheep, did you? No. Your mind went to, I am genuinely saying five cold sheep in those clips. We haven't checked that out. Wash your filthy minds out with soap. To be honest, it's all very complicated and really is hard to understand exactly what the rules are. So, to explain, please welcome the Naked Weeks. It's hard to understand exactly what the rules are. Correspondent Katie Norris. Hello, Katie.

[Katie Norris]

Yes, that is a reasonable greeting. You can say that.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Thank you. So we can't repeat in full what Donald Trump said on this program because it could mean the very end of Radio 4 itself. Roughly eight months ahead of schedule.

[Katie Norris]

Yep, exactly right. You can't put language like that in a radio comedy show, Andy. The only way you get what Donald Trump said in a show like this would be if you waited 50 years, stuck it out on 4 extra and claimed it was a product of its time.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

But there are comedy shows that go out at 11pm and I've heard quite spicy language in those.

[Katie Norris]

Yeah, you kind of have to remember it's all about context. Right. So the context in which the words appear, the context of them, what does that mean? Well, basically, the BBC is more relaxed about rude words going out at a time when they're confident next to no one is listening.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Yes, I understand that. Whereas this show is on at 6:30 and then of course, there's a lunchtime repeat.

[Katie Norris]

Exactly. You know, you can't have language like that at lunchtime when people might be listening together as a fan gathered together in a sullen silence, you know, wondering when that really nice Impressions show might be coming back.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Okay.

[Katie Norris]

Confusingly, though, there are exceptions in terms of news coverage, in terms of comedy, listen to this clip from Radio 4's Jonathan Pye.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Can't we just tell the truth for once? It's and now the weather.

[Katie Norris]

That's Jonathan Pye broadcast on Radio 4 at 6. But here's the thing. The Naked Week had to bleep it, but the original went out unbleeped.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

We're going to blow this thing wide open. So hang on. Surely if you can have a fictional character saying F words as part of a fictional script in a 6:30 show, you can have a clip of the actual words of the actual President of the United States in the same time slot. And let's be clear. If there's one person in the world who seems increasingly like a fictional character, it's Donald Trump.

[Katie Norris]

Yes, but once again, you have to consider the context, the context of the whole thing, the way it appears in context.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

And the context here is no one

[Katie Norris]

wants to have to go on feedback again.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

No, of course. So just to recap, the BBC won't let us play you news footage directly quoting the President of the United States of America dropping an F bomb at 6:30, but will play you an actor quoting a fictional character dropping an F bomb at 6:30, but won't let the naked weak play you exactly the same F bomb at 6:30, which you already heard at 6:30. Now, as you know, the naked wig likes to help. So we asked The BBC to explain this apparent contradiction. And they told us to F off. Fair enough. Get.

[Katie Norris]

You know it.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Everybody, this is the Naked week on Radio 4, where it's time once again to let the soothing stream of syllables bathe us in the waters of world events as we relax once more in the restful garden of current affairs contemplation. It's the News in Haikus. Wireless Festival. Abandon all hope. Yea. Who will not enter here? The news in haikus.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser]

And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 2]

Hey everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 3]

Oh, no.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser]

We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 3]

We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Katie Norris]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser]

Anyways, get a [e-mail] or with your local agent.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 2]

Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

This is the Naked week on Radio 4. In the week that civilization has had a stay of execution from being annihilated. But until that happy event comes, we at the Naked Week want to cheer everyone up by encouraging the British people to carry on doing what they do best. Gambling. Time then for our tips for Saturday's Grand National. First off, never wear a notched lapel with a formal tailcoat. We've also got some tips on the horses as well. So grab a pen and paper and then throw them in the bin because these will not help to assist me with my shrewdly surveyed equestrian recommendations. Here's our assisting me with my shrewdly surveyed equestrian recommendations Correspondent Katie Norris.

[Katie Norris]

Thanks, Andy. Hot favourite is utility bills. I've been talking to a lot of people up and down the country and it seems all the money is going on utility bills, miners.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Miners. I'd like to put in a word for an outsider. Ukraine conflict.

[Katie Norris]

Lots of chat about Ukraine conflict earlier in the year. Seems to have tailed off of late.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Yeah, to be fair, the going was heavy. I do like the look of North Sea bullshit.

[Katie Norris]

Yes, yes, North Sea bullshit ridden hard by the Daily Telegraph. But there are doubts that it will produce anything on the day.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

What about the five to one on racist councillor?

[Katie Norris]

Well, obviously there's been a recent transfer of ownership. Racist counsellor. Used to belong to the Conservatives, but it's now part of the Nigel Farage stable.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Yeah, I believe he's carrying a few extra pounds.

[Katie Norris]

Cryptocurrency. But yes, now 11 to 2 we have supermarket Shoplifter. There's a real pace on offer here.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Yes. What we found time and time again this year is that once supermarket shoplifter takes off, there is no catching them.

[Katie Norris]

There's a lot of chatter about Zach Polanski's horse. Net zero or bust. Oh, sorry. No, no, no, that's a typo. Sorry. It's Net zero or busty.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Ah, finally, a party offering Vote is a real choice.

[Katie Norris]

At five to one, we have Gary Linekers. The rest is horses. At 25 1, Michael Gove's Shabana fixation.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Yes, that one needs gelding. Yeah. At 16:1, Melania's Epstein rumours. She's desperate for that one to be. You're listening to the Naked Week in the week when Stella Creasy was criticized for attending a silent disco over the bank holiday weekend. And speaking of millennial cringe, it's time to welcome the girl boss to my finger moustache. It's the Observer, Whitehall editor and the Naked Week's chief investigative reporter, Kat Nealon. Kat, how have you enjoyed this series?

[Kat Nealon]

It's been fun. We've cloned number plates, remixed the theme tune for Homes under the Hammer with a trumpet and annoyed all sorts of people for all sorts of reasons.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

That is the main and arguably the only point of Radio 4. So it's the last episode of the series. What's our grand finale?

[Kat Nealon]

We're taking a look at one of the very worst scandals from the last hundred years.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Witches.

[Kat Nealon]

No, it's nothing to do with witches.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

That's one of the worst scandals of the last hundred 400 years.

[Kat Nealon]

Instead, this week, it's a genuinely distressing topic. Forced adoption.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Ok, Britain does seem to have a limitless supply of terrible things. Why are we looking at forced adoption?

[Kat Nealon]

Because last month a Common Select Committee report brought the issue back into the spotlight and the Naked Week wanted to examine its still under reported legacy.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Alright, in a nutshell, then, what is forced adoption?

[Kat Nealon]

Across the UK, between 1949 and 1976, an estimated 185,000 newborn babies were taken from young unmarried mothers by various institutions, including the NHS and the Church of England, simply because of the stigma of birth outside marriage.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Ok, it is an extremely grim story and unsurprisingly, the survivors want an apology.

[Kat Nealon]

Correct. And this week, the Church of England announced it would do exactly that. While the Commons report on forced adoption,

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

an apology is needed with great urgency. A program of fully funded support must now happen without delay so that survivors can get on with their lives. The Government must act now. Ok, that really couldn't be clearer, the Government must act now. So did Keir Starmer act now? Did he apologise? With great urgency.

[Kat Nealon]

Well, see what you think.

[Kieran]

Yeah, My instinct is we do. There's a strong case for it. I just want to make sure we go through the process in the right way, make sure that we're aligning it with those most affected.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Keir Starmer, the at his most urgent. Kat, just to be clear, the Welsh and Scottish governments and the Northern Ireland Executive have already apologised for the practice of forced adoption, haven't they?

[Kat Nealon]

Yes, they issued formal apologies several years ago. It's just Westminster we're waiting for.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Well, they are on their Easter holidays. I'm sure they will get right on it.

[Kat Nealon]

But there's another aspect of this scandal that's less well known. The Naked Week has been speaking to mothers affected by forced adoption who were given the synthetic hormone diethylstilbestrol, or des. It was taken by pregnant women to prevent miscarriages, but it was also given to women forced to give up their children because it would dry up their breast milk.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Right. And I am assuming that this drug is problematic.

[Kat Nealon]

Problematic doesn't even come close, Andy. DES was linked to cancer as far back as the 1930s. In 1959, it was the subject of a debate in the House of Lords

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

about whether it was safe for women,

[Kat Nealon]

about the risk it posed to farm workers when it was an ingredient in animal feed. It was subsequently banned from being given to chickens.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

There we go. So in 1959, this drug was deemed unsafe for animals. Unsafe for men working with animals, but

[Kat Nealon]

still OK for women. Apparently. In fact, in Britain, DES was being used on pregnant women and those who were forced to give up their babies well into the 1980s, by which point it was firmly associated with several rare types of cancer. Campaigners estimate that as many as 300,000 women were exposed to it, a figure the government has never challenged.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

300,000.

[Kat Nealon]

And some of these women are only learning now that they may have been given DEs, which even back then was known to affect the development of embryos, causing birth defects. The technical name for this is teratogen.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Okay. And a more well known teratogen would be thalidomide.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser]

Right.

[Kat Nealon]

Hence why this has been called the Hidden Thalidomide scandal. The devastating effects of DES on children exposed to it in the womb are comparable to those of thalidomide and have been well documented. But one area that hasn't is des's possible impact on those mothers, later children who weren't exposed in the womb.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

So children whose mothers were given DES for previous pregnancies.

[Kat Nealon]

Exactly. The Naked Week has spoken to a number of these mothers and a common thread was how little they'd been told about the drug, partly as a result of how little research there is on its wider effects. We heard from one woman who was given DES and forced to give up her newborn daughter, who had another daughter seven years later. The daughter, who, to be clear, wasn't exposed to DES in the womb, was born with a type of congenital abnormality of the uterus that significantly increased her risk of miscarriages as an adult.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

And how unusual is this specific abnormality?

[Kat Nealon]

Roughly 1% of women are born with it.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Okay, so we are not saying her abnormal uterus was necessarily a result of her mother taking DES during a previous pregnancy.

[Kat Nealon]

No. The two things could be totally unrelated. But it's worth pointing out that the official UK Guidance for Drug Safety lists possible side effects of DES as including

[Katie Norris]

reduced fertility and urogenital abnormalities in female offspring.

[Kat Nealon]

Another woman we spoke to who was given DES for her first forcibly adopted child went on to have both male and female children who were born with other conditions on the same list of possible side effects.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

And which, again, could be entirely unrelated to des.

[Kat Nealon]

Correct, but the point is, the lack of information in this area causes endless uncertainty and worry for DES affected families. However, there has been a major study of DES conducted by the US National Cancer Institute.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

And what does this study show?

[Kat Nealon]

Well, perhaps the most significant aspect is that it goes one generation further.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

DES exposed granddaughters may have an elevated risk for infertility. So that's three generations who could be affected by this drug.

[Kat Nealon]

Potentially, yes.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

And of course, all the secrecy and shame around forced adoption means it's even harder to know who's been exposed to this stuff.

[Kat Nealon]

Another reason why this area desperately needs more study in this country. The campaign group DES Justice UK has called for proper screening and treatment pathways for all children who may have been exposed. Responding to coverage by ITV last year, Health Secretary Wes Streeting did apologise for the use of DES on pregnant women.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Ok, but did he specifically mention the role of DES in forced adoptions?

[Kat Nealon]

He did not. But the wider message is hopefully starting to get through. Gps have been told they should encourage women who know or suspect they were exposed to DES to get specialist cancer screenings.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Well, that advice is genuinely helpful, but as we do say on this show, the Naked Week likes to help and we'd like to help Keir Starmer, Speed Free Gonzalez himself. So that bit you are allowed to laugh, but it's okay. So let's check back in to see how he's getting on with that extremely urgent formal apology for the government's role in forced adoption. Even the Church of England has managed this. How about you, Kieran?

[Kieran]

Yeah, my instinct is we do. There's a strong case for it.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Sorry seems to be the hardest word. Cat, Neilan, everybody. Still to come, after a weekend feasting on roast lamb and chocolate eggs, President Trump has a warning for his staff.

[Neil Oliver]

You want to be as far away as you can. One load out, One load out, one load out.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Operation Easter Fury continues. And speaking of which, this year's Easter Bonnet parade organisers regret asking GB News Neil Oliver to be a judge. Everyone with a rosette is a declared friend of the Israel that's committing genocide in Gaza. Oh, well, on the plus side, he has just been announced as Kanye's support act. And finally, Keir Starmer went to the Middle east with the Naked Week's blessing.

[Kieran]

Well, we've just reached this ceasefire, which is.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Audience, it's nothing to do with witches. You're listening to the Naked week on Radio 4, where it's now time for the BBC's security correspondent to tackle all your horticultural questions in Frank Gardiner's Question Time.

[Katie Norris]

My ten foot Mahonia, which is very handsome, but it lacks lower branches below. What's the best way to encourage new growth there?

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

If you're not doing very well, you perhaps use tactical nuclear weapons. And the BBC security correspondent Frank Gardiner will be back to answer all your horticultural questions at the same time next week, live from Benjamin Netanyahu's window box. So this week saw the beginning of a six a six day resident doctors strike, meaning that if you're currently in need of a colonoscopy, now is the time to find a neighbour with a length of buttered garden hose and a can do attitude. On Tuesday, resident Doctors in the NHS began their 15th walkout in just three years. Mind you, my first Fringe show had 15 walkouts in just the first three minutes, so I would say the doctors are doing pretty well. Resident doctors are what we used to call junior doctors, but their title has had a bit of a glow up. Exactly how Sir Keir Starmer has gone from being leader of the Labour Party to captain of the Titanic, with a simple reprint of the business cards. For his part, Health secretary Wes Streeting told the nurses and midwives are paid far less than doctors and some never earn as much as a resident doctor at any point in their career. Not sure that's quite the killer Point you think it is, Wes? Yes. I know you want me to stop punching you in the face, but those people are also being beaten up. Thank me later. Although just last week, MPs actually got a 5% pay rise, taking their basic annual salary to over 98,000 pounds. Which means that whenever a resident doctor looks at their payslip, they'll be reminded they are worth significantly less than Chris Philp. Hard for anyone to recover from that. So why are the doctors striking? Well, one complaint is feeling underpaid and underappreciated. But the strike isn't just about pay restoration. It's also about training and placement opportunities for graduates. Put simply, there aren't enough placements for all our resident doctors and many are training for years for jobs that don't really exist. Like pretty much everyone under the age of about 23. Now, the naked Week likes to help, which is why we're going to give both sides all the tools they need to bring things to a satisfying conclusion. In a moment, we'll talk to the Naked Weeks, giving both sides all the tools they need to bring things to a satisfying conclusion. Correspondent Katie Norris. But first.

[Katie Norris]

Hold on, hold on. I just want to.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

I'm sorry, Katie, you're not on yet. You come in on the next page.

[Katie Norris]

No, I've got something to say now.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

No, I mean, look at the script. Page 25, insert name of sidekick enters. Pretend to know. Pretend to know name. That's you. You see?

[Katie Norris]

No, I've had enough. Clearly these talks are going nowhere. I'm going on strike.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

You're not going to read the script?

[Katie Norris]

No, not for the duration of my stoppage.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Is there any room for negotiation?

[Katie Norris]

No, I don't think so.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Well, this is very short notice. I mean, if we'd known you were going on strike, as we're in Cambridge, we. We could have got one of the Footlights lot to step in. They will. They will in the long run, take all of our jobs. Anyway,

[Katie Norris]

I shall not be moved.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

I don't understand this. What are you striking over?

[Katie Norris]

Same as the doctors. Underappreciated, underpaid and being trained for jobs that don't exist. Tick, tick, tick.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

But your job exists.

[Katie Norris]

Yeah, for one episode of the Naked Week. What am I going to do next week?

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

It's back to the news quiz. Next week. I don't think Andy Zaltzman has a sidekick. After his last one and got all successful, he had him killed and buried at Lords at Deep Square Leg.

[Katie Norris]

I'm with the resident doctors. We do vital work and we're being forced to operate in degrading conditions. Some of the correspondent titles you've given me tonight, I actually think they might be made up.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

That is not true. That is not true. The position of giving both sides all the tools they need to bring things to a satisfying conclusion. Correspondent exists in all decent media groups. And Sky.

[Katie Norris]

No, I'm going on strike.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Like, what are your demands?

[Katie Norris]

That the BBC create sufficient training posts that I can continue as a sidekick for Friday night comedy indefinitely.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Hold your horses, please. Please hold your horses.

[Katie Norris]

Hey, you also made me do that thing about horses.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

We didn't make you do. But you can't have a full time job at the BBC. You haven't acquired anywhere near enough allegations of sexual miscond

[Katie Norris]

and I'm staging a walkout.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Well, look. No, hold on. Can we negotiate? Okay, well, look, if you're not going to read your own lines, Katie, I suppose I, your more senior colleague, will have to fill in. Okay, but just so you know, I charge 313 quid an hour if you read my lines.

[Katie Norris]

You're crossing the picket.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Katie, please, stop being so maudlin. Or as we're in Cambridge Magdalene, someone has to read your lines. We've got another 10 pages about Rishi Sunak's skiing accident.

[Katie Norris]

Not doing it.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

All right. I say, Andy, have you heard the awful news about Rishi Sunak's skiing accident? No, Katie, I actually hadn't. Is our esteemed former PM quite all right? Yes, he is, Andy. He's on the mend and was pictured beaming on crutches in the Times on Wednesday. Well, thank you, Katie. I'm relieved to. I'm sorry. This is not working. This is not working.

[Katie Norris]

Oh, my God. Hey, hey. Ho, ho. The Naked Week has got to go.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Hold on, hold on, please.

[Katie Norris]

The Naked. We have got to go.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Just a second, just a second, just a second. Come on.

[Katie Norris]

What do we want? The news quiz back? When do we want it? From day to Friday. What do we want? The news quiz back? When do we want it?

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

Katie, I have to read the credits. It's in my contract.

[Katie Norris]

Yeah, fine. Go on then. Close the show, you crazy bastard. Okay, okay, all right, all right.

[Andrew Hunter Murray]

The Naked Week was hosted by me, Andrew Hunter Murray, with guest correspondent Katie Norris. It was written by John Holmes, Katie Sayer, Gareth Coretti, Jason Hazely and James Kettle with Investigations Team Catnilan and Becky Pennington. Additional material by Carl Minns, Kevin Smith, Molly Puncheon, Jane Fay, Darren Phillips and David Rifkin. The Naked Week is produced and directed by John Holmes and it's an unusual production for BBC Radio 4.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser]

And, Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 2]

Hey, everyone. Check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 3]

Oh, no.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser]

We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 3]

We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Katie Norris]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser]

Anyways, get a [e-mail] or with your local agent.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser 2]

Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.