23/02/2010

Synopsis

With Jane Garvey.

Paul Delaroche's masterpiece, The Execution of Lady Jane Grey, created a sensation when it was first displayed in Paris in 1833. And since its rediscovery in the 1970s it has become one of Britain's best-loved paintings. It shows in poignant detail the 17-year-old Lady Jane groping for the execution block, gently guided by a towering male figure while her courtiers collapse in grief by her side. Her brilliant white dress portrays her as the innocent Protestant martyr. She inherited the English throne reluctantly during the bitter political wrangling that followed the death of Edward VI in 1553 and was swiftly deposed in a counter-coup by her Catholic cousin Mary. Jane Garvey visits the National Gallery to discuss the painting and Lady Jane Grey's extraordinary life and death with the historian Alison Weir and the curator Christopher Riopelle.

Goldfrapp are renowned for their eclectic, inventive music. Their latest album, Head First, has been described as 'a speedy rush of synth optimism, euphoria, fantasy and romance'. Alison Goldfrapp makes up half of the band; the other half is classically-trained composer Will Gregory. They make unlikely pop stars - both are celebrity shy and make reluctant interviewees - but over the years they have received numerous musical awards and critical acclaim for their work including their album Black Cherry and the glam-rock Supernature. Alison talks to Jane about their music.

Parenting manuals usually tell us to make time for our children. Now a new book claims all this attention does them more harm than good. The author argues that we have become too child-centric and that it is time to focus on the adults for a change. He believes it is a myth that the more attention we give our children, the better they turn out. So, is this what parents need to hear or does it add yet another burden onto women? To discuss the issues Jane is joined by David Code, author of To Raise Happy Kids, Put Your Marriage First, and Daisy Goodwin, a parent and author of an anthology of parenting books.

The turnout among 18-24 year olds in the last two general elections has been under 40 per cent. There is much talk of apathy, disillusionment and young people failing to see what difference their vote will make. So how can they be motivated to make it to the ballot box? To discuss the issues, Jane is joined by 18-year-old Bex Bailey, a member of the Labour Party and deputy regional member for the Youth Parliament in Nottinghamshire, 20-year-old Emma Carr, who is regional chairman of Conservative Future for the north east of England, and Liam Keogh, a 22-year-old graduate based in Leeds who runs his own PR company and is undecided about who he will vote for.