大象传媒

When she first emerged in 1992, Mary J Blige was labelled the Queen of Hip Hop with her unique look and hip-hop soul sound. She鈥檚 since sold over 50 million albums, won nine Grammy Awards, been named by Billboard in 2010 as the most successful female R&B artist of the past 25 years, and as one of the world鈥檚 most influential people by Time magazine. Yet behind all this success lies a tough past 鈥� a difficult upbringing and a previous life of abuse, drink, and drugs. She鈥檚 worked hard to overcome that past -聽and to inspire and help other women聽- through her music and through the women鈥檚 charities she鈥檚 founded. And now, with a happy聽family life of her own, she鈥檚 back with a new album - A Mary Christmas 鈥� an album of new songs and festive favourites. She joined Jane Garvey to talk about Christmas聽in the projects,聽working to overcome drink, drugs and聽abuse, how marriage and Whitney Houston鈥檚 death inspired her to change, and聽finding happiness and success.

Mary J Blige鈥檚 new album, A Mary Christmas, is out now on Decca

Today is the launch of the Silver Line Helpline - the first confidential service for older people who need information, advice and protection from abuse or neglect. It鈥檚 the most recent step to tackle the problem of loneliness amongst the elderly which the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has described as 鈥渙ur national shame鈥�. We discuss whether enough is being done to help.

The Woman's Hour Powerlister and聽Director General of the Department for Communities and Local Government鈥檚 Troubled Families Programme talks to Jane.

She was known as The Lady Tenor because of her deep and powerful singing voice and many people, when they heard her recordings, refused to believe that it was actually a woman singing. Born in Bristol in 1890, Ruby Helder crossed the Atlantic in 1913 and enjoyed great success in The States. The famous tenor - Enrico Caruso - was one of her greatest fans and for years she toured America and was known to millions through her radio broadcasts. And yet, she is almost unknown in the country of her birth. 75 years since her death in Hollywood, Jane takes a look at Ruby Helder鈥檚 life and music with Bristol local historian Jim McNeil.

Why aren鈥檛 there more women cyclists on the roads? Jane talks to Dr Rachel Aldred, Senior Lecturer in Transport at the University of Westminister, and Kirsteen Torrance, Chair of Scotland鈥檚 first women only national cycling club, Filles a Velo.