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Jessica Fellowes on the roaring twenties and comparisons with life today as come out of lockdown.

Emma Barnett talks to Jessica Fellowes about the "Roaring Twenties" & comparisons with life today as lockdown ends and we consider if fiction could change our view of dementia.

As we begin to emerge from lockdown, what are the similarities with the ‘Roaring 20s’ 100 years ago when Britain, having survived the Spanish Flu and the Great War, became a hedonistic playground? Will this time create a need for crowds, parties, touch, and an urge to ‘get out and enjoy life’? Jessica Fellowes, author of Mitford Murders crime series and companion books to the television series Downton Abbey, describes the Bright Young Things who were the influencers of their day, ‘Bachelor Girls’ who no longer needed to be married to enjoy independence, and gives parallels with how technology transformed lifestyles – from the labour saving devices that freed women from endless housework, to the internet which enables women to work from home today.

The public’s understanding of dementia is generally very poor and the message we receive about it are overwhelmingly negative. Could fiction be the answer to showing a more rounded and factual portrayal? Emma Barnett talks to Wendy Mitchell, Anna Wharton and Professor Jan Oyebode.

Presenter: Emma Barnett
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Studio Engineer: Tanzy Leitner

Available now

44 minutes

Chapters

  • Covid passports

    • Covid passports

      Covid passports will affect people such as pregnant women differently

      Duration: 13:05

  • Dementia

    • Dementia

      Currently, 850 thousand people are living with dementia in the UK

      Duration: 13:48

  • Princess Diana's bike

    • Princess Diana's bike

      Princess Diana's bike that she rode before becoming engaged is up for auction

      Duration: 04:10

  • Roaring Twenties

    • Roaring Twenties

      As we begin to emerge from lockdown, what are the similarities with the ‘Roaring 20s?

      Duration: 08:29

Broadcast

  • Wed 7 Apr 2021 10:00

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