Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 01 | Strongwoman | 20230329 | 20240505 (BBC7) 20240410 (R4) 20260504 (BBC7) | Strength can look like a lot of things and, in this first episode of the stand-up series exploring women's weightlifting, comedian Jessica Fostekew starts at the most dirty, functional end of things - strongwoman. It's where weightlifting meets theatre. You might have seen on the telly at Christmas, the one with Geoff Capes running around with a fridge on his little finger or giving an entire train a tow with his body. Jess talks to four-time Britain's Strongest Woman Andrea Thompson and multiple world-record holder Mayyah Blair to get their take on strength, aesthetic and why the strongest women in the world still have to work part-time. And she tells us about the time she pulled an actual bus. Lets face it, she goes on and on about it. Strength can look like a lot of things and comedienne Jessica Fostekew starts at the most dirty, functional end of things - strongwoman. Jess talks to four-times Britain's Strongest Woman Andrea Thompson and multiple world-record holder Mayyah Blair to get their take on strength, aesthetic and why the strongest women in the world still have to work part-time. Produced by Lyndsay Fenner Stand-up series where the world of women's weightlifting is shown off and where muscularity v femininity is fully unpacked. Who says heavy can't be funny? Stand-up series from about strong women, quite literally - women weightlifters. A Mighty Bunny production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in March 2023 Who says heavy can't be funny? A look at women's weightlifting, fully unpacking muscularity vs femininity. From 2023.
Comedian Jessica Fostekew starts at the most dirty, functional end of things - strongwoman. It's where weightlifting meets theatre. You might have seen on the telly at Christmas, the one with Geoff Capes running around with a fridge on his little finger or giving an entire train a tow with his body. Jess talks to four-times Britain's Strongest Woman Andrea Thompson and multiple world-record holder Mayyah Blair to get their take on strength, aesthetic and why the strongest women in the world still have to work part-time. And she tells us about the time she pulled an actual bus. Lets face it, she goes on and on about it. A Mighty Bunny production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in March 2023 Stand up series about strong women, quite literally - women weightlifters. Who says heavy can't be funny? A look at women's weightlifting, fully unpacking muscularity vs femininity. From 2023. |
| 01 | 02 | Powerlifting | 20230405 | 20240417 (R4) 20260511 (BBC7) | In this second episode of the stand-up series looking at women's weightlifting, Jessica Fostekew introduces us to powerlifting - squat, bench press and deadlift. We hear from 'Princess of Iron' Sharon Eggleton (the current second strongest powerlifter in Britain), as well as comedian and fanatical powerlifter Fern Brady, on just how brilliant and grounding it is to feel strong, not enjoying being a team player and how the rise in the female take-up of the sport is beginning to counter the toxic masculinity of the free weights area. Stand-up series where the world of women's weightlifting is shown off and where muscularity v femininity is fully unpacked. Who says heavy can't be funny? Executive Producer: Victoria Lloyd Sound Recordist: David Thomas The biggest laughs, the freshest faces.
We hear from 'Princess of Iron' Sharon Eggleton (one of the top ranking strongest female Powerlifters in Britain), as well as comedian and fanatical powerlifter Fern Brady, on just how brilliant and grounding it is to feel strong, not enjoying being a team player and how the rise in female take-up of the sport is beginning to counter the toxic masculinity of the free weights area. A Mighty Bunny production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2023. Stand up series about strong women, quite literally - women weightlifters. Jessica explores Powerlifting - squat, bench press and deadlift in the series looking at women's weightlifting. From 2023. |
| 01 | 03 | Olympic Lifting | 20230412 | 20240424 (R4) 20260518 (BBC7) | In episode 3 of Jessica Fostekew's stand up series about strong women, things start getting technical as we look into the world of Olympic Lifting and get familiar with the Snatch and the Clean and Jerk. Jess talks to Champion Olympic lifters Emily Campbell and Zoe Smith about dealing with the opinions of others, their route into the sport. and what to eat if you want to get strong (spoiler, the answer is - your dinner). Jess also takes part in an Olympic Lifting competition where she's a very much a newbie but has so much fun! Stand up series about strong women, quite literally - women weightlifters. Stand up series where the world of women's weightlifting is shown off and where muscularity vs femininity is fully unpacked. Who says heavy can't be funny? Executive Producer: Victoria Lloyd Sound Recordist: David Thomas The biggest laughs, the freshest faces.
Things start getting technical as we look into the world of Olympic Lifting and get familiar with the 'Snatch' and the 'Clean and Jerk'. Jess talks to Champion Olympic lifters Emily Campbell and Zoe Smith about dealing with the opinions of others, their route into the sport and what to eat if you want to get strong (spoiler, the answer is - your dinner). Jess also takes part in an Olympic Lifting competition, where she's very much a newbie but has a lot of fun! A Mighty Bunny production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2023. Stand up series about strong women, quite literally - women weightlifters. Jess has fun in an Olympic Lifting competition. The world of women weightlifters with stand-up Jessica Fostekew. From 2023. |
| 01 | 04 LAST | Bodybuilding | 20230419 | 20240501 (R4) | In the final episode of Jessica Fostekew's stand up series about big strong girls, we arrive at the most aesthetic and least functional of all the strength sports - bodybuilding. The Schwarzenegger in swimwear one. It's an area in which Jess is way out of her depth, having flirted with the weightlifting movement by accident over the years but never daring to face the gruelling diet. Luckily she's got two brilliant interviewees on hand to help her get deep into the nitty gritty of things - champion bodybuilder Frances Amies-Winter and actor and former bodybuilder Megan Prescott. We also find out about the history of the sport as part of circus tradition, and Jess goes to Fran's gym to train with her on leg day. Yes. She can just about still walk now. It's an area in which Jess is way out of her depth, having flirted with the weightlifting movements by accident over the years but never daring to face the gruelling diet. Stand up series about strong women, quite literally - women weightlifters. Stand up series where the world of women's weightlifting is shown off and where muscularity vs femininity is fully unpacked. Who says heavy can't be funny? The Schwarznegger in swimwear one. Stand-up series where the world of women's weightlifting is shown off and where muscularity v femininity is fully unpacked. Who says heavy can't be funny? |
| 02 | 01 | Crossfit | 20240612 | 20240619 (BBC7) | Strength can look like a lot of things and here comedian Jessica Fostekew digs into some of the most unladylike sports going. In this episode we look at Crossfit - a heady mix of strength, gymnastics and athleticism AKA 'exercise tapas'. Jess talks to Crossfit champion and 2022's sixteenth fittest woman in the world - Lucy Campbell - about muscularity, finding a community and why even a sport which has trumpeted equality from its inception still has a way to go when it comes to the sexualisation of the women at the top of their game. And she demonstrates why, on the radio, it's sometimes hard to tell the difference between the sound of a woman lifting a heavy weight, and the sound of a baby elephant on a steam train. Assistant Producer: Tam Reynolds Sound Designer: David Thomas Exec Producer: Victoria Lloyd Stand-up series about big strong women who do 'unladylike' sports. Who says heavy can't be funny? A look at 'unladylike' sports and those who do them, fully unpacking muscularity vs femininity. |
| 02 | 02 | Rugby | 20240619 | 20240626 (BBC7) | Strength can look like a lot of things and here comedian Jessica Fostekew digs into some of the most unladylike sports going. In this episode, Jess tries rugby, getting lifted into the air like a toddler in a playground by one England legend - Vicky Fleetwood - and learning from another - Maggie Alphonsi - about the history and future of the women's game. We also find out which is more manly - Roses or Tulips - and how to dodge dog-doo on the training pitch. Assistant Producer: Tam Reynolds Sound Designer: David Thomas Exec Producer: Victoria Lloyd Stand-up series about big strong women who do unladylike sports. Who says heavy can't be funny? A look at unladylike sports and those who do them, fully unpacking muscularity v femininity. |
| 02 | 03 | Wrestling | 20240626 | 20240703 (BBC7) | Strength can look like a lot of things and comedian Jessica Fostekew digs into some of the most unladylike sports going. This episode, we don our smartest lycra and spinnarooni into the world of Wrestling. With the help of pro-wrestler Rhia O'Reilly, luchador Claire Heafford and wrestling megafan Sikisa, Jess unpacks the ins and outs of what it means to be a sturdy girl in the wrestling ring. We track the role of women in the sport from the early days of the Great Mae Young and the Fabulous Moolah and try to work out if it is even a sport, or is it in fact - as Claire insists - a performing art? Assistant Producer: Tam Reynolds Sound Designer: David Thomas Stand-up series about big strong women who do 'unladylike' sports. Who says heavy can't be funny? A look at 'unladylike' sports and those who do them, fully unpacking muscularity vs femininity. |
| 02 | 04 LAST | Mma | 20240703 | 20240710 (BBC7) | Strength can look like a lot of things and comedian Jessica Fostekew investigates some of the most unladylike sports going. In this episode we dig deep into what is probably the most violent sanctioned sport out there - Mixed Martial Arts (MMA to its friends). Ever wondered who would win in a fight between Kung Fu Panda and Chris Eubank? With the help of top British MMA fighter Shanelle 'Nightmare' Dyer and academic Jennifer McClearen, Jess gets under the surface of one of the most rapidly growing sports in the world. Assistant Producer: Tam Reynolds Sound Designer: David Thomas Exec Producer: Victoria Lloyd Stand-up series about big strong women who do 'unladylike' sports. Who says heavy can't be funny? A look at 'unladylike' sports and those who do them, fully unpacking muscularity vs femininity. Strength can look like a lot of things and comedian Jessica Fostekew investigates some of the most unladylike sports going. In this episode we dig deep into what is probably the most violent sanctioned sport out there - Mixed Martial Arts (MMA to its friends). Ever wondered who would win in a fight between Kung Fu Panda and Chris Eubank? With the help of top British MMA fighter Shanelle 'Nightmare' Dyer and academic Jennifer McClearen, Jess gets under the surface of one of the most rapidly growing sports in the world. Assistant Producer: Tam Reynolds Sound Designer: David Thomas Exec Producer: Victoria Lloyd Stand-up series about big strong women who do 'unladylike' sports. Who says heavy can't be funny? A look at 'unladylike' sports and those who do them, fully unpacking muscularity vs femininity. |
Strength can look like a lot of things.