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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Rachel Hall

‘Breakthrough moment’: how Lorraine Kelly helped shift the menopause debate

Lorraine Kelly
Lorraine Kelly: ‘I was able to use my own particular problems to help other people – that’s a huge privilege, and a responsibility.’ Photograph: Ken McKay/ITV/Rex/Shutterstock

Five years ago, Lorraine Kelly wanted to interview a famous woman about their experience of the menopause on her daytime TV show. Everyone she approached refused, so she decided to turn the tables and have a doctor interview her about her personal story.

Kelly shared with viewers about how she had felt “flat and joyless” despite leading a life she was happy with. It had taken a revelatory consultation with her interviewer, the TV medic Hilary Jones, to learn that she did not have depression but was experiencing menopausal symptoms.

“I thought, nobody else will talk about it so I’ll do it. It was a breakthrough moment, and that’s what I think daytime telly does very well – we’re not afraid to tackle anything. I had someone talking about how to do a poo test for bowel cancer on the show this morning,” she said.

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