The hottest night of the year!

Mariella Frostup and Davina McCall joined forces at the London Hippodrome on June 24th on the hottest night of the year - in every way. As some of our most howlingly hilarious female comedians rocked the house, the duo pleaded with everyone to sign our petition asking that menopause be included in the NHS over 40 health check. 

It was a boiling hot London evening, both inside and out, as 350 celebrities, patrons, advocates, and supporters of Menopause Mandate gathered to enjoy It’s a Right Laugh, a comedy show put together by Melissa Robertson at Dark Horses, featuring side-splitting acts from the nation’s funniest: Jo Brand, Zoe Lyons, Nina Conti, Jenny Eclair, Sikisa, Ria Lina, Sara Barron, Thanyia Moore, Jen Brister, Laura Smyth, and Isma Almas. 

With a glittering introduction by chair Mariella Frostrup and compered by the irrepressible and witty Davina McCall, the audience rocked with laughter through two hours of menopause and midlife-themed hilarity. The tables were firmly turned on centuries of finding older women nothing but a joke. 

On a single serious note, Frostrup and McCall called out to the nation to raise awareness of the new Menopause Mandate campaign and sign our petition. 

There are around 16 million women over the age of 45 in the UK. We at Menopause Mandate have heard thousands of stories of suffering, isolation, depression and suicidal ideation, with relationships destroyed and jobs lost. Not every woman will find menopause difficult, but there are said to be at least 34 symptoms and most women will experience at least one. One in four will find their quality of life is compromised. Highlighting signs and symptoms of the menopause at the health check, which is offered to everyone, will mean that women enter the transition armed with knowledge and prepared to make lifestyle and HRT choices. It will save countless women from years of baffling symptoms and save the NHS millions both short and long term. 

Please share the QR code with your readers. We need the next government to take notice and make changes. 

With grateful thanks to Boots for their generous sponsorship, to acclaimed comedy and entertainment Director, Babs Wiltshire and the Gilded Balloon, one of the UK’s leading producers of live comedy and entertainment. And most of all, to all the hysterically funny women who made us laugh so much. 

Mariella Frostrup says: Last night was a hilarious reminder that women can also be funny. Imagine that! I can’t thank the brilliant comedians enough for making us all weep with laughter. For one night, the tables were turned on those enduring toxic tropes. Menopause was the punchline, but this time it’s on our terms. But on a serious note, we’re imploring everyone to sign our petition and make sure that menopause is given the priority it deserves in our over 40 NHS health check. The next government has the chance to support millions of midlife women with one simple change. Let’s all help make it happen. 

Davina McCall says: Every woman in the UK is given a health check for free over the age of 40. They might talk about heart health and diabetes risk, but the one thing that every single woman is 100% going to go through is menopause, and that’s not even given a nod. Women need to be educated and informed. Please scan our QR code and sign the petition. We’re looking to the future. Let’s get the next generations of girls fully supported.