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Emma Barnett: Maternity Service

Journalist and author Emma Barnett talks to Kirsty Young about her new book Maternity Service, exploring what it really feels like to be on maternity leave.

More details for Purcell Room
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Emma Barnett sitting on a yellow chair with her head resting on her hand.

When Barnett began her second maternity leave, she quickly realised that, over time, she had managed to forget what her first experience had actually been like.

It is this collective forgetting that leads to well-meaning comments like: ‘enjoy every minute’ and ‘treasure this special experience’, doing a disservice to women and leaving them unprepared for the more complicated, conflicted realities of the experience.

Maternity Service captures the truth of maternity leave in real time. Written in snatched moments throughout her second tour of duty to capture the detail in real time, before rose-tinted lenses could descend, this book is a lifeline and love letter to other women on maternity leave – or those about to be trench-deep.

At this event, she discusses the book and her experience in conversation with journalist and broadcaster Kirsty Young.

Kirsty Young is one of the most respected broadcasters in the UK. She was the host of Desert Island Discs on Radio 4 for over a decade, during which time she interviewed guests including Bill Gates, Tom Hanks, Theresa May and Bruce Springsteen. She currently hosts the BBC Sounds podcast Young Again, interviewing fascinating individuals about their lives, asking the question: if you knew then what you know now, what would you tell yourself?

Need to know

Age guidance
For ages 16+
Kirsty Young wearing a pale green suit against a beige background.

Kirsty Young

For your visit

This event is held at the Purcell Room Southbank Centre

The Purcell Room is located in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.

Concrete interior of Purcell Room entrance at Southbank Centre View larger image

Plan your visit

The Purcell Room is an auditorium located within our Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Getting here

Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.

The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues.  More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.

We’re cash-free

Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.

Access

We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.

All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.

All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.

Food & drink

From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.

Places to eat and drink whilst you’re here