In December 2013, Dr Jan Macvarish from the, Mariella Frostrup and a panel of expert guests debated what to say to children about sex, when to say it and explore why it can be so tricky in a Radio 4 broadcast. Mariella (left) and her guests explored how adults’ attitudes to children and sexuality colour how they behave as parents. The programme asked if society is dangerously relaxed about the sexualised clothing, imagery and culture surrounding young people or if increased awareness of child sexual abuse in recent years made parents deeply uncomfortable with talking and thinking about children and sex at all.

The programme included Simon Blake, Chief Executive of Brook, a charity offering sexual health information, psychotherapist Viviane Green, Jan McVarish and columnist and writer Giles Coren.