The Today programmes guest editor this morning was the philanthropist Melinda Gates, one of the wealthiest people in the world, the wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Today presenter Sarah Montague spoke to Mrs Gates about her choices for the morning's programme.

Mrs Gates explains why it is that she believes women are the key to alleviating poverty in developing countries: "Women in these countries, if they get a little bit of economic means then they plough it back into their families."

"We must have women's voices in this development conversation... they're the ones who are in charge of making sure that their children get educated," she explained.

This is an extended version of the broadcast interview.

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