Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

Mel Giedroyc is Gyles's special guest on this episode; and she talks about her amazing family story. Her father and his family were taken from Eastern Poland to Siberia by the Russians in 1939 - Mel's grandfather was shot, but her grandmother, dad and aunts made an extraordinary journey and eventually reached London, where Mel's father settled and met her mother. It's a fascinating, moving and sometimes shocking tale, and a very special edition of Rosebud. Mel also talks about meeting Sue Perkins at Cambridge, about being flashed at in Italy, and about her love of walking holidays. Mel Giedroyc is the host of the brilliant Where There's a Will There's a Wake podcast, in which guests plan their perfect funeral and talk about the manner in which they're going to meet their maker. It's a surprisingly uplifting podcast about death and is highly recommended. Enjoy this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's More Rosebud, and our guest today is a political heavyweight. He was a member of parliament and cabinet minister under Margaret Thatcher and John Major, was the UK's last governor in Hong Kong, and then Chancellor of Oxford University. It's Chris Patten, Lord Patten of Barnes. In this episode, Chris tells Gyles about his childhood, growing up in the west of London in a happy and loving Irish family with a jazz-musician father. He tells Gyles about working for Ted Heath and Margaret Thatcher, about Hong Kong and about his pride at having been involved in the Irish peace process. He talks about Trump and his fears for the future. At the start of this episode, we also have a surprise: Rosebud's shortest ever interview! Plus a listener email and more chat from Gyles and Harriet. Enjoy this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Osman: writer, presenter, producer, creator and podcaster. From Pointless, to House of Games, to Thursday Murder Club and The Rest is Entertainment - the range, volume and success of Osman's work is impressive. So how did this shy boy who liked to stand outside things, observe and who has "weird brain gifts" become such an on and off-screen talent? Richard talks to Gyles about his early years - how his happy childhood spent holidaying with families from the street was disrupted by his father leaving the family when Richard was only nine. He talks about his struggles with his eyesight, and how that and his height made him feel separate, and different. He talks about his amazing mum, and how she coped as a single parent. Richard talks about how much he loves TV, and about how much he loves his wife, Ingrid Oliver. And he tells Gyles about seeking help for his food addiction. This is a fascinating episode full of wisdom and honesty. It was recorded at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Gyles's first term at New College, Oxford, and in this episode we hear about what happens when the busiest man at Bedales takes on university life. And, needless to say, he hits the ground running. By the end of his first week he's had a few high-level meetings, met some influential and well-connected people, and had a tour of the Oxford Union. As the term progresses, he gives his maiden speech at the Union, writes his first article for the university magazine, and develops a crush on an unavailable fellow student. Plus some of your emails, some chat from Gyles and Harriet and well wishes for Marie "Mimi" Unsworth - get well soon from Gyles and Harriet! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of our most interesting, versatile and talented actors is Gyles's guest today: Sir Gary Oldman. In this very special, intimate and extensive conversation, Gary tells Gyles about his childhood in New Cross Gate in South London, growing up in a council flat with his sisters and his mum - his father left the family home when Gary was seven. He tells Gyles about his happy childhood, dressing up as a homemade batman and playing cricket in the streets with his friends. He tells Gyles about discovering the Greenwich Young People's Theatre and applying for drama school, and about getting his Equity card. He talks about Joe Orton, Paul McCartney, Malcolm McDowell and why he'll never play Hitler. Gary also talks about the perpetual feelings of insecurity which drive him. This is a fascinating conversation with a wonderful actor and we're thrilled to be able to give Rosebud listeners the chance to hear it. Enjoy this. This podcast was recorded at Gyles's house. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's More Rosebud, and time for another guest with an unusual tale to tell. Julia Baird is the half-sister of John Lennon, and here she tells Gyles about her childhood, their mother (Julia Lennon, née Stanley) and what it was like to grow up alongside a future pop icon. John Lennon and Julia Baird's family was big, and complicated - their mother, Julia, was one of five girls. She met John Lennon's father, Alf Lennon, in the park when she was just 14, and the pair courted, and later married. John was born in 1940, but Alf got a job in the merchant navy and from then on was seldom home. After that, Julia had three more daughters with two different partners, but her family did not approve and John was taken to live with his aunt, Mimi. However, John and his mother never stopped seeing each other, and never stopped loving each other - and this is the story Julia Baird tells to Gyles in this episode. She also tells Gyles about John's success, about the band's rehearsals in her mum's kitchen, about John and Cynthia, and about going to see the Beatles play in Liverpool and the early days of Beatlemania. This really is a must for any John Lennon fans who want to know more about his childhood. Julia Baird's book Imagine This: Growing Up With My Brother John Lennon is available here. Tickets to Live Odyssey, an immersive exhibition about British music and featuring a new John Lennon exhibition, are available here. This episode was recorded at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London. Thank you very much to everyone there! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeffrey Archer is one of the best-selling writers in the world, and he is our guest today. He talks to Gyles about his childhood in Weston-Super-Mare, his indomitable mother, his wicked granny, and how he was fired from his job at the local cricket ground for his entrepreneurial afternoon tea scheme. He tells Gyles about his university days, about meeting his wife, Mary, and about meeting the Beatles. He talks about his career as an MP, how he almost became bankcrupt and started writing novels. And, of course, he talks about going to prison for perjury and the lessons that experience taught him. Plus he talks about Margaret Thatcher and the qualities that made her such a successful politician. This is a fascinating interview about a truly fascinating life. Jeffrey's new book, An Eye for an Eye, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A treat for fans of Gyles's diaries, as this week we've got another edition of the gap year diaries... so that's two in a row! In this episode, we start off with a visit from the writer/performer Tama Matheson, who brought Beethoven to life so brilliantly on an episode of More Rosebud a couple of weeks ago. Tama tells Gyles and Harriet about his forthcoming show about Beethoven: 'I Shall Hear in Heaven', on 6 and 8 August, tickets are available from www.operahollandpark.com. Then we get into Gyles's diaries. In this episode, Gyles visits Texas and Louisiana, and is shocked by the racial inequality he sees all around him. He goes to San Francisco and LA, and is intrigued by the hippies. And he eventually flies home, where he is greeted by a new baby niece and Sally, his girlfriend. Gyles tells Harriet about his x-rated, secret diary, and about his thoughts on Fifty Shades of Grey. Enjoy this! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is an exclusive, and more or less uncensored, interview with the journalist and media powerhouse Piers Morgan, who Gyles spoke to live at the Bridlington Business Day this year. Piers talks to Gyles about his childhood, growing up above a country pub in Sussex, about his schooldays being a "buffoon", and about how peach brandy helped to secure him a job editing the News of the World. PIers talks about Meghan Markle, his thoughts on "woke", and his chequered relationship with Donald Trump. He talks, briefly, about phone hacking and the importance of safeguarding free speech. This is a frank and sometimes provocative conversation with someone who has been at the centre of the media landscape since the 1990s. This interview was recorded at Bridlington Spa and was a keynote speech at the Bridlington Business Day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another bumper episode of Gyles's diaries, featuring lots of chat, more diaries, and a gorgeous listener email and poem from Alex and Isabella Porter. Gyles continues his travels around the USA - he finishes his teaching job in Baltimore, and begins travelling around the US, going to Washington DC, New York City and Canada - where he visits Expo '67. Gyles tells Harriet about his wealthy ancestor, the great Dr. Benjamin Brandreth, inventor of "Brandreth's Pills" and creator of the family fortune. This leads Gyles and Harriet to come up with their own invention... stay tuned to find out what it is! Enjoy this episode, have a lovely sunny day wherever you are - and please email us at hello@rosebudpodcast.com if you want to tell us about your younger days. Or about anything else, for that matter! Recorded at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House on Park Lane in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The brilliant actress Alison Steadman tells Gyles about her life and career. There are some really enchanting stories in this episode from her childhood in Liverpool - from the romantic way her parents met, to her adventures looking for buried treasure in the local recreation ground and her love for her pet rabbit, Skipper - this is an evocative listen. Alison tells Gyles about her childhood talent for impressions and how this led her to join Liverpool Youth Theatre and eventually go to drama school in Essex. While there, she met Mike Leigh, with whom she created many of her best-known characters, from Beverley in Abigail's Party to Candice-Marie in Life is Sweet. Alison also talks to Gyles about the Singing Detective and recites a poem she wrote during lockdown. This is a treat, enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rose Boyt tells Gyles about her unconventional childhood, and about her experiences of being parented by - and painted by - her father Lucian Freud, the celebrated modern artist. This is an extraordinary story: even Gyles is bowled over by the twists and turns of Rose's childhood. Rose's parents were Lucian Freud and the artist Susie Boyt, with whom Freud had four other children. He also had many other children with other women - 14 children in all - and was never a conventional husband or father to any of them. But he was brilliant - dazzlingly entertaining, talented, intelligent and inspiring - and Rose experienced this at first hand when she was painted by him for a nude portrait which is the starting point for her book, Naked Portrait. Rose also spent a year living on a cargo ship in the Baltic, DJ'd with Neneh Cherry, and was briefly engaged to Andy Warhol. This is a fascinating interview about Rose, about Lucian Freud, about the artistic life, and about alternative ways of living and looking at the world. Rose Boyt's book, Naked Portrait is out in paperback, published by Picador. It is highly recommended. This episode was recorded at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

JoJo Siwa is Rosebud's youngest ever guest - she's only 22 years old. But she's been famous since she was 9, and a megastar since she was 12, when her first single "Boomerang" went viral. The video for that song was viewed over 1 billion times. Now JoJo is all grown up and, fresh from her appearance in Celebrity Big Brother, she has a new record out: "Bulletproof". Gyles is fascinated by child stars: what drives them, and how do they cope? In this conversation - the only podcast interview JoJo is doing in the UK - JoJo talks about her early years, growing up in Nebraska and competing and winning dance competitions under the tutelage of her mom, and Abby-Lee Miller, her dance instructor. She talks about the fire she had to succeed, and about how it felt to become super famous at 12. She talks about discovering her sexuality, and tells Gyles an amazing story about falling in love with her first girlfriend on a cruise ship. And then she talks about now: about her recent experience in Celebrity Big Brother, and how she met and fell in love with the reality star Chris Hughes while she was in the house. JoJo shows Gyles her tattoos. And Gyles and JoJo talk about the origin of the word "serendipity". JoJo's single "Bulletproof" is available to stream now. This interview was recorded at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a fun episode of diaries, as we hear about the gap year travels not only of Gyles, but also of Harriet too. Because she has finally dug out an old diary, and shares a few entries with Gyles at the beginning of today's show - and they're from her gap year, which was partly spent travelling in India. Then we get stuck into Gyles's travels, which were in the U.S. We hear about his job, teaching in a school in Baltimore, his trip to New York City to stay with some relations, his Aunt Polly's funeral, and his money worries. This episode also features another brief appearance from Joan of Arc, who first appeared in the Beethoven show last week - and it features Harriet and Gyles testing out their American accents. Apologies to any genuine Americans listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Gyles is joined by very special guest Sir David Jason, who talks about memories of his career: how he started out in his local theatre group in north London, and progressed through amateur dramatics, to rep, and finally to the West End and television. There are, of course, a few cameos and helping hands along the way: Brian Epstein, Humphrey Barclay, Ronnie Barker and John Sullivan, to name but a few. You'll know Sir David's television work, because it's legendary: Only Fools and Horses, Open All Hours and Touch of Frost are classics which will be watched for many years to come. But you may not know about his early work on the stage, or his humble roots as a mechanic and then an electrician, or about the impressions he did of his teacher at school, or about the crucial role Ronnie Barker played in getting his career off the ground. This is a funny and touching conversation with one of the true legends of British stage and screen. Thank you to Sir David for your time, and wonderful stories. Sir David's book, This Time Next Year, is out now in paperback, published by Penguin. This episode was recorded at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel in London, thank you to them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've got something quite unique for you this week: an episode of More Rosebud, in which Gyles meets one of the greatest composers who ever lived : Ludwig Van Beethoven. In this fascinating conversation, Gyles will find out about Beethoven's first memory, his challenging childhood in which he was forced to play the piano by his drunken father, and his ascent to genius, both aided and hampered by his encroaching deafness. In this conversation, Beethoven is brought to life by the writer and performer, Tama Matheson. What you are going to hear is a classic Rosebud interview, answered by Tama as if he were Beethoven himself. Tama is a brilliiant performer who has written and conceived a series of shows based on the lives of great artists - composers and poets - in which he brings these geniuses to life through performance, music, and meticulous research. Tama's amazing show about the life of Beethoven I Shall Hear In Heaven is at Opera Holland Park in London on the 6th and 8th August. Tickets are available here. Tama's own website is here. The Moonlight Sonata at the end of the episode is played by Jason Gillham. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Chelsea Flower Show in London this week, and at Rosebud we're celebrating - with this special episode recorded at one of the most beautiful gardens in the world: Sissinghurst Castle in Kent. At Sissinghurst Gyles meets the writer Adam Nicolson, grandson of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson (who famously conceived and designed the garden there) and his wife Sarah Raven, the plantswoman and entrepreneur, who is one of the most influential people in gardening today. Sarah's garden at Perch Hill in Sussex, and the business she runs from there, have been instrumental in introducing a new abundant, naturalistic and colourful style in gardening, and her story is fascinating. This is a brilliant conversation about the history of Sissinghurst and the Nicolson family, and about Sarah's childhood 'botanising' with her father, John Raven. It's also about finding wild tulips, the meaning of the word 'wharfinger' and the burden of inheritance. Adam Nicolson's latest book, which is brilliant, is called Bird School and is available here. Sarah Raven's website is inspirational for any gardener and is here. Her book, A Year Full of Pots, is also highly recommended. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The second half of 1966 - Marlene Dietrich, university interviews, and the final goodbyes. This is a roller-coaster episode of Gyles's diaries, which is full of incident. Encouraged by his mother, Gyles goes on a charitable summer camp to Kent and doesn't enjoy it; there is a scandal at school while he is preparing for his Oxford entrance exam; he and Simon Cadell see Marlene Dietrich live in Golders Green and, in a moving finale, he leaves Bedales for good and gets goodbye letters from some old friends. Plus Gyles and Harriet chat. NB in this episode there is some discussion of some sensitive issues around teacher/pupil relationships. As Gyles reflects, these diaries present what happened to Gyles back in the 1960s - times have changed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you love British comedy, you'll know and admire our guest this week: Dame Penelope Keith. The characters she played - Margo Leadbetter and Audrey Fforbes-Hamilton - are two of the best-known and most distinctive characters in sit-com. And this is a rare chance to hear an interview with Dame Penelope. Gyles talks to her about her childhood, growing up without a father, the daughter of a hard-working and talented mother who worked in hotels and took the young Penelope along with her. Penelope talks about her school days - when she was taught by Frence nuns - and how she got into drama school and got her first job in weekly rep. This is fun and unusual conversation with a much-loved actress. Enjoy this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you're an avid Rosebud listener, you may remember a listener email we read out back in episode 5 of Gyles's diaries, from Harry Scoble. Harry wrote in to say that he'd left a coat in a taxi with Gyles back in 2002 and that he'd wished he had come to collect it from Gyles's house all those years ago, but had never got round to it. Gyles had then told Harriet that he thought he might still have the coat, on a clothes rail in his Jumper Room. In this episode, Harry comes to Gyles's house, and we solve the mystery once and for all. And have tea and an interesting chat in the process. This episode features Harry, Gyles, Michele Brandreth (Gyles's wife) and Harriet. And it features an extended chat between Harriet and Gyles before and after the recording of Harry looking at the coat and having tea. This is a slightly unusual episode, and a little bit more chaotic than our usual - but we hope you enjoy it! We'd love to hear about your Rosebud objects - do you have a treasured possession which sums up your life and is more precious than anything else? Email us at hello@rosebudpodcast.com and tell us - and we may feature you on the podcast. Gyles also mentions the Rosebud Live interview with Jeffrey Holland at the Sarah Thorne Theatre in Broadstairs on July 19th 2025. Please come along! Tickets will be available soon from the Sarah Thorne Theatre Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.