All episodes

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

More Rosebud - Jodie Harsh

1 hour 6 minutes | Tuesday, 21 July 2026

Our guest today is the DJ, music producer and drag artiste Jay Clarke AKA Jodie Harsh. In this conversation, Jay/Jodie talks to Gyles about their childhood in Canterbury, growing up as a young gay man in a close-knit family with a father who struggled to accept his son's sexuality. Gyles hears about escaping from the family home down the bathroom drainpipe and going up to London, secretly, to go underage clubbing at the Astoria. And thus Jay/Jodie burst onto London's gay scene - and the rest is history. Jodie Harsh was born, went on to become one of London's best known drag artistes, friends with stars such as Amy Winehouse and Kylie, and DJ for celebrity parties and Madonna. Perhaps not what you'd usually expect from Rosebud - this is a fascinating story of excess, club culture and the search for identity. It does contain mention of drink and drugs and some sexual references. Jodie's book, You Had To Be There is out now and available here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More Rosebud - Jodie Harsh
Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

-
Use the arrow keys to increase and decrease the volume, or space to toggle mute.