Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth
Legendary British writer, broadcaster, ex-MP and TV star Gyles Brandreth hosts “Rosebud”, in which he talks to famous and fascinating people about their first memories and first experiences. Expect laughter, nostalgia, memorable stories, revelations and, of course, the odd name-drop from Gyles. We want to hear about your first memories - email us at hello@rosebudpodcast.com And you can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @therosebudpod Artwork: Freya Betts. Music: Phil Lepherd. Producer: Harriet Jaine. Rosebud is a 'Plain Jaine Media' production. Creator: Gyles Brandreth/Plain Jaine Media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episodes
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More Rosebud - Ghosts Special with Jim Howick and Kiell Smith-Bynoe
Tuesday, 3 November 2026
At this spooky time of year we are celebrating the new film "Ghosts: The Possession of Button House", and our guests are Jim Howick, who plays Pat Butcher, and Kiell Smith-Bynoe, who plays Mike. If you love the brilliant BBC series, Ghosts, then you'll enjoy this episode, and you'll enjoy the film, which is in cinemas now. In this fun conversation, Gyles talks to Jim and Kiell about their childhoods and how they both got into performing after early success in their school nativity plays. Gyles talks to them about the making of Ghosts, about what they've learnt about each other from working ...
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Gary Kemp
Friday, 30 October 2026
Gary Kemp is the lead guitarist of the legendary 80s band Spandau Ballet, and the author of all of their greatest hits, including True, Gold, Through The Barricades and To Cut a Long Story Short. He is also a successful movie star, in films as diverse as The Bodyguard and The Krays. In this brilliant and wide-ranging conversation with Gyles, Gary talks about his working class boyhood in Islington, north London, sharing an outside toilet with two other families. He talks about getting his first guitar and impressing his dad with his songwriting skills. He talks about the importance of mentor...
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More Rosebud - Gyles Diary, episode 52
Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Another classic episode of Gyles's diaries for you today. Gyles has been keeping a daily diary since he was ten years old, and in these episodes (released on alternate Tuesdays), he reads selected extracts aloud to Harriet, the Rosebud producer, and they chat about them. We've now reached 1981. If you want to go back to the very beginning, the episodes are in chronological order in our back catalogue. Today's edition opens with Gyles and Harriet chatting about leaf blowers, and then we play in a really very special, and exclusive, voice note from one of our celebrity listeners... you won't ...
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Bill Wyman
Friday, 23 October 2026
Bill Wyman, who is 90 years old this week, and was for 31 years the bass player of the The Rolling Stones, is our guest today. Bill talks to Gyles about his wartime childhood in south-east London, and some of the really visceral experiences he had during the war of bombing and evacuation. He talks about his grandmother - who taught him to read, got him started on piano lessons, and made delicious bread pudding; and his dad, who was a tough disciplinarian who didn't like the airs and graces that Bill picked up at grammar school. Bill talks about the early days of the Rolling Stones, when Mic...
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More Rosebud - Dylan Jones
Tuesday, 20 October 2026
Dylan Jones was for 22 years the editor of the UK edition of GQ Magazine, and turned that men's style glossy into essential reading for those interested in the culture, fashion and cool of the 00s. Prior to that he worked on i-D Magazine and Arena. At GQ, Dylan also turned the GQ Man of the Year Awards into one of the big events of the London social calendar, and after GQ Jones went on to edit the Evening Standard. Dylan and Gyles talk about all this in today's fascinating conversation. And they also talk about Dylan's childhood. Born into a military family - Dylan's dad was in the RAF - Dy...
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Dame Jacqueline Wilson
Friday, 16 October 2026
One of our best-loved children's authors, Dame Jacqueline Wilson, is our guest today. Jacqueline has changed the lives of many young readers by introducing them to characters and subjects which reflect the complicated lives of real children. And in this conversation with Gyles, Jacqueline talks about her own childhood, which has informed a lot of her later writing. She grew up with two parents who didn't really get along - a mother who was a narcissist, and a father who was often angry and distant - and who had violent rows with each other, but gave Jacqueline rich material for her books. J...
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More Rosebud - Gyles's Diary, episode 51
Tuesday, 13 October 2026
We start this episode of Gyles's diaries by talking about all the postcards we've received after we asked listeners to revive the art of sending the - sometimes saucy - postcard. We got so many, so this is a proper, old-fashioned "mailbag" edition of Rosebud. Our huge thanks to everyone who sent us something - we so appreciate it. We have wonderful listeners.And we reveal our prize-winning postcards. They come from: James Sainsbury, in Auckland, New Zealand; Alastair Crieff (sp), who set us a black and white photo he'd found in Dieppe, and the Reverend Jane Parry, who sent us a Donald McGil...
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Sir Ian Rankin
Friday, 9 October 2026
We're honoured to have Sir Ian Rankin, one of the most successful authors in the world, as our guest today. If you love to read, you'll almost certainly have read one of Ian's novels - and in John Rebus, he created one of the most enduring, complicated and loved central characters in modern fiction. In this really absorbing conversation, Ian describes his childhood in a working class home in Fife, where his parents taught him the value of "thrawn" - resilience and determination against the odds. Ian was a quiet and bookish child, who spent hours at his desk in his tiny bedroom making up sto...
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Rosebud Special - Jeffrey Archer At The Leicester Square Theatre
Wednesday, 7 October 2026
Last Sunday - the day before he died - Jeffrey Archer was on stage at the Leicester Square Theatre in London celebrating the publication of his fiftieth book - his final novel, Adam and Eve - and talking with Gyles about his remarkable roller-coaster life. Jeffrey was in great form, telling stories even Gyles hadn’t heard before. This isn’t a regular Rosebud, but it was such a fun show, we wanted to share it with you. It’s poignant, too, because, as you will hear (and can see if you watch our interview episodes on the Rosebud Podcast channel on YouTube), at the end of the performance Jeffre...
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More Rosebud - Don Black
Tuesday, 6 October 2026
Don Black, the legendary lyricist, brings his gorgeous and sunny energy onto Rosebud today. He and Gyles talk about Don's life and work, beginning with his extremely happy, but humble, childhood in Hackney, going with his starstruck mother to the Empire to watch Max Miller and other big names of the day. He talks about his father, who worked as an Underpresser, ironing clothes for the local elite. Don then takes Gyles to Denmark Street, or Tinpan Alley as it was known, the heart of London's music scene, where Don began to get work as a promoter and then as a lyricist. There he meets Matt Mo...
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Dame Zandra Rhodes
Friday, 2 October 2026
Dame Zandra Rhodes, the iconic British fashion and textiles designer, is our guest today. In this brilliant conversation, recorded at Zandra's beautiful penthouse apartment in Bermondsey, Zandra tells Gyles about her childhood, which was hugely influenced by her "exotic" and extremely stylish mother, who was always well dressed and was ambitious for her daughter. She talks about her father, who was a lorry driver who adored his wife but whose childhood was marred by tragedy. Zandra talks about her early love of dressing up, and about her memories of the war, and of going out blackberrying i...
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More Rosebud - Francis Rossi
Tuesday, 29 September 2026
Gyles's guest today is Francis Rossi: the lead singer, guitarist and one of the founder members of the legendary British rock band Status Quo. Francis tells Gyles about his childhood in Forest Hill and Balham, South London, where his family ran ice cream stalls and sweet shops. He talks about his Italian heritage, and his love for the language and culture. Francis talks about his parents' complicated marriage, and his mum's increasingly fervent Catholic faith. He talks about secondary school, where he hid behind a jack-the-lad persona, and made friends with Alan Lancaster while playing trum...
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Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton
Friday, 25 September 2026
Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton is a writer, former soldier and SAS man, erstwhile equerry to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and former Personal Private Secretary to Princes William and Harry when they were young men in their twenties. In this wide-ranging conversation, Jamie tells Gyles about his childhood, spent in the marshes of East Suffolk, playing out until late with friends and dreaming of being a soldier when he grew up. He talks about his parents - his inspirational mother and depressive father. He talks about being plucked from the Irish Guards to work as equerry to the Queen Mother, a...
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More Rosebud - Gyles's Diary episode 50
Tuesday, 22 September 2026
It's 1980, a momentous beginning to a momentous decade, and Gyles is here to guide you through his own personal - yet universal - 80s experience as he reads selected extracts from the genuine diaries he kept at the time. He's now in his thirties, father of three, owner of two houses, businessman, and all-round powerhouse. In this episode we hear about Sooty and Sweep, pumpkins, Margaret Thatcher and golden moments. Enjoy this, diary fans!Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here. Join The Rosebud Family here. And visit our website here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...
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Simon Callow
Friday, 18 September 2026
One of Britain's best-loved and most talented actors for you today: Simon Callow. In this gem of a conversation, Gyles hears about Simon's childhood in Streatham, where he was dazzled by his theatrical grandmother but had a more complicated relationship with his "odd" mother. His father left when he was small. Gyles hears about formative teachers, an early love of theatre and literature, and music. Simon also talks about university in Belfast, Michael Mac Liammoir, drama school and how writing to Laurence Olivier landed him a job at the National Theatre. This is a fabulous episode, one of t...
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More Rosebud - Larry Lamb, a Life Story in Poetry
Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Larry Lamb joins Gyles for a really unique episode of Rosebud. For the past few years, Larry has been telling the story of his life in poetry, and that's what you'll hear in this edition, interwoven with a Rosebud conversation about his early memories and upbringing. Larry's poetry is original, powerful and has a rhythmic punch which takes you right into the turbulence of his childhood: he was born into a loveless marriage and spent years watching his parents argue, and when he was only nine years old his mother left the family home never to return. This trauma left a lasting mark on Larry,...
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Al Murray
Friday, 11 September 2026
Our guest today is Al Murray, aka the Pub Landlord and the host of We Have Ways of Making You Talk, a podcast all about the Second World War which is one of the UK's most successful history podcasts. In this conversation, Al talks to Gyles about his family history, which is steeped in war stories and tales of derring do, espionage and also some tragedy. He is also descended from the great Victorian writer, William Makepeace Thackeray, satirist and author of Vanity Fair. From this rich history emerges young Al, who tells Gyles about his unhappiness at prep school, his love of drama, and his ...
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More Rosebud - Gyles's Diary episode 49
Tuesday, 8 September 2026
The year is 1979. Yes, it's another fun episode of Gyles's diaries, including a truly brilllant listener email from Darran Lingley, discussion of Winston Churchill's love of languishing at the dinner table, tales of Gyles and Michele's new boxing sessions and speculation about squirrel blood transfusions. Enjoy this.If you'd like to join the Rosebud Family, for more episodes and a wonderful community of Rosebud-loving listeners, go to www. patreon.com/rosebud. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Patricia Hodge
Friday, 4 September 2026
We have a really wonderful Rosebud for you today, with the great actress, Patricia Hodge. In this conversation, Patricia talks to Gyles about her childhood, spent in the biggest hotel in Grimsby, observing the comings and goings of the guests, the local dockers and fishermen, and the occasional glimpses of glamour and celebrity that passed through the town. She talks about the bold and inventive move which led to her being noticed as a performer at school, and got her started in school plays. She talks about training as an actor at LAMDA, about what she looks for in a co-star, and about her...
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More Rosebud 3rd birthday "treat repeat" special - Terry Pendry, Queen Elizabeth II's groom
Tuesday, 1 September 2026
1 September 2026 is Rosebud's THIRD birthday! And to celebrate, we are giving you the chance to listen again to one of our best ever episodes: with the late Queen Elizabeth II's groom, Terry Pendry. Terry worked with Queen Elizabeth II for over 28 years, as her Stud Groom and Manager at Windsor Castle. Terry's relationship with the Queen was unique, because he rode with her every morning when she was at Windsor. This is when the Queen was able to relax, and talk about her passions - for horses, dogs, animals and the countryside. And so, this interview with Terry - which we recorded in the R...
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Geoffrey Rush
Friday, 28 August 2026
Geoffrey Rush: the only Australian actor to win a Tony, a Primetime Emmy and an Oscar, is our Rosebud guest today. Geoffrey tells Gyles about his childhood growing up in Toowoomba, Queensland, the son of a broken marriage, brought up by his mum and grandparents. He talks about his early memories of rural Australia - of gardens, flower festivals and fireworks - and then he tells Gyles about moving to Brisbane, and discovering his talent for performance. He talks about his work with the Queensland Theatre Company, about meeting his wife, Jane, about Shakespeare and training with Lecoq in Pari...
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More Rosebud - Gyles's Diary episode 48
Tuesday, 25 August 2026
It's another cracking episode of Gyles's diaries for you today, and Gyles is reading choice extracts from the year 1979. In which he: lets go of the family's live-in nanny and puts their pony, Tonka, out to grass; is mortified by a critical article in the Daily Mirror; and finally takes his driving test.Enjoy this, diary-lovers!Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here. Join The Rosebud Family here. And visit our website here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Nicola Benedetti
Friday, 21 August 2026
Our guest today is the Director of one of the world's major arts festivals: The Edinburgh International Festival. She is also a world-class virtuoso violinist. It's Nicola Benedetti. In this conversation, Nicola talks to Gyles about her remarkable parents, who migrated from Italy to Scotland and through hard work and willpower created a new life and two highly talented daughters. She talks about learning to play at the Yehudi Menhuin school, and about playing at Menhuin's funeral. She talks about practice and posture. She talks about winning the BBC Young Musician of the Year, and about mee...
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More Rosebud - Dreams - a Rosebud Family "Down Memory Lane" exclusive!
Tuesday, 18 August 2026
If you're a regular Rosebud listener, you'll know that we have a private members' club, called The Rosebud Family. The Rosebud Family gives anyone who loves Rosebud a range of benefits: ad-free listening to all the main Rosebud episodes, and a different, brilliant bonus episode every Sunday. We'd love you to join - it's a chance for you to enjoy even more Rosebud, and to hear some really hilarious and unguarded Gyles and Harriet chat every week. It costs £4.99 per month plus VAT to join the Rosebud Family - and we hope today's episode will showcase some of the brilliant things you'd get if ...
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Rosebud - Special Episode brought to you in association with the Royal Horticultural Society from RHS Wisley
Monday, 17 August 2026
We have a treat for you today: an exclusive one-off edition of Rosebud recorded at RHS Wisley, brought to you in association with the Royal Horticultural Society, and starring special guests RHS Ambassadors Dame Mary Berry and James Wong. In this episode, Gyles, Mary and James enjoy walking round the beautiful gardens at Wisley, and discuss the joys and benefits of getting out into gardens of all shapes and sizes. You'll find out about Dame Mary's first memory of gardening, about her love of roses, and about her long relationship with Wisley. You'll find out about James Wong's tips for maki...
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Dame Maggie Aderin
Friday, 14 August 2026
Our guest today is the scientist, broadcaster and presenter of The Sky At Night, Dame Maggie Aderin. In this moving conversation, Dame Maggie tells Gyles about her childhood - and her parents' long custody battle, which often led to upheaval for Maggie and her sisters. She talks about her early interest in space, and joining a telescope-making club as a teenager. She talks about thinking big and not taking no for an answer. She talks about "Maggie-isms" and being unusual.This is a fabulous edition of Rosebud with one of our foremost science communicators and educators. Dame Maggie's book, S...
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More Rosebud - Gyles's Diaries episode 47
Tuesday, 11 August 2026
It's another action-packed episode of Gyles's 1978 diaries, including: fun chat from G & H about seagulls and sumo wrestlers; Gyles taking a trip to NYC to publicise his joke book; the death of Pope John Paul I; a holiday to Barbados; a disastrous after-dinner speech and perjury. Yes, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Plus an Edinburgh update, and a shout-out to some of the brilliant listeners we've met at the first couple of shows. Thank you to EVERYONE who has supported us in our show this year - either by coming along, emailing, wishing us luck or by following our journey on the...
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Martin Clunes
Friday, 7 August 2026
This is a treat: our guest today is the much-loved actor and star of Doc Martin, Martin Clunes. In this gorgeous conversation, Gyles and Martin discuss Martin's childhood - and Gyles's admiration for Martin's actor father, Alec Clunes, who died when Martin was only 8 years old. They talk about Martin's unhappy time at boarding school in the years after his father's death. They talk about a visit to a psychic, and about the importance of animals in Martin's life. And finally, Gyles and Martin talk about Martin's latest book, his life on his westcountry farm, and burials for dogs. Martin's bo...
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More Rosebud - Gyles's Diaries episode 46
Tuesday, 4 August 2026
It's Tuesday, so we have another delicious slice of Gyles's diaries for you. It's 1979, and his son Benet is learning to ride his pony, Tonka; Gyles is learning to drive at the ripe old age of 30, and Michele is giving birth to their third child: Aphra. Plus some fun Gyles and Harriet chat, a brilliant email from Gemma O'Connor about nerves and stage fright, and the usual brilliant observations about British life at the end of the 20th century from Gyles's diary. Enjoy this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Angela Scanlon
Friday, 31 July 2026
Angela Scanlon joins Gyles for an open and honest conversation full of wit, wisdom and insight. Angela talks to Gyles about her childhood in Ireland as one of four girls. She remembers early attempts at individualism - styling her First Communion outfit when she was only seven. She talks about inner conflict: being both a sensitive child, and someone who had the "craic" - and how the feeling of never being quite ready led her to developing an eating disorder as a teenager. She talks about love, travel and finding inner peace. Angela's hilarious podcast "Get a Grip" is well worth a listen. O...
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