Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

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 the best. We know you'll enjoy it - and our deep gratitude to Simon Callow for taking the time and trouble to record with us.

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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, and through poetry he has begun to make sense of the legacy of his past.

This is a fabulous episode which we hope will move and inspire you. It was recorded at the Fleet Festival of Words earlier this year.

Larry is appearing at the Queen's Reading Room Festival at Chatsworth this weekend.

Our thanks and admiration to Larry Lamb for this tour de force.

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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 hatred of games. He talks about going to university, and starting out as a comic on the scene in 90s London.

The We Have WaysFestival takes places this weekend, in Buckinghamshire. Tickets available here. The Pub Landlord is on tour, tickets available here.

Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here. Join The Rosebud Family here. And visit our website here.

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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.

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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 love of Julie Andrews. She talks about friendship, and her long marriage. Patricia is one of the best, most talented, and most stylish actors working in Britain today and we think you'll agree that this conversation encapsulates some of her real class, intelligence and wisdom.

Our huge thanks to Patricia Hodge for her company, energy and time.

Enjoy this.

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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 Royal Mews at Windsor - gives an unusual level of insight into what it was like to spend time with the Queen, and tells us all about her love and knowledge of horses. And we meet her favourite pony, Emma, who she rode for the last few years of her life. Our thanks to Terry for this wonderful conversation, for introducing us to Noble and Emma, and to Sue Pendry for her hospitality and cake.

We won't need to remind you that we're also coming up to the fourth anniversary of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, on 8th September 2026. Which gives us another very fitting reason to replay this episode today.

Thank you so much to all of you - our listeners. Whether you've been here since the start, or have only discovered us recently - we love having you here. We couldn't do this without you. So happy birthday to Rosebud, happy birthday to us, and happy birthday to all of you. Sit down with a slice of cake, a cup of tea, or maybe just snuggle up under the duvet and enjoy this.

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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 Paris. He then tells Gyles about his big break in the Oscar-winning Shine, about winning the Oscar, and about Shakespeare in Love.He discusses his case against the Sydney Daily Telegraph,from whom he won damages in 2020.

Our heartfelt thanks to Geoffrey Rush for this fascinating conversation.

Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here. Join The Rosebud Family here. And visit our website here.

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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.

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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 meeting and marrying her husband, the American trumpeter and composter Wynton Marsalis.

This is a fascinating and inspirational conversation. Our heartfelt thanks to Nicola Benedetti for her time and brilliance.

The Edinburgh International Festival is on until the end of August 2026.

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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 you joined!

And that's because, today on More Rosebud, we're giving regular listeners chance to hear the most recent special episode we released to the Rosebud Family last Sunday... The episode you're going to hear today is part of our monthly "Down Memory Lane" strand, in which we chat about a different subject each week and discuss how it has manifested itself in our pasts. The episode we're giving you today is all about dreams and nightmares, and it's a lot of fun: it takes in Gyles's most recent anxiety dreams, Harriet's erstwhile obsession with Jeremy Vine, and a romantic dream she once had about the ex-Radio 2 DJ Simon Mayo.

If you'd like to join the Rosebud family, you can do so by visiting www.patreon.com/rosebud, or clicking here.

Enjoy this.

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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 making your garden more nature-friendly, and about his current pet project: growing a giant waterlily. But most of all we hope this episode will inspire you to get out into your own outside space, and - better still - to visit on the RHS's five flagship gardens somewhere in the UK.

Thank you to Dame Mary Berry and James Wong for sharing what gardening and visiting gardens means to them, and of course the important role they can play in bringing people together and creating a sense of community. 

The RHS is the UK’s gardening charity helping people and plants to grow, so go visit your nearest garden today: there are five to choose from, RHS Wisley, RHS Hyde Hall, RHS Rosemoor, RHS Harlow Carr and RHS Bridgewater.

You can visit the RHS website here.

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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, Starchild, My LIfe Under the NIght Sky,is out now and available here.

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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 podcast. We really appreciate your encouragement!

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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 book Training John and Murray,about training two terriers, is out now and available here.

Our heartfelt thanks to Martin Clunes for this fascinating conversation.

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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.

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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. Our thanks to Angela for her warmth, fun and zest - which, as you know, is a favourite quality of ours at Rosebud Towers!

Enjoy this.

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This week we're delighted to be bringing you another ground-breaking conversation between Gyles and one of the world's great composers: on this occasion, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. In this episode, Gyles will find out about Tchaikovsky's first memory, the fragile and sensitive nature which gave him the nickname "child of glass", his early love of music, and his struggles to come to terms with his homosexuality. We find out about Tchaikovsky's musical education, his worldwide fame, and his tragic demise.

In this conversation, Tchaikovsky 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 Tchaikovsky himself.

Tama is a brilliiant writer/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 show about the life of Tchaikovsky, Child of Glass, is at Opera Holland Park in London on the 13, 14 and 15 August. Tickets are available here.

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We're thrilled to announce that our guest today is Dame Elaine Paige! So many of you have told us you'd love hear Elaine's Rosebud, and this conversation will not disappoint. In it, Elaine tells Gyles about her childhood, growing up in a maisonette on Barnet High Street with loving, talented parents who always gave her the right advice. She talks about her schooldays, and how she went to school for the social life... and she talks about being sent to theatre school and modelling gym slips and swimming costumes for M&S as a teenager. Dame Elaine tells Gyles about being in the film Oliver!, about getting naked in Hairand about being auditioned for Evita.She talks about Edith Piaf and the breakdown she had and how her mother and father helped her to recover.

This is a wonderful edition of Rosebud, our thanks to Elaine Paige for her time, energy and infectious laughter.

Elaine's album, "Miscellaneous Paige", is out now, and available here.

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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.

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We can't bring you an England World Cup Final in 2026 - much to our regret - but we CAN bring you a trip down memory lane with the greatest goal-scorer of our victory 60 years ago in 1966: because our guest today is Sir Geoff Hurst. In this conversation, Sir Geoff tells Gyles about his childhood, when football and cricket competed for his affections, and his footballing father encouraged his love of the game. He talks about his apprenticeship at West Ham under Ron Greenwood, who spotted his attacking ability and encouraged him to play as a centre-forward. He talks about meeting and playing alongside Bobby Moore as a teenager, and looking up to the natural leadership of the future England captain. He talks about being selected to play for England - by letter - and the culture in the team. He talks about meeting and marrying his wife, and the loss of their daughter, Claire, who died of a brain tumour at only 45.

This is an unusually revealing conversation with one of the greats of the game and a fascinating reflection on the changing nature of football over the past 60 years.

Sir Geoff Hurst is touring the UK with his "Last Man Standing" theatre show this autumn. Tickets are availablehere.

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Gyles Brandreth's unique record of the late twentieth century continues, as he reads from the diaries he's kept since he was 10 years old. We're now reading from 1977 and 78. Gyles is forced to take the outrageous and unprecedented step of taking a day off a week, by his wife, Michele. He invents the Collins Academic Year Diary. He wears a novelty jumper for the first time ever. And he ponders the death of Elvis Presley. Plus chat with Gyles and Harriet about great British landmarks, dates, and being liked.

Send us a postcard from your holidays! Address is to: Rosebud, JW Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London W1K 7TN.

Enjoy this!

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Our guest today is the writer, columnist and broadcaster Caitlin Moran. Caitlin talks to Gyles about her unusual childhood in Wolverhampton, homeschooled by a father who was a frustrated rock star and a mother who looked like Mick Jagger. She talks about her parents' sex life and her dreams of escaping the Midlands. Caitlin talks about winning her first journalism prize and writing her first novel at 16. She talks about starting smoking on her first day at Melody Maker and meeting her husband. She talks about having a miscarriage and motherhood. She talks about rewilding her garden and the power of nature to heal and delight.

This is a brilliant conversation, full of entertainment, laughter, candour and insight. Our heartfelt thanks to Caitlin for it.

Caitlin's new podcast is called Outsiding, and is out now. It's highly recommended.

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We are delighted to have the actor Adrian Lester, currently in the West End as Cyrano de Bergerac, in the Rosebud chair today. Adrian talks to Gyles about his childhood in Birmingham, growing up in an effusive and loving family of Jamaican heritage, surrounded by aunties, cousins and grandparents. He talks about the formative experience of being a chorister in the cathedral choir, and of doing drama at the Midlands Arts Centre. He talks about going to RADA, doing Shakespeare with Cheek by Jowl and Peter Brook, and playing Cyrano. Finally, he talks about relationships and fatherhood.

Our thanks to Adrian Lester for this fascinating conversation.

Cyrano de Bergerac is at the Noel Coward Theatre in London. Tickets are available here.

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It's The Mooch! Yes, today Rosebud celebrates 250 years of American independence with our final U.S. guest: the irrepressible host of the Rest Is Politics U.S., Anthony Scaramucci. In this fascinating and free-wheeling conversation, Anthony talks to Gyles about his childhood in a Long Island, in a loving and hard-working Italian-American family, with parents who managed to fit 600 years of arguments into their 60 year marriage. He talks about his high school years, when he was a self-confessed "Long Island Guido" with combed back hair, gold jewellery, and a choice of shirts hanging in the back of his Camaro to impress the ladies at the school dance. He talks about landing his first job on Wall Street in a suit made of 100% polyester. He talks about Superman. He talks about Donald Trump - and this part of the conversation is not to be missed - it's fascinating, candid and hilarious. And finally, he talks about marriage and how to make it work. Oh yes, and astrology.

This a truly fabulous episode of Rosebud. We're deeply grateful to Anthony Scaramucci for talking so openly, honestly and generously to us. It was a very special experience for us all!

Enjoy this.

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It's 1977, and Gyles is welcoming his first daughter, Saethryd, into the world - and explaining the origins of her name to all his friends. "Why such an extraordinary name?" "Because she's an extraordinary girl!" He's also fighting on several fronts: with the noisy neighbours next-door, with the theatre company which is refusing to pay up, and with the National Theatre. Gyles and Harriet chat about diary-writing, self-loathing, and whether Gyles has mellowed over the years... Plus a bit of astrology. It's a good one, diary fans! Enjoy this.

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Michael Feinstein, the pianist, singer and perhaps the greatest living interpreter of what is known as The Great American Songbook, is our guest today. He talks about his childhood, when his life was changed by his father's impulsive decision to buy a piano, which young Michael discovered he could play by ear. He talks about being an outsider, his belief in reincarnation, and his early enthusiasm for the classic songs of America's golden age. Michael talks about his deep friendship and working relationship with Ira Gershwin, and how that led him to meeting Rosemary Clooney, and later, Liza Minnelli. He talks about his relationship with Liza, and what makes it special - and what makes her such an electrifying performer.

This is a truly fascinating edition of Rosebud - remarkable for its honesty, openness and tenderness. We close with Michael's beautiful rendition of "My Love Is Here To Stay" by George and Ira Gershwin, performed by Michael Feinstein. If you love music, emotion and conversation, you'll love this episode.

Enjoy this.

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Akshata Murty, entrepreneur, philanthropist and wife of the former Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, is our guest today. And it's particularly interesting to listen to this episode in light of the resignation of Keir Starmer yesterday (Monday 22 June 2026): what is it really like to be married to a prime minister? What are Akshata's memories of the day, in the pouring rain, that Rishi Sunak announced the fateful 2024 election? Did she feel she sacrificed her own life and career to make way for Rishi's ambitions? Plus, this episode opens with some topical chat from Gyles and Harriet - move over, Rest is Politics!

But this episode is really about Akshata's own life and times - her unusual childhood, in which she was raised until the age of five by her maternal grandparents in a small, dusty town, eating mangoes straight from the tree, while her parents worked hard to build their company, Infosys. She talks of the pain and confusion of missing her parents, and of the conflicting emotions that brings up. Akshata talks about her parents' vision and commitment to giving back to India - to "compassionate capitalism" and philanthropy. She talks about moving to Bangalore, her school life and her first crush. She talks about college in California and meeting Rishi.

This is an interesting, unexpected conversation. With many thanks to Akshata Murty. Enjoy this.

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Our guest today is the hugely successful author of twisty, suspenseful, page-turning, gripping novels - such as Tell No One, Fool Me Once and Deal Breaker - Harlan Coben. Here, Harlan talks to Gyles about his childhood, spent in a very ordinary all-American town in New Jersey, which had secrets and rumours lurking beneath its cookie-cutter exterior. He talks about his family - his inspirational father who died too young, and his mother, who lied about her age and was a feminist and a wild-child. He talks about his grandfather's shady mafia dealings. He talks about falling in love, being at college with Dan Brown, and the poetry of Bruce Springsteen. Harlan also talks in depth and detail about his approach to writing. If you've loved any of Harlan's brilliant books or watched any of the thrilling Netflix adaptations of his work - you will find this fascinating. If you're not yet familiar with Harlan's work - you'll want to be after listening to this. What a charming, perceptive and wise person... Thank you Harlan for your time, energy and stories.

Enjoy this.

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It's 1976, and we have more hilarity, honesty, and social commentary from Gyles's diaries. In this episode he shares a stage with Bernard Manning and some go-go dancers, publishes a cheeky book about the Queen, and fires the nanny. Plus Gyles and Harriet chat about love at first sight and John Keats. Enjoy this!

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We're in New York City, so we need glamour, class, poise, elegance, talent and wit; and we're pleased to say we've got them all... because our guest today is Christine Baranski. Star of The Gilded Age, The Good Wife, Sybil, Mama Miaand guest star in Big Bang Theory,Christine Baranski is a gifted actress with an impressive body of work across stage, television and film. In this brilliant and in-depth conversation with Gyles, she talks about her childhood in a close Polish family in Buffalo, New York, where she shared a bedroom with her theatrical and flamboyant grandmother, a formative influence. She talks about the death of her father when she was only nine years old, and the ways in which life changed following that devastating event. She talks about being a sexy Catholic schoolgirl. She talks about getting a place at the prestigious Juillard in New York, and about her early work in theatre.

This is a fascinating, honest, moving and elegant conversation with a great star of the old school. We felt privileged to spend time with Christine Baranski, and we hope you will feel the same!

Christine is in Hay Fever with Richard E Grant in London from September 2026. Tickets are available here.

Enjoy this.

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Graydon Carter, the celebrated magazine editor, is the second guest in our New York series. Carter edited Vanity Fair for 25 years and transformed the magazine into the must-read glossy for the intelligent, the curious and the culturally-savvy. He talks to Gyles about his vision for Vanity Fair and why it was such a success, about the four elements you need to put together a good story, and about the famous Oscars Party. He talks about Spy magazine, the celebrated satirical New York weekly he co-founded and ran prior to his job at Vanity Fair. He talks about his long-standing beef with Donald Trump, his love of clothes, and his childhood in Ottawa. And, along the way, he teases Gyles for his "novelty knits" - which you'll enjoy listening to!

This is a witty, perceptive, sharp and fascinating interview with a man who has been at the heart of American cultural life for half a century. Graydon's book When the Going Was Goodis available here and is highly recommended.

Our thanks to Graydon for his time, energy and fabulous stories.

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Leading up to the 250th anniversary of American independence, Rosebud is giving you a series of interviews recorded in New York City. Our first is with the sharpest observer of New York life - the wit, conversationalist and writer, Fran Lebowitz. In this brilliant interview, Fran tells Gyles about her family, who moved to the US from Russia and Eastern Europe to escape the Jewish pogroms. She talks about her happy childhood, cycling on her "freedom machine" around her pretty hometown in New Jersey, where her father owned an upholstery business and her mother had aspirations to be Fred Astaire's dance partner. She tells Gyles about being punished for being a chatterbox at school, about knowing she was gay from a young age, and about moving to New York to become a writer. She talks about Andy Warhol and being paid to write porn. She talks about smoking, the internet, and her enormous collection of books. Finally, Gyles awards Fran a medal from the Oscar Wilde Society, in recognition of her brilliance as a talker.

As you might expect, this is a fabulous conversation. It's well worth your time.

Enjoy this.

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We're entering the long, hot summer of 1976, and Gyles is moving into a big, new house with his young family and still forging ahead in his life and career. He is embarking on a second Oxford Theatre Festival, with his friend Noel Davis (who likes the start and end the working day with a stiff drink, and have a couple more over lunch); he is celebrating Michele's birthday in style at the Ritz, and he is attempting to break the record for the longest after-dinner speech. It's another action-packed year, diary fans!

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The writer, satirist and urban explorer Will Self talks to Gyles about his childhood, his career and his life now. From his boyhood as "little Willy", the apple of his mother's eye, who was both enfolded and smothered by her love; to his adolescence when he began smoking, drinking and experimenting with drugs earlier than most; to his student days when his good looks meant he found it easy to get women into bed... this is an absorbing, entertaining and sometimes surprising episode, full of laughs, and full of astute observations (as you might expect from one of our foremost satirists). Will also talks about taking heroin on John Major's plane, being on Shooting Stars and his illness and recent stem cell transplant.

Our thanks to Will for his dazzling conversation, and for being such charming company. And thank you, too, to his wife Nellie for coming along!

Will's new book The Quantity Theory of Morality is out now and is HIGHLY recommended. You can buy a copy here.

Enjoy this... we're sure you will.

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Matt Haig, the international best-selling author of books such as The Midnight Library, Reasons to Stay Alive, and his new release The Midnight Train,is our guest today. And this is one of our most in-depth and fascinating ever discussions of mental health and the true nature of depression. Matt's observations are genuinely illuminating, and full of hope and advice for anyone who has experienced despair. Matt also talks about shop-lifting as a teenager, being ADHD and autistic, and the first book he fell in love with. He talks about meeting his wife, going to Ibiza, and getting drunk in his French oral. He talks about why he writes. This is a refreshing and open conversation, full of wisdom and perception. Our thanks to Matt for this brilliant conversation.

Matt's new book The Midnight Train is out now, published by Canongate.

Enjoy this.

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We're lucky to have the talented actress Anne-Marie Duff (St.Joan, The Magdalene Sisters, Shameless, Bad Sisters, The Virgin Queen) as our guest today, taking Gyles back to her happy childhood in a tight-knit community in West London, where she lay in bed hearing the sounds of piano from the local pub wafting in through the windows, and heard her father singing love songs to her mother. She talks about being a shy and bookish child, sometimes feeling as if she was "on the wrong planet" and finding confidence at a drama group. She talks about her early fascination with theatre, training at the Drama Centre London, her experience playing St Joan at the National Theatre and stage fright. She talks about love, grief, and caring for her brother, Eddie, who had early onset Alzheimer's and sadly died earlier this year.

This is a fascinating, heartfelt and moving interview, full of wisdom and insight. Enjoy this - we know you will. Our thanks to Anne-Marie Duff for her time, energy and for telling her story so beautifully.

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It's 1975 and new father Gyles Brandreth is multi-tasking, like any young parent. One day he's feeding the ducks in Regent's Park with his new baby, the next, spearheading the campaign for Britain to remain in the European Common Market. He's also planning his next Oxford Theatre Festival, learning to play bridge, and being interviewed by the Mail. Plus Gyles and Harriet chat about their favourite day of the week, and snoring. Enjoy this!

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At Rosebud we know how lucky we are to meet and talk to so many talented and fascinating guests. And this week we are especially lucky, as our guest is one of our greatest living actors: Ralph Fiennes. In this conversation recorded at the Haymarket Theatre (where Ralph is currently appearing with Miranda Raison in the David Hare play Grace Pervades), Ralph talks to Gyles about his childhood. He talks about his parents - the writer and artist Jennifer Lash, and the farmer-turned-photographer Mark Fiennes - their strengths, their challenges, and their love. He talks about the unusual and artistic home they made for their six children, and the legacy of hard work and creativity that has given him and his siblings. He talks about his mother's illness and death. Ralph also talks about becoming an actor and about the great Victorian actor Henry Irving - who he's playing in Grace Pervades.

This episode was recorded on Shakespeare's birthday at the Haymarket Theatre. Our thanks to the team there.

Ralph Fiennes is appearing in Grace Pervadesuntil 11th July.It tells the story of Sir Henry Irving and his relationship with the great actress Ellen Terry - and is highly recommended. Tickets are available here.

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Our More Rosebud guest today is the Children's Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel De Souza. Dame Rachel advocates for children in parliament, and on May 8 published a major survey of 1 million children in the UK - entitled "The Big Future". The children she's surveyed are especially those who are hardest to reach, living away from home, with disabilities, or in care – and the survey provides an urgent and definitive state of the nation of childhood, at a time when children are facing numerous challenges.

Regular listeners to Rosebud will know that we're particularly interested in childhood, and the huge impact the memories of our earliest years have on us. A childhood lasts a lifetime. And that's why Gyles is talking to Dame Rachel today - to ask her about the state of childhood in the country today, and to find out about her own story. Rachel tells Gyles about growing up in a working class family in Scunthorpe, about studying theology, and about becoming one of the most successful headteachers in the country.

Thank you to Dame Rachel De Souza for this frank and fascinating conversation.

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Our guest today is Sir Lenny Henry, the pioneering comedian, entertainer, actor and campaigner, who tells Gyles his story, and it's an impressive one: from the streets of Dudley in the West Midlands, to winning New Faces at only 16 years old, to an acclaimed run as Othello at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Lenny brings his childhood home to life - his mother, a gifted preacher who came to the UK from Jamaica, and whose formidable personality was a huge influence on Lenny. His dads - Winston and Uncle Albert. The "tall food". The park. The mood board on his bedroom wall. This is an evocative, fascinating and very funny edition of Rosebud.

This episode was recorded at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith in London, in front of a live audience, as part of Riverside's 50th birthday celebrations.

Lenny Henry is on tour nationwide, tickets are available here.

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Rosebud has been on its first international road trip, to New York City. In this episode, Gyles and Harriet chat about their trip... about how they gossiped for 15 hours straight on the flight over, about being guests of the Queen at the New York Public Library and seeing Pooh Bear, Kanga, Eeyore, Tigger, Piglet and the new Roo, and about Anna Wintour giving Gyles an unexpected compliment. In the second half of the show, Gyles talks to Josh Ellis, one of Broadway's most distinguished Press Agents, who worked on productions such as 42nd Street, Into the Woods, The King and I, The Elephant Man and The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. He tells Gyles insider tales about some of the stars he worked with during his long career, including Yul Brynner, Rex Harrison, Katharine Hepburn, Eartha Kitt, Cher, David Bowie and Ethel Merman. It's fascinating, and gives a real flavour of life at the heart New York's theatre land.

Our thanks for Josh Ellis for this fun and fascinating conversation. Our thanks to New York City for being fabulous. And our thanks to you for listening. Enjoy this.

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Jeremy Corbyn MP is our guest on this May Day morning. Now an independent MP and the leader of Your Party, Jeremy has been in Westminster for 43 years - for 41 of those as a Labour MP. He was leader of Labour Party from 2015 to 2020, and fought two general elections in 2017 and 2019. He talks about this to Gyles in this episode, and about the bitter divisions and recriminations that followed the final defeat. He also talks about his childhood, growing up in Wiltshire and Shropshire, with free-thinking parents who encouraged him to make things and gave him a lot of freedom. He talks about being an academic under-achiever, his formative experiences with VSO in Jamaica as a teenager, and travelling in revolutionary South America. He talks about being awkward, his love of reading, and his continuing commitment to making the world a better place. Whatever your politics, we hope you find this an inspiring, interesting and illuminating listen with one of the longest-standing and most committed of our politicians.

With our thanks to Jeremy Corbyn for his time, energy and conversation.

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An action-packed edition of Gyles's diaries, from 1974 and 75. Gyles masquerades - very convincingly - as the European Monopoly Champion, and wows the crowds in New York City. He tosses the world's smallest pancake live on television. Margaret Thatcher is elected Leader of the Conservative Party, and on the domestic front, Gyles and Michele become parents for the first time. It's a momentous year, and it's why the Rosebud Family love tuning in on Tuesdays for Gyles's diaries! 

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It's the second of our guests this week with a royal connection: India Hicks. India is the granddaughter of Lord Mountbatten - the last Viceroy of India who oversaw the transition to independence, and his fascinating wife, Edwina Mountbatten, who was rumoured to have had a love affair with Nehru, India's first Prime Minister. India tells Gyles about this, and about her experiences of the day Mountbatten was assassinated in 1979. India is the daughter of Lady Pamela Hicks, a close friend of Queen Elizabeth II, who was actually with Princess Elizabeth in Kenya on the day she heard that her father had died and that she was to be Queen. India tells Gyles about this. India is also the goddaughter of King Charles, and they discuss his thoughtfulness, and her experiences of being a bridesmaid at his wedding to Princess Diana in 1981. All in all, this is a fascinating episode, full of stories of royalty, but also wisdom about life, duty and the importance of good manners.

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Today - Tuesday 21 April 2026 - would have been Queen Elizabeth II's 100th birthday, and we're marking the occasion with two regal Rosebuds. Our guest in this episode is Major General Alastair Bruce, the former Army Reserves officer and governor of Edinburgh Castle who is now a respected royal expert and commentator for Sky News. Alastair talks to Gyles about his family, and how they got to know the Queen and Prince Phillip in Malta. He talks about his unusual childhood passions of dressing up like an admiral and making models of the crown jewels. He talks about his experiences as an officer in the Falklands War, when he lost one of his men to sniper fire. And he talks about commentating on the Queen's funeral and a moving moment from that day.

This is a fascinating discussion for anyone interested in British military or royal history. Our thanks to Alastair Bruce for being our guest on Rosebud.

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On Hayley Mills's 80th birthday weekend, Gyles speaks to the legendary actress and her sister, Juliet Mills, about their remarkable lives and careers. They talk about their parents, Sir John Mills and Mary Hayley Bell. They talk about their famous godparents, who included Vivien Leigh and Noel Coward. They talk about their first acting jobs - Juliet on stage, and Hayley in Tiger Bay. They talk about taking a Pekingese to a meeting with Walt Disney and about losing Oscars. There are moments of great insight and wisdom - it's worth listening for Juliet's philosophy of a happy marriage, and for Hayley's life lessons. This is a very special, star-studded, and very touching episode of Rosebud, and we're honoured to bring it to you.

Happy birthday Hayley Mills!

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Gyles continues to have success, failure and everything in between with the Oxford Theatre Festival... and even gets to open some plays in the West End. We hear from a listener in a far-flung location, and we chat about the upsides and downsides of going out without your underwear on. All human life is here! It's Gyles's diaries. Enjoy this.

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In this episode, Gyles is charmed and fascinated by Amol Rajan, the podcaster, broadcaster and host of Radical and Radio 4's Today programme. Amol tells Gyles about his family background - his parents moved to the UK from India when he was three years old. He talks about his father's insatiable love of English literature, his mother's brilliant cooking, and his own love of cricket. He talks about decline and opportunity, and why he has chosen to leave Radio 4. And finally, Amol and Gyles discuss bereavement, grief and Hamlet.

Amol Rajan's podcast Radical is available to download here.

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Yes, diary fans, it's a big one, because this episode describes some of the most stressful months of Gyles's life. It's spring 1974, and he's desperately trying to put together a stellar line-up of plays and stars for his Oxford Theatre Festival, but all around him are obstacles. Trying to raise the money is challenging. Trying to find a play Celia Johnson will agree to is a struggle. And trying to get Rita Tushingham to make a firm commitment is almost impossible. Buckle up for an episode which will make you realise your day job is a walk in the park!

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This week's guest is the utterly wonderful Monty Don, and this is one of our warmest, richest, most delightful and most touching episodes yet - full of insight, wisdom, stories, laughter and - of course some tears. This is Rosebud, after all.

Monty tells Gyles about his childhood, which was partly idyllic, but partly overshadowed by the presence of his rather frightening father, a former Army heavyweight boxing champion suffering from PTSD. Monty talks about his unhappy time at boarding school, and his treatment for cancer when he was only ten. He tells Gyles about his university days, about meeting his wife, and about their jewellery business... and he talks about his experience of depression. Plus, of course, he talks about gardens - what gives them charm, and which is his favourite garden in the UK.

Monty's beautiful new book, British Gardens, is available here.

And finally, Happy Easter to all of you from us at Rosebud!

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Our guest today is the model and podcast host Jean Campbell, who talks to Gyles about her wild Scottish childhood and about her experience of living with chronic pain as a result of hip dysplasia. Jean tells Gyles the dramatic story of how her hip condition was discovered - as a result of a serious skiing accident when she was a teenager. She talks about the long and arduous treatment she received, and her eventual decision to try and live with and manage the pain. And she talks about the brilliant podcast she hosts all about pain, which is called "I'm Fine", and is available to download here.

This is a fascinating episode, and - particularly - if you have experienced long-term pain or ill-health, it's highly recommended listening. Our thanks to Jean Campbell for sharing her story on Rosebud. And our thanks to you for being our lovely, loyal listeners - our Rosebud Family!

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Our guest today is the comedian, author, actor and presenter Tom Allen. And this is a truly charming edition of Rosebud. Tom tells Gyles about his childhood in suburban Bromley and opens up about what it was like to be an eccentric child who refused to follow the crowd and liked dressing up as an emperor. Gyles and Tom bond over some mutual passions, including Noel Coward and stationery. And Tom talks about coming out and his first kiss.

Tom is currently in Titanique in the West End of London. His new novel, Common Decency, is out in May and is available to pre-order here.

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It's time for another riveting edition of Gyles's diaries, which give a unique perspective on life in Britain in the second half of the twentieth century. We start with some chat from Gyles and Harriet about Lord Heseltine, and about the possibility - and the truth - of love at first sight. Next, it's time for the diaries; we've now reached 1974, and Gyles embarks enthusiastically on trying to book theatrical stars for his season at the Oxford Playhouse. But will Jeffrey Archer stump up the money Gyles needs to pay all this top-notch talent? Meanwhile, Gyles is hosting a late-night phone-in show on LBC. And there's a general election - can Gyles mobilise the youth vote in East Anglia to swing it for the Tories? There's never a dull moment in the life of GDB, and 1974 is no exception...

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In this episode, Gyles meets the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP. Gyles hears about Wes's remarkable life story so far, which begins in a council flat in East London and ends at the highest level of government. Wes tells Gyles about his unusual family - his mum, whose parents had both been in prison; his dad, whose father - Bill Streeting - was a formative influence on Wes. He talks about his school days, how he was introduced to the church at primary school and always had 'main character energy'. He talks about going to Cambridge, coming out, and ambition. Wes also talks about his current role and his plans for the future.

Enjoy this.

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We've got two political interviews for you on Rosebud this week, and this is the first. In the week of his 93rd birthday, Gyles is talking to Lord Heseltine - one of the so-called "big Beasts" of the British political scene at the end of the twentieth century. Heseltine was a prominent cabinet minister under Margaret Thatcher, Deputy Prime Minister under John Major, and is now a member of the House of Lords. In fact, he's been a significant figure in British politics for half a century. Michael speaks to Gyles about his childhood, growing up in the Swansea in a loving family. He talks about his love of nature - of gardening, birdwatching, and about how he founded the "Tit Club" at school. He talks about his early entrepreneurial drive - selling lemonade to fellow pupils, charging his dad to clear his garden, and how this later developed into early adult success in business. This business acumen led Heseltine to become a politician of rare efficiency - known for his skill at cost-cutting and fixing big issues. He talks about his relationship with Thatcher, his experience regenerating the Docklands of East London and Liverpool, and how he met and married his wife, Anne.

This episode was recorded live at the Concert Artistes' Association in London. Our thanks to them.

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We at Rosebud are thrilled about today's guest, and we know you will be too: it's Richard E Grant. Actor, writer, influencer and star of one of the most loved British films of all time, Withnail and I, Richard talks to Gyles about his extraordinary childhood. Born to good-looking parents in the ex-pat community in then-Swaziland, Richard's young life was full of Enid Blyton, barbecues and Pelham puppets - but things changed when his mother left the family and his father descended into alcoholism. What follows is a story full of shocks and surprises - including adultery, attempted murder and estrangement - and is well worth listening to. Richard also tells Gyles about his move to London, how he broke into acting, and how he met and married his wife, Joan Washington. And he talks about how he has coped since Joan's death in 2021.

Many thanks to Richard for this fascinating conversation.

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We've reached the end of 1973 in Gyles's diaries. But we begin this episode in 2026, celebrating Gyles and Michèle's birthdays, and they unwrap their presents from Harriet. We hear about Gyles's birthday plans - he likes to be busy on his birthday - and he's spending the day dressed as Henry Fielding, wearing a wig and britches. We then hear some more from Gyles's diaries, in which young Gyles puts on a gala show at The Oxford Playhouse, is given a gift by Barbara Cartland, and meets Bob Monkhouse. Enjoy this, diary fans!

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It's International Women's Day on Sunday 8 March, and our guest is the Labour Member of Parliament for Bradford West, Naz Shah. Naz tells Gyles her extraordinary story; about her father, who left the family when she was only six years old, leaving the children and their mother in poverty, insecurity and sometimes squalor. About her mother, who was abused by two men - first by her husband, and then by a neighbour who seemed to be offering help and support, but who actually wanted sex. Naz tells Gyles about being sent away to Pakistan as a 13 year-old, and forced into an arranged marriage with her first cousin. She talks about the concept of 'izzat', or honour, which runs so deeply through this traditional and conservative community. She talks about the dramatic events that happened when her mother finally snapped, and gave her abuser a fatal dinner which changed everything.

This is a shocking story about the vulnerabilty, bravery and strength of women.

Naz Shah's book, 'Honoured: Survival, Strength and My Path to Politics' is out now, and available here.

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In the first of our Rosebuds in the week of International Women's Day, Gyles meets Dame Mary Archer, the scientist and former Chairs of Addenbrooke's Hospitals Trust and the Science Museum Group, made a Dame for her service to the NHS. Gyles talks to Dame Mary about her childhood, nurtured by a father who was highly ambitious for his daughters, who gave her a lifelong love of music. They talk about her interest in science, which began at primary school, and she and Gyles discuss whether scientists think differently to other people. They talk about Mary's time at Oxford University, where she studied chemistry and met and married Jeffrey Archer - and Gyles asks Mary about their relationship, and what drew these two apparently very different characters to each other. Mary and Gyles talk about some of the challenges she and Jeffrey have faced as a couple and about Mary's career as a scientist, and in public life. This is a long and in-depth conversation which gives a different, scientific, perspective on life. It's fascinating.

Our thanks to Dame Mary Archer.

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Gyles talks the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and as this is a Rosebud conversation, we begin by hearing about Justin's fascinating family story. We hear about Justin's father - the charming, but alcoholic, Gavin Welby. About his mother, Jane Portal, who had worked as Winston Churchill's secretary and also struggled with alcohol addiction. About how, in the midst of chaos at home, Justin found solace in books, school, his grandmother, and eventually, in God. We hear about Justin's spiritual journey, about reading the Bible from cover-to-cover by the light of an oil lamp, about 'coming to faith' and about meeting his wife, Caroline, through the church. We hear about the birth of their first daughter, Johanna, and her tragic death in a road accident at only seven months old. We hear about Justin's career - first in the oil industry, and later in the Church of England. We hear about becoming the one hundred and fifth Archbishop of Canterbury, and some of the high points of that job. We hear about the shocking discovery Justin made about his family history in 2016.

Gyles also talks, in some detail, to Justin about his resignation in 2024 - about his regrets, his learnings, and how that chastening experience has affected him. This is a long, thought-provoking and we hope, interesting conversation about failure, humanity and the possibility of redemption.

Our thanks to Justin Welby.

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This is a one-off episode, in which Gyles and Harriet discuss the British royal family and their future, in light of the recent scandal surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his arrest last week. Gyles has known and been involved with the family for many years, since he first met the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip, when they both worked for the charity Fields in Trust. In this conversation, Gyles talks about the late Queen and Prince Phillip, and what they were like as parents. He talks about the Queen's close relationship with Andrew, and about the lengths to which she went to stand by him. Gyles gives us his views on the future of the monarchy, and whether or not this serious setback has affected his own loyalty to The Firm.

Don't worry, if you're not a fan of royal news, normal Rosebud service will resume on Friday!

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In this special edition of Rosebud, we celebrate the late, great, self-proclaimed cult that is Kenneth Williams - on what would have been his 100th birthday. One of the greatest British entertainers of the twentieth century, Williams was revered for his unique voice, his impeccable timing, his virtuoso storytelling and his brilliant appearances on Parkinson, in the Carry On films, and in series from Hancock's Half Hour to Round the Horne to Beyond our Ken.

In this conversation, Gyles talks to the actor David Benson, who has been performing shows about Kenneth Williams for thirty years. Gyles and David talk about their own relationships with Kenneth - and they each give their own unique perspective about this complicated and gifted man. We find out about his childhood, his difficult relationship with his father, and his tortured relationship with his own sexuality. We hear about his working life, and the end of his life. Interwoven with this story are anecdotes from David Benson's life - whose life in some ways mirrors that of Kenneth Williams. This is a fascinating and unusual edition of Rosebud which we hope gives you a fresh insight into a household name.

David's show, My Life with Kenneth Williamsis currently touring, tickets are available here.

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Julian Fellowes, the creator and writer of Downton Abbey, Gosford Park, The Gilded Age - among other brilliant television series and movies - is our guest today. You'll know Julian's work - because he is one of the most popular, and prolific, screenwriters of our times. What you may not know is that he and Gyles lived under the same roof as toddlers, and shared a bath on a number of occasions; Gyles's family rented the basement flat from the Fellowes family in the early 50s, and the boys played together and have known each other ever since. So this is a friendly conversation filled with warmth, intelligence, humour and great stories. Julian tells Gyles about his family, his first night at boarding school, and his days as a Debs' Delight at Cambridge. He talks about his somewhat unpopular decision to become an actor, and meeting and marrying his wife, Emma. This is a brilliant edition of Rosebud, thank you so much to Julian Fellowes for his time, energy and fabulous conversation.

We're back this Sunday, with a special edition to celebrate the late, great Kenneth Williams. And we're releasing a special royal edition of More Rosebud on Tuesday next week, with Gyles reading from his diaries.

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It's 1973, and Gyles is still working hard: putting on his star-studded son-et-lumières,appearing on Opportunity Knocks and... getting married. Yes, in a low-key and very private ceremony in London, Gyles Brandreth and Michèle Brown become husband and wife. They have a delicious lunch out and then go to Rome for their honeymoon, where they see the Pope. This is another fun, revelatory and nostalgic dip into the unmissable diaries of GDB.

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Gyles meets one of his teenage idols: the French-born ballet dancer and film star Leslie Caron. In this conversation, Caron tells Gyles about her childhood in Paris, under Nazi occupation, (and gives Gyles her unvarnished opinions of German soldiers). She tells Gyles about her father's pharmacy, where the local hookers would go to get their supplies. Leslie talks about dancing for the Ballet de Champs-Elysée, with the choreographer and director Roland Petit, and about being discovered by Gene Kelly. She talks about going to Hollywood for An American in Paris,and working with Fred Astaire, Orson Wells and Cary Grant. She talks about coming up with the idea for Gigi, and the making of that classic film. She talks about her marriages, most notably to the great director, Sir Peter Hall, and about the deaths of her parents.

This is a fascinating conversation, full of names and memories from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

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It's almost Valentine's Day - Gyles's favourite day of the year (the old romantic...) - and we've got a special episode for you: all about love letters. We start off with some romantic Gyles and Harriet chat, featuring bunk beds, stolen glances from train carriages, and a case of mistaken identity. Then, Harriet takes Gyles to the National Archives at Kew, to visit their exhibition: Love Letters, and to talk to two of their expert historians about some of the exhibits. We meet Dr Sean Cunningham, who tells us about a letter from Robert Dudley to Queen Elizabeth I, and about a letter from Henry VIII's fifth wife, Catherine Howard, to Thomas Culpepper, which was part of the incriminating evidence which led to her eventual execution. Then we chat to Vicky Iglikovsky-Broad, the Chief Curator of the exhibition, who tells us about a romantic WWI letter and about a letter to the courts from the father of the Kray twins. We hope this gets you in the mood for love... and learning something along the way, too!

"Love Letters" is on at the National Archives at Kew until April 12. It's free - and you can find out more information here.

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Gyles has been an admirer of this guest since the 1960s: it's the great actor, Sir Derek Jacobi. Ever since he was recruited into Sir Laurence Olivier's bold new National Theatre at the Old Vic, Jacobi has been at the forefront of British acting talent. Gyles has seen him on stage many times - in Olivier's famous production of Othello, in Much Ado About Nothing, in Cyrano de Bergerac. You may also know Derek from his brilliant TV work - in I, Claudiusand Last Tango in Halifax... he's also the voice of In The Night Garden. In this warm and rambling conversation, Derek tells Gyles about his young life in Leytonstone in East London, where his father owned a confectioners shop. He tells him about his childhood love of dressing up and his early exposure to theatre, when he was picked to go up on stage at the Palladium. He tells Gyles about his experience of stage fright and about his happy marriage. This is a wonderful episode with a great, and charming, man. Enjoy this.

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This is an extraordinary edition of Rosebud - from the first memory to the last, it is peppered with legendary names, great artists and wild stories. Which isn't surprising, as our guest is Antony Penrose, the son of the celebrated photographer and model Lee Miller and the Surrealist artist, writer and historian Sir Roland Penrose.

Antony tells Gyles about his mother, Lee Miller: how she was discovered on the streets of Manhattan and became one of the supermodels of the 1930s, trained as a photographer, and then moved to Paris to become a student and muse of the photographer Man Ray. He describes her independent spirit, her adventurous love life, and her first marriage to the Egyptian businessman Aziz Eloui Bey. He talks about Lee's life in Cairo, her second marriage to Roland Penrose, and her extraordinary war years, when she used her camera to take fearless and unforgettable pictures of the aftermath of WW2. Antony talks about his mother's descent into alcoholism and his own chequered relationship with her, and their eventual reconciliation. This really is one of the most brilliant interviews we've ever recorded for Rosebud and is well worth your time.

A brilliant exhibition of Lee Miller's work is currently showing at Tate Britain in London until February 15. Kate Winslet's film Lee, which is discussed by Antony and Gyles, is also well worth watching. Antony Penrose's book The Lives of Lee Miller is fascinating and is available here. Farleys House, Miller and Penrose's house in East Sussex, is open to the public - tickets are available here.

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Joining Gyles on this episode of Rosebud is the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey. But this isn't a conversation about politics, it's about Ed's life, his family, his experience of profound loss, and his involvement with caring for his closest relatives - his mother, who died of cancer when he was 15, and his son, John, who was born with neurological difficulties. This is a very moving episode, with some discussion of illness, death and bereavement.

Sir Ed talks to Gyles about his father and mother, both of whom died too young - his father when Ed was only 4 years old, and his mother 11 years later. He paints a vivid picture of them, and particularly of his mum - her beauty, her courage and her love. He also talks about the years after his mum's death, when he and his brother lived alone in the family bungalow and had some wild parties with their school friends. He then talks about the birth of his son John, and the amazing work done by the Peto Institute in Hungary to improve his mobility and strength, and the dedication and commitment of his wife, Emily. All of this has led Ed to write a book Why I Care, about his experience of caring and about the importance of supporting carers.

This is a very moving, inspiring conversation, full of hope and of love.

Ed's book is available here. Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here. Join The Rosebud Family here. And visit our website here.

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1972 comes to a close, and Gyles is still building his unique portfolio career: touring the country dressed as Snoopy one minute, being the star columnist for Womanmagazine the next. At one point, Fanny Cradock writes to him to reassure him that trying out lots of different jobs is no bad thing - when you're a man of many talents, it would be a shame not to put them all to good use! Enjoy this, diary fans.

Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here. Join The Rosebud Family here. And visit our website here.

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Dame Siân Phillips transports Gyles back to her childhood in Wales in the 1930s and 40s, where she grew up in a Welsh-speaking mining village, of which she paints a vivid picture. She describes hearing her policeman father play the piano and sing, playing spy games out with her friends, listening in on meetings of the Home Guard in the kitchen during the war. She also talks about her early success as an actress in her teens, going to RADA, and how she met Peter O'Toole and used to sit up all night with him playing the guitar. She talks about playing Marlene Dietrich and Livia in I, Claudius. This is an evocative interview with a remarkable actress and person. Cue the music.

Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here. Join The Rosebud Family here. And visit our website here.

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Last Sunday, 18th January, was Winnie-the-Pooh Day. It was the birthday of its creator, the author A A Milne. And Winnie-the-Pooh, his most famous book, was first published 100 years ago, in January 1926. Pooh became one of the most beloved children's book of all time, selling millions of copies around the world, and making the Milne family extremely wealthy - but not entirely happy. In this episode, Gyles tells the story of Pooh, A.A. Milne, Christopher Robin, and of the complex and sometimes sad reality behind the stories.

As you may know, Gyles published a brilliant book all about A. A. Milne and his family last year. Called Somewhere, a Boy and a Bear,it's published by Penguin Michael Joseph and is available here.

This episode has some Gyles and Harriet chat (we find out about Harriet's own connection to the Milnes) and then it features a talk Gyles gave at the Henley Literature Festival, in front of a live audience, all about his book and A. A. Milne.

We hope you enjoy this!

Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here. Join The Rosebud Family here. And visit our website here.

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David Baddiel joins Gyles this week to tell his unconventional family story.David paints a vivid picture of his childhood home in Dollis Hill, north-west London, and of the unusual people in it: his parents, and two brothers. His father, a frustrated scientist who ended up selling Dinky cars in an antiques market, was angry, disappointed, and hilarious. His mother was aspirational, cultured, with an extremely high sex drive. (This episode contains discussions of sex and relationships, and swear words, and is for 18+ listeners only). Their story is remarkable, sometimes funny, sometimes shocking, and, in the end, very moving.

David's Channel 4 series, David Baddiel: Cat Man starts on Friday 16 January at 8pm. It's about David's love of cats, which started in childhood. His book, My Familyis well worth reading, and is available here.

Enjoy this!

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Another entertaining edition of Gyles's diaries for you, from 1972, in which: Gyles is upstaged by a man playing the spoons in Dorset, complains about some poor service in a restaurant, and has an upsetting encounter with Sir Michael Redgrave. We're joined by Michèle, Gyles's wife. Enjoy this!

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Dominic West, one of the talented British actors who has had success both at home and in Hollywood, is our guest today. His breakout role was in the cult U.S. gritty crime drama The Wire, in which he played the detective, Jimmy McNulty, so convincingly that many American viewers were shocked to find out he was a Brit.

In this conversation, Dominic tells Gyles about his Yorkshire childhood: he is one of seven children and grew up on the moors just outside Sheffield. He reminisces about his parents, the brilliant way they coped with the logistics of having such a big family, and their talents outside the home. He talks about his schooldays; the intense homesickness he felt when he went to Eton, and his feelings of alienation and "grief" at finding himself down south and far from home. He talks about finding his feet at that school, through drama. He talks about going to Italy, Edinburgh and Paris. He tells Gyles about going to university in Dublin and about what he learnt at clown school. He talks about playing Fred West and how he approaches his work.

Thank you Dominic for this warm and wise conversation.

If you love Rosebud, you can join the Rosebud Family by visiting www.patreon.com/rosebud. It's £4.99 + VAT a month and you'll get ad-free episodes and bonus shows with Gyles and Harriet.

Enjoy this.

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It's More Rosebud, and this episode is a conversation that took place at the Henley Literary Festival in 2025 between Gyles and Dame Joanna Lumley, about her Book of Treasures, which had then just been published. This conversation is about poetry, books and quotations that inspire Joanna. It's also about her childhood, and how moving about a lot made her curious, and optimistic. It's about Leonardo Di Caprio, Dame Patricia Routledge, Frank Sinatra and Sir John Betjeman. It's about the lowest point in Joanna's life, and about a moment of joy. Enjoy this.

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We're starting 2026 with a remarkable person: an actress who is 100 years old, and still a bundle of enthusiasm, vibrancy and joy. It's Thelma Ruby, born in March 1925, and acting since the 1940s. In this episode she tells Gyles about her long and fascinating life: about her childhood in Leeds, in a religious Jewish family, where they couldn't poke the fire on the sabbath. About her formative years in New York City, where she was sent with her mother and brother to escape the bombing in WW2. About her return to England and work for ENSA, and her first love affair. About performing with Orson Wells, her famous portrayal of the first female prime minister of Israel, Golda Meir, and about her friendship with Dame Judi Dench.

Thelma also tells Gyles her secrets for a long life, and talks about her one hundredth birthday party.

If you love Rosebud and want more, why don't you join the Rosebud Family, our new subscription service? It's £4.99 a month and you'll get bonus episodes, murder mysteries, and you can join here.

Enjoy this!

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It's time for the very last Rosebud of 2025, and we're leaving you with another warm, wonderful and witty edition of Gyles's diaries. In this episode, Gyles starts off by tellling us about his recent encounter with Sir Mick Jagger, who was a special guest for Gyles at the show he put on with Dame Judi Dench in the West End at the end of 2025. Gyles's diaries, which in this episode are from 1972, tell of the publication of his first book, "Created in Captivity", and his fated attempt to stage a son et lumière in Leeds. Gyles, Michele and Harriet also talk about disappointments, cats, and their highlights of 2025.

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If you're British, the chances are that last Christmas you watched the Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special. And Gyles's guest this Boxing Day is one of its stars: Mathew Horne, also known as the kind-hearted, loyal everyman, Gavin. In this episode, Mathew tells Gyles about his country childhood, about his loving and hard-working parents and their devotion to caring for him and his older brother. He talks about his schooldays, and the intense relationship he had with his girlfriend there. He talks about getting into stand-up at Manchester University and the phenomenon of Gavin and Stacey.

We wish all our Rosebud listeners a very merry Christmas!

Enjoy this.

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We have another Christmas treat for you today - an interview with the prodigious musical talent that is Anna Lapwood. Anna is the official organist of the Royal Albert Hall in London, a successful recording artiste and a social media star with millions of followers. A multi-instrumentalist, she was the youngest ever person to be appointed Director of Music at a Cambridge college (and we will hear a bit of Pembroke College chapel choir singing in this episode). In this conversation with Gyles, she tells him about her childhood growing up in a close family in which her parents inspired her with their work ethic. She talks about learning 20 instruments as a child and teenager, and finally taking up the organ when she was 15. She talks about the breakthrough moment in which she accompanied the band Bonobo at the Royal Albert Hall - creating a viral video which has been shared millions of times on social media. She talks about the importance of following your own path, her love of therapy, and the place journalling plays in her performance preparation.

This episode features the chapel choir of Pembroke College singing 'Away in a Manger' by Lucy Walker and an excerpt of Anna Lapwood's performance of 'This Shining Night' by Christopher Churcher on the organ. It also features Harriet's choir, Voxetera, singing 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'.

Anna's latest album 'Firedove' is available to buy here

Thank you to Anna for this fascinating and inspiring interview.

Merry Christmas to all our wonderful listeners from Gyles, Harriet, Michele and Bella the cat!

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We have an atmospheric Christmas treat for you this Sunday afternoon: it's Gyles reading 'Murder at the Palace', an original murder mystery story, set in Victorian England, with Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle in the role of detectives. Pour yourself a cup of tea and settle down by the fire and be transported back to a time of pea-soupers, lavish dinner parties, and people who are not what they seem.

This is a taste of what we will be offering members of the Rosebud Family every two weeks - when Gyles will read instalments of his murder mysteries exclusively for subscribers. Also available to Rosebud Family members will be one bonus episode a month of Gyles and Harriet going 'down memory lane', and ad-free listening to all Rosebud releases.

You can subscribe to the Rosebud Family by visiting www.patreon.com/rosebud, and it's only £4.99 per month.

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Today we get to meet and know an author who is synonymous with Christmas - Charles Dickens - brought to life in this episode by his great-great grandson, Gerald Dickens. Yes, that's right - you're going to hear an interview with one of our greatest ever writers, who has been dead for over 150 years. Only on Rosebud.

In this fascinating conversation, Dickens tells Gyles about his childhood, growing up in the towns and villages of the Thames estuary in Kent, and how his father's debts led him to be imprisoned in the Marshalsea. The young Charles suddenly found himself put to work, a formative experience which influenced much of his later writing. We hear about his marriage to Catherine Hogarth, and about his mistress, Ellen Ternan. We hear about the terrible Staplehurst train crash, about Charles Dickens's travels in the USA, and about his latter-day success as a performer.

This is a fabulous way to immerse yourself in the story of our greatest novelist, at this most Dickensian time of the year.

With thanks to Gerald Dickens.

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It's time for another entertaining chapter of Gyles's diaries, this time from the end of 1971 and beginning of 1972, with Gyles's wife Michele as our special guest. We hear about liquid lunches, see-through blouses, and humane ways to catch mouses. We find out who's won the Magic Faraway Tree Tea competition and hear more about the Rosebud Family - our new subscribers' club. We hear about Gyles's diary-writing regimen and his bedtime routine. Enjoy this.

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A man who needs no introduction: comedian, writer and TV host Jimmy Carr. In this conversation we find out what makes Jimmy tick and hear about his origin story: he tells Gyles about his childhood in Slough, and his close relationship with his charismatic mother. We hear about his dyslexia, and how teachers at school encouraged him to apply to Cambridge. We hear about what, if anything, is off-limits in comedy, and the importance of being present for your children. Gyles and Jimmy also discuss the distinction between charm and charisma. Plus we hear about Jimmy's new movie, Fackham Hall, out in the UK on December 12 2025 (today!)

This is a revealing, wise and yes, charming, conversation with one of the most well-known comedians in the UK.

In January 2026 Rosebud will be launching their subscribers' club: The Rosebud Family. We'll be giving you more info about this throughout December, so keep listening! Cue the music!

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On this episode of More Rosebud we meet the celebrated biographer and journalist Roger Lewis, "a bundle of nerves and rage and disappointment". Roger is the author of several acclaimed biographies, including Erotic Vagrancy, about Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, and The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. In this extremely funny and fascinating episode, Roger tells Gyles about his childhood in South Wales: he was the precocious eldest son of an affluent family of butchers and farmers. He talks about his university days, how he studied under John Bayley, and how he became a writer. Woven through this life story are interesting discussions of memory and recollection, and of the self and identity, and of Roger’s unconventional approach to writing biography. This episode is well worth your time, and Roger's unstinting honesty as he talks about himself and others will stop you in your tracks and make you laugh. Enjoy this.

At the end of this episode Gyles and Harriet have an exciting announcement about the Rosebud Family, the new subscription service we're launching in the new year 2026. More details coming soon!

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If you're a fan of pop music, radio, or the legendary "Sounds of the 60s" show, then you'll know and love our guest today: Tony Blackburn. And Tony is part of broadcasting - and music - history: he was the first ever disc jockey on air on BBC Radio One in September 1967. We hear about this, and about how Tony and others - including Kenny Everett - helped to create the new figure of the DJ in the UK and to completely change the cultural landscape. Suddenly young people could hear the music they loved, all day long, on the radio. Tony talks about all this, and also tells Gyles about his childhood in Poole, his loving parents, his inspiring sister, his schooldays. He talks about his days on the pirate ships, and about his first marriage, and about his singing career. And this whole episode is full of laughter and fun. Thank you to Tony for coming on Rosebud and for recording such an evocative and fascinating conversation.

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In this episode, we join Gyles on a research trip to the sex shops and shows of Copenhagen with Lord Longford, other members of the Pornography Commission, and assorted members of the press. Because of that, this episode of Rosebud does contain some sexual content. We also hear about a dinner party at Fanny Craddock's, one of Michael Redgrave's final performances, and Michele's fears about her vichyssoise soup. Plus we read a poem from a Rosebud listener.

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Matthew Syed - table tennis Olympian, writer, broadcaster, thinker and Rosebud fan - is our guest today. And this is a genuinely fascinating, and inspiring, conversation. Matthew tells Gyles about his unconventional and wonderful family: his charismatic father, his hardworking and loving mum, his brother and sister and his best friend, Mark. He talks about his Pakistani father's experience of racism at work, he talks about how he and his brother got into table tennis, and how the unique ecosystem in their part of Reading - guided by the teacher, mentor and coach, Peter Charters - created a number of champions in the sport. Matthew's story is fascinating, gripping, and moving. We really encourage you to listen to this episode - this interview, and the characters who are described in it, will inspire you. It's a special one. Thank you to Matthew for sharing your story with us.

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Our guest today is the broadcaster Angela Rippon, who looks back at her childhood and her career of over 60 years in newspapers, television and radio. From her close-knit family in Plymouth, with a doting father and a hardworking mother, Angela was instilled with the values that have led her to have a career of impressive longevity. She tells Gyles about her father's interesting war, about his present to her of a Box Brownie camera which would later inspire her to become a photo-journalist, and about her close friends from school. She talks about her first job on the local papers in Plymouth, about rising through the ranks at the BBC and about the TV-AM debacle of the 1980s. She talks about Strictly and about her first memory of joy. Enjoy this.

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Gyles talks to the writer, psychotherapist and agony aunt Philippa Perry. And this is a fascinating conversation about family dynamics, the salience of childhood experience, and how small adjustments in the way we speak to children can make a big difference to their self-esteem. It's also about how Philippa's own emotionally cold childhood - via Swiss finishing school and private detective work - led her to become one of the UK's best selling writers on psychotherapy. Her books "The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read" and "The Book You Want Everyone You Love to Read" have sold millions of copies worldwide. Philippa is also well known as the wife of the artist and Rosebud alumnus Grayson Perry, and she tells Gyles about their first date and about why their relationship works so well.

Philippa's Substack is well worth reading and subscribing to here.

Enjoy this!

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It's diary time, diary fans - yippee! In this episode, Gyles gets invited onto Lord Longford's famous committee to investigate pornography, and sex, on film and television. Gyles is there to represent the voice of youth, along with Cliff Richard. Plus Gyles carries on with his "son et lumière" production company, hangs out with Cyril Fletcher, and his parents move into a hotel. Plus an email and a fun case of mistaken identity. Enjoy this.

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Lee Mack is one of the funniest and most successful British comedians working today; and if you're a fan of Would I Lie To You? then you'll no doubt know, and love, his work. In this fascinating and in-depth conversation we find out the roots of Lee's talent for making people laugh. He tells Gyles about his childhood, growing up above pubs in the North West, in a family atmosphere that was full of parties, jokes and fun, and never touched on anything serious. That changed when his parents suddenly separated, and Lee started a new school and found that the best way to fit in was to be the class clown. We hear about the year he spent working at the stables where they'd trained Red Rum, and his talent for darts. We hear about meeting his wife and his first standup gig. This is a rare podcast appearance from Lee: thank you to him for his honesty, openness and for all the funny stories.

Lee hosts the 1% Club, which is on ITV on Saturdays. He created, writes, and stars in, Not Going Out, which is one of Harriet's favourite shows, and is well worth a watch and is available on BBC iPlayer. And, of course, he is a team captain on Would I Lie To You? and is brilliant at it.

Enjoy this.

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On Armistice Day, we bring you an episode of Rosebud which opens at the Garden of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey, where Gyles meets veteran and double amputee turned skydiver Al Hodgson. We then take you to Salisbury, and an interview with Sir Nicholas Soames, himself a former soldier who later became a longstanding Conservative member of parliament, recorded live at Godolphin School in aid of the Edward Heath Charitable Foundation. Sir Nicholas talks to Gyles about his remarkable family: his grandfather was Sir Winston Churchill. We hear what Churchill was like as a grandfather and family man, about his unusual daily routine, and about his immense courage. We hear about Clementine Churchill, and about Sir Nicholas's parents - Christopher and Mary Soames, and their distinguished careers. This is a fascinating episode about a great family who were so central to the history of Britain in the twentieth century.

Sir Edward Heath's former home in Salisbury Cathedral Close, Arundells, is open to the public and is well worth a visit.

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Petula Clark has been famous since she was a child, when she was discovered on a wartime BBC radio show, and she has been on the radio, film and television ever since. In this episode she talks to Gyles about her remarkable and long career, about what it was like to grow up as a child star and about her complex relationship with her father. She talks about finding fame in France, and about Downtown, Don't Sleep in the Subway and working with Fred Astaire. She talks about her mother's early death from tuberculosis, and the death last year of her husband, Claude Wolff. This is a fascinating, poignant and intriguing conversation with one of our most enduring stars.

Petula Clark's new book, "Is That You, Petula?" is out now and available here.

Thank you Petula for taking the time to talk to us at Rosebud. Cue the music.

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Another great episode of diaries for you, featuring another special appearance from Michèle, Gyles's wife. In this episode we discuss whether you can have too much of a good thing, we find out what one word we'd each use to describe one another, and we read a listener email from Claire Gammon in Sydney. Gyles's diaries are from the second half of 1970, in which he and Michèle rent their first flat, in Muswell Hill, north London. Gyles meets lots of people from the BBC and, at the end of the year, Gyles and Michèle go on a memorable trip to Israel.

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The actor Samuel West is our guest today, and we recorded this episode earlier this month, not long before his mother, Prunella Scales's death on 27 October, and not long after his father, Timothy West's memorial service in London (Timothy West died in November 2024). In this conversation, Sam talks about his parents, Timothy West and Prunella Scales, and what it was like to grow up immersed in the theatrical world. Timothy was often away on tour, and Sam talks about missing him - but being inspired by his work ethic and by the life of the classical touring actor. He talks about his mother's talent and about her famous portrayal of Sybil Fawlty. He talks about his own university days, and how winning a bottle of champagne in a first year drama competition was a turning point. He talks about Stanislavsky and the craft of acting. And finally he talks about his parents' love of barge holidays, and the joy their TV barging brought to so many.

This episode is a celebration of a great theatrical family, and we're delighted and honoured that Sam recorded a Rosebud conversation with Gyles.

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Gyles speaks to the novelist and writer Sebastian Faulks, who tells him about his childhood growing up in Berkshire and his clear memories of being left at boarding school when he was seven. He talks about his rebellious streak, drawn out by rock and pop music, which manifested itself in periods of instability at school and university. He talks about the close friends he made at Cambridge, and going on University Challenge. He talks about writing his first novel and how he had his breakout moment. Sebastian's new book, a collection of autobiographical essays called 'Fires Which Burned Brightly: A Life in Progress' is out now, and available here.

Many thanks to Sebastian for coming to talk to us on Rosebud.

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This week's guest is Charles Spencer: the writer, broadcaster, and heir to the Spencer family title and estate at Althorp, where his sister, Diana, is buried. In this unmissable conversation, Charles talks to Gyles about his childhood, the breakdown of his parents' marriage, and his mother's sudden and shocking departure from the family home. He talks about his three sisters, and his close relationship with Diana. He talks about his schooldays, and in particular his harrowing experience at Maidwell Hall prep school - this episode does include Charles's account of the corporal punishment that took place there and his own experience of serious sexual abuse by a staff member. He talks about his happier time at Eton. And finally, he talks about the eulogy he gave at Diana's funeral and the extraordinary effect it had. This is a fascinating, unflinching, and deeply moving conversation. Many thanks to Earl Spencer for being our guest on Rosebud.

Charles Spencer's book, A Very Private School, is available here

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A momentous time for the young GDB in this week's diaries, as he prepares to take his finals and to leave Oxford. The three years have flown by, as they do for all undergraduates - but Gyles has packed more in than most. And, despite the fact he's in the middle of his exams, he continues to do so this term. No sooner has the ink dried on his last history exam paper, he's off up to London to get his hair cut and appear as a talking head in a BBC election broadcast. All this, plus some vintage, and slightly hysterical, Gyles and Harriet chat. Enjoy this.

You can find Rosebud on Instagram @therosebudpodcast and our new Facebook group "Rosebud Reflections" is fun too.

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