“In considering the detail, insight and ease of conversation, I’ve come to the conclusion that Rosebud has eclipsed Desert Island Discs as ‘the’ archive of living legends.”
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph Theatre Critic
Latest Episodes
We're honoured to have Sir Ian Rankin, one of the most successful authors in the world, as our guest today. If you love to read, you'll almost certainly have read one of Ian's novels - and in John Rebus, he created one of the most enduring, complicated and loved central characters in modern fiction.
Last Sunday - the day before he died - Jeffrey Archer was on stage at the Leicester Square Theatre in London celebrating the publication of his fiftieth book - his final novel, Adam and Eve - and talking with Gyles about his remarkable roller-coaster life.
Don Black, the legendary lyricist, brings his gorgeous and sunny energy onto Rosebud today. He and Gyles talk about Don's life and work, beginning with his extremely happy, but humble, childhood in Hackney, going with his starstruck mother to the Empire to watch Max Miller and other big names of the day.
Dame Zandra Rhodes, the iconic British fashion and textiles designer, is our guest today. In this brilliant conversation, recorded at Zandra's beautiful penthouse apartment in Bermondsey, Zandra tells Gyles about her childhood, which was hugely influenced by her "exotic" and extremely stylish mother, who was always well dressed and was ambitious for her daughter.
Gyles's guest today is Francis Rossi: the lead singer, guitarist and one of the founder members of the legendary British rock band Status Quo.
Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton is a writer, former soldier and SAS man, erstwhile equerry to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and former Personal Private Secretary to Princes William and Harry when they were young men in their twenties.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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,
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.
Our guest today is the scientist, broadcaster and presenter of The Sky At Night, Dame Maggie Aderin.
Gyles Brandreth is a British Podcast Awards Gold Award Winner.
Launched in September 2023, “Rosebud” is his Top Ten multi-million download podcast in which Gyles talks to famous and fascinating people about their first memories and first experiences.
From Dame Judi Dench to Sir Keir Starmer, from ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeous to the Astronomer Royal, from Lulu and Twiggy to David Mitchell and Eddie Izzard, from Sir Gary Oldman to Dame Joanna Lumley, they’re all here.
“Rosebud” every Friday. “More Rosebud” every Tuesday.
Expect laughter, nostalgia, memorable stories, occasional tears, revelations, surprises,
and, of course, the odd name-drop from Gyles.
‘Brandreth is an interviewer of genius, nudging his guests, coaxing them, almost sashaying through the conversation of their lives. The first question is always “What is your very first memory?” - and from there we learn about the formative influences, the loves, the heartbreaks and what they have picked up along the way. It is light, textured, immersive.’ - Matthew Syed, The Sunday Times
‘In considering the detail, insight and ease of conversation, I’ve come to the conclusion that Rosebud has eclipsed Desert Island Discs as “the” archive of living legends.’ - Dominic Cavendish (Telegraph drama critic)
We want to hear about your first memories, too - email us at hello@rosebudpodcast.com
And you can follow us on X at @therosebudpod and on Instagram at @therosebudpodcast
Artwork: Freya Betts. Music: Phil Lepherd.
Producer: Harriet Jaine - who appears with Gyles on “More Rosebud” every Tuesday.
Rosebud is a Plain Jaine Media production. Creator: Gyles Brandreth/Plain Jaine Media
Latest Gyles’s Diary Episodes
It's 1980, a momentous beginning to a momentous decade, and Gyles is here to guide you through his own personal - yet universal - 80s experience as he reads selected extracts from the genuine diaries he kept at the time. He's now in his thirties, father of three, owner of two houses, businessman, and all-round powerhouse.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.