Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

Gyles Brandreth / Plain Jaine Productions / Keep It Light Media
Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

Legendary British writer, broadcaster, ex-MP and TV star Gyles Brandreth hosts “Rosebud”, in which he talks to famous and fascinating people about their first memories and first experiences. Expect laughter, nostalgia, memorable stories, revelations and, of course, the odd name-drop from Gyles.    We want to hear about your first memories - email us at hello@rosebudpodcast.com And you can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @therosebudpod   Artwork: Freya Betts. Music: Phil Lepherd. Producer: Harriet Jaine. Rosebud is a 'Plain Jaine' / 'Keep It Light Media' Production   Creator: Gyles Brandreth/Plain Jaine Productions

  1. Josh Widdicombe

    1 DAY AGO

    Josh Widdicombe

    Gyles is talking to one of his favourite comedians in today's Rosebud - Josh Widdicombe. Josh tells Gyles about his early days growing up in Devon; about his charismatic father, his clever mum, and his chain-smoking grandmother who lived next-door and delighted him with tales of her acting days. Gyles hears about Josh's youthful obsessions: pop culture, TV, Plymouth Argyle and marbles, and about how they inspired Josh's later career as a comedian and writer. He hears about Josh's university days and how he started to do stand-up. Finally, Josh opens up about his struggles with anxiety and panic attacks, and talks about the things that helped him to feel better. Josh is on tour from September 2025, and tickets are available now at www.joshwiddicombe.com. Thank you to Josh for such a warm, open and funny conversation. Enjoy this! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 9m
  2. More Rosebud - Gyles's Diary, episode 10: the first half of 1964 - O-levels, A Study in Sherlock, and lessons learnt

    4 DAYS AGO

    More Rosebud - Gyles's Diary, episode 10: the first half of 1964 - O-levels, A Study in Sherlock, and lessons learnt

    We've another action-packed episode of Gyles's teenage diary for you, diary fans. The young Brandreth continues to busy himself on multiple fronts - with drama, journalism and politics. As his form teacher says in his report: "Gyles appears to be a person of boundless energy and enthusiasm..." But all is not entirely plain-sailing in this episode, as Gyles gets involved in a scandal at school and learns a painful lesson, with the help of his extremely understanding teachers. If you're enjoying the diaries but haven't heard them all, you can go back to the start - they're all marked chronologically and begin with episode 1. We'll be back with more diaries in two weeks' time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    58 min
  3. Sigourney Weaver

    28 FEB

    Sigourney Weaver

    Rosebud is thrilled to present to you one of the truly great Hollywood actresses of her generation: Sigourney Weaver. Known for her groundbreaking performances as Ripley in Ridley Scott's Alien movies, Sigourney redefined what women could do in the movies. Sigourney talks to Gyles about her fascinating parents - her father, Pat Weaver, was a leading US television executive who pioneered morning television, and her mother, the English actress Elizabeth Inglis. She tells Gyles how she came by her name, and about her first kiss, and how she struggled to get used to her height. She talks about beginning acting at Stanford and later Yale, and how her confidence was knocked by her Yale tutors. She talks about working with Woody Allen and on the set of Alien. Halfway through the show, Sigourney and Gyles are joined by a special guest - an Oscar-winning British actress who Sigourney has loved since she was a child. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 15m
  4. More Rosebud - Tariq Ali

    25 FEB

    More Rosebud - Tariq Ali

    Tariq Ali is one of the most famous and recognisable figures of the revolutionary student movements of the 1960s. In his distinctive red Aquascutum mac he led marches, gave speeches and galvanised opposition to the Vietnam War and other big issues of the time. Born in Lahore just before Partition, he grew up in a prominent family of politicians and became interested in radical politics from a young age. At only 16 he organised his first strike, among the latrine-wallahs in the hill station where his family holidayed. At 18 he was sent to Oxford University, where he became president of the Union and impressed people with his brilliance at public speaking and debating. He tells Gyles about all this and about some of the amazing people he met along the way - including Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Marlon Brando and Malcolm X. If you aren't familiar with Tariq Ali's story, this is really worth listening to for a fascinating insight into the radical and optimistic days of the late 60s and early 70s, when anything seemed possible. Tariq's memoir, You Can't Please All, is out now, published by Verso. https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/blogs/authors/ali-tariq?srsltid=AfmBOorNoyy2ZaKtYHa5Zay30ii1E1ieQJ76ERKTHvDgvfIEB9t-zreO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 7m
  5. Sir James Dyson

    21 FEB

    Sir James Dyson

    Sir James Dyson talks to Gyles about his remarkable journey: from academic under-achiever to one of the world's most successful inventors and businessmen. Sir James takes us back to the start, when he was a schoolboy at Gresham's School in Norfolk, the son of a schoolteacher, until he was blindsided by the tragic death of his father when he was only nine. Was it this early bereavement that set him apart, and encouraged his desire to be independent, to be different? Or was it his love of the solitude of long-distance running, or his unusual talent for art and design? In this fascinating conversation, recorded at Dyson HQ in Wiltshire, Gyles goes behind the legendary inventions to the man and his beginnings. Thank you very much to Sir James for taking the time to record this with us, to to all the team at Dyson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 5m

  6. 18 FEB

    More Rosebud - Gyles's Diary, episode 9: the second half of 1963 - Twelfth Night, Kennedy's assassination, and more

    After the relationship turbulence of the first six months of the year (you can hear all about that in the last episode - episode 8), our hero, the 15 year-old Gyles, sensibly turns his attention away from romance and onto other things. The most pressing one being his upcoming performance in the school production of Twelfth Night. Can he follow the advice of his drama teacher and learn to act "from the inside out?" And stop putting on silly voices and being a ham? Meanwhile, there's major news on the international stage as President John F Kennedy is shot while riding in a motorcade through the centre of Dallas, Texas. Gyles, in his inimitable style, keeps us up to date with all this and more in another episode of his not-to-be-missed teenage diaries. Cue the music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    57 min
  7. Nigel Havers: The Valentine's Day Rosebud

    14 FEB

    Nigel Havers: The Valentine's Day Rosebud

    It's Valentine's Day, and we at Rosebud knew we needed to find someone special, to spread the love to you, our gorgeous listeners: we needed to find our very own Rosebud Romeo. Someone debonair, someone handsome, someone with a talent for being in love... and who better than possibly the most charming actor of them all: Nigel Havers? Nigel talks to Gyles about his enchanted life. The son of an eminent lawyer, Nigel was sent to boarding school at 6, where he discovered his talent for acting. He went to the Arts Educational School as a teenager, and this is where the fun begins... this is a tale of girlfriends, the Rolling Stones, and meeting Margaret Thatcher. Enjoy this fun, frothy and fascinating episode, and happy Valentine's Day! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 7m

  8. 11 FEB

    More Rosebud... Posting Letters to the Moon - the letters of Celia Johnson and Peter Fleming, with Lucy Fleming and Simon Williams

    Lucy Fleming and Simon Williams give Rosebud a truly romantic Valentine's treat today, as they read the wartime letters of Lucy's parents: Celia Johnson, the great actress and star of Brief Encounter, and Peter Fleming, writer and older brother of Ian Fleming. The letters you hear in this episode were written from 1940 until VE Day, while Peter was away in Burma and India, working for Lord Wavell, and Celia was at home looking after their young son and becoming known as a film actress. In 1945 she plays the lead in Brief Encounter, one of the greatest British films ever made. These letters are so tender and evocative, and transport you to another time - one of bravery, decency and self-deprecation. Lucy and Simon are themselves married, and have been together for 40 years, and are both successful actors - Archers fans will, in particular, be very familiar with their voices! They talk to Gyles about their first memories, how they met, and tell Gyles the secret to a long and happy marriage. Lucy and Simon read these letters live on stage in their brilliant show, Posting Letters to the Moon, which is touring the UK now - tickets are available at https://www.postingletterstothemoon.com/tickets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 4m
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    Hosts & Guests

    About

    Legendary British writer, broadcaster, ex-MP and TV star Gyles Brandreth hosts “Rosebud”, in which he talks to famous and fascinating people about their first memories and first experiences. Expect laughter, nostalgia, memorable stories, revelations and, of course, the odd name-drop from Gyles.    We want to hear about your first memories - email us at hello@rosebudpodcast.com And you can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @therosebudpod   Artwork: Freya Betts. Music: Phil Lepherd. Producer: Harriet Jaine. Rosebud is a 'Plain Jaine' / 'Keep It Light Media' Production   Creator: Gyles Brandreth/Plain Jaine Productions

    Information

    • Creator
      Gyles Brandreth / Plain Jaine Productions / Keep It Light Media
    • Years Active
      2023 - 2025
    • Episodes
      107
    • Rating
      Explicit
    • Copyright
      © Gyles Brandreth
    • Show Website
      Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

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