Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

Afleveringen

1. Gary Kemp

   30 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 13 min

   Afspelen
   Gary Kemp is the lead guitarist of the legendary 80s band Spandau Ballet, and the author of all of their greatest hits, including True, Gold, Through The Barricades and To Cut a Long Story Short. He is also a successful movie star, in films as diverse as The Bodyguard and The Krays. In this brilliant and wide-ranging conversation with Gyles, Gary talks about his working class boyhood in Islington, north London, sharing an outside toilet with two other families. He talks about getting his first guitar and impressing his dad with his songwriting skills. He talks about the importance of mentors, and the key roles Bishop Trevor Huddleston and the drama teacher Anna Scher played in his life. He talks about the beginnings of Spandau Ballet, the Blitz club and still living at home well into his twenties. Gary talks about the court case between him and the rest of the band, and he talks about Live Aid and meeting David Bowie. And he talks about his unbreakable bond with his brother, Martin, and the deaths of their parents within four days of each other. Lees meer

   This is a really in-depth, sensitive and humane discussion which will impress you, inform you and inspire you.

   Gary's book, 1967, is out now and tells the story of Brian Epstein's final address book - it is a fascinating cultural history of Britain in the sixties. It's available here.

   Our heartfelt thanks to Gary for this brilliant chat.

   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2. More Rosebud - Gyles Diary, episode 52

   27 oktober 2026 · 56 min

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   Another classic episode of Gyles's diaries for you today. Gyles has been keeping a daily diary since he was ten years old, and in these episodes (released on alternate Tuesdays), he reads selected extracts aloud to Harriet, the Rosebud producer, and they chat about them. We've now reached 1981. If you want to go back to the very beginning, the episodes are in chronological order in our back catalogue. Lees meer

   Today's edition opens with Gyles and Harriet chatting about leaf blowers, and then we play in a really very special, and exclusive, voice note from one of our celebrity listeners... you won't believe who it is - make sure you listen, as it will surprise and delight you. And transport you back to your childhood days. Then we read out some of the autobiographical poetry we were sent by listeners, inspired by our conversation with the great Larry Lamb. Thank you Zoe Grace Couzens and Liam Dugan for your excellent poetical contributions to Rosebud.

   Gyles's 1981 diaries feature Liberace, Christopher Biggins, John Schlesinger, Kenneth Williams, Bonnie Langford and Melvyn Bragg. Yes, all human life is here! (Well particularly if they're famous...)

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3. Bill Wyman

   23 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 35 min

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   Bill Wyman, who is 90 years old this week, and was for 31 years the bass player of the The Rolling Stones, is our guest today. Bill talks to Gyles about his wartime childhood in south-east London, and some of the really visceral experiences he had during the war of bombing and evacuation. He talks about his grandmother - who taught him to read, got him started on piano lessons, and made delicious bread pudding; and his dad, who was a tough disciplinarian who didn't like the airs and graces that Bill picked up at grammar school. Bill talks about the early days of the Rolling Stones, when Mick, Keith and Brian Jones lived in a squalid flat in Chelsea and could barely afford to feed themselves. He talks about his close friendship with Charlie Watts and their reputation as the best rhythm section in rock and roll. He talks about the instrumental role the Beatles played in the Stones being discovered. And he talks about leaving the group and finding success - and happiness - in collaboration with other musicians and artists later in his career. Lees meer

   This is a fascinating chat with the "oldest living rocker" on the planet, who was there at the heart of it all.

   Bill has a number of releases coming up to mark his 90th birthday, including The Best of Bill Wyman, available here, and Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, Ultimate Collection, available here.

   Our heartfelt thanks to Bill for this conversation, and a very, very happy birthday from all of us at Rosebud!

   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4. More Rosebud - Dylan Jones

   20 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 19 min

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   Dylan Jones was for 22 years the editor of the UK edition of GQ Magazine, and turned that men's style glossy into essential reading for those interested in the culture, fashion and cool of the 00s. Prior to that he worked on i-D Magazine and Arena. At GQ, Dylan also turned the GQ Man of the Year Awards into one of the big events of the London social calendar, and after GQ Jones went on to edit the Evening Standard. Dylan and Gyles talk about all this in today's fascinating conversation. And they also talk about Dylan's childhood. Born into a military family - Dylan's dad was in the RAF - Dylan moved around a great deal and was subject to his father's physical violence on a regular basis. He describes living in this "chaos" and talks about the lasting impact this difficult childhood has had on his character. This is a really important, powerful and intimate conversation, which doesn't wallow in difficulty or pain, but discusses it openly, calmly, and with real candour. (This episode does contain discussion of serious sexual assault and domestic violence). Lees meer

   Dylan's new book, Table Hopping: The Secret History of London's Restaurants, from Langan's Brasserie to The Wolseley is highly recommended. It's available here.

   Our deep thanks to Dylan for being our guest, and for sharing his wisdom, wit, and brilliant conversation with us on Rosebud.

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5. Dame Jacqueline Wilson

   16 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 14 min

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   One of our best-loved children's authors, Dame Jacqueline Wilson, is our guest today. Jacqueline has changed the lives of many young readers by introducing them to characters and subjects which reflect the complicated lives of real children. And in this conversation with Gyles, Jacqueline talks about her own childhood, which has informed a lot of her later writing. She grew up with two parents who didn't really get along - a mother who was a narcissist, and a father who was often angry and distant - and who had violent rows with each other, but gave Jacqueline rich material for her books. Jacqueline tells Gyles about being a bookish schoolgirl who liked to daydream, about a disastrous encounter with some orange hair dye, and about writing her first novel for a school teacher. Gyles and Jacqueline talk about her first job, at DC Thompson, and about her marriage and the birth of her daughter when she was only 21. They talk about writing, and about Jacqueline's relationship now, and new-found status as a gay icon. Lees meer

   Our heartfelt thanks to Jacqueline Wilson for her delightful company, wonderful stories and wisdom.

   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6. More Rosebud - Gyles's Diary, episode 51

   13 oktober 2026 · 55 min

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   We start this episode of Gyles's diaries by talking about all the postcards we've received after we asked listeners to revive the art of sending the - sometimes saucy - postcard. We got so many, so this is a proper, old-fashioned "mailbag" edition of Rosebud. Our huge thanks to everyone who sent us something - we so appreciate it. We have wonderful listeners. Lees meer

   And we reveal our prize-winning postcards. They come from: James Sainsbury, in Auckland, New Zealand; Alastair Crieff (sp), who set us a black and white photo he'd found in Dieppe, and the Reverend Jane Parry, who sent us a Donald McGill classic. Please get in touch with us at hello@rosebudpodcast.com if this is you!

   Then we have another enjoyable and absorbing edition of Gyles's 1980 diary, in which he has a sad lunch with a diminished Sir Michael Redgrave; manages to stay awake through Wagner's Ring Cycle; has a disconcerting invitation to get into a hot tub with Jimmy Edwards, and has a close shave with Frankie Howerd.

   Enjoy this, diary aficionadi!

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7. Sir Ian Rankin

   9 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 12 min

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   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. Lees meer

   In this really absorbing conversation, Ian describes his childhood in a working class home in Fife, where his parents taught him the value of "thrawn" - resilience and determination against the odds. Ian was a quiet and bookish child, who spent hours at his desk in his tiny bedroom making up stories and imaginary pop groups who would compete each other in an invented top ten. He became a punk, started to be interested in girls, and realised that he didn't want to be an accountant - but instead wanted to defy his family and study English at university. He went to Edinburgh, met his wife, and discovered a world beyond his home town which has captivated and inspired him ever since. Ian also talks to Gyles about his son, Kit, who has a chromosomal defect and is severely disabled. He talks about his writing process and philanthropy. And finally he talks about his new novel, The Heights, which is out now.

   Ian's book, The Heights, is available here. It is Ian's first standalone thriller in two decades, and tells the story of the dark underbelly of a luxury apartment block in London. It is highly recommended.

   Our thanks to Sir Ian for his time, energy and charming conversation.

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8. Rosebud Special - Jeffrey Archer At The Leicester Square Theatre

   7 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 19 min

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   Last Sunday - the day before he died - Jeffrey Archer was on stage at the Leicester Square Theatre in London celebrating the publication of his fiftieth book - his final novel, Adam and Eve - and talking with Gyles about his remarkable roller-coaster life. Jeffrey was in great form, telling stories even Gyles hadn’t heard before. This isn’t a regular Rosebud, but it was such a fun show, we wanted to share it with you. It’s poignant, too, because, as you will hear (and can see if you watch our interview episodes on the Rosebud Podcast channel on YouTube), at the end of the performance Jeffrey recites Puck’s farewell speech from A Midsummer Night’s Dream: ’So goodnight unto you all …' Lees meer

   Jeffrey Archer, Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare. Born 15 April 1940. Died 5 October 2026. Author, politician, MP, member of the House of Lords, served two years in prison for perjury, 2001-2003. Married to Mary Archer since 1966. Both Jeffrey Archer and Dame Mary Archer have featured in regular episodes of Rosebud, now available in the Rosebud archive.

   The recording of this special episode has been made possible by Harper-Collins, publishers of Jeffrey Archer’s final novel, Adam and Eve, which was published yesterday. Our thanks to Elizabeth Dawson and the Harper-Collins team for all their help. Our thanks, too, to the Leicester Square Theatre where the recording was made on Sunday 4 October 2026.

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9. More Rosebud - Don Black

   6 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 4 min

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   Don Black, the legendary lyricist, brings his gorgeous and sunny energy onto Rosebud today. He and Gyles talk about Don's life and work, beginning with his extremely happy, but humble, childhood in Hackney, going with his starstruck mother to the Empire to watch Max Miller and other big names of the day. He talks about his father, who worked as an Underpresser, ironing clothes for the local elite. Don then takes Gyles to Denmark Street, or Tinpan Alley as it was known, the heart of London's music scene, where Don began to get work as a promoter and then as a lyricist. There he meets Matt Monro, and Don writes the song for Monro which changes his life, "Walk Away". Five James Bond themes, "Born Free", Michael Jackson's "Ben" and numerous other hits and hit musicals follow. Don is multi-award-winning and has met everyone from Quincy Jones to Henry Mancini, but remains delightfully modest, down to earth and funny. He says he was grounded by his long and extremely happy marriage to Shirley, who never let them get carried away with fame and fortune - and this episode contains many stories and lessons about love. This is a really charming conversation which will make you smile and remind you of what really matters in life. Lees meer

   Don's show From the Heart is on at the Garrick Theatre, London, from October 8. Tickets are available here.

   Our thanks to Don Black for his delightful company.

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10. Dame Zandra Rhodes

    2 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 9 min

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    Dame Zandra Rhodes, the iconic British fashion and textiles designer, is our guest today. In this brilliant conversation, recorded at Zandra's beautiful penthouse apartment in Bermondsey, Zandra tells Gyles about her childhood, which was hugely influenced by her "exotic" and extremely stylish mother, who was always well dressed and was ambitious for her daughter. She talks about her father, who was a lorry driver who adored his wife but whose childhood was marred by tragedy. Zandra talks about her early love of dressing up, and about her memories of the war, and of going out blackberrying in the Kent countryside. She talks about starting out, about her fierce work ethic and the people who gave her breaks early on in the Swinging Sixties. Zandra tells Gyles about meeting Diana Vreeland in New York, about dressing Princess Diana and Freddy Mercury. Lees meer

    This is a charming hour with one of the most distinctive visionaries of British style. Our huge thanks to Zandra for having us at her place that day, and for her warmth, talent and wonderful stories.

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