Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

The sun is out and our guest this week is a ray of sunshine. It's the unique British comic actress and fashion icon Su Pollard. In this brilliant conversation, Su tells Gyles about her childhood in Nottingham, how she got the bug for performing when she was still in the infants and used to go to school dressed in wild outfits that made her look like a morris dancer. He hears about her parents, Don and Hilda, how her father liked to garden in his shirt and tie and their impressive work ethic. He hears about Su's first boyfriend, her first professional role and her first meeting with the Queen. And he hears about Hi-de-Hi and how Su sometimes answers the front door as Peggy. This is a unique conversation with one of the true originals of British showbiz. Su is currently on a nationwide tour called "Still Fully Charged". Tickets and info available from supollardlive.com.Enjoy this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well, Gyles's diary continues to wow Harriet - and all our lovely listeners - and this week is no exception... Because at the height of the Cold War (it's 1968 and the USSR have just invaded Czechoslovakia), the young Mr Brandreth goes off on a research trip to Moscow. And it is truly fascinating - a snapshot of Soviet life with all its surveillance, austerity and difference. Back in the UK, life is as busy as ever - preparations for Cinderella continue, the relationship with Michele is flourishing, and Gyles meets Jack Profumo. Plus a fantastic listener email from Amelia Stay. Enjoy this! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A best-selling novellist with a life story that reads like a best-selling novel... our guest this week is Anthony Horowitz. In this absorbing and - at times - moving and shocking conversation, Anthony tells Gyles about his young life and upbringing, which is extraordinary. Born to wealthy parents into a very large home of extreme privilege, Horowitz's childhood was cold, lonely and lacking in love and affection. His father was critical and prone to cruelty, his mother was stifled. The teachers at his prep school were brutal and abusive. So it's not surprising that Anthony looks back at this childhood with ambivalence, anger and regret, and that it's found its way into many of his books. Anthony also tells Gyles about how he found his voice as a writer, about meeting his wife, Jill Green, and their brilliant partnership, and about his hatred of writers' routines. Enjoy this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A special episode of More Rosebud today with a great poet, and filled with great poetry. Roger McGough tells Gyles about his striking first memories, his childhood in Liverpool, and interweaves this with some readings of poems inspired by his life. Roger remembers his hardworking father, the long line of men who came to the house to pay their respects to his father laid out in the coffin after his death, meeting Philip Larkin at Hull University, and then his early days performing poetry and sketches in clubs in Liverpool in the sixties - which led to his fame as a poet and as an unlikely pop star in the group The Scaffold - with hits like "Thank You Very Much" and "Lily the Pink". Plus Gyles and Harriet enjoy a poem written by a Rosebud listener. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kemi Badenoch is the Leader of the Conservative Party and the current Leader of the Opposition, a job often described as the toughest in British politics. And in this interview with Gyles, Kemi talks about her upbringing and how it gave her the toughness she needs to survive in the ruthless environment of Westminster. Born in a hospital in Wimbledon in 1980, but brought up and educated mainly in Lagos, Nigeria, Kemi's story is one of contrasts: her family were middle class and affluent, but eventually they lost their money and Kemi was sent to the UK at 16. There she got a job in McDonalds and studied hard at school, working part-time to support herself. Kemi also tells Gyles about her miserable time at federal boarding school in Nigeria, she talks about her favourite foods, her dreams, her grandparents and a moment of joy she remembers from her childhood. This is a chance to get behind the politics to the origin story of one of the UK's most prominent and successful politicians. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's hard to believe how much Gyles packs into his summer term at Oxford: he's filming with the BBC, he's casting his first Oxford University Dramatic Society production, he's looking for a girlfriend, he's going to numerous balls and parties, he's in the newspapers... so this is a long and action-packed episode of the diaries. Harriet and Gyles discuss some of the changing attitudes of the times. They also talk about phobias, dahlias, stamps, cape-wearing, and read out some brilliant listener emails. If you want to get in touch, email us at hello@rosebudpodcast.com. Enjoy this! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rosebud is off to the seaside, to the Sarah Thorne Theatre in Broadstairs in Kent, where we meet the much-loved star of Hi-de-Hi and You Rang, M'Lord, Jeffrey Holland. And we meet some Rosebud listeners! And we sing a song and Harriet dresses up as a yellow coat. Jeffrey tells Gyles about his days working with Croft and Perry, his early life in Walsall, the sadness of losing his father when he was only 14, and how he got into acting. He talks about his love of Superman and Stan Laurel, and his life lesson. We remember Simon Cadell and generally have a marvellous day out. Enjoy this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's another cracking episode of Gyles's Oxford diaries... Gyles continues his illicit flirtation with his friend's wife, has a sad meeting with Sal, and goes to a party at Robert Maxwell's mansion. He writes a lot of articles, appears in the Sun and on a BBC documentary, and he struggles to find time to do any work. "Busy people are happy people"... but maybe Gyles is trying to squeeze too much into the eight-week terms? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mel Giedroyc is Gyles's special guest on this episode; and she talks about her amazing family story. Her father and his family were taken from Eastern Poland to Siberia by the Russians in 1939 - Mel's grandfather was shot, but her grandmother, dad and aunts made an extraordinary journey and eventually reached London, where Mel's father settled and met her mother. It's a fascinating, moving and sometimes shocking tale, and a very special edition of Rosebud. Mel also talks about meeting Sue Perkins at Cambridge, about being flashed at in Italy, and about her love of walking holidays. Mel Giedroyc is the host of the brilliant Where There's a Will There's a Wake podcast, in which guests plan their perfect funeral and talk about the manner in which they're going to meet their maker. It's a surprisingly uplifting podcast about death and is highly recommended. Enjoy this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's More Rosebud, and our guest today is a political heavyweight. He was a member of parliament and cabinet minister under Margaret Thatcher and John Major, was the UK's last governor in Hong Kong, and then Chancellor of Oxford University. It's Chris Patten, Lord Patten of Barnes. In this episode, Chris tells Gyles about his childhood, growing up in the west of London in a happy and loving Irish family with a jazz-musician father. He tells Gyles about working for Ted Heath and Margaret Thatcher, about Hong Kong and about his pride at having been involved in the Irish peace process. He talks about Trump and his fears for the future.At the start of this episode, we also have a surprise: Rosebud's shortest ever interview! Plus a listener email and more chat from Gyles and Harriet.Enjoy this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Osman: writer, presenter, producer, creator and podcaster. From Pointless, to House of Games, to Thursday Murder Club and The Rest is Entertainment - the range, volume and success of Osman's work is impressive. So how did this shy boy who liked to stand outside things, observe and who has "weird brain gifts" become such an on and off-screen talent? Richard talks to Gyles about his early years - how his happy childhood spent holidaying with families from the street was disrupted by his father leaving the family when Richard was only nine. He talks about his struggles with his eyesight, and how that and his height made him feel separate, and different. He talks about his amazing mum, and how she coped as a single parent. Richard talks about how much he loves TV, and about how much he loves his wife, Ingrid Oliver. And he tells Gyles about seeking help for his food addiction. This is a fascinating episode full of wisdom and honesty.It was recorded at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Gyles's first term at New College, Oxford, and in this episode we hear about what happens when the busiest man at Bedales takes on university life. And, needless to say, he hits the ground running. By the end of his first week he's had a few high-level meetings, met some influential and well-connected people, and had a tour of the Oxford Union. As the term progresses, he gives his maiden speech at the Union, writes his first article for the university magazine, and develops a crush on an unavailable fellow student. Plus some of your emails, some chat from Gyles and Harriet and well wishes for Marie "Mimi" Unsworth - get well soon from Gyles and Harriet! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of our most interesting, versatile and talented actors is Gyles's guest today: Sir Gary Oldman. In this very special, intimate and extensive conversation, Gary tells Gyles about his childhood in New Cross Gate in South London, growing up in a council flat with his sisters and his mum - his father left the family home when Gary was seven. He tells Gyles about his happy childhood, dressing up as a homemade batman and playing cricket in the streets with his friends. He tells Gyles about discovering the Greenwich Young People's Theatre and applying for drama school, and about getting his Equity card. He talks about Joe Orton, Paul McCartney, Malcolm McDowell and why he'll never play Hitler. Gary also talks about the perpetual feelings of insecurity which drive him. This is a fascinating conversation with a wonderful actor and we're thrilled to be able to give Rosebud listeners the chance to hear it. Enjoy this.This podcast was recorded at Gyles's house. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's More Rosebud, and time for another guest with an unusual tale to tell. Julia Baird is the half-sister of John Lennon, and here she tells Gyles about her childhood, their mother (Julia Lennon, née Stanley) and what it was like to grow up alongside a future pop icon. John Lennon and Julia Baird's family was big, and complicated - their mother, Julia, was one of five girls. She met John Lennon's father, Alf Lennon, in the park when she was just 14, and the pair courted, and later married. John was born in 1940, but Alf got a job in the merchant navy and from then on was seldom home. After that, Julia had three more daughters with two different partners, but her family did not approve and John was taken to live with his aunt, Mimi. However, John and his mother never stopped seeing each other, and never stopped loving each other - and this is the story Julia Baird tells to Gyles in this episode. She also tells Gyles about John's success, about the band's rehearsals in her mum's kitchen, about John and Cynthia, and about going to see the Beatles play in Liverpool and the early days of Beatlemania.This really is a must for any John Lennon fans who want to know more about his childhood.Julia Baird's book Imagine This: Growing Up With My Brother John Lennon is available here. Tickets to Live Odyssey, an immersive exhibition about British music and featuring a new John Lennon exhibition, are available here.This episode was recorded at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London. Thank you very much to everyone there! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeffrey Archer is one of the best-selling writers in the world, and he is our guest today. He talks to Gyles about his childhood in Weston-Super-Mare, his indomitable mother, his wicked granny, and how he was fired from his job at the local cricket ground for his entrepreneurial afternoon tea scheme. He tells Gyles about his university days, about meeting his wife, Mary, and about meeting the Beatles. He talks about his career as an MP, how he almost became bankcrupt and started writing novels. And, of course, he talks about going to prison for perjury and the lessons that experience taught him. Plus he talks about Margaret Thatcher and the qualities that made her such a successful politician. This is a fascinating interview about a truly fascinating life. Jeffrey's new book, An Eye for an Eye, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.