“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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Gyles meets one of his teenage idols: the French-born ballet dancer and film star Leslie Caron.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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'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.
It's 1973, and Gyles is still working hard: putting on his star-studded son-et-lumières, appearing on Opportunity Knocks and... getting married.
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 Woman magazine the next.
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.
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.