“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

Rosebud

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Lee Lawrence
Lee Lawrence

A moving and important true story is the subject of More Rosebud today, featuring the writer and social justice campaigner Lee Lawrence.

Sir John Major
Sir John Major

Sir John Major, British Prime Minister from 1992 - 1997, is our guest today. In this deeply interesting, personal and touching conversation, Sir John talks to Gyles about his childhood in South London and about his unusual and inspiring family.

Jung Chang
Jung Chang

We're honoured to have Jung Chang, the celebrated author of the international bestseller Wild Swans, as our Rosebud guest today - and her story will astonish you.

Julia Bradbury
Julia Bradbury

Julia Bradbury talks to Gyles about her life, upbringing and her new book "Hack Yourself Healthy".

Alan Davies
Alan Davies

You might notice that this episode of Rosebud is slightly longer than usual - and that's because this story is so powerful. This conversation with the stand-up, writer, actor and TV star Alan Davies is virtually unedited - because it's unmissable.

Professor Dame Mary Beard
Professor Dame Mary Beard

Our guest today is one of the UK's best known and best loved public intellectuals, the classicist and expert on Roman history Professor Dame Mary Beard.

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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.

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‘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

Archive
Gyles's Diary, Episode 25
Gyles's Diary, Episode 25

Join us for the further adventures of the young Gyles Brandreth, as he continues his impressive career at Oxford - in this episode Gyles finally has the success he's been hoping for in the Union elections - but finds it strangely unsatisfying.

Gyles's Diary, Episode 24
Gyles's Diary, Episode 24

Yes, we know it's secretly your favourite part of Rosebud... it's Gyles's diary! And we know we say this every time, but it's another corker. Gyles does something unspeakable on Edward Heath's shoes.

Gyles's Diary, Episode 23
Gyles's Diary, Episode 23

Gyles is back at Oxford after the summer... with a bang, of course. His long-awaited pantomime, Cinderella, opens at the Playhouse, with Sir Michael Redgrave reading the Prologue (and getting stage fright in the wings before the show).

Gyles's Diary, Episode 22
Gyles's Diary, Episode 22

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.

Gyles's Diary, Episode 21
Gyles's Diary, Episode 21

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.

Gyles's Diary, Episode 20
Gyles's Diary, Episode 20

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.

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