Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

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.

Today's edition opens with...

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...

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 ...

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...

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.

And we reveal our prize-winning postcards. They come from: James Sains...

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.

In this really absorbing conversation, Ian describes his childhood in a working class home in Fife, where his parents taught him t...

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. I...

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 St...

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 wif...

Gyles's guest today is Francis Rossi: the lead singer, guitarist and one of the founder members of the legendary British rock band Status Quo. Francis tells Gyles about his childhood in Forest Hill and Balham, South London, where his family ran ice cream stalls and sweet shops. He talks about his Italian heritage, and his love for the language and culture. Francis talks about his parents' complicated marriage, and his mum's increas...

Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton is a writer, former soldier and SAS man, erstwhile equerry to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and former Personal Private Secretary to Princes William and Harry when they were young men in their twenties. In this wide-ranging conversation, Jamie tells Gyles about his childhood, spent in the marshes of East Suffolk, playing out until late with friends and dreaming of being a soldier when he grew up. He talk...

It's 1980, a momentous beginning to a momentous decade, and Gyles is here to guide you through his own personal - yet universal - 80s experience as he reads selected extracts from the genuine diaries he kept at the time. He's now in his thirties, father of three, owner of two houses, businessman, and all-round powerhouse. In this episode we hear about Sooty and Sweep, pumpkins, Margaret Thatcher and golden moments. Enjoy this, diar...

One of Britain's best-loved and most talented actors for you today: Simon Callow. In this gem of a conversation, Gyles hears about Simon's childhood in Streatham, where he was dazzled by his theatrical grandmother but had a more complicated relationship with his "odd" mother. His father left when he was small. Gyles hears about formative teachers, an early love of theatre and literature, and music. Simon also talks about university...

Larry Lamb joins Gyles for a really unique episode of Rosebud. For the past few years, Larry has been telling the story of his life in poetry, and that's what you'll hear in this edition, interwoven with a Rosebud conversation about his early memories and upbringing. Larry's poetry is original, powerful and has a rhythmic punch which takes you right into the turbulence of his childhood: he was born into a loveless marriage and spen...

Our guest today is Al Murray, aka the Pub Landlord and the host of We Have Ways of Making You Talk, a podcast all about the Second World War which is one of the UK's most successful history podcasts. In this conversation, Al talks to Gyles about his family history, which is steeped in war stories and tales of derring do, espionage and also some tragedy. He is also descended from the great Victorian writer, William Makepeace Thacker...

The year is 1979. Yes, it's another fun episode of Gyles's diaries, including a truly brilllant listener email from Darran Lingley, discussion of Winston Churchill's love of languishing at the dinner table, tales of Gyles and Michele's new boxing sessions and speculation about squirrel blood transfusions. Enjoy this.

If you'd like to join the Rosebud Family, for more episodes and a wonderful community of Rosebud-loving listeners...

We have a really wonderful Rosebud for you today, with the great actress, Patricia Hodge. In this conversation, Patricia talks to Gyles about her childhood, spent in the biggest hotel in Grimsby, observing the comings and goings of the guests, the local dockers and fishermen, and the occasional glimpses of glamour and celebrity that passed through the town. She talks about the bold and inventive move which led to her being noticed ...

1 September 2026 is Rosebud's THIRD birthday! And to celebrate, we are giving you the chance to listen again to one of our best ever episodes: with the late Queen Elizabeth II's groom, Terry Pendry. Terry worked with Queen Elizabeth II for over 28 years, as her Stud Groom and Manager at Windsor Castle. Terry's relationship with the Queen was unique, because he rode with her every morning when she was at Windsor. This is when the Qu...

Geoffrey Rush: the only Australian actor to win a Tony, a Primetime Emmy and an Oscar, is our Rosebud guest today. Geoffrey tells Gyles about his childhood growing up in Toowoomba, Queensland, the son of a broken marriage, brought up by his mum and grandparents. He talks about his early memories of rural Australia - of gardens, flower festivals and fireworks - and then he tells Gyles about moving to Brisbane, and discovering his ta...