Gyles Brandreth

It's 1975 and new father Gyles Brandreth is multi-tasking, like any young parent. One day he's feeding the ducks in Regent's Park with his new baby, the next, spearheading the campaign for Britain to remain in the European Common Market. He's also planning his next Oxford Theatre Festival, learning to play bridge, and being interviewed by the Mail. Plus Gyles and Harriet chat about their favourite day of the week, and snoring. Enjoy this! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rosebud has been on its first international road trip, to New York City. In this episode, Gyles and Harriet chat about their trip... about how they gossiped for 15 hours straight on the flight over, about being guests of the Queen at the New York Public Library and seeing Pooh Bear, Kanga, Eeyore, Tigger, Piglet and the new Roo, and about Anna Wintour giving Gyles an unexpected compliment. In the second half of the show, Gyles talks to Josh Ellis, one of Broadway's most distinguished Press Agents, who worked on productions such as 42nd Street, Into the Woods, The King and I, The Elephant Man and The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. He tells Gyles insider tales about some of the stars he worked with during his long career, including Yul Brynner, Rex Harrison, Katharine Hepburn, Eartha Kitt, Cher, David Bowie and Ethel Merman. It's fascinating, and gives a real flavour of life at the heart New York's theatre land. Our thanks for Josh Ellis for this fun and fascinating conversation. Our thanks to New York City for being fabulous. And our thanks to you for listening. Enjoy this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An action-packed edition of Gyles's diaries, from 1974 and 75. Gyles masquerades - very convincingly - as the European Monopoly Champion, and wows the crowds in New York City. He tosses the world's smallest pancake live on television. Margaret Thatcher is elected Leader of the Conservative Party, and on the domestic front, Gyles and Michele become parents for the first time. It's a momentous year, and it's why the Rosebud Family love tuning in on Tuesdays for Gyles's diaries! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gyles continues to have success, failure and everything in between with the Oxford Theatre Festival... and even gets to open some plays in the West End. We hear from a listener in a far-flung location, and we chat about the upsides and downsides of going out without your underwear on. All human life is here! It's Gyles's diaries. Enjoy this. Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here . Join The Rosebud Family here . And visit our website here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 start with some chat from Gyles and Harriet about Lord Heseltine, and about the possibility - and the truth - of love at first sight. Next, it's time for the diaries; we've now reached 1974, and Gyles embarks enthusiastically on trying to book theatrical stars for his season at the Oxford Playhouse. But will Jeffrey Archer stump up the money Gyles needs to pay all this top-notch talent? Meanwhile, Gyles is hosting a late-night phone-in show on LBC. And there's a general election - can Gyles mobilise the youth vote in East Anglia to swing it for the Tories? There's never a dull moment in the life of GDB, and 1974 is no exception... Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here . Join The Rosebud Family here . And visit our website here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. We hear about Gyles's birthday plans - he likes to be busy on his birthday - and he's spending the day dressed as Henry Fielding, wearing a wig and britches. We then hear some more from Gyles's diaries, in which young Gyles puts on a gala show at The Oxford Playhouse, is given a gift by Barbara Cartland, and meets Bob Monkhouse. Enjoy this, diary fans! Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here . Join The Rosebud Family here . And visit our website here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's 1973, and Gyles is still working hard: putting on his star-studded son-et-lumières, appearing on Opportunity Knocks and... getting married. Yes, in a low-key and very private ceremony in London, Gyles Brandreth and Michèle Brown become husband and wife. They have a delicious lunch out and then go to Rome for their honeymoon, where they see the Pope. This is another fun, revelatory and nostalgic dip into the unmissable diaries of GDB. Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here . Join The Rosebud Family here . And visit our website here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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. In this episode, Gyles starts off by tellling us about his recent encounter with Sir Mick Jagger, who was a special guest for Gyles at the show he put on with Dame Judi Dench in the West End at the end of 2025. Gyles's diaries, which in this episode are from 1972, tell of the publication of his first book, "Created in Captivity", and his fated attempt to stage a son et lumière in Leeds. Gyles, Michele and Harriet also talk about disappointments, cats, and their highlights of 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for another entertaining chapter of Gyles's diaries, this time from the end of 1971 and beginning of 1972, with Gyles's wife Michele as our special guest. We hear about liquid lunches, see-through blouses, and humane ways to catch mouses. We find out who's won the Magic Faraway Tree Tea competition and hear more about the Rosebud Family - our new subscribers' club. We hear about Gyles's diary-writing regimen and his bedtime routine. Enjoy this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's diary time, diary fans - yippee! In this episode, Gyles gets invited onto Lord Longford's famous committee to investigate pornography, and sex, on film and television. Gyles is there to represent the voice of youth, along with Cliff Richard. Plus Gyles carries on with his "son et lumière" production company, hangs out with Cyril Fletcher, and his parents move into a hotel. Plus an email and a fun case of mistaken identity. Enjoy this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another great episode of diaries for you, featuring another special appearance from Michèle, Gyles's wife. In this episode we discuss whether you can have too much of a good thing, we find out what one word we'd each use to describe one another, and we read a listener email from Claire Gammon in Sydney. Gyles's diaries are from the second half of 1970, in which he and Michèle rent their first flat, in Muswell Hill, north London. Gyles meets lots of people from the BBC and, at the end of the year, Gyles and Michèle go on a memorable trip to Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.