Best Gyles Brandreth / Keep It Light Media Podcasts (2024)

1
Kathleen Stock 1:08:02

27m ago1:08:02

1:08:02

This week's Rosebud guest is Professor Kathleen Stock, the philosopher and writer. As Gyles says in his introduction, Stock has, at times, been a controversial figure in the debate about gender identity, but in this episode, we aim to get behind the headlines and find out about her life. The conversation takes us from her early years, playing games…

1
John Grant - A Musical Sap Guzzling Legend 45:35

1d ago45:35

45:35

American singer-songwriter John Grant is a musical titan as a front man of Czars and a hugely successful solo artist. He’s also dueted with Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams and many more. John tells Harry of growing up in Canada, how to get sap from a tree, he duets with Gary and helps us learn all about Mars! Thank you to Dr Catherine Re…

1
Robert Lindsay 1:06:52

6d ago1:06:52

1:06:52

Robert Lindsay is Gyles's guest this week, and the conversation they have is brilliant: evocative, revealing, and funny. Robert takes Gyles back to his working class childhood, growing up as the son of a carpenter in a two-up-two-down house in Derbyshire; he reminisces about his parents' love for each other and for dancing and laughing together, an…

1
Jayde Adams - Voice Of Angel 47:00

8d ago47:00

47:00

Alright me babber! Bristol's finest Jayde Adams has many many. Talents, dancer, singer, comedian, celebrant... a true polymath. In this episode we find out how Jayde discovered and nurtured all those talents, and what advice she offers to our younger listeners. Our theme this week was submarines and we were joined by Alexandra Geary, a Curator of A…

1
Björn Ulvaeus - ABBA legend 1:03:31

13d ago1:03:31

1:03:31

Björn Ulvaeus is pop music royalty, a founder member of one the most successful pop groups in history - ABBA. So when Gyles was given the opportunity to interview him at a special event in Bridlington, the Rosebud team hotfooted it up there to record it. What you're going to hear is a very special, wide-ranging and fascinating conversation about Bj…

1
Roisin Conaty - Napping In The Biscuit Cupboard 58:34

16d ago58:34

58:34

Comedian, actor, writer and a wonderful human, Roisin Conaty brings joy to the studio and talks to Harry about making your own fun on holiday in rural Ireland, issues with leaky taps and the best place to steal a nap when working. You can and should follow Roisin on Instagram. Want to know all about the T-Rex? Well you’re in luck as this week we sp…

1
Suzy Eddie Izzard 57:46

20d ago57:46

57:46

This week's guest is the stand-up comedian, actor, marathon-runner and political activist Suzy Eddie Izzard. Suzy tells Gyles about her new name, and why she's relaxed about what people to choose to call her. She then takes Gyles back into her childhood, spent in Aden, Northern Ireland and South Wales, until the sudden death of her mother changed e…

1
Nick Grimshaw - Taller Than You Think 52:03

22d ago52:03

52:03

How did a little boy from Oldham become the tall man he is today? Nick Grimshaw aka Grimmy - former Radio 1 breakfast show host, X Factor judge and more - fills us in on his one day reign of terror as a toddler that is the stuff of family legend, the best advice he got on going for your dream job, and he enjoys a round of Whispery Thing. These days…

1
Chris McCausland 1:08:48

28d ago1:08:48

1:08:48

Gyles gets together with comedian Chris McCausland to record a really special episode of Rosebud. Chris takes Gyles back to his childhood days, playing football and messing about in the streets of West Derby Village in Liverpool, part of a close-knit family and friendship group. Chris talks about the beginnings of the problems with his sight, which…

1
Jo Brand - An Extra Slice Of Funny 46:40

30d ago46:40

46:40

A comedy titan, Jo Brand has been at the top of her game for decades and is on lots of things on our telly’s like Bake Off: Extra Slice. In this episode Harry and Jo get into her early career as a nurse, why she began comedy and all the fun along the way of Silly Thing, Biscuit In An Unusual Place plus the seals have a special musical treat. Our th…

1
Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal 1:03:26

1M ago1:03:26

1:03:26

Who is the cleverest person in Britain? When Gyles asked this question to readers of his columns last year, one name was mentioned more than any other; that of Martin Rees, Lord Rees of Ludlow, the Astronomer Royal. Lord Rees is one of the most distinguished scientists in the country, a former President of the Royal Society and a Cambridge fellow. …

1
Danny Wallace - A Letter Writing Menace 53:36

1M ago53:36

53:36

What do you call someone who is half Swiss and half Scottish? You call them Danny Wallace! Harry chats to Danny about his extended family, Smurfs and the fun he had writing prank letters as a child. Rats was our theme of the week and we were joined by Dominika from the RSPCA to tell us all about them. You can support the wonderful RSPCA and the bri…

1
Alexander Armstrong 1:00:34

1M ago1:00:34

1:00:34

Gyles and Alexander Armstrong reminisce about Alexander's idyllic childhood in Northumberland, the son of a country GP. They talk about his school years, when he was an 'odd little boy' who sang in the school choir and was obsessed with Gilbert and Sullivan. They discuss the joy of Evensong, and the delights of PG Wodehouse, and Gyles finds out wha…

1
Chris Packham - Mr Nature 54:33

1M ago54:33

54:33

How did a young punk become the face of nature and conservation for generations of British TV viewers? Well, Chris Packham is with Harry to tell us all about measuring grass snakes as a boy, his teenage punk band and strimming! We learnt all about the London Underground thanks to Siddy Holloway – presenter, author and transport historian. You can f…

1
Reverend Richard Coles 1:06:42

2M ago1:06:42

1:06:42

Gyles meets the writer, clergyman and former member of the Communards Reverend Richard Coles. Together they talk about Richard's childhood, growing up as the musically gifted youngest son in a family of shoe manufacturers in Kettering, about how he discovered his sexuality and became part of London's gay scene in the 1980s, and about how he found h…

1
Seann Walsh - The Original Naughty Boy 1:01:19

2M ago1:01:19

1:01:19

Described once by The Guardian as “the bohemian bad boy of comedy” Seann Walsh joins Harry, Garry and Sarah the AI Bot to unpack his somewhat unconventional childhood. Sofas on fire, school sleepovers and showing sometimes qualifications aren’t always important. Aside from Silly Thing, your jokes and chatting Seann there is a new fun quiz! Our them…

1
Katherine Ryan 1:07:00

2M ago1:07:00

1:07:00

Gyles has fun talking to Katherine Ryan about her early memories and formative experiences, with added discussions about the rights and wrongs of plastic surgery, whether you should tell anecdotes during sex, and what, exactly, is phallic swagger. This is a frank, open, revealing and sometimes inspiring conversation that's possibly slightly more ad…

1
Gyles Brandreth - Monopoly Champion 49:00

2M ago49:00

49:00

British institution Gyles Brandreth has been gracing our screens and airwaves for decades but how did Gyles break into showbiz? Well Harry and Sarah the AI bot will dig into his life and find out all about driving as a child, celebrity encounters and how he ended up as a European Monopoly Champion. You can listen to Gyles’ own podcast Rosebud on Sp…

1
John Cleese 1:01:43

2M ago1:01:43

1:01:43

This week, Gyles has John Cleese in the Rosebud hotseat. Gyles finds out about John's childhood, growing up in the Westcountry during the war, with a father whose surname was actually 'Cheese' and a mother who was suffering from post natal depression. John also shares stories about his school days, what it was like being the tallest boy in the form…

1
Suzi Ruffell - A Diabolo Master 46:12

2M ago46:12

46:12

A Cilla Black impersonating, somewhat lonely, diabolo wielding child Suzi Ruffell grew up to be a brilliant comic and tap dancing extraordinaire. She and Harry discuss what it was like to be working class, dancing on The One Show and it is our first play of The Intergenerational Quiz! Dr Adam Rutherford was our expert telling us all about DNA, you …

1
TREAT EPISODE: Dermot O'Leary 55:34

2M ago55:34

55:34

Dermot O'Leary and Gyles know each other from the This Morning sofa, but here they get the chance to sit down for a proper in-depth conversation. Dermot tells Gyles about his childhood, growing up in a warm and loving Irish family, and about how important his heritage is to him. He talks about his first communion, his love of poetry and Gyles finds…

1
Sir Keir Starmer 41:02

2M ago41:02

41:02

In this episode Gyles talks to the Leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer. This isn't a political interview, instead it's an in-depth and fascinating conversation about Keir's background and personal history. Keir reminisces about his childhood in a village in Surrey; he remembers cramped car journeys in a Ford Cortina with four kids and four…

1
Ravneet Gill - The Brains Of Junior Bake Off 48:36

2M ago48:36

48:36

She’s the true star of Junior Bake Off, it’s Ravneet Gill! Harry quizzes Rav on how she started out in the world of baking…they discuss what food sends Harry into a deep sleep when filming…and she very kindly brings us our first sponsor message… We also learn all about the Battle of Hastings thanks to Matt Lewis, from History Hit- our expert this w…

1
Alan Carr - The Chatty Man 50:10

2M ago50:10

50:10

One of the nation’s most loveable comedians - Alan Carr tells Harry all about being the son of a football manager, using dinner ladies as human shields, and how he became a comedy legend! A big thanks to Dee from Hair Force Clinics for telling us all about the secret lives of nits! Get in touch with your jokes: harry@arewethereyetpod.co.uk Producer…

1
Are We There Yet? with Harry Hill - Wednesday 24th April! 1:01

3M ago1:01

1:01

Hello there! It's me, Harry Hill! With some exciting news - Ive got a brand new podcast its called 'Are We There Yet? And is the worlds first family friendly podcast thats designed to get you from A to B. Join me, my son Garry and Sarah the A.I Bot as we delve into the childhood memories of a motley crew of comedians, celebrities and cultural icons…

1
Merlin Holland: Grandson of Oscar Wilde 55:11

3M ago55:11

55:11

21st April is the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, and in celebration of this we're giving you an interview with Merlin Holland, who has an unusual claim to fame. His mother, Thelma Besant, was the late Queen's beauty advisor - her personal makeup artiste - who was present at the Coronation in 1953, as was our guest (then a young boy). Merlin is als…

1
Twiggy 1:00:22

3M ago1:00:22

1:00:22

Gyles's guest this week is Dame Twiggy Lawson, and this episode is recorded live at the Rose Theatre in Kingston, Surrey. Twiggy shot to fame as a 16 year-old, when her headshots - showcasing her newly cropped hair, boyish looks and signature dark eye makeup - were spotted in a London hair salon. Within weeks her face was on the front page of the E…

1
Anneka Rice 59:58

3M ago59:58

59:58

This week Gyles hears the reminiscences of the presenter, writer and painter Anneka Rice. Rice grew up in Surrey, the daughter of a builder and a frustrated housewife who went back to college and left 11 year-old Anneka to look after her baby sister and do the household chores. Anneka distracted herself by playing games with Action Men and dinky tr…

1
Charles Dance 1:02:22

3M ago1:02:22

1:02:22

The actor, director, and Game Of Thrones star Charles Dance tells Gyles about his childhood, adolescence and the early years of his career: which are possibly not what you'd expect. Dance was born to working class parents in the Midlands, lost his father when he was only 3, and then moved to Plymouth where he developed a stammer. He didn't train to…

1
Rupert Everett 1:03:51

3M ago1:03:51

1:03:51

Gyles takes Rupert Everett back to his childhood and teenage years, and be warned: not only is this episode hilarious, but it's also slightly more adult than our other shows. And it is genuinely one of the funniest Rosebuds yet. The son of an Army Major, Rupert didn't do any of things his parents expected. He was obsessed with Julie Andrews, loved …

1
Val McDermid 1:02:09

4M ago1:02:09

1:02:09

Val McDermid tells Gyles her remarkable story. An only child from Kirkcaldy in Fife, the daughter of a welder and a shop assistant, Val became obsessed with books after being read to by her mother as a young child and, when the family moved opposite the town's Central Library, she read every book on the shelves. It was her favourite books - The Cha…

1
Elizabeth Day 1:05:37

4M ago1:05:37

1:05:37

This week, Gyles talks to Elizabeth Day, host and creator of the hit podcasts How to Fail and Best Friend Therapy, and author of multiple best-selling fiction and non-fiction books, including Magpie, The Party and Friendaholic: Confessions of a Friendship Addict, which is released in paperback in March 2024. Elizabeth tells Gyles about her childhoo…

1
Dame Jilly Cooper 43:08

4M ago43:08

43:08

It's the fifth of the Rosebud Dames, and in this episode Gyles is talking to Dame Jilly Cooper about her life and times. They talk about her childhood, when she was horse mad and wasn't even put off by being bitten by her first pony. They talk about her early days as an office worker, when she got fired from 22 jobs. They talk about leaving the man…

1
Richard Dawkins 58:25

4M ago58:25

58:25

Gyles's guest this week is the renowned evolutionary biologist, Richard Dawkins. At the end of the episode, Gyles asks Richard how he would like to be remembered: "A scientist, lover of the truth, and motivated by a desire to communicate truth to others". Because of that desire for truth, this episode is unflinching. It involves some challenging su…

1
VALENTINE'S SPECIAL: Clare Balding and Alice Arnold 58:42

5M ago58:42

58:42

It's Valentine's week, and we're celebrating with our first ever Rosebud couple: Clare Balding and Alice Arnold. This is a truly romantic and life-affirming episode. You may have seen Clare and Alice on Celebrity Gogglebox, you'll certainly know Clare from her many appearances anchoring major sporting events, from the Olympics to Crufts, and Alice …

1
Lulu 1:02:30

5M ago1:02:30

1:02:30

Well, this episode has got it all: gripping stories, laughter, tears and a lot of singing. Gyles takes Lulu back to memories of her childhood in Glasgow, which was both happy and turbulent, but full of love and music. She remembers her early performances - as a very young girl at a street party for the Queen's coronation, and then as a 5 year-old, …

1
Dame Esther Rantzen 1:05:08

5M ago1:05:08

1:05:08

Dame Esther Rantzen is a tour de force: journalist, TV presenter and campaigner, her vision and dynamism brought about the nationwide helpline for children in distress, Childline. Through her massively popular consumer show That's Life, Esther was also responsible for campaigning for organ donation and introducing compulsory seatbelts for children,…

1
David Mitchell 1:05:07

5M ago1:05:07

1:05:07

Gyles invites the brilliant comedian, actor and writer David Mitchell to look back at his early memories. This chat starts with David's childhood, and then broadens out into a wide-ranging discussion about history, the worst professional experiences Gyles and David have ever had and school dinners, via a heated debate about whether being a hairdres…

1
Rob Brydon 1:10:40

6M ago1:10:40

1:10:40

This week, Rob Brydon looks back on his childhood and adolescence in South Wales. From riding around on bikes pretending to be Starsky and Hutch, to his first electrifying stage kiss in the school play, to being rejected by Rada, bumping into Harold Pinter, and his friendship with Ronnie Corbett, this is an evocative, funny and fascinating intervie…

1
Geri Halliwell-Horner 56:44

6M ago56:44

56:44

Geri Halliwell-Horner is a woman of many guises. She's been Ginger Spice, a hugely successful recording artiste and member of the world's biggest girl band. She's been a UN Goodwill Ambassador who met Nelson Mandela. She's been a heartthrob - who famously kissed Prince Charles when she first met him at The Royal Variety Performance. She is now a wr…

1
Sir Michael Palin 1:10:57

6M ago1:10:57

1:10:57

For our first episode of 2024 we have a very special guest: Sir Michael Palin. From his childhood in 1950s Sheffield, to getting drunk at boarding school, discovering his talent for writing and performing at Oxford University, meeting his wife Helen on holiday at 16 and of course the formation of Monty Python - Michael Palin has had a long and fasc…

1
Rosebud New Year Medley: SPECIAL EDITION featuring Anneka Rice, Lorraine Kelly, Joe Wicks and previewing next week's episode with Sir Michael Palin 16:46

6M ago16:46

16:46

Another medley episode for you, this time with a new year's focus. We've got new year's reminiscences from Lorraine Kelly, Anneka Rice and Joe Wicks, and Gyles tells a new year's eve story about a fateful family trip to Glasgow when he was a child. We end with a sneak preview of our next episode featuring the great Sir Michael Palin. See you next F…

1
Rosebud Festive Medley - featuring Sir Michael Palin, David Mitchell, Dame Sheila Hancock, Rob Brydon and more... 25:01

7M ago25:01

25:01

This episode is a collection of Christmas stories and memories from lots of our Rosebud guests, friends and listeners. It's like a Christmas stocking: full of treats and surprises. Next week we'll do the same, but the theme will be new year. We'll be back with a full-length interview show on January 5th 2024, with Sir Michael Palin. Learn more abou…

1
Rowan Williams: CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 1:01:19

7M ago1:01:19

1:01:19

Our Rosebud Christmas Special is with Rowan Williams, who was Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 to 2012. Rowan begins by talking to Rowan telling Gyles about his childhood as a bright and doted upon only child who became increasingly drawn towards the church. He talks about his happy schooldays, his close friendships, and his inspirational teacher…

1
Patricia Owtram - war hero and centenarian 53:35

7M ago53:35

53:35

In this second of the special Rosebud Christmas Cracker episodes, Gyles talks to Patricia Owtram: the first Rosebud centenarian. Pat tells Gyles about her fascinating and long life: from her childhood in 1920s Lancashire where she was taught to speak German by the family's Austrian cook, to her schooldays and her war years. Pat did critical work as…

1
Adjoa Andoh 47:38

7M ago47:38

47:38

It's Rosebud Christmas Cracker Week, and we're giving you two special extra episodes before our Christmas Special this Friday. This first Christmas Cracker is with the acclaimed British actress Adjoa Andoh, who stars as Lady Danbury in Netflix's Bridgerton, alongside many appearances at the RSC, National Theatre and in shows such as Doctor Who and …

1
Joe Wicks 53:53

7M ago53:53

53:53

Joe Wicks, the man who inspired the UK to leap off their sofas and start exercising and eating healthily, joins Gyles for this episode. Joe talks about his childhood growing up with a father who was struggling with addiction, and a mum with OCD. He talks about his early love for PE and how that developed into a career. Joe is so impressive that Gyl…

1
Anton Du Beke 46:22

7M ago46:22

46:22

In this episode Gyles talks to Strictly Come Dancing judge and ballroom dancer extraordinaire, Anton Du Beke. Anton shares stories of his childhood as the son of immigrant parents who had to work two jobs each to make ends meet, and tells Gyles about the driving ambition that led him to become a champion on the dancefloor, despite being a late star…

1
Dame Sheila Hancock 1:07:14

8M ago1:07:14

1:07:14

Gyles talks to his friend Dame Sheila Hancock, one of Britain's most distinguished living actresses. Now 90 years old, Dame Sheila looks back at her remarkable life - from a childhood spent living above pubs, to her war time experiences, and then to her career on stage, TV and in film, and more recent times - how she's coped with widowhood by being…

1
AJ Odudu 59:52

8M ago59:52

59:52

Gyles meets the host of ITV1's Big Brother, AJ Odudu. AJ tells Gyles about her childhood growing in Blackburn, Lancashire in a "bubble of love" with her 7 brothers and sisters, about her amazing parents and their arranged marriage, about her early ambitions to become a TV presenter, about playing "pass the polo" at the Waves Leisure Centre with her…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Gyles Brandreth / Keep It Light Media Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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