Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

We can't bring you an England World Cup Final in 2026 - much to our regret - but we CAN bring you a trip down memory lane with the greatest goal-scorer of our victory 60 years ago in 1966: because our guest today is Sir Geoff Hurst. In this conversation, Sir Geoff tells Gyles about his childhood, when football and cricket competed for his affections, and his footballing father encouraged his love of the game. He talks about his apprenticeship at West Ham under Ron Greenwood, who spotted his attacking ability and encouraged him to play as a centre-forward. He talks about meeting and playing alongside Bobby Moore as a teenager, and looking up to the natural leadership of the future England captain. He talks about being selected to play for England - by letter - and the culture in the team. He talks about meeting and marrying his wife, and the loss of their daughter, Claire, who died of a brain tumour at only 45.This is an unusually revealing conversation with one of the greats of the game and a fascinating reflection on the changing nature of football over the past 60 years.Sir Geoff Hurst is touring the UK with his "Last Man Standing" theatre show this autumn. Tickets are available here.

Gyles Brandreth's unique record of the late twentieth century continues, as he reads from the diaries he's kept since he was 10 years old. We're now reading from 1977 and 78. Gyles is forced to take the outrageous and unprecedented step of taking a day off a week, by his wife, Michele. He invents the Collins Academic Year Diary. He wears a novelty jumper for the first time ever. And he ponders the death of Elvis Presley. Plus chat with Gyles and Harriet about great British landmarks, dates, and being liked.Send us a postcard from your holidays! Address is to: Rosebud, JW Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London W1K 7TN. Enjoy this!

Our guest today is the writer, columnist and broadcaster Caitlin Moran. Caitlin talks to Gyles about her unusual childhood in Wolverhampton, homeschooled by a father who was a frustrated rock star and a mother who looked like Mick Jagger. She talks about her parents' sex life and her dreams of escaping the Midlands. Caitlin talks about winning her first journalism prize and writing her first novel at 16. She talks about starting smoking on her first day at Melody Maker and meeting her husband. She talks about having a miscarriage and motherhood. She talks about rewilding her garden and the power of nature to heal and delight. This is a brilliant conversation, full of entertainment, laughter, candour and insight. Our heartfelt thanks to Caitlin for it. Caitlin's new podcast is called Outsiding, and is out now. It's highly recommended.

We are delighted to have the actor Adrian Lester, currently in the West End as Cyrano de Bergerac, in the Rosebud chair today. Adrian talks to Gyles about his childhood in Birmingham, growing up in an effusive and loving family of Jamaican heritage, surrounded by aunties, cousins and grandparents. He talks about the formative experience of being a chorister in the cathedral choir, and of doing drama at the Midlands Arts Centre. He talks about going to RADA, doing Shakespeare with Cheek by Jowl and Peter Brook, and playing Cyrano. Finally, he talks about relationships and fatherhood. Our thanks to Adrian Lester for this fascinating conversation. Cyrano de Bergerac is at the Noel Coward Theatre in London. Tickets are available here.

It's The Mooch! Yes, today Rosebud celebrates 250 years of American independence with our final U.S. guest: the irrepressible host of the Rest Is Politics U.S., Anthony Scaramucci. In this fascinating and free-wheeling conversation, Anthony talks to Gyles about his childhood in a Long Island, in a loving and hard-working Italian-American family, with parents who managed to fit 600 years of arguments into their 60 year marriage. He talks about his high school years, when he was a self-confessed "Long Island Guido" with combed back hair, gold jewellery, and a choice of shirts hanging in the back of his Camaro to impress the ladies at the school dance. He talks about landing his first job on Wall Street in a suit made of 100% polyester. He talks about Superman. He talks about Donald Trump - and this part of the conversation is not to be missed - it's fascinating, candid and hilarious. And finally, he talks about marriage and how to make it work. Oh yes, and astrology. This a truly fabulous episode of Rosebud. We're deeply grateful to Anthony Scaramucci for talking so openly, honestly and generously to us. It was a very special experience for us all! Enjoy this.

It's 1977, and Gyles is welcoming his first daughter, Saethryd, into the world - and explaining the origins of her name to all his friends. "Why such an extraordinary name?" "Because she's an extraordinary girl!" He's also fighting on several fronts: with the noisy neighbours next-door, with the theatre company which is refusing to pay up, and with the National Theatre. Gyles and Harriet chat about diary-writing, self-loathing, and whether Gyles has mellowed over the years... Plus a bit of astrology. It's a good one, diary fans! Enjoy this.

Michael Feinstein, the pianist, singer and perhaps the greatest living interpreter of what is known as The Great American Songbook, is our guest today. He talks about his childhood, when his life was changed by his father's impulsive decision to buy a piano, which young Michael discovered he could play by ear. He talks about being an outsider, his belief in reincarnation, and his early enthusiasm for the classic songs of America's golden age. Michael talks about his deep friendship and working relationship with Ira Gershwin, and how that led him to meeting Rosemary Clooney, and later, Liza Minnelli. He talks about his relationship with Liza, and what makes it special - and what makes her such an electrifying performer.This is a truly fascinating edition of Rosebud - remarkable for its honesty, openness and tenderness. We close with Michael's beautiful rendition of "My Love Is Here To Stay" by George and Ira Gershwin, performed by Michael Feinstein. If you love music, emotion and conversation, you'll love this episode.Enjoy this.

Akshata Murty, entrepreneur, philanthropist and wife of the former Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, is our guest today. And it's particularly interesting to listen to this episode in light of the resignation of Keir Starmer yesterday (Monday 22 June 2026): what is it really like to be married to a prime minister? What are Akshata's memories of the day, in the pouring rain, that Rishi Sunak announced the fateful 2024 election? Did she feel she sacrificed her own life and career to make way for Rishi's ambitions? Plus, this episode opens with some topical chat from Gyles and Harriet - move over, Rest is Politics!But this episode is really about Akshata's own life and times - her unusual childhood, in which she was raised until the age of five by her maternal grandparents in a small, dusty town, eating mangoes straight from the tree, while her parents worked hard to build their company, Infosys. She talks of the pain and confusion of missing her parents, and of the conflicting emotions that brings up. Akshata talks about her parents' vision and commitment to giving back to India - to "compassionate capitalism" and philanthropy. She talks about moving to Bangalore, her school life and her first crush. She talks about college in California and meeting Rishi.This is an interesting, unexpected conversation. With many thanks to Akshata Murty. Enjoy this.