Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

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 Sainsbury, in Auckland, New Zealand; Alastair Crieff (sp), who set us a black and white photo he'd found in Dieppe, and the Reverend Jane Parry, who sent us a Donald McGill classic. Please get in touch with us at hello@rosebudpodcast.com if this is you!Then we have another enjoyable and absorbing edition of Gyles's 1980 diary, in which he has a sad lunch with a diminished Sir Michael Redgrave; manages to stay awake through Wagner's Ring Cycle; has a disconcerting invitation to get into a hot tub with Jimmy Edwards, and has a close shave with Frankie Howerd.Enjoy this, diary aficionadi!

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 the value of "thrawn" - resilience and determination against the odds. Ian was a quiet and bookish child, who spent hours at his desk in his tiny bedroom making up stories and imaginary pop groups who would compete each other in an invented top ten. He became a punk, started to be interested in girls, and realised that he didn't want to be an accountant - but instead wanted to defy his family and study English at university. He went to Edinburgh, met his wife, and discovered a world beyond his home town which has captivated and inspired him ever since. Ian also talks to Gyles about his son, Kit, who has a chromosomal defect and is severely disabled. He talks about his writing process and philanthropy. And finally he talks about his new novel, The Heights, which is out now. Ian's book, The Heights, is available here. It is Ian's first standalone thriller in two decades, and tells the story of the dark underbelly of a luxury apartment block in London. It is highly recommended. Our thanks to Sir Ian for his time, energy and charming conversation.

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. It’s poignant, too, because, as you will hear (and can see if you watch our interview episodes on the Rosebud Podcast channel on YouTube), at the end of the performance Jeffrey recites Puck’s farewell speech from A Midsummer Night’s Dream: ’So goodnight unto you all …'Jeffrey Archer, Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare. Born 15 April 1940. Died 5 October 2026. Author, politician, MP, member of the House of Lords, served two years in prison for perjury, 2001-2003. Married to Mary Archer since 1966. Both Jeffrey Archer and Dame Mary Archer have featured in regular episodes of Rosebud, now available in the Rosebud archive.The recording of this special episode has been made possible by Harper-Collins, publishers of Jeffrey Archer’s final novel, Adam and Eve, which was published yesterday. Our thanks to Elizabeth Dawson and the Harper-Collins team for all their help. Our thanks, too, to the Leicester Square Theatre where the recording was made on Sunday 4 October 2026.

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 Street, or Tinpan Alley as it was known, the heart of London's music scene, where Don began to get work as a promoter and then as a lyricist. There he meets Matt Monro, and Don writes the song for Monro which changes his life, "Walk Away". Five James Bond themes, "Born Free", Michael Jackson's "Ben" and numerous other hits and hit musicals follow. Don is multi-award-winning and has met everyone from Quincy Jones to Henry Mancini, but remains delightfully modest, down to earth and funny. He says he was grounded by his long and extremely happy marriage to Shirley, who never let them get carried away with fame and fortune - and this episode contains many stories and lessons about love. This is a really charming conversation which will make you smile and remind you of what really matters in life. Don's show From the Heart is on at the Garrick Theatre, London, from October 8. Tickets are available here. Our thanks to Don Black for his delightful company.

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 wife but whose childhood was marred by tragedy. Zandra talks about her early love of dressing up, and about her memories of the war, and of going out blackberrying in the Kent countryside. She talks about starting out, about her fierce work ethic and the people who gave her breaks early on in the Swinging Sixties. Zandra tells Gyles about meeting Diana Vreeland in New York, about dressing Princess Diana and Freddy Mercury.This is a charming hour with one of the most distinctive visionaries of British style. Our huge thanks to Zandra for having us at her place that day, and for her warmth, talent and wonderful stories.

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 increasingly fervent Catholic faith. He talks about secondary school, where he hid behind a jack-the-lad persona, and made friends with Alan Lancaster while playing trumpet in the school orchestra. They started playing music together, and eventually went on to be called Status Quo. Francis also talks about his friendship and musical chemistry with Rick Parfitt, and about Live Aid, and about marriage and children. This is a fascinating conversation with one of the UK's most enduring rockers. We hope you enjoy it. And our deep thanks to Francis for sharing his wit, wisdom and stories.

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 talks about his parents - his inspirational mother and depressive father. He talks about being plucked from the Irish Guards to work as equerry to the Queen Mother, and gives Gyles some touching and amusing stories about her and his time with her. He talks about the SAS and what defines them, and then he talks what he tried to do for Prince Wililam and Prince Harry to prepare them for public life. This is a fascinating conversation, full of insight, humanity and wisdom. Our heartfelt thanks to Jamie for sharing his energy and history with us. Jamie's novel, set in WWII, and called 'Beyond the Edge of Light', is available here and is highly recommended.

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, diary fans!Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here. Join The Rosebud Family here. And visit our website here.

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 in Belfast, Michael Mac Liammoir, drama school and how writing to Laurence Olivier landed him a job at the National Theatre. This is a fabulous episode, one of the best. We know you'll enjoy it - and our deep gratitude to Simon Callow for taking the time and trouble to record with us.