Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

• Rosebud on Armistice Day: Sir Nicholas Soames, grandson of Churchill

  On Armistice Day, we bring you an episode of Rosebud which opens at the Garden of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey, where Gyles meets veteran and double amputee turned skydiver Al Hodgson. We then take you to Salisbury, and an interview with Sir Nicholas Soames, himself a former soldier who later became a longstanding Conservative member of parliament, recorded live at Godolphin School in aid of the Edward Heath Charitable Foundation. Sir Nicholas talks to Gyles about his remarkable family: his grandfather was Sir Winston Churchill. We hear what Churchill was like as a grandfather and family man, about his unusual daily routine, and about his immense courage. We hear about Clementine Churchill, and about Sir Nicholas's parents - Christopher and Mary Soames, and their distinguished careers. This is a fascinating episode about a great family who were so central to the history of Britain in the twentieth century. Sir Edward Heath's former home in Salisbury Cathedral Close, Arundells, is open to the public and is well worth a visit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Petula Clark

  Petula Clark has been famous since she was a child, when she was discovered on a wartime BBC radio show, and she has been on the radio, film and television ever since. In this episode she talks to Gyles about her remarkable and long career, about what it was like to grow up as a child star and about her complex relationship with her father. She talks about finding fame in France, and about Downtown, Don't Sleep in the Subway and working with Fred Astaire. She talks about her mother's early death from tuberculosis, and the death last year of her husband, Claude Wolff. This is a fascinating, poignant and intriguing conversation with one of our most enduring stars. Petula Clark's new book, "Is That You, Petula?" is out now and available here. Thank you Petula for taking the time to talk to us at Rosebud. Cue the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Gyles's diary, episode 28

  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.

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• Samuel West

  The actor Samuel West is our guest today, and we recorded this episode earlier this month, not long before his mother, Prunella Scales's death on 27 October, and not long after his father, Timothy West's memorial service in London (Timothy West died in November 2024). In this conversation, Sam talks about his parents, Timothy West and Prunella Scales, and what it was like to grow up immersed in the theatrical world. Timothy was often away on tour, and Sam talks about missing him - but being inspired by his work ethic and by the life of the classical touring actor. He talks about his mother's talent and about her famous portrayal of Sybil Fawlty. He talks about his own university days, and how winning a bottle of champagne in a first year drama competition was a turning point. He talks about Stanislavsky and the craft of acting. And finally he talks about his parents' love of barge holidays, and the joy their TV barging brought to so many.This episode is a celebration of a great theatrical family, and we're delighted and honoured that Sam recorded a Rosebud conversation with Gyles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Sebastian Faulks

  Gyles speaks to the novelist and writer Sebastian Faulks, who tells him about his childhood growing up in Berkshire and his clear memories of being left at boarding school when he was seven. He talks about his rebellious streak, drawn out by rock and pop music, which manifested itself in periods of instability at school and university. He talks about the close friends he made at Cambridge, and going on University Challenge. He talks about writing his first novel and how he had his breakout moment. Sebastian's new book, a collection of autobiographical essays called 'Fires Which Burned Brightly: A Life in Progress' is out now, and available here. Many thanks to Sebastian for coming to talk to us on Rosebud. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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