Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

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 was for a long time the voice of the news on Radio 4's Today programme. Gyles talks to Clare and Alice about their first memories, but also about how they met, what they love about each other and the secrets to a long and happy marriage. Sit back, relax, and feel the love! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, standing on a chair so she could reach the mic, in Blackpool. She tells Gyles about making it, about singing so loudly while recording "Shout" that she broke the microphone, and about meeting The Beatles. She talks about working with David Bowie, their close relationship and the lost recordings they made together, and we get an exclusive performance of her version of a David Bowie track. This is a fascinating and very entertaining episode, full of highs and lows. Thank you, Lulu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, at the same time as showcasing viewers' faulty washing machines and laughing at misshapen vegetables. Recently, That's Life's incredible reunion of Sir Nicholas Winton with the children he had rescued from the Holocaust in Prague has been made the subject of the film One Life starring Sir Anthony Hopkins. Gyles and Dame Esther spoke over Zoom, and the interview was recorded in two parts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 hairdresser is as stressful as being a chef and a bombshell about King Arthur. We'd love to hear what you think - please email us at hello@rosebudpodcast.com. Enjoy the show and enjoy the memories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 interview peppered with impressions, famous names and great stories. It's slightly longer than our usual episodes, simply because Rob and Gyles were enjoying each other's company so much! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 writer - her Rosie Frost series of novels for young adults have been bestsellers. In this frank and far-reaching conversation, Gyles finds out more about what makes Geri tick. From her childhood - when she performed to get her father's attention, to the devastating news that her father had died, to the years with the Spice Girls, to her present-day happiness as a wife, mother and writer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 fascinating life. This is a an entertaining, fascinating and sometimes moving conversation, we hope you enjoy it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Friday, in 2024! Thanks so much for listening to Rosebud this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 teachers. And later in the podcast Rowan and Gyles talk about the message of healing at the heart of Christmas, and what it's like to be Archbishop of Canterbury. Next week and the week after we'll have two fun shows: we've made you some Christmas and new year medleys with messages from lots of our Rosebud guests. But until then, merry Christmas from us to you! We love getting your messages, so please email us at hello@rosebudpodcast.com with your first memories or comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.