Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

It's More Rosebud, and this episode is a conversation that took place at the Henley Literary Festival in 2025 between Gyles and Dame Joanna Lumley, about her Book of Treasures, which had then just been published. This conversation is about poetry, books and quotations that inspire Joanna. It's also about her childhood, and how moving about a lot made her curious, and optimistic. It's about Leonardo Di Caprio, Dame Patricia Routledge, Frank Sinatra and Sir John Betjeman. It's about the lowest point in Joanna's life, and about a moment of joy. Enjoy this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're starting 2026 with a remarkable person: an actress who is 100 years old, and still a bundle of enthusiasm, vibrancy and joy. It's Thelma Ruby, born in March 1925, and acting since the 1940s. In this episode she tells Gyles about her long and fascinating life: about her childhood in Leeds, in a religious Jewish family, where they couldn't poke the fire on the sabbath. About her formative years in New York City, where she was sent with her mother and brother to escape the bombing in WW2. About her return to England and work for ENSA, and her first love affair. About performing with Orson Wells, her famous portrayal of the first female prime minister of Israel, Golda Meir, and about her friendship with Dame Judi Dench. Thelma also tells Gyles her secrets for a long life, and talks about her one hundredth birthday party. If you love Rosebud and want more, why don't you join the Rosebud Family, our new subscription service? It's £4.99 a month and you'll get bonus episodes, murder mysteries, and you can join here. Enjoy this! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for the very last Rosebud of 2025, and we're leaving you with another warm, wonderful and witty edition of Gyles's diaries. In this episode, Gyles starts off by tellling us about his recent encounter with Sir Mick Jagger, who was a special guest for Gyles at the show he put on with Dame Judi Dench in the West End at the end of 2025. Gyles's diaries, which in this episode are from 1972, tell of the publication of his first book, "Created in Captivity", and his fated attempt to stage a son et lumière in Leeds. Gyles, Michele and Harriet also talk about disappointments, cats, and their highlights of 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you're British, the chances are that last Christmas you watched the Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special. And Gyles's guest this Boxing Day is one of its stars: Mathew Horne, also known as the kind-hearted, loyal everyman, Gavin. In this episode, Mathew tells Gyles about his country childhood, about his loving and hard-working parents and their devotion to caring for him and his older brother. He talks about his schooldays, and the intense relationship he had with his girlfriend there. He talks about getting into stand-up at Manchester University and the phenomenon of Gavin and Stacey.We wish all our Rosebud listeners a very merry Christmas!Enjoy this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have another Christmas treat for you today - an interview with the prodigious musical talent that is Anna Lapwood. Anna is the official organist of the Royal Albert Hall in London, a successful recording artiste and a social media star with millions of followers. A multi-instrumentalist, she was the youngest ever person to be appointed Director of Music at a Cambridge college (and we will hear a bit of Pembroke College chapel choir singing in this episode). In this conversation with Gyles, she tells him about her childhood growing up in a close family in which her parents inspired her with their work ethic. She talks about learning 20 instruments as a child and teenager, and finally taking up the organ when she was 15. She talks about the breakthrough moment in which she accompanied the band Bonobo at the Royal Albert Hall - creating a viral video which has been shared millions of times on social media. She talks about the importance of following your own path, her love of therapy, and the place journalling plays in her performance preparation. This episode features the chapel choir of Pembroke College singing 'Away in a Manger' by Lucy Walker and an excerpt of Anna Lapwood's performance of 'This Shining Night' by Christopher Churcher on the organ. It also features Harriet's choir, Voxetera, singing 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'. Anna's latest album 'Firedove' is available to buy hereThank you to Anna for this fascinating and inspiring interview. Merry Christmas to all our wonderful listeners from Gyles, Harriet, Michele and Bella the cat! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.