One of our most interesting, versatile and talented actors is Gyles's guest today: Sir Gary Oldman. In this very special, intimate and extensive conversation, Gary tells Gyles about his childhood in New Cross Gate in South London, growing up in a council flat with his sisters and his mum - his father left the family home when Gary was seven. He tells Gyles about his happy childhood, dressing up as a homemade batman and playing cricket in the streets with his friends. He tells Gyles about discovering the Greenwich Young People's Theatre and applying for drama school, and about getting his Equity card. He talks about Joe Orton, Paul McCartney, Malcolm McDowell and why he'll never play Hitler. Gary also talks about the perpetual feelings of insecurity which drive him. This is a fascinating conversation with a wonderful actor and we're thrilled to be able to give Rosebud listeners the chance to hear it. Enjoy this.

This podcast was recorded at Gyles's house.

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Jeffrey Archer is one of the best-selling writers in the world, and he is our guest today. He talks to Gyles about his childhood in Weston-Super-Mare, his indomitable mother, his wicked granny, and how he was fired from his job at the local cricket ground for his entrepreneurial afternoon tea scheme. He tells Gyles about his university days, about meeting his wife, Mary, and about meeting the Beatles. He talks about his career as an MP, how he almost became bankcrupt and started writing novels. And, of course, he talks about going to prison for perjury and the lessons that experience taught him. Plus he talks about Margaret Thatcher and the qualities that made her such a successful politician. This is a fascinating interview about a truly fascinating life.

Jeffrey's new book, An Eye for an Eye, is out now.

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A treat for fans of Gyles's diaries, as this week we've got another edition of the gap year diaries... so that's two in a row! In this episode, we start off with a visit from the writer/performer Tama Matheson, who brought Beethoven to life so brilliantly on an episode of More Rosebud a couple of weeks ago. Tama tells Gyles and Harriet about his forthcoming show about Beethoven: 'I Shall Hear in Heaven', on 6 and 8 August, tickets are available from www.operahollandpark.com.

Then we get into Gyles's diaries. In this episode, Gyles visits Texas and Louisiana, and is shocked by the racial inequality he sees all around him. He goes to San Francisco and LA, and is intrigued by the hippies. And he eventually flies home, where he is greeted by a new baby niece and Sally, his girlfriend. Gyles tells Harriet about his x-rated, secret diary, and about his thoughts on Fifty Shades of Grey.

Enjoy this!

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This is an exclusive, and more or less uncensored, interview with the journalist and media powerhouse Piers Morgan, who Gyles spoke to live at the Bridlington Business Day this year. Piers talks to Gyles about his childhood, growing up above a country pub in Sussex, about his schooldays being a "buffoon", and about how peach brandy helped to secure him a job editing the News of the World. PIers talks about Meghan Markle, his thoughts on "woke", and his chequered relationship with Donald Trump. He talks, briefly, about phone hacking and the importance of safeguarding free speech.

This is a frank and sometimes provocative conversation with someone who has been at the centre of the media landscape since the 1990s.

This interview was recorded at Bridlington Spa and was a keynote speech at the Bridlington Business Day.

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Another bumper episode of Gyles's diaries, featuring lots of chat, more diaries, and a gorgeous listener email and poem from Alex and Isabella Porter. Gyles continues his travels around the USA - he finishes his teaching job in Baltimore, and begins travelling around the US, going to Washington DC, New York City and Canada - where he visits Expo '67. Gyles tells Harriet about his wealthy ancestor, the great Dr. Benjamin Brandreth, inventor of "Brandreth's Pills" and creator of the family fortune. This leads Gyles and Harriet to come up with their own invention... stay tuned to find out what it is! Enjoy this episode, have a lovely sunny day wherever you are - and please email us at hello@rosebudpodcast.com if you want to tell us about your younger days. Or about anything else, for that matter!

Recorded at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House on Park Lane in London.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rose Boyt tells Gyles about her unconventional childhood, and about her experiences of being parented by - and painted by - her father Lucian Freud, the celebrated modern artist. This is an extraordinary story: even Gyles is bowled over by the twists and turns of Rose's childhood. Rose's parents were Lucian Freud and the artist Susie Boyt, with whom Freud had three other children. He also had many other children with other women - 14 children in all - and was never a conventional husband or father to any of them. But he was brilliant - dazzlingly entertaining, talented, intelligent and inspiring - and Rose experienced this at first hand when she was painted by him for a nude portrait which is the starting point for her book, Naked Portrait. Rose also spent a year living on a cargo ship in the Baltic, DJ'd with Neneh Cherry, and was briefly engaged to Andy Warhol. This is a fascinating interview about Rose, about Lucian Freud, about the artistic life, and about alternative ways of living and looking at the world.

Rose Boyt's book, Naked Portrait is out in paperback, published by Picador. It is highly recommended.

This episode was recorded at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.