Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

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.

We have an atmospheric Christmas treat for you this Sunday afternoon: it's Gyles reading 'Murder at the Palace', an original murder mystery story, set in Victorian England, with Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle in the role of detectives. Pour yourself a cup of tea and settle down by the fire and be transported back to a time of pea-soupers, lavish dinner parties, and people who are not what they seem. This is a taste of what we will be offering members of the Rosebud Family every two weeks - when Gyles will read instalments of his murder mysteries exclusively for subscribers. Also available to Rosebud Family members will be one bonus episode a month of Gyles and Harriet going 'down memory lane', and ad-free listening to all Rosebud releases. You can subscribe to the Rosebud Family by visiting www.patreon.com/rosebud, and it's only £4.99 per month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we get to meet and know an author who is synonymous with Christmas - Charles Dickens - brought to life in this episode by his great-great grandson, Gerald Dickens. Yes, that's right - you're going to hear an interview with one of our greatest ever writers, who has been dead for over 150 years. Only on Rosebud.In this fascinating conversation, Dickens tells Gyles about his childhood, growing up in the towns and villages of the Thames estuary in Kent, and how his father's debts led him to be imprisoned in the Marshalsea. The young Charles suddenly found himself put to work, a formative experience which influenced much of his later writing. We hear about his marriage to Catherine Hogarth, and about his mistress, Ellen Ternan. We hear about the terrible Staplehurst train crash, about Charles Dickens's travels in the USA, and about his latter-day success as a performer. This is a fabulous way to immerse yourself in the story of our greatest novelist, at this most Dickensian time of the year.With thanks to Gerald Dickens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for another entertaining chapter of Gyles's diaries, this time from the end of 1971 and beginning of 1972, with Gyles's wife Michele as our special guest. We hear about liquid lunches, see-through blouses, and humane ways to catch mouses. We find out who's won the Magic Faraway Tree Tea competition and hear more about the Rosebud Family - our new subscribers' club. We hear about Gyles's diary-writing regimen and his bedtime routine. Enjoy this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A man who needs no introduction: comedian, writer and TV host Jimmy Carr. In this conversation we find out what makes Jimmy tick and hear about his origin story: he tells Gyles about his childhood in Slough, and his close relationship with his charismatic mother. We hear about his dyslexia, and how teachers at school encouraged him to apply to Cambridge. We hear about what, if anything, is off-limits in comedy, and the importance of being present for your children. Gyles and Jimmy also discuss the distinction between charm and charisma. Plus we hear about Jimmy's new movie, Fackham Hall, out in the UK on December 12 2025 (today!) This is a revealing, wise and yes, charming, conversation with one of the most well-known comedians in the UK. In January 2026 Rosebud will be launching their subscribers' club: The Rosebud Family. We'll be giving you more info about this throughout December, so keep listening! Cue the music! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.