Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

Gary Kemp is the lead guitarist of the legendary 80s band Spandau Ballet, and the author of all of their greatest hits, including True, Gold, Through The Barricades and To Cut a Long Story Short. He is also a successful movie star, in films as diverse as The Bodyguard and The Krays. In this brilliant and wide-ranging conversation with Gyles, Gary talks about his working class boyhood in Islington, north London, sharing an outside toilet with two other families. He talks about getting his first guitar and impressing his dad with his songwriting skills. He talks about the importance of mentors, and the key roles Bishop Trevor Huddleston and the drama teacher Anna Scher played in his life. He talks about the beginnings of Spandau Ballet, the Blitz club and still living at home well into his twenties. Gary talks about the court case between him and the rest of the band, and he talks about Live Aid and meeting David Bowie. And he talks about his unbreakable bond with his brother, Martin, and the deaths of their parents within four days of each other.

This is a really in-depth, sensitive and humane discussion which will impress you, inform you and inspire you.

Gary's book, 1967, is out now and tells the story of Brian Epstein's final address book - it is a fascinating cultural history of Britain in the sixties. It's available here.

Our heartfelt thanks to Gary for this brilliant chat.
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Another classic episode of Gyles's diaries for you today. Gyles has been keeping a daily diary since he was ten years old, and in these episodes (released on alternate Tuesdays), he reads selected extracts aloud to Harriet, the Rosebud producer, and they chat about them. We've now reached 1981. If you want to go back to the very beginning, the episodes are in chronological order in our back catalogue.

Today's edition opens with Gyles and Harriet chatting about leaf blowers, and then we play in a really very special, and exclusive, voice note from one of our celebrity listeners... you won't believe who it is - make sure you listen, as it will surprise and delight you. And transport you back to your childhood days. Then we read out some of the autobiographical poetry we were sent by listeners, inspired by our conversation with the great Larry Lamb. Thank you Zoe Grace Couzens and Liam Dugan for your excellent poetical contributions to Rosebud.

Gyles's 1981 diaries feature Liberace, Christopher Biggins, John Schlesinger, Kenneth Williams, Bonnie Langford and Melvyn Bragg. Yes, all human life is here! (Well particularly if they're famous...)
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Bill Wyman, who is 90 years old this week, and was for 31 years the bass player of the The Rolling Stones, is our guest today. Bill talks to Gyles about his wartime childhood in south-east London, and some of the really visceral experiences he had during the war of bombing and evacuation. He talks about his grandmother - who taught him to read, got him started on piano lessons, and made delicious bread pudding; and his dad, who was a tough disciplinarian who didn't like the airs and graces that Bill picked up at grammar school. Bill talks about the early days of the Rolling Stones, when Mick, Keith and Brian Jones lived in a squalid flat in Chelsea and could barely afford to feed themselves. He talks about his close friendship with Charlie Watts and their reputation as the best rhythm section in rock and roll. He talks about the instrumental role the Beatles played in the Stones being discovered. And he talks about leaving the group and finding success - and happiness - in collaboration with other musicians and artists later in his career.

This is a fascinating chat with the "oldest living rocker" on the planet, who was there at the heart of it all.

Bill has a number of releases coming up to mark his 90th birthday, including The Best of Bill Wyman, available here, and Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, Ultimate Collection, available here.

Our heartfelt thanks to Bill for this conversation, and a very, very happy birthday from all of us at Rosebud!
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Dylan Jones was for 22 years the editor of the UK edition of GQ Magazine, and turned that men's style glossy into essential reading for those interested in the culture, fashion and cool of the 00s. Prior to that he worked on i-D Magazine and Arena. At GQ, Dylan also turned the GQ Man of the Year Awards into one of the big events of the London social calendar, and after GQ Jones went on to edit the Evening Standard. Dylan and Gyles talk about all this in today's fascinating conversation. And they also talk about Dylan's childhood. Born into a military family - Dylan's dad was in the RAF - Dylan moved around a great deal and was subject to his father's physical violence on a regular basis. He describes living in this "chaos" and talks about the lasting impact this difficult childhood has had on his character. This is a really important, powerful and intimate conversation, which doesn't wallow in difficulty or pain, but discusses it openly, calmly, and with real candour. (This episode does contain discussion of serious sexual assault and domestic violence).

Dylan's new book, Table Hopping: The Secret History of London's Restaurants, from Langan's Brasserie to The Wolseley is highly recommended. It's available here.

Our deep thanks to Dylan for being our guest, and for sharing his wisdom, wit, and brilliant conversation with us on Rosebud.
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One of our best-loved children's authors, Dame Jacqueline Wilson, is our guest today. Jacqueline has changed the lives of many young readers by introducing them to characters and subjects which reflect the complicated lives of real children. And in this conversation with Gyles, Jacqueline talks about her own childhood, which has informed a lot of her later writing. She grew up with two parents who didn't really get along - a mother who was a narcissist, and a father who was often angry and distant - and who had violent rows with each other, but gave Jacqueline rich material for her books. Jacqueline tells Gyles about being a bookish schoolgirl who liked to daydream, about a disastrous encounter with some orange hair dye, and about writing her first novel for a school teacher. Gyles and Jacqueline talk about her first job, at DC Thompson, and about her marriage and the birth of her daughter when she was only 21. They talk about writing, and about Jacqueline's relationship now, and new-found status as a gay icon.

Our heartfelt thanks to Jacqueline Wilson for her delightful company, wonderful stories and wisdom.
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