Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

• Rosebud at Sissinghurst - Sarah Raven and Adam Nicolson

  It's Chelsea Flower Show in London this week, and at Rosebud we're celebrating - with this special episode recorded at one of the most beautiful gardens in the world: Sissinghurst Castle in Kent. At Sissinghurst Gyles meets the writer Adam Nicolson, grandson of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson (who famously conceived and designed the garden there) and his wife Sarah Raven, the plantswoman and entrepreneur, who is one of the most influential people in gardening today. Sarah's garden at Perch Hill in Sussex, and the business she runs from there, have been instrumental in introducing a new abundant, naturalistic and colourful style in gardening, and her story is fascinating. This is a brilliant conversation about the history of Sissinghurst and the Nicolson family, and about Sarah's childhood 'botanising' with her father, John Raven. It's also about finding wild tulips, the meaning of the word 'wharfinger' and the burden of inheritance. Adam Nicolson's latest book, which is brilliant, is called Bird School and is available here. Sarah Raven's website is inspirational for any gardener and is here. Her book, A Year Full of Pots, is also highly recommended. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Gyles's diary, episode 15

  The second half of 1966 - Marlene Dietrich, university interviews, and the final goodbyes. This is a roller-coaster episode of Gyles's diaries, which is full of incident. Encouraged by his mother, Gyles goes on a charitable summer camp to Kent and doesn't enjoy it; there is a scandal at school while he is preparing for his Oxford entrance exam; he and Simon Cadell see Marlene Dietrich live in Golders Green and, in a moving finale, he leaves Bedales for good and gets goodbye letters from some old friends. Plus Gyles and Harriet chat. NB in this episode there is some discussion of some sensitive issues around teacher/pupil relationships. As Gyles reflects, these diaries present what happened to Gyles back in the 1960s - times have changed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Dame Penelope Keith

  If you love British comedy, you'll know and admire our guest this week: Dame Penelope Keith. The characters she played - Margo Leadbetter and Audrey Fforbes-Hamilton - are two of the best-known and most distinctive characters in sit-com. And this is a rare chance to hear an interview with Dame Penelope. Gyles talks to her about her childhood, growing up without a father, the daughter of a hard-working and talented mother who worked in hotels and took the young Penelope along with her. Penelope talks about her school days - when she was taught by Frence nuns - and how she got into drama school and got her first job in weekly rep. This is fun and unusual conversation with a much-loved actress. Enjoy this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• More Rosebud - The Lost Coat Episode

  If you're an avid Rosebud listener, you may remember a listener email we read out back in episode 5 of Gyles's diaries, from Harry Scoble. Harry wrote in to say that he'd left a coat in a taxi with Gyles back in 2002 and that he'd wished he had come to collect it from Gyles's house all those years ago, but had never got round to it. Gyles had then told Harriet that he thought he might still have the coat, on a clothes rail in his Jumper Room. In this episode, Harry comes to Gyles's house, and we solve the mystery once and for all. And have tea and an interesting chat in the process. This episode features Harry, Gyles, Michele Brandreth (Gyles's wife) and Harriet. And it features an extended chat between Harriet and Gyles before and after the recording of Harry looking at the coat and having tea. This is a slightly unusual episode, and a little bit more chaotic than our usual - but we hope you enjoy it! We'd love to hear about your Rosebud objects - do you have a treasured possession which sums up your life and is more precious than anything else? Email us at [email protected] and tell us - and we may feature you on the podcast. Gyles also mentions the Rosebud Live interview with Jeffrey Holland at the Sarah Thorne Theatre in Broadstairs on July 19th 2025. Please come along! Tickets will be available soon from the Sarah Thorne Theatre Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Sir David Suchet

  The great actor Sir David Suchet is Gyles's guest today: and this conversation gets behind Hercule Poirot - Sir David's most famous role - and delves into David's childhood, his schooldays and his early acting career at the National Youth Theatre and the RSC. Gyles finds out about David's difficult relationship with his father, the great doctor, Jack Suchet. He finds out about his close relationship with his mother and his grandparents, and the influence they had on him. He finds out about David's schooldays, his prowess on the rugby pitch, and how a teacher at school spotted his acting talent. Gyles also hears about how David's work ethic and attention to detail has sometimes led to tricky moments in rehearsals. The episode ends with a surprise which you won't want to miss! This is a fascinating, candid and sometimes very touching interview - thank you very much to Sir David for your time and for your honesty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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