Gyles Brandreth

Former President of the Oxford Union and MP for the City of Chester, Gyles Brandreth’s career has included being a Whip and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in John Major’s government, starring in his own musical revue in London’s West End and now Chancellor of the University of Chester. A prolific broadcaster he has appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox, Pointless, Sunday Brunch, QI, Would I Lie To You? and Have I Got News for You, and has been a one of the mainstays of Just a Minute on BBC Radio 4 since the eighties.

As an author Gyles has published two volumes of diaries: Breaking the Code: Westminster Diaries and Something Sensational to Read in the Train: The Diary of a Lifetime, and has written the acclaimed royal biographies Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait and Philip: The Final Portrait. His Sunday Times best-sellers include Word Play, a celebration of the English language, and The 7 Secrets of Happiness. Gyles also co-authored a course with his son, Benet Brandreth KC, on Mastering Public Speaking.

Gyles presents the podcast Something Rhymes With Purple with Susie Dent, which won Best Entertainment Podcast at the British Podcast Awards. With his daughter Aphra, he co-hosts the Commonwealth Poetry Podcast, a celebration of poetry and the Commonwealth which was launched with HM Queen Camilla. Gyles also hosts Rosebud, a weekly conversation with famous and fascinating people about their very first memories.

A habitual name-dropper, Gyles speaks about leaders and leadership with lessons drawn from the biggest names on the world stage from Thatcher and Blair to Clinton and Bush. An expert after dinner speaker, he adapts his huge collection of personal anecdotes and tales to any audience.