Gyles Brandreth

Gyles Brandreth is a performer, writer and broadcaster. Formerly the MP for the City of Chester and a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in John Major’s government, he is editor-at-large of the Sunday Telegraph Review and a London correspondent for CBS News. His many books include an acclaimed diary of his life in politics Breaking the Code, a biography of Sir John Gielgud and several novels.  Renowned for his appearances on R4 Just a Minute etc and on TV as a reporter on the One Show and regular on QI, Celebrity Gogglebox and Have I Got News For You
A Scholar at Oxford and President of the Oxford Union, he is a former Chairman and now Vice-President of the National Playing Fields Association, and the co-curator (with his wife, Michele Brown) of the National Portrait Gallery exhibition of 20th century children’s authors.
In 2019, Gyles began co-hosting a podcast entitled Something Rhymes With Purple alongside friend and colleague, Susie Dent. The podcast discusses aspects of the English language such as historic or unusual words and their origins, as well as the origins of popular phrases and sayings. In 2020 Gyles is appearing on stage with Dame Judi Dench, on TV with Sheila Hancock in Great Canal Journeys and on a nationwide tour of his latest one man show, Break a Leg.
AFTER-DINNER SPEAKER & EVENT HOST

  • ‘Probably the best speaker I have heard’ Daily Express
  • ‘Brandreth is brilliant‘ Daily Mail 
  • ‘Gyles Brandreth has a serious talent for making people laugh’ Daily Mirror
  • ‘Not merely, like all the best after-dinner speakers, does he know how to spin a yarn – unlike most politicians, he has a touching access to the secrets of the human heart’  The Times
  • ‘Terrific – the first standing ovation for a speaker we’ve ever had.’  Defence Industry Security Association
  • ‘Excellent.  He made the crew laugh as much as the guests and that’s some accolade.‘  St James’s Place
  • ‘What can I say?  Gyles was as fantastic as ever.  He really is a pleasure to work with.’  East Midlands Property Awards
  •  ‘His speech couldn’t have been more perfect and apt if we had written it for him.  The fact that he was on just before the Minister worked brilliantly and he said things that no-one else could have got away with.’  Association of Chief Trading Standards Officer, 
  • ‘Brilliant.  A standing ovation that was richly deserved.’  Isle of Man Law Society
  • `Incredible.  The best hosting of a conference I have ever known. Everyone wants him back again next year’ Optix Conference 2019
  • `The best compere at any event I have ever heard’ Card & Payments Awards 2019
  • `Simply sensational.  Can we have him again next year?’ Casual Dining Awards 2019
  • `His energy, witty anecdotes and enthusiasm were completely irresistible’ Centre Parcs Charity Gala 2019 
  • `A great success and all of our guests enjoyed him as much this time as they did back in 2016!’ National Federation of Demolition Contractors Awards 2019
  • `He has hosted these awards eight times.  This was the best yet.  Simply amazing’ IOD Jersey Awards 2019

TV
THE ONE SHOW contributor BBC1
CELEBRITY GOOGLEBOX C4
PUBLIC OPINION – Series presenter – BBC1
HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU – Guest presenter – BBC 1
BREAKFAST WITH FROST – Regular newspaper reviewer – BBC 1
THIS IS YOUR LIFE – Subject – BBC1
QI – Guest – BBC2
ROOM 101 Guest ITV
CELEBRITY MASTERMIND – Guest – BBC2
COUNTDOWN – Regular guest – Channel 4
RICHARD & JUDY – Guest – Channel 4
UP TO THE MINUTE – Regular presenter – CBS News
RADIO
THE BRANDRETH RULES FOR THE GREAT OFFICES 2007 – Series presenter- BBC R4
WHISPERS – Series presenter – BBC Radio 4
WE’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE – Team captain – BBC Radio 4
JUST A MINUTE – Guest – BBC Radio 4
BRANDRETH’S RULES – Series presenter – BBC Radio 4
PICK OF THE WEEK – Guest presenter – BBC Radio 4
BROADCASTING HOUSE – Regular newspaper reviewer – BBC Radio 4
THEATRE
Malvolio in TWELFTH NIGHT – THE MUSICAL Edinburgh followed on from ZIPP! 100 MUSICALS IN 100 MINUTES (Edinburgh Festival Most Popular Show Award)
Duchess Theatre and UK Tour; New York.  Also WIT’S END, one-man show
BOOKS
CHARLES & CAMILLA: PORTRAIT OF A LOVE AFFAIR, following PHILIP & ELIZABETH: PORTRAIT OF A MARRIAGE (Sunday Times best-seller.  ‘Thoughtful, sympathetic, wholly original, often hilarious, occasionally profound, I came away with the strong feeling that I had glimpsed the Queen and Prince Philip for the first time as they really are.’ Craig Brown, Mail on Sunday)
BRIEF ENCOUNTERS: MEETINGS WITH REMARKABLE PEOPLE
(‘His interviews are quite superb. Nobody does it better.’ Michael Parkinson)
BREAKING THE CODE: WESTMINSTER DIARIES
John Murray in the UK and Simon and Schuster in the US have published THE OSCAR WILDE MURDER MYSTERIES, his series of Victorian murder mysteries featuring Oscar Wilde as the detective.