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EPISODE · May 29, 2026 · 1H 7M

Will Self

from Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

The writer, satirist and urban explorer Will Self talks to Gyles about his childhood, his career and his life now. From his boyhood as "little Willy", the apple of his mother's eye, who was both enfolded and smothered by her love; to his adolescence when he began smoking, drinking and experimenting with drugs earlier than most; to his student days when his good looks meant he found it easy to get women into bed... this is an absorbing, entertaining and sometimes surprising episode, full of laughs, and full of astute observations (as you might expect from one of our foremost satirists). Will also talks about taking heroin on John Major's plane, being on Shooting Stars and his illness and recent stem cell transplant. Our thanks to Will for his dazzling conversation, and for being such charming company. And thank you, too, to his wife Nellie for coming along! Will's new book The Quantity Theory of Morality is out now and is HIGHLY recommended. You can buy a copy here. Enjoy this... we're sure you will. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The writer, satirist and urban explorer Will Self talks to Gyles about his childhood, his career and his life now. From his boyhood as "little Willy", the apple of his mother's eye, who was both enfolded and smothered by her love; to his adolescence when he began smoking, drinking and experimenting with drugs earlier than most; to his student days when his good looks meant he found it easy to get women into bed... this is an absorbing, entertaining and sometimes surprising episode, full of laughs, and full of astute observations (as you might expect from one of our foremost satirists). Will also talks about taking heroin on John Major's plane, being on Shooting Stars and his illness and recent stem cell transplant. Our thanks to Will for his dazzling conversation, and for being such charming company. And thank you, too, to his wife Nellie for coming along! Will's new book The Quantity Theory of Morality is out now and is HIGHLY recommended. You can buy a copy here. Enjoy this... we're sure you will. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth?

This episode is 1 hour and 7 minutes long.

When was this Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth episode published?

This episode was published on May 29, 2026.

What is this episode about?

The writer, satirist and urban explorer Will Self talks to Gyles about his childhood, his career and his life now. From his boyhood as "little Willy", the apple of his mother's eye, who was both enfolded and smothered by her love; to his adolescence...

Can I download this Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
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