Gyles Brandreth is one of Britain's most sought-after award ceremony hosts and after-dinner speakers.
He won his first prize as a public speaker as a schoolboy of fifteen. At Oxford, aged twenty, he was elected President of the Oxford Union. Since then he has spoken all over the world, in venues as varied as the Helmsley Palace, New York and Buckingham Palace, London. His audiences have ranged from the executives of Coca-Cola to a silent order of nuns, from a thousand bankers in Frankfurt to ten thousand members of the WI at Wembley Arena. He has featured in the Guinness Book of Records for making the world’s longest-ever after-dinner speech. To raise funds for the National Playing Fields Association, he spoke non-stop for twelve and a half hours.
A former Oxford Scholar, President of the Oxford Union and MP for the City of Chester, Gyles Brandreth’s career has ranged from being a Whip and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in John Major’s government to starring in his own award-winning musical revue in London’s West End.
A prolific broadcaster (in programmes ranging from Just a Minute to Have I Got News for You), an acclaimed interviewer (principally for the Sunday Telegraph), a novelist, children’s author and biographer, he 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 is the author of two acclaimed royal biographies: Philip & Elizabeth: Portrait of a Marriage and Charles & Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair. In 2007/2008, The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries, his series of Victorian murder mysteries featuring Oscar Wilde as an amateur detective was published in the UK and US.
As a performer, Gyles Brandreth has been seen most recently in ZIPP! ONE HUNDRED MUSICALS FOR LESS THAN THE PRICE OF ONE at London’s Duchess Theatre and on tour throughout the UK, and as Malvolio and the Sea Captain in TWELTH NIGHT: THE MUSICAL at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. 2010 saw him back in Edinburgh and on tour once more with his own one-man show, THE ONE TO ONE SHOW. 2010 also saw his play, WONDERLAND, opening in Edinburgh.
Gyles Brandreth is one of Britain’s busiest after-dinner speakers and award ceremony hosts. He has won awards himself, and been nominated for awards, as a public speaker, novelist, children’s writer, broadcaster (Sony), political diarist (Channel Four), journalist (British Press Awards), theatre producer (Olivier), and businessman (British Tourist Authority Come to Britain Trophy).
He is married to writer and publisher Michèle Brown, with whom he co-curated the exhibition of twentieth century children’s authors at the National Portrait Gallery and founded the award-winning Teddy Bear Museum now based at the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. He is a former chairman and now vice-president of the National Playing Fields Association.
He has been London correspondent for “Up to the Minute” on CBS News and his books published in the United States include the New York Times best-seller, The Joy of Lex as well as Philip & Elizabeth: Portrait of a Marriage and The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries.
Testimonials:
‘The best speaker we have ever had - and that is no small claim.’
PLASA AGM, 2011
‘Brilliant - absolutely brilliant. An audience of 1500 was spellbound.’
St George’s Day Club, 2011
‘Simply sensational ... We can never thank you enough for making it a totally memorable and unforgettable evening for one and all.’
East of England Cooperative Society Awards, 2011
‘Fabulous - excellent feedback’ Greene King Head Brewer’s Lunch, 2011
‘A great speech - a clear message - and everyone left on a positive note.’
Shanks Waste Management Conference, 2011
‘In twenty years I have not heard a better awards host.’ West of England Dealmakers Awards, 2011