Gyles Brandreth

Gyles Brandreth was born on March 8, 1948, in Wuppertal, Germany, while his father served with the Allied Control Commission. He moved to London at age three and was educated at the Lycée Français de Londres and Bedales School before attending New College, Oxford. There, he read Modern History and Modern Languages, directed the Oxford University Dramatic Society, and was elected President of the Oxford Union in Michaelmas term 1969. His early career saw him establish himself as a prolific writer for adults and children, covering subjects from Scrabble to word puzzles. He gained recognition as a writer, television presenter, and journalist, contributing to various publications, including Games & Puzzles magazine. Professionally, Brandreth is a prominent figure across media and politics.

Brandreth served as a Conservative Member of Parliament for the City of Chester from 1992 to 1997. During his time in Parliament, he introduced a Plain Language Bill in 1992 and championed a Private Member’s Bill that became the Marriage Act 1994, allowing civil marriages in approved premises. In 1995, he was appointed Assistant Whip and then Lord Commissioner of the Treasury under John Major’s government. After his political career, he returned to media, becoming a veteran of television shows like “QI”, “Have I Got News For You”, and “Celebrity Gogglebox”. He is a regular on BBC Radio 4’s “Just a Minute” and has hosted numerous radio programs across LBC and BBC Radio 4.

His writing career includes several Sunday Times best-selling biographies, such as “Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait” (2022) and “Philip: The Final Portrait” (2021). He has also authored nine detective novels, including “The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries” series, and acclaimed childhood memoir “Odd Boy Out” (2021). As a podcaster, he received a Gold Award at the British Podcast Awards for “Something Rhymes with Purple,” co-hosted with Susie Dent, and launched “Rosebud” in 2023. Brandreth’s entertainment career has seen him perform in London’s West End and tour with one-man shows. Since 2017, he has served as the Chancellor of the University of Chester.