- After Dinner Speakers
- Presenters & Awards Hosts
Topics:
- Humorist
- Politics
Gyles Brandreth
As an orator who has featured in the Guinness Book of Records for making the longest ever after dinner speech (lasting twelve and a half hours) Gyles always has something to contribute to any conference or dinner.
A Man of Many Talents
His career has ranged from playing Baron Hardup in Cinderella to being a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in John Major’s government. Known for the colourful jumpers he wore on countless game shows and on TV-AM in the ‘70s and ‘80s, he became the MP for Chester in 1992. In 1997, with politics behind him, he returned to a career in writing and broadcasting, whilst gaining acclaim in the corporate world for his hilarious after dinner speeches.
His account of his life at Westminster, Breaking the Code, was described by The Times as ‘By far the best political diary of recent years, far more perceptive and revealing than Alan Clark’s.’ He is editor at large of the Sunday Telegraph Review, a London correspondent for CBS News, and presenter of LBC’s weekly arts and entertainment programme for ITN Radio.
Focus on Culture & Media
His television and radio credits include Countdown, Have I Got News for You, Just a Minute and the Motion Show, and he has also been the subject of This Is Your Life.
A former Oxford scholar, President of the Oxford Union and artistic director of the Oxford Theatre Festival, he has co-produced three plays in the West End, written a show about A A Milne with Julian Slade (the creator of Salad Days), and scripted the TV series Dear Ladies with Hinge & Bracket. He is the author of many books including a history of pantomime and an acclaimed biography of Sir John Gielgud. His most recent book is a study of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip.
Gyles wrote and performed in Zipp! (One hundred musicals for less than the price of one), the musical comedy revue which won the "Most Popular Show" Award at the 2002 Edinburgh Festival, followed by a hugely successful world-wide tour
Organisations Belonged To
With his wife Michele, he is the founder of the award-winning Teddy Bear Museum in Stratford-upon-Avon. He is a former chairman and now vice-president of the National Playing Fields Association, the national trust of recreational space. A member of Trevor McDonald’s Better English campaign and the founder of the National Scrabble Championships,
"The lunch went very well! The overwhelming opinion was that Gyles is definitely one of the best speakers we have ever had! I have received so many wonderful comments regarding his performance."
BPMA
Such an international audience can be a challenge and I am in awe that you could entertain them so brilliantly, which made the evening such a success.
GAFTA
‘Probably the best speaker I have heard’
Daily Express
‘Not merely, like all the best after dinner speakers, does he know how to spin a yarn
he has a touching access to the secrets of the human heart’
The Times
