Gyles Brandreth
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Gyles Daubeney Brandreth is a celebrity, author and politician in the United Kingdom.
He served as a Conservative MP, representing the City of Chester, from 1992 to 1997. He also served as a junior minister in John Major's government.
He was President of the Oxford Union when at Oxford University in 1970, and went on to become a publisher before turning TV presenter. Brandreth is best-known for his appearances on Countdown and TV AM. He has also presented programmes on London's LBC radio at various times since 1973. He is renowned for his seemingly endless collection of tasteless sweaters.
Brandreth is also the creator of a stage show called Zipp! which enjoyed success at the Edinburgh Festival and had a short run in London's West End. He is in greatest demand as an after-dinner speaker, and he holds the world record for the longest continuous after-dinner speech, at eighteen hours, for a charity stunt.
In September 2004, Brandreth's book on the marriage of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Philip was published. He had previously written an authorised biography of John Gielgud, the actor, and many joke, comedy and children's books.
Bibliography
- Philip and Elizabeth: Portrait of a Marriage (2004). ISBN 0712661034
- The Biggest Kids Joke Book Ever! (2002). ISBN 0233050620
- Breaking the Code: Westminster Diaries, 1992-97 (1999). ISBN 0297643118
- John Gielgud: An Actor's Life (2001). ISBN 0750926902