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Global

Award-winning LBC presenter and best-selling author James O’Brien hosts a series of compelling conversations with fascinating people from the worlds of politics, news and entertainment. These are thoughtful conversations with a curious and interested interviewer.

For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: dax@global.com

Full Disclosure with James O'Brien

From a childhood in Oxford shaped by unconditional love, Jewish heritage and a keen sense of curiosity, to a career spanning stage, screen, voice work and bestselling memoir, Miriam Margolyes’ life has been anything but ordinary. In this candid conversation with James O’Brien, the beloved actor reflects on the security of her early years, the sting of antisemitism, and the moment she first felt at home on stage. She recalls her path from Cambridge Footlights to the BBC, the breakthrough of her one-woman show Dickens’ Women, and the global recognition that came with Harry Potter.

Margolyes speaks openly about her voracious appetite for people and stories, her refusal to shy away from controversy, and the enduring influence of her parents- from her mother’s theatrical aspirations to her father’s financial frankness. Along the way, she shares unvarnished memories of working with Hollywood greats, the exhilaration of live performance, and the friendships collected across decades in the public eye.

Frank, funny and utterly herself, this episode offers an unfiltered portrait of a national treasure who remains as curious, mischievous and compelling as ever.

From The Vault: Miriam Margolyes

Cariad Lloyd never set out to become the voice of modern grief, but after losing her father at just fifteen, the silence around death stayed with her. In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien speaks with the actor, comedian and creator of Griefcast podcast about how turning her personal loss into public conversation has transformed both her life and others'.

Together they explore the tension between comedy and sorrow, the strange rituals of mourning, and why so many of us feel unequipped to talk about death. Cariad shares the moments that shaped her, the people she’s never forgotten, and how the making of her book You Are Not Alone helped her say what so many struggle to find words for.

Poignant, funny, and gently radical, Cariad reflects on love, loss, and learning to hold space for the chaos of being human.

Find out more about Cariad Lloyd’s children’s book, Where Did She Go?: A heartfelt story to help children understand loss here

Cariad Lloyd: Talking About Grief Changed My Life

From a shifting childhood split between Wolverhampton, rural Ireland and London, to fronting one of the most distinctive and uncompromising bands of the 1980s, Kevin Rowland’s life has been defined by defiance, vision and resilience. In this in-depth conversation with James O’Brien, the Dexys Midnight Runners frontman reflects on the lasting impact of a father’s harsh words, the struggle to find his place in the world, and the burning drive to prove himself through music and style.

Rowland speaks candidly about the creation and evolution of Dexys- from their soulful beginnings and fiercely protected aesthetic, to the extraordinary success of Come On Eileen and the pressures that came with it. He recalls the relentless control he exerted to protect his artistic vision, the personal cost of that intensity, and the creative compromises he would later come to regret.

The conversation also explores his battle with addiction, the turning point that led to his recovery in 1993, and the revelations that followed as he began to confront the past he had long avoided. Now, with three decades of sobriety behind him, Kevin talks about continuing music on his own terms, embracing new ideas, and learning to be kinder to himself.

Honest, unflinching and unexpectedly uplifting, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the man behind Dexys, the making of a global hit, and the life that came after.

Find out more about Kevin Rowland’s memoir Bless Me Father here

Kevin Rowland: Beyond Come On Eileen

From the high-rises of Muirhouse to the heart of countercultural Britain, Irvine Welsh has built a literary universe fuelled by punk energy, dancefloor euphoria, and radical empathy. In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien meets the novelist and cultural icon to trace a life shaped by rebellion, recovery, and relentless storytelling.

They discuss Irvine’s early years in working class Edinburgh, his brushes with heroin and grief, and the accidental discipline learned on a council computer that helped turn his chaotic brilliance into a career. The pair unpack the emotional weight behind his new book Men in Love, why he believes we’re living in a post-cultural age, and the creative lessons of rave, romance, and rock bottom.

Sharp, soulful, and defiantly untamed, Irvine reflects on belonging, addiction, and the mad joy of letting characters run the show.

Find out more about Irvine Welsh’s book, Men in Love here

Irvine Welsh: We’re More Addicted Now Than in Trainspotting

From a working-class childhood in Tottenham to the Cabinet table, David Lammy’s path to becoming Foreign Secretary was anything but straightforward. Raised by a single mother after his father disappeared when he was twelve, David’s early life was shaped by absence, ambition and a fierce sense of justice.

In this deeply personal conversation with James O’Brien, David opens up about the chaos of his childhood, the teachers and parish priests who changed his life, and the duality of growing up between two worlds- North London and a Peterborough choir school. He reflects on the trauma of police harassment, the fear of prison that haunted his youth, and the rage and hope that drove him to become a barrister and, eventually, an MP.

They discuss what it means to represent a place like Tottenham, the emotional toll of public service, and the long shadow of imposter syndrome- even as a Cabinet minister. With disarming honesty, David revisits his father's alcoholism, the moment he chose not to see him before he died, and how he finally shook off the feeling he didn’t belong- only when he became Foreign Secretary.

From LA Law dreams to Harvard halls, David charts the improbable course that brought him to Number 10. And he reveals why, despite the calls for him to run for PM, he’s convinced he’s exactly where he’s meant to be.

Now at the heart of British foreign policy during a time of global instability- from Ukraine, to Sudan and the continuing crisis in Gaza- David also shares the limits and frustrations of diplomacy, the responsibility of not being complicit, and the moral weight of trying to end a war that feels impossible to stop.

David Lammy: I’ve had imposter syndrome my whole life- until now

Before she was a MasterChef judge and one of Britain’s most distinctive food writers, Grace Dent was a Carlisle kid eating crispy pancakes and dreaming of life beyond beige dinners. In this episode of Full Disclosure, she joins James O’Brien to talk about blagging her way into London media, finding her voice through food, and why she still can’t believe they let her near the foie gras.

Grace reflects on growing up in a loud, loving, working-class family, and how her obsession with pop culture, Smash Hits and Paula Yates convinced her she was destined for something bigger. They talk about class, ambition, the snobbery that still haunts food writing- and why MasterChef was the job her mum would’ve loved most but never got to see.

With sharp wit, candour and zero pretence, Grace dishes up a story of rejection, reinvention and the joy of really good jam.

This episode was recorded on 24th June 2025, prior to the release of the report into allegations of inappropriate behaviour by MasterChef's presenters on 14th July 2025.

Find out more about Zopa Bank here

Grace Dent: Almost Everything I’ve Done, I’ve Been Told No First

Before he became known as the quirky, banana-snacking John Shuttleworth, Graham Fellows was a kid from Sheffield with dreams of classical acting and a knack for writing unforgettable songs. In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien meets the man behind the cult characters to trace the unpredictable path from Jilted John to Chicken Town.

They explore Graham’s early life, from his mum’s quiet environmentalism to a fleeting moment of baby photo fame, and his parallel passions for drama and music that led him to Manchester Youth Theatre and, later, punk-inflected pop stardom. Graham reflects on the shock of overnight fame, the decades spent wrestling with alter egos, and the complex relationship between creator and character.

Thoughtful, eccentric and candid, this is the story of a performer who’s built a singular career by blurring the line between parody and poignancy.

Find out more about Chicken Town here

Graham Fellows: Playing John Shuttleworth Came at a Cost

Long before Dead Ringers or Spitting Image, Jon Culshaw was a schoolboy with a knack for mimicry and a fierce determination to escape into voices- finding freedom, fun, and a future through the radio dial.

In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with Jon to explore how a shy kid from Lancashire became one of the UK’s best-loved impressionists. They trace his early love of radio, his first gigs as a hospital DJ, and the key moments that transformed a quiet obsession into a celebrated career.

Jon reflects on the emotional intelligence behind impersonation, how he’s always felt a sense of companionship in voices, and what he learned by studying the characters he came to embody- from Boris Johnson to David Bowie

Endearing, reflective and full of rich storytelling, it’s a portrait of an artist who built a career out of listening- and reveals how sometimes, speaking in other people’s voices can lead you closer to your own.

Find out more about Dead Ringers 25th Anniversary tour here

Jon Culshaw: The Impressionist Who Fooled the Prime Minister

Before The Big Short, Moneyball or The Blind Side became bestsellers (and Hollywood hits), Michael Lewis was just trying to make sense of a world where things didn’t add up- from Wall Street to the government to the rules of sport.

In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with the celebrated writer to unpack the origins of his outsider lens, his instinct for spotting value in unexpected places, and why he’s drawn to stories where people are swimming against the current. They explore his unlikely route into writing, the moral questions behind some of his biggest books, and how he’s tried to find meaning through chaos.

Curious, candid and full of surprising insight, this is a conversation about how institutions lose their grip, how outsiders make their mark and why the truth is often stranger (and more important) than fiction.

Find out more about Michael Lewis, Who Is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service here

Michael Lewis: America Is Run by Bullies

Former Home Secretary who chose principle over position, Amber Rudd has spent much of her life at the centre of power. From banking to frontbench politics, her career has spanned the high-stakes worlds of business, government and Brexit-era turmoil.

In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with Amber to reflect on the decisions, mistakes and tensions that shaped her time in office. From her alliance with Theresa May to her public resignation from Boris Johnson’s Cabinet, Amber offers an unusually frank look at what it means to hold power- and when to walk away from it.

She speaks candidly about the human cost of leadership, the moral complexity of the Home Office, and the fallout of political compromise. And she reflects on what it takes to recover- personally and professionally- from being publicly vilified.

Grounded, introspective and refreshingly sincere, Amber revisits the pressure points of her political life, the people who’ve shaped her, and why disagreement doesn’t have to mean disloyalty.

She also shares why she’s returned to public conversation with The Crisis Room- a new podcast co-hosted with journalist Mark Urban and former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos. Each week, the team unpicks the biggest crises shaping the UK and the world. With insider perspectives drawn from the gritty underbelly of investigative reporting, the corridors of Westminster and the shadowy realm of intelligence, they break down what’s really happening behind the headlines, and what’s at stake for our future.

Listen to The Crisis Room here

Amber Rudd: I resigned because I couldn’t defend the indefensible

From founding the Everyday Sexism Project to unpicking how AI is entrenching misogyny, Laura Bates has become one of the UK’s most unflinching feminist voices. In this episode of Full Disclosure, she joins James O’Brien to explore how one devastating week in her early twenties sparked a lifetime of activism- and why storytelling, statistics, and school visits remain central to her mission.

Laura traces her path from a bookish childhood to acting ambitions, before recounting the moment a string of seemingly “everyday” experiences of harassment triggered a wider awakening. The conversation spans her battles with media hostility, the evolution of digital misogyny, and the personal toll of online abuse. With clarity and urgency, she discusses how sexism is coded into everything from CV-sorting algorithms to deepfake pornography, and why AI may be the next great battleground for gender equality.

Honest, analytical, and deeply human, this conversation delves into what drives Bates to keep going, and what gives her hope for the next generation.

Find out more about Laura Bates book,The New Age of Sexism, here

Laura Bates: Misogyny, Machine Learning and The Manosphere

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