Ed Miliband

Before becoming Ireland’s youngest Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar was a Dublin GP with bold ambitions and a belief that politics could be a kind of medicine for society.In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with the former Prime Minister to explore his extraordinary rise from a mixed-heritage childhood in 1980s Ireland, to leading his country through Brexit battles, historic referendums and the turbulence of the pandemic. They discuss the unlikely path that took him from medical practice to the world stage, the emotional costs of leadership, and why he chose to step away at just 45 years old.Frank, reflective and often surprising, this is a conversation about resilience, identity, and what it really means to hold power in a changing IrelandFind out more about Leo Varadkar’s memoir Speaking My Mind here

26 Sep 20251h 5min

Britain’s leading forensic pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd has performed over 23,000 postmortems and given evidence in some of the most high-profile cases of our time, from Hungerford to Hillsborough, from Princess Diana to David Kelly. But his fascination with death began much earlier, when his mother died suddenly from heart disease and he was left with questions no one could answer.In this episode of Full Disclosure, Dr Shepherd tells James O’Brien how that childhood loss set him on the path to forensic medicine, how his father’s emotional openness shaped him, and how a book brought into school by a friend gave him his first glimpse of a profession that would define his life. He reflects on the leap from observing to performing autopsies, the responsibility of telling the truth in court, and the lasting emotional toll of cases that never leave you.Candid, unflinching and deeply human, Dr Shepherd shares how a lifetime spent uncovering the truth about death has shaped the way he lives.Find out more about Dr Richard Shepherd Time of Death tour here

19 Sep 20251h 1min

Actor, comedian and bestselling author Arabella Weir grew up in a family that prized intellect and appearances but struggled to offer love. In this episode of Full Disclosure, she tells James O’Brien how an unsettled childhood shaped her fearless streak, her need to perform, and her instinct to turn pain into comedy.From the brutal remarks of her mother to the liberating chaos of Camden School for Girls, Arabella charts the path that took her from rejection at drama schools to finding her voice on The Fast Show and beyond. She reflects on the role of therapy, the challenge of writing, and what it means to live alongside the little girl she once was.Wry, fearless and full of heart, Arabella shares how survival became strength- and why she’s determined to live on her own terms.Find out more about An Evening with The Fast Show here

12 Sep 20251h

Natalie Haynes has never been easy to categorise. A stand-up comedian turned broadcaster and best-selling author, she has built a career out of making the ancient world vivid, funny and urgent. In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien talks with the presenter of Stand Up for the Classics about her unusual path from Birmingham bookshops to the Edinburgh Fringe, and from Radio 4 to re-imagining Medea.They explore the strange alchemy of combining scholarship with humour, the myths that refuse to let her go, and why Jason may be one of antiquity’s least heroic heroes. Natalie reflects on the teachers and family who first filled her life with books, the risks of carving out a career that no one else was doing, and the joy of turning classical stories into something alive for modern audiences.Clever, warm and very funny, Natalie shows how ancient tragedy and modern comedy can illuminate each other- and why she still feels most at home with the ghosts of Greece.Find out more about Natalie Haynes book and tour No Friend to This House here

5 Sep 20251h 4min

From a childhood in Dundee marked by loss, poverty and resilience, to becoming one of the most respected actors of his generation, Brian Cox’s life and career have been defined by an unrelenting pursuit of truth on and off stage. In this in-depth conversation with James O’Brien, the Emmy and Golden Globe winner reflects on the death of his father at eight years old, the formative influence of his mother’s struggles with mental health, and the teachers who first spotted his talent.Cox charts his journey from the Dundee Repertory Theatre to the Royal Shakespeare Company, the West End and Hollywood, revisiting the defining roles that shaped his craft- from portraying Hannibal Lecter before Anthony Hopkins to his acclaimed turn as Logan Roy in Succession. He speaks candidly about the compromises and convictions that have steered his career, the cultural and political forces that have shaped his worldview, and his ongoing belief in the power of storytelling to confront injustice.Thoughtful, uncompromising and rich with anecdote, this episode offers a compelling portrait of an actor whose commanding presence is matched by his fierce intellect and refusal to play by the rules.

29 Aug 20251h 9min

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.

22 Aug 20251h

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

15 Aug 20251h 1min

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

8 Aug 202559min