Podcast · 64 episodes
Full Disclosure with James O'Brien
by Global · English
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. You can email the show below and get involved at any time jamesobrienshow@global.com for regular listeners or jamesobrienPlus@global.com for subscribers Full Disclosure with James O'Brien is a Global Production For advertising opportunities on this podcast, email: GlobalStudiosSales@global.com
Latest episodes
Eric Idle: “Cheer up. You’re gonna die”Eric Idle discusses his life from RAF-war-child tragedy to Cambridge comedy success, framing it as a cycle of “imprisonment and escape” through books, music, and laughter.25 Sep 2026 · 1 h 3 min
Tony Hadley: “I Didn’t Think True Was a Single”Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) discusses his working-class Islington upbringing, education and discipline, early music competitions, forming the band that became Spandau Ballet, and how his career…18 Sep 2026 · 1 h 3 min
Francis Fukuyama: The End of History author on democracy under threatFrancis Fukuyama discusses his “End of History” thesis, common misreadings of The End of History and The Last Man, and why liberal democracy still has a universal claim despite recent backsliding and…11 Sep 2026 · 50 min
All episodes
Eric Idle: “Cheer up. You’re gonna die”Eric Idle discusses his life from RAF-war-child tragedy to Cambridge comedy success, framing it as a cycle of “imprisonment and escape” through books, music, and laughter.25 Sep 2026 · 1 h 3 min · 32 chapters
Tony Hadley: “I Didn’t Think True Was a Single”Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) discusses his working-class Islington upbringing, education and discipline, early music competitions, forming the band that became Spandau Ballet, and how his career…18 Sep 2026 · 1 h 3 min · 31 chapters
Francis Fukuyama: The End of History author on democracy under threatFrancis Fukuyama discusses his “End of History” thesis, common misreadings of The End of History and The Last Man, and why liberal democracy still has a universal claim despite recent backsliding and…11 Sep 2026 · 50 min · 23 chapters
Jay Rayner: Why Trying to Be Liked Is a Recipe for FailureJay Rayner discusses why seeking approval (“trying to be liked”) leads to failure, using his life story and career as a restaurant critic/journalist.4 Sep 2026 · 59 min · 31 chapters
Robert Harris: From Tony Blair’s Inner Circle to Hollywood’s ConclaveRobert Harris discusses his path from working-class Nottingham to major journalism and bestselling historical novels, arguing that politics and power are timeless and best explored through long-form…28 Aug 2026 · 1 h 4 min · 31 chapters
Alexei Sayle: I never thought we’d end up hereAlexei Sayle discusses his life story and politics, arguing that left-wing activism and comedy have always been intertwined, and that he’s now processing the emotional reality of recent…21 Aug 2026 · 1 h 1 min · 21 chapters
Amelia Dimoldenberg: How Chicken Shop Date became a global phenomenonAmelia Dimoldenberg explains how Chicken Shop Date grew from a self-funded student project into a global, highly edited interview-comedy format, and how she uses her platform to support young people…14 Aug 2026 · 59 min · 27 chapters
Dr Ranj Singh: “I Was Outed To My Parents”Dr Ranj Singh discusses leaving clinical medicine temporarily to “chase joy,” and how his upbringing, creativity, and mental health shaped his career and identity.7 Aug 2026 · 1 h 1 min · 28 chapters
Tim Booth: The Story of James, Sit Down and LaidTim Booth (of the band James) discusses his life story—boarding school survival, early music and dance as emotional therapy, his liver disease and near-death at 21, and how these experiences shaped…31 Jul 2026 · 1 h 1 min · 33 chapters
Tom Kerridge: “Being a Chef is Nothing To Do with Food”Tom Kerridge discusses hospitality economics and politics, arguing that chefs’ work is about operating under pressure and managing business survival—not just cooking food.24 Jul 2026 · 1 h 3 min · 25 chapters
Ravi Singh: The man who runs towards disasterRavi Singh, founder/CEO of UK NGO Kalsa Aid, recounts his life shaped by Sikh service and wartime trauma, then explains how Kalsa Aid mobilizes volunteers and aid across crises (Kosovo, tsunami…17 Jul 2026 · 1 h 2 min · 29 chapters
Baroness Beeban Kidron: “Democracy is no longer representative. It is bought.”Baroness Beeban Kidron argues that big tech has captured public life, turning “democracy” into something “bought” rather than representative.26 Jun 2026 · 1 h 5 min · 27 chapters
From The Vault: Andy Burnham, MP for Makerfield and Mayor of Greater ManchesterA “From The Vault” interview with Andy Burnham (MP for Makerfield; Mayor of Greater Manchester) tracing his life and politics, with a major focus on how Hillsborough shaped his class consciousness,…19 Jun 2026 · 58 min · 20 chapters
Cressida Cowell: It wasn’t cool to be enthusiastic about books!Cressida Cowell discusses how her childhood—especially summers on a remote Scottish island—shaped her imagination and her “How to Train Your Dragon” stories, which she frames as about growing up,…19 Jun 2026 · 1 h 6 min · 30 chapters
DJ Fat Tony: “I had one tooth left in my head - I wasn’t sane”DJ Fat Tony (real name Tony) discusses how childhood trauma and sexual abuse shaped his self-protection, dishonesty, and attraction to chaos; how he built a club career from King’s Road networking to…12 Jun 2026 · 1 h 12 min · 31 chapters
Nina Conti: The Ventriloquist Who Found Her VoiceNina Conti discusses how she became a ventriloquist and comedian, using puppets, live improvisation, and audience “mask” control to create high-stakes comedy.5 Jun 2026 · 1 h 3 min · 31 chapters
Russell T Davies: Doctor Who Was There From the Very StartRussell T Davies discusses how Doctor Who shaped his life and career, why he believes TV is a positive storytelling medium for children, and how his Welsh upbringing, gay identity, and youth-theatre…29 May 2026 · 1 h 2 min · 31 chapters
Fern Britton: “I Never Wanted to Be Famous”Fern Britton discusses her life story and TV/radio career on Full Disclosure, focusing on family secrets, early instability, and how she built a media career without chasing fame.22 May 2026 · 1 h 3 min · 36 chapters
Russell Kane: “Today’s the Day I Change My Life”Russell Kane discusses his life story and creative reinvention—growing up under a strict, working-class, right-leaning father; discovering literature; turning anger into achievement; becoming…15 May 2026 · 1 h 8 min · 29 chapters
Philippa Perry: “I could not wait to grow up.”Philippa Perry discusses how her childhood emotional “stiff upper lip” shaped her sense of self, her dyslexia, and her later turn to psychology/therapy and writing.8 May 2026 · 1 h 2 min · 28 chapters
Emma Grede: What it really takes to build a brand with the KardashiansEmma Grede discusses her path from growing up in Plasto, East London (helping her single mother and siblings) to becoming a brand builder and entrepreneur, including how she built…1 May 2026 · 1 h 11 min · 31 chapters
Michael Whitehall: My mother couldn’t accept who we really wereMichael Whitehall discusses his family’s “mythology” and how his mother’s aspirations shaped his childhood, schooling, and later career, culminating in his father-son TV success with Jack Whitehall.24 Apr 2026 · 1 h 1 min · 23 chapters
Marcus Brigstocke: I was fourteen when they threatened to wire my jaw shutMarcus Brigstocke recounts how early trauma and an out-of-control relationship with food evolved into addiction (alcohol, drugs, solvents), his near-death trajectory as a teenager, and how 12-step…17 Apr 2026 · 1 h 6 min · 23 chapters
Full Disclosure: back soon!This is an announcement episode—James O’Brien says Full Disclosure is taking a short break for summer holidays and will return soon.10 Apr 2026 · 1 min