Full Disclosure with James O'Brien

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 Ed...

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...

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 refl...

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 qui...

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 rad...

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...

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 off...

Actor, activist, and unapologetic truth-teller, Jameela Jamil has lived many lives and survived every single one of them with grit, wit, and an unwavering sense of justice. In this episode of Full Disclosure , James O’Brien sits down with Jameela to explore a journey that defies expectation. From a childhood shaped by illness, isolation and relentless bullying, to becoming a pioneering British rad...

Known to millions as Mick Shipman in Gavin & Stacey and Archie Mitchell in EastEnders , Larry Lamb has lived a life far more complex than any character he’s played. From a fractured childhood in postwar London, to becoming one of Britain’s most familiar faces- his story is one of survival, resilience and transformation. In this episode of Full Disclosure , James O’Brien sits down with Larry to...

In this episode of Full Disclosure , James O’Brien sits down with cricketing icon Jimmy Anderson to trace the arc of a record-breaking career- from growing up as a shy kid in Burnley, to becoming the most successful fast bowler in Test history. Jimmy reflects on the early self-doubt that plagued him, the physical toll of a 20-year career, and the inner battles he faced behind the scenes. They disc...

From the war zones of Bosnia to the frontlines of Gaza, Christiane Amanpour has reported from the epicentres of global upheaval for over three decades. Her commitment to being “truthful, not neutral” made her one of the most respected correspondents of her generation and a sharp, unwavering voice in the age of misinformation. In this episode of Full Disclosure , James O’Brien sits down with Christ...

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...

From dominating the UK airwaves to starting over on the other side of the world, Christian O’Connell is a broadcaster and writer who has built a career out of connection, candour, and comedy. In this episode of Full Disclosure , James O’Brien sits down with Christian to trace the path from his childhood in Hampshire to becoming one of the UK’s most celebrated radio voices- and the breakdown that f...

From the world of variety to the West End stage, Brian Conley has built a career around his infectious energy, unique humour, and remarkable talent. In this episode of Full Disclosure , Brian opens up about his journey, from growing up in a working-class family to finding solace and confidence in showbiz. He reflects on the highs of performing with legends like Tom Jones to his struggles with dysl...

Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, has spent over three decades at the forefront of the global human rights movement, challenging abusive governments and fighting for justice. In this episode of Full Disclosure , James O'Brien sits down with Kenneth to discuss his extraordinary career, from his early years learning his father’s refugee story, to his pivotal role in shap...

Ash Atalla, the creative mind behind some of the most beloved British comedies, sits down with James O'Brien to explore his incredible journey from a challenging childhood in Northern Ireland to becoming a powerhouse producer in television. From The Office to The IT Crowd , Big Boys and more, Ash shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career, including the unexpected path that led him to comed...

Steven Frayne, formerly known as Dynamo, takes us on an extraordinary journey from the tough streets of Bradford to becoming one of the world’s most celebrated magicians. In this revealing episode of Full Disclosure , Steven opens up about his transformative life experiences- growing up in a single-parent household, dealing with adversity, and finding magic in the most unexpected places. From over...

Carol Vorderman is best known as the queen of Countdown, but there’s far more to her than just numbers. From growing up in a single-parent household to becoming one of the most recognisable women in British television, her journey has been anything but ordinary. In this episode of Full Disclosure , James O'Brien explores Carol’s path from excelling in mathematics to navigating the world of televis...

From investigating the minds of psychopaths to examining the impact of public shaming in the digital age, Jon Ronson is a journalist and author who has built a career exploring stories that reveal the complexities of human nature. In this episode of  Full Disclosure , James O'Brien sits down with Jon to unpack the experiences that shaped his unique outlook- from growing up in Cardiff to embed...

David Harewood is one of Britain's finest actors, but fame found him late in life after he was cast as CIA Director David Estes in smash-hit show Homeland. In this fascinating episode of Full Disclosure, join James O'Brien as he takes a tour around David's life, from his early childhood, racist abuse from theatre reviewers, his psychosis diagnosis and how he's become first black president of the R...

Alistair McGowan is a man of many talents, as well as being one of the UKs most beloved impressionists. From award winning performances on the West End Stage, sell-out pianist shows and dominating the 90s and 00s sketch TV scene, he is a man that never disappoints to entertain. In this episode, James O'Brien goes back in time to Alistair's school days, his warm upbringing in Evesham and to the mom...

From busking on the streets to topping the charts, KT Tunstall has carved a career defined by resilience, reinvention, and raw talent.  In this episode of Full Disclosure , James O’Brien dives into KT’s journey from growing up in Scotland in a family with no musical background, to discovering her biological father’s Irish singing roots, and ultimately shaping her own unmistakable sound. KT sh...

Matt Forde is an eternal optimist. From growing up on a council estate to a single mother on benefits, to playing sold out nights at the London Palladium, he's a comedian and broadcaster with a very different story to most. In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O'Brien takes a tour of Matt's formative years from the industrial city of Nottingham in the 1980s, his time working for the Labour pa...

Zoe Lyons is a comedian that has graced our screens for over two decades, being a regular panelist on Mock the Week as well as numerous appearances on Have I Got News For You and Live at the Apollo. She grew up in rural Ireland, with a peripatetic childhood that would see her move to England, America and Scotland all by the time she reached 10-years-old. In this episode, James O'Brien takes a tour...

Dr. Rangan Chatterjee is a British physician, author, television presenter, and podcaster, known for his alternative approaches to health and wellbeing, aiming to find the root cause of disease rather than simply treating symptoms.  During this episode of Full Disclosure, James O'Brien sits down with Dr. Chatterjee to find out how his childhood shaped his career path, how he deals with critic...