20 October 2026
Gyles Brandreth has taken up boxing with his wife and says it “beats going to couples’ counselling”.
Gyles Brandreth and his wife Michele Brown
The 78-year-old broadcaster said the sessions with writer Michele Brown help to keep them fit and their relationship healthy.
Gyles told the new issue of Best magazine: “We box together twice a week, with a personal trainer. She’s very good!
“It beats going to couples’ counselling.”
The former Conservative Party politician also revealed the secret behind his 53-year marriage.
He said: “Marry somebody with very low expectations!”
Gyles feels lucky that his soulmate is always by his side, adding: “My wife is incredibly supportive.
“When I’m doing a show, or we’re on tour, she’s always there. And never let the sun go down on a dispute, either.”
However, Michele has a brutal response when he appears on ITV’s This Morning as a regular contributor.
In March, Gyles told Woman’s Weekly magazine: “My wife, Michele, definitely keeps me in my place. She doesn’t take all this too seriously.
“She came with me to This Morning and sat in the green room reading the newspaper. I said, ‘I’m on television!’
“She doesn’t watch me at home, and she didn’t watch me there. She said, ‘When I watch you at home, I have to watch you with the sound turned down.’ “
And the writer admitted that despite her best efforts, Queen Camilla has not been able to convince King Charles to watch his programmes.
He added: “Once, Queen Camilla did tell me that she tried to persuade the King to watch me on the canal series I did with Dame Sheila Hancock.
“Whether he did or not, though, I doubt it. He’s not a very keen TV viewer, but that doesn’t bother me. It’s OK!”
Gyles has also appeared on the likes of the Channel 4 game show Countdown, and BBC Radio 4’s Just a Minute, and is keen to keep taking on any opportunities that come his way.
He explained: “I will turn 80 in a few years’ time, and I’ve been very lucky in that I’ve really done everything that I’ve wanted to do.
“You never know quite what’s coming along, and I think of something I want to do, I tend to just get on with it.”