Gyles Brandreth webchat - 17 September 1-2pm

Hello Gyles - it's me again. As there aren't many questions on this thread yet and it's the 17th tomorrow I have just been googling you just in case there was something I could add to keep things going and discovered that we were born in the same year, married in the same year and your 3 children were born in the same years as mine. Wow - I think it was meant to be!! Only difference is you still have your wife but I don't have my husband ... Seriously, I love their names - have your grandchildren been bestowed with equally individual, unusual monikers? You always seem such a jolly, optimistic person () - are you always so, or do you sometimes, occasionally, feel a little glum? ()

Hi Gyles, is being on the one show as fun as it looks?

Hello Gyles,

Being a bit of a career chameleon - what would you consider your 'career highlight' so to speak?

p.s me and OH love just a minute!

dorish I never really thought about that but I know what you mean, a SIL of mine got married - in the US - in a furniture shop! There was much whispering and tittering about that behind the happy couple's backs, not coming from me of course I was just slightly bemused but the thought.

Apparently you've made more appearances on Countdown than any other guest! Is that the most favourite show you've been on? If not, what is?

Hi Gyles! Am intrigued. Has researching the book changed the way you live your life (or were you quite happy before that?)

I notice that the subtitle of your book is "An optimist's journey". Have you always been a glass-half-full kind of guy? If one is not naturally inclined to optimism what can they do to change this?

I can't believe no one has asked about the sweaters yet!!! How? Why? Do you still wear them? (and if so how on earth have you kept the moths at bay - that is a genuine question!)

Do you miss being an MP?

I f I remember correctly you were the one to introduce the ability to get married in places other than a church/registry office. What was behind that? And do you think it's been a good move? I am all for freedom of choice but do worry that some venues may cheapen the whole ceremony - make it a bit gimicky instead of a solemn vow to love and cherish etc

I love Just a minute!

I would love to know more about When We Are Sixty please

I heard you reading from your 'life' on Radio 4 last week - loved it - is there more to come? However, I have to tell you that I can't stand Just a Minute - sorry . As soon as it came on the radio my late husband and I looked at each other, made the finger down the throaty expression and rushed to the cat's whisker to retune to Radio 3 . Do you still collect teddy bears? I have quite a collection myself which the gc's play with (with which the gc's play) so they are all a bit 'used'. Better that way don't you think?

Hi Gyles, I recently read an interview with you about your '7 secrets of happiness' and the one that made me laugh out loud was "No one is interested in you" (because I get that). So why do you think people queue up and pay to see your show then?

Hello Gyles

I've always wondered, how scripted are shows like Just A Minute? Do you know the topics in advance? Are you all sitting there reading your words or does it all come out of your heads on the day?

Oh, fascinating.

I came across A A Milne's "Red House Mystery" at my charity shop last month. I hadn't realised he'd written anything except the Winnie the Pooh books, but now I gather he had quite a large output and became rather frustrated that Pooh's success destroyed his reputation as an adult author.

Do you think Milne's other work was unfairly overshadowed by Winnie-the-Pooh?