"Britain is nowhere near as bad as America but let's not get complacent about the risk." Jon Sopel is a journalist, broadcaster and author who launched the hugely successful The News Agents podcast with Emily Maitlis and Lewis Goodall in August 2022. Previously, he was the BBC’s North America Editor, covering U.S. elections including Donald Trump’s presidency. He is the author of several books including: If Only They Didn’t Speak English and A Year at the Circus: Inside Trump’s White House. His latest book: Strangeland is out now.

James is back with another incredible guest from the Full Disclosure vault. Angela Rayner is a politician you simply can’t ignore, Her story is as inspiring as it is unlikely. She grew up in poverty in Stockport, left school at 16, pregnant and without a single qualification to her name. And yet through sheer grit, she’s fought her way up to become Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. Angela joined James on Full Disclosure back in 2021. She talks about everything from her chaotic childhood to how she raised her own children out of poverty and her remarkable rise in politics. If you haven’t heard it yet, it’s a brilliant conversation with one of the most vibrant voices in British politics and if you have, it’s well worth another listen…

James revisits one of the most memorable episodes of Full Disclosure with none other than the current Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. Sir Keir’s journey to Downing Street was far from straightforward. In fact, for a long time his life was headed in a completely different direction. He joined James for a live recording of Full Disclosure back in 2022, when he was still Leader of the Opposition. Sir Keir talks about his childhood, the values that shaped him, his time as a human rights lawyer and how he handles the intense pressure and scrutiny of life in the public eye. Whether you're listening for the first time or revisiting the episode, this is a chance to gain real insight into the man now leading the country.

Radio legend Tony Blackburn has spent the past 60 years entertaining listeners with his cheeky charm and passion for soul music. His journey in broadcasting began in 1964 on the offshore pirate stations Radio Caroline and Radio London. Just three years later, he made history as the first DJ to be heard on BBC Radio 1, launching the station with his exciting new music show. Tony quickly became a household name, hosting iconic shows like Top of the Pops, the Top 40 and Capital Gold's award-winning Breakfast Show. In 2015 he made history again, becoming the first person to receive two Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Radio Academy. Still going strong, he continues to entertain on the airwaves, with no plans to hang up his headphones just yet... Tickets for his UK tour, Sounds of the Sixties, are available here.

Jordan Stephens is a writer, musician and actor, best-known as one half of the hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks. His late teens and early twenties were a whirlwind of hit records, sold-out shows and wild parties, fuelled by a heady cocktail of drugs, drink, sex and chaos. It was fun until is wasn't. In 2017, everything fell apart when Jordan cheated on his then-girlfriend, leading to a painful break up that left him heartbroken for the first time. Desperate to make sense of it all, Jordan set out on a journey of self-discovery, facing his emotions and slowly pieced himself back together. He opens up to James about his experience of heartbreak and why love is such an important, yet misunderstood, topic for young men today. His new book, Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak and Dogs is out now.

"When I signed up to the police my friends said, 'Why on earth are you joining a corrupt and racist organisation?'" Neil Basu joined the police force as uniformed officer in 1992. He rose through the ranks to become an assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in 2015, a role he held until 2021. Alongside this, he served as the UK's head of counter terrorism policing and Met assistant commissioner of specialist operations, working closely with MI5. During that time, he led investigations into 12 terror attacks, foiled 29 plots and charged three Russian state assassins in connection with the Salisbury Novichok poisonings. In this rare and candid conversation, Neil doesn't hold back. He talks about the racism he's faced, the barriers he's had to break down and the tough leadership lessons he's learned throughout his career. But perhaps most powerfully, he explains why he firmly believes the Metropolitan Police is institutionally racist and why police chiefs must acknowledge it and apologise. This episode is not suitable to those under 18 and contains sensitive topic discussions including racism and violence. If you are affected by anything you hear in this episode and need support, please see the suggested website links below. HOPE not hate SARI Stop Hate UK

Paul Sinha never really had a life plan and yet, somehow he's ended up with a career that's way beyond anything he could have imagined. He originally pursued a career in medicine, largely to keep his parents happy. But, whilst working as a junior doctor, he decided to give stand-up comedy a try. Now, he's not just a successful comedian but also a professional quizzer, best-known as one of the six Chasers on the ITV quiz show, The Chase. He tells James what it was like to hide his sexuality at school, his unexpected break into comedy and the overwhelming sense of relief he felt when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019. Paul's memoir One Sinha Lifetime is out now.

Raised in an Irish Catholic family as one of nine siblings, Martin O'Neill was brought up with Gaelic football but he dreamt of becoming a professional English footballer. At 18, he was scouted by Nottingham Forest and quit his law degree to sign for the club. He went on to become an integral part of Brian Clough's legendary Nottingham Forest squad, winning back-to-back European Cups, and made history as the first Catholic player to captain Northern Ireland's national team. After hanging up his boots, Martin achieved remarkable success as a manager, leading Celtic and Leicester City to major titles and taking the Republic of Ireland to the knockout stages of the 2016 Euros. He is now the chairman of the League Managers Association and co-hosts the Global podcast The Football Authorities with Clive Tyldesley. You can listen to The Football Authorities here: https://the-football-authorities.captivate.fm/

A chance encounter with the director Lindsay Anderson changed Robin Askwith's life forever. It led to his first acting job, playing the schoolboy Keating in Anderson's film if.... which became one of the most popular British films of all time. If.... kickstarted Robin's incredible career that spans an extraordinary period of time. Over the past 50 years, he's appeared in everything from Pier Paolo Pasolini's The Canterbury Tales to the Confessions comedies to Inside No. 9, The Madame Blanc Mysteries and even a stint in pantomime that saw him batting bread rolls with Ian Botham. Now he's enjoying something of a renaissance moment. And boy, does he have some stories to tell...

James Graham is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter for TV and film. His plays include Ink, This House and Dear England, about the struggles and successes of England’s former football manager Gareth Southgate. His acclaimed TV dramas include Quiz and Sherwood, set in the north Nottinghamshire village where he grew up.  James was born into the close-knit community of Kirkby-In-Ashfield and witnessed the deep and permanent divisions from the 1980s miners’ strikes. He wrote his first play whilst studying drama at the University of Hull and seeing his words come alive on stage inspired him to keep writing. He’s gone on to establish himself as one of the most influential playwrights of his generation, taking inspiration from moments in history that illuminate a particular social or political anxiety of the moment and telling stories that help us make sense of the world.  His adaptation of Alan Bleasdale's TV drama, Boys From The Blackstuff, is currently playing at the West End's Garrick Theatre. Tickets are available at boysfromtheblackstuff.com 

"I had this inner feeling that something would happen to take me away from my mundane life". The first twenty years of Russell Watson's life were very ordinary. He grew up in Salford, left school at 16 with almost no qualifications and joined the government's Youth Training Scheme. By the age of 20, he was working on the shop floor of a factory, making nuts and bolts. He started singing in local pubs and working men's clubs after winning a local talent competition organised by Manchester Piccadilly Radio. It was tough, and Russell considered giving up - until one night in Wigan changed everything. Russell has gone on to become one of the UK's most popular classical artists, selling over 7 million records and performing for notable figures including Pope John Paul II, members of the Royal Family and the Emperor of Japan. Tickets for his Magnificent Buildings concert tour are available at russellwatson.com

When Joe Pasquale was just seven years old, his mum was involved in a car accident that left her with concussion and epilepsy. She struggled to look after Joe and his three siblings and became severely depressed. Determined to try and fix things, Joe made it his mission to make her laugh every single day. Forty years on, he has become a staple in British comedy, bringing joy and laughter to millions. Tickets for his latest show, The New Normal, 40 Years of Cack! are available at joepasquale.com

“I’m a Walter Mitty who’s actually done it.” Growing up in a tenement on the outskirts of Glasgow, Midge Ure dreamt of being a rock star, even though it seemed impossible for a working-class kid like him. But he had something special. At just 18, he got his first break as the guitarist for the pop band Slik and went on to be part of several influential bands in the 1970s and 80s, including Rich Kids, Thin Lizzy and Ultravox. Alongside Bob Geldof, he set up Band Aid, collaborating on the 1984 hit Do They Know It's Christmas? With a career spanning over 50 years, he has firmly established himself as a rock legend, making all his dreams come true. Tickets for Midge Ure: Catalogue: The Hits Tour are available at midgeure.co.uk

Nick Lowles is chief executive of HOPE not hate, the UK's largest anti-racism and anti-extremism movement. For the last 35 years, he has tirelessly fought against those who try to exploit frustrations, create divisions and pit groups against each other. Nick began his involvement with the anti-fascist movement as a student volunteer. He then worked for the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight before founding HOPE not hate in 2004. In his first ever interview about his life, Nick tells James why he's dedicated his life to fighting extremism and what keeps him awake at night. This episode is not suitable to those under 18 and contains sensitive topic discussions including racism and violence. If you are affected by anything you hear in this episode and need support, please see the suggested website links below. HOPE not hate SARI Stop Hate UK

Actor and writer Sally Lindsay has always loved the spotlight. She made her TV debut aged 7 when her school choir performed their No.1 single There’s No One Quite Like Grandma on Top of the Pops. But it wasn’t until university that she realised she could make a career out of performing. Sally's gone on to star in hit TV shows such as Phoenix Nights, Coronation Street, Mount Pleasant and her latest project, The Madame Blanc Mysteries, which she also writes and produces. She tells James how she landed her first TV role in The Royale Family, the struggles that working-class actors face and what she’s doing to tackle inequality in the industry.

Helen Lederer is a writer, actress and comedian. She began her career on the alternative comedy circuit, performing alongside many of today’s household names, and quickly landed roles in iconic sitcoms such as Absolutely Fabulous, Bottom and Girls on Top. Since then she’s appeared on TV and radio, written bestselling books and set up the Comedy Women in Print prize. Despite this, Helen admits she often struggles to believe in her own success. She tells James about her fascination with status and explains why she feels she has never quite made it to the top. Not That I’m Bitter - A Truly, Madly, Funny Memoir by Helen Lederer is out now.

Danny Wallace is a bestselling author and broadcaster who loves nothing more than thinking up fun ideas and seeing how far he can take them. His first book, Join Me, tells the true story of how he he accidentally started a cult. His second book, Yes Man, describes what happened when he decided to say yes to everything - a story so compelling it was adapted into a Hollywood film starring Jim Carrey. Now he's delving into the world of conspiracies with his new book, Somebody Told Me. Danny tells James how he fell down a rabbit hole of disinformation and well-told lies and why he's never been afraid of rejection. Somebody Told Me: One Man's Unexpected Journey Down The Rabbit Hole of Lies, Trolls and Conspiracies is out now.

Comedy legend Frank Skinner returns to Full Disclosure just days after he signed off his final Absolute Radio show, wrapping up an incredible 15 years. He tells James why he will always love radio, reveals the one regret that will stay with him forever and gives a refreshingly honest take on what it's really like to be famous. Frank is extending his critically acclaimed stand up tour show, 30 Years of Dirt, with an additional 24 dates across the UK this autumn. Tickets are available at frankskinnerlive.com You can listen to his first interview on Full Disclosure here.

Enjoying Full Disclosure with James O'Brien? Here's another podcast you might like. Broadcaster, Jemma Forte, and political commentator, Marina Purkiss, scroll through Twitter so you don’t have to. In the latest episode, James O'Brien finds himself on the opposite side of the interrogating questions. Marina and Jemma talk election, Brexit, and take a trip down memory lane with some caller clips that never get old. The Trawl is now available to listen on Global Player, for free. Download it from the App Store, or head to globalplayer.com and search 'The Trawl'.

One of the world’s most acclaimed, award-winning authors Salman Rushdie has spent the last thirty years with a death threat attached to his head. A threat that almost became a reality two years ago when he brutally stabbed 15 times by a stranger. Few people have come so close to death and lived to tell the story. Salman returns to Full Disclosure to tell James about the day he almost died and the aftermath that followed. Salman has written a deeply personal account of the brutal attack on his life. Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder is out now. This episode contains sensitive topic discussions around graphic and disturbing violence. Listener discretion is advised.