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The Oldie magazine’s podcast featuring discussion and debate around the lead features in the latest magazine, plus live recordings from our famous Literary Lunches. Presented by Harry Mount.
399 Episodes
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Alexander McCall Smith is a prolific and fast writer, known mainly for his best-selling series The Number One Ladies Detective Agency in Botswana and featuring his popular heroine Mama Precious Ramotswe.
The books have been translated into 46 languages and sold millions worldwide. These and his numerous other books, including the Scotland Street series, have earned him a global reputation, a CBE and in 2024 a knighthood for services to Literature, Academia and Charity.
Journalist and broadcaster Rachel Johnson tells Harry Mount about her competitive upbringing, her imposter syndrome and the collapse of The Lady magazine.
Amanda Barrie speaking about her new book, I'm Still Here: My 90 Years, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on September 9th 2025
Paula Byrne speaking about her new book, Six Weeks by the Sea: The Summer Jane Austen Fell in Love , at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on September 9th 2025.”
Eleanor Doughty speaking about her new book, Heirs and Graces: A History of the Modern British Aristocracy, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on September 9th 2025.
At 93, Antonia Fraser, one of our leading historians, has written her 40th book – The House that Spoke: The History of a Home.
She tells Harry Mount about 70 years of writing, going all the way back to her 1954 debut, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. And she talks about her west London house, where she wrote her 1969 bestseller, Mary, Queen of Scots – and her late husband, Harold Pinter, wrote Betrayal in 1978.
Joshua Levine, one of our leading Second World War historians, talks to Harry Mount about the 85th anniversary of the Blitz - which began on September 7 1940.
Levine's book The Secret History of the Blitz led to him advising film director Steve McQueen for his 2024 film Blitz.
His book Forgotten Voices of Dunkirk inspired Christopher Nolan to make Dunkirk (2017), for which Levine was the historical advisor.
On Radio Oldie, Prince Andrew's biographer, Andrew Lownie, talks to Harry Mount. His new book Entitled - The Rise and Fall of the House of York is a number one bestseller. It reveals how Prince Andrew, the late Queen's favourite, was disgraced by his greed for money and sex.
Fay Maschler, the restaurant critic, tells Harry Mount about 53 years of reviewing restaurants. The Evening Standard critic for 48 years, she is now Tatler's critic. She reveals London's greatest restaurant - and explains why 1987 was the year that changed the British eating landscape for ever.
John Lloyd is a multi-award-winning television and radio producer. He is the creator of Not the Nine O’Clock News, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Blackadder, Spitting Image, QI, The Museum of Curiosity and much more. In 2011 was awarded a CBE for services to broadcasting.
Rachel Kelly is a bestselling author, keynote speaker and mental health advocate, who has just published her new book The Gift of Teenagers, recently serialised in the Daily Mail. A former Times journalist, Rachel has been named one of the UK’s top five mental health influencers and is an official ambassador for the mental health charities Rethink Mental Illness and SANE.
Helen Lederer tells Harry Mount about a life in comedy.
A stand-up comedian at the Comedy Store, she has starred with Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Ben Elton and the late Rik Mayall, . And she excelled as Catriona, the dim Sloane in Absolutely Fabulous.
Sarah Sands is a well-known journalist. She edited Readers’ Digest, the Sunday Telegraph and the Evening Standard before becoming editor of Today, BBC Four’s flagship news programme. Recently she abandoned her career in exchange for a quieter, more fluid life and has written three books about monasticism, faith and inner peace. She also now organises pilgrimages. She talks to Charlotte Metcalf about her time in journalism, the deaths of her father, her brother and her ex-husband, Julian Sands and her quest for a very different way of life.
Philippa Langley speaking about her new book, The Princes in the Tower: Solving History's Greatest Cold Case, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on July 15th 2025.
David Hepworth speaking about his new book, Hope I Get Old Before I Die: Why Rock Stars Never Retire, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on July 15th 2025.
Lucy Moore speaking about her new book, Christopher Gibbs: His World, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on July 15th 2025.
Oldie columnist and Irish writer, Mary Kenny, tells Harry Mount about her 60 years in journalism. She salutes her old boss, the novelist Edna O'Brien, and remembers her time leading the Irish Women's Liberation Movement. And she reflects on her biography of Lord Haw-Haw, the Nazi propagandist.
On Radio Oldie, writer, designer and singer Nicky Haslam does a perfect Truman Capote impression. He recalls meeting Marilyn Monroe and Cole Porter. He reveals Diana Cooper's recipe for a good party – 'Too much to drink and a chocolate pudding.' And he explains why the Sistine Chapel is common.
As we head towards the 40th anniversary of Live Aid on 13th July, Charlotte Metcalf talks to the writer and broadcaster Mark Ellen, then a hugely successful editor of magazines like New Musical Express and Time Out, Mark was plucked from The Old Grey Whistle Test to be one of the main television anchors on the concert. He looks back at a phenomenal event and how it changed our attitudes to rock music and its role forever.
Tracy Chevalier speaking about her new book, The Glassmaker, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on June 24th 2025.
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