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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.
445 Episodes
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The eminent and multiple-prize-winning historian, Antony Beevor, best known for his popular works on the Second World War, the Spanish Civil War and Russia, talks to Charlotte Metcalf about his new book on Rasputin: And the Downfall of the Romanovs, published this week. They also talk about his life and the problems that historians are increasingly facing in an age of disinformation and electronic rather than written communication.
Comedian, actor and author Nigel Planer, stuck with being known as the lugubrious hippy Neil in the 1980’s sitcom The Young Ones, talks to Charlotte Metcalf about his memoir Young Once. He tells her how he’s finally escaped being Neil and how, alongside his career as a well-known comedian, he’s forged a successful career as an actor, musician, playwright, poet, audiobook narrator and more.
Part One of a series of specially-commissioned Maureen Lipman monologues for the Oldie, about Dinah - a waitress in the north of England.
Nigel Planer speaking about his new book, Young Once: A Life Less Heavy, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on February 17th 2026.
Tom Hodgkinson speaking about his new book, How to Live Like a Stoic: a Handbook for Happiness, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on February 17th 2026.
Pru Leith speaking about her new book, Being Old and Learning to Love It!, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on February 17th 2026.
Charlotte Metcalf talks to Dr. Miriam Stoppard about her new book Sex, Drugs and Walking Sticks, a must-read bible for oldies, full of anecdotes and her personal tips on how to age well. She talks frankly about her views on sex and alcohol, about her life and motherhood and reminisces about her 20-year marriage to the late Tom Stoppard.
Lady Antonia Fraser, 93 – Oldie of the YearLady Antonia Fraser wrote The House That Spoke: The History of a Home last year – 71 years after her first book, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.Introduced by Gyles Brandreth.
Maggi Hambling, 80 – Oldie Finest ArtistNow aged 80, Maggi is still going at full blast. She is in her studio - or by the North Sea with her sketchbook - by 6am every morning.Introduced by Gyles Brandreth.
Michael Heath, 90 – Oldie King of the ToonsAt 90, Michael Heath remains our finest observational cartoonist. Since he first placed a cartoon in Melody Maker in 1955 – more than 70 years ago – he has drawn people with the clothes, hair and mannerisms of the moment.Introduced by Gyles Brandreth.
Stephen Frears, 84 – Silver-Screen Evergreen OldieOver a period of six decades and with remarkably little fuss, Stephen Frears has established himself as our pre-eminent film director.Introduced by Gyles Brandreth.
Anita Lasker-Walfisch, 100 – Oldie MaestraAnita Lasker Wallfisch, 100, a German-British cellist, was a member of the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz. After the war, she co-founded ensembles including the English Chamber Orchestra and has been honoured for her contributions to music and Holocaust remembrance.Introduced by Gyles Brandreth
Susan Hampshire, 88 – Oldie Comeback KidSusan Hampshire starred in The Forsyte Saga as Fleur in the late 1960s. Then, last year, she returned as Lady Carteret in the prequel, The Forsytes.Introduced by Gyles Brandreth.
Stephen Frears is one of Britain’s most prolific and successful film and television directors. His 1985 film My Beautiful Laundrette made his name and launched the careers of Daniel Day-Lewis and Tim Bevan of Working Title. Stephen talks to Charlotte Metcalf about his phenomenal career, from directing Dangerous Liaisons, written by Christopher Hampton in 1988 and starring John Malkovich, Glenn Close and Michelle Pfeiffer, to working with Martin Scorsese on Grifters and with Stephen Knight on Dirty Pretty Things (2002). He also talks about his admiration for Hugh Grant who played Jeremy Thorpe in his 2018 mini-series A Very English Scandal and his enduring friendship Hanif Kureshi, who wrote the screenplay for My Beautiful Laundrette.
Jeremy King, the greatest restaurateur of the age, tells Harry Mount how he set up the Caprice, the Ivy and the Wolseley. He explains how he trains his waiters, how he spots when a diner is about to hit him and why he wrote his new book, Without Reservation - Lessons from a Life in Restaurants.
Mary Berry speaking about her new book, Mary 90: My Very Best Recipes, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on January 20th 2026.
Jeremy King speaking about his new book, Without Reservation: Lessons from a Life in Restaurants, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on January 20th 2026.
John Davie speaking about his new book, Greek to Us: the Fascinating Ancient Greek that Shapes our World, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on January 20th 2026.
Charlotte Metcalf talks to Helen Macdonald, author of H is for Hawk - the best-selling story of how she dealt with the grief over her father's death by bringing up a goshawk in Cambridge. The book has just been made into a film, starring Claire Foy (pictured) as Helen - it comes out this Friday, January 23rd.
1As he turns 90, Hunter Davies tells Harry Mount about being the Beatles' only official biographer – the priceless, hand-written lyrics he picked up off the floor of Abbey Road Studios, John Lennon's disapproving Aunt Mimi and the swimming trunks Paul McCartney left at his Portugal house.
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