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Radio Oldie

Radio Oldie

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.

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  • 494 episodes
  • Updated Thursday

Episodes494

Newest first
  • Apr 10, 2024 · 13 min

    Sinclair McKay reveals Winston Churchill's encounters at The Oldie Literary Lunch on April 9th 2024

    "You would make a good Labour MP!" said Chaplin, and "Selfish, arrogant he believes he is at the centre of the world - he is a great man!" said Charles de Gaulle about Churchill. Sinclair McKay reveals Winston's encounters at The Oldie Literary Lunch. Why is Sinclair's book called '90 Encounters?' Well, Churchill was the 'dazzling' age of 90 when he died, Sinclair told The Oldie. Sinclair continued, 'there have been many books written about Churchill, but not one that researches his encounters'. We asked Sinclair what view he had of Churchill post writing the book - 'Churchill was the opposite of cancel culture' and kept enemies 'close to his bosom' replied Sinclair. The Oldie Lunch was sponsored by Noble Caledonia River Cruises. Photos by Neil Spence Photography. Audio by Tom Assheton. Held at The National Liberal Club, 1 Whitehall Place, London.

  • Apr 10, 2024 · 13 min

    'Brave Women'. Rick Stroud remembers his brave daughter Nell at The Oldie Literary Lunch on 9th April 2024 and told us why his latest books mean so much to him

    'There is a sort-of link between my two books', Rick Stroud told The Oldie audience today, 'I have had an enormous amount of satisfaction trying to write about very, very brave women'. Rick's latest book 'I'm Not Afraid of Looking Into The Rifles' was sold to Publisher, Simon & Schuster on what would have been his late daughter Nell's 47th birthday (in 2020). 'There is a link to (my books), and that is Lonely Courage is dedicated to my daughter Nell who died of cancer, she was a very, very brave woman and ran a circus, and I'm Not Afraid Of Looking Into The Rifles was sold to publisher Simon Schulster by a sad coincidence on what would have been her 47th birthday, but by then she left us'. Rick had tears in his eyes. He ended his speech with the poem 'The Life That I Have' by Leo Marks. The Oldie Lunch was sponsored by Noble Caledonia River Cruises. Photos by Neil Spence Photography. Audio by Tom Assheton. Held at The National Liberal Club, 1 Whitehall Place, London.

  • Apr 10, 2024 · 11 min

    A Very Private School. Charles Spencer speaking at The Oldie Literary Lunch on 9th April 2024

    Charles Spencer recounted, to The Oldie Literary Lunch today, the stories of 24 boys who had been at Maidwell Hall in 1972 and the terrifying story of how the Headmaster's religion had affected them. The Headmaster told one boy that he was 'outraged that the boy's parents were getting divorced'. This was something that the boy was clearly struggling with. The Headmaster announced 'I think you should consider me as your father now'. The boy was taken down on Sunday evenings for what were called 'Sunday Night Confessions'. He had to strip and tell the Headmaster all the things that he had done wrong that week. He hadn't done anything wrong, so he invented 'little schoolboy crimes' said Spencer. Charles Spencer told The Oldie Literary Lunch 'Maidwell Hall is actually a very good school now - that's not lawyers asking me to say that'. Charles told us: 'I have friends with children there (Maidwell Hall) and they seem to like it very much' Earl Spencer called the book A Very Private School 'because that is how it thrived'. Charles recounted the horrendous experience of having a pediphile and sadist headmaster. 'It was utterly terrifying for all of us'. The Oldie Lunch was sponsored by Noble Caledonia River Cruises. Photos by Neil Spence Photography. Audio by Tom Assheton. Held at The National Liberal Club, 1 Whitehall Place, London.

  • Mar 27, 2024 · 1 hr 41 min

    The Great Escape - Oldie Podcast with Tom Assheton and James Jackson

    To salute the 80th anniversary of the Great Escape and the recent article about POW Roger Mortimer by his son, Charlie Mortimer we present this discussion between Tom Assheton and James Jackson on Great Escapes – events that have captured the imagination for generations. From the simplest adoption of disguise to the longest tunnels, both successful and failed attempts have entered the realm of legend. Everyone knows the tale of the Great Escape, yet far fewer remember the names of those who dug myriad escape tunnels to confound the Germans and try to reach home. Colditz and Stalag Luft III have been the subject of television and the big screen. But the real stories of boredom, fortitude, courage and starvation – and death – give a picture that is more layered and complex than most now imagine. 1. Inertia 2. The Wild, the Wacky and the Simple Plan 3. Organisation 4. Equipment, Killing Time & Techniques 5. The Camps 6. Other Escapes Readings: First published by https://bloodyviolenthistory.com/episodes/escape in august 2021 Marcus Scriven interview with wartime POW Frank Day – 2 extracts Escape & Evasion from the Counter Terrorism Handbook, James Jackson

  • Mar 19, 2024 · 25 min

    Harry Bucknall Podcast on the 80th Anniversary of Patrick Leigh-Femor capturing General Kreipe

    Welcome to this special episode to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the capture of General Kreipe. One of the greatest feats in Patrick Leigh Fermor's remarkable life was the kidnapping of General Kreipe, the German commander in Crete, on 26 April 1944. He and Captain Billy Moss hatched a daring plan to abduct the general, while ensuring that no reprisals were taken against the Cretan population. Here, Harry Bucknall, interviews General Sir Michael David Jackson.

  • Dec 13, 2023 · 16 min

    Gyles Brandreth on Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait

    Gyles delights and moves the audience at The Oldie Literary Lunch on Tuesday 12 December about his friendship with our late Queen. His speech brought tears to most of the eyes in the room.

  • Dec 13, 2023 · 12 min

    The Duke of Beaufort on his memoir The Unlikely Duke at The Oldie Literary Lunch 12 Dec 2023

    The Duke of Beaufort lit up yesterday's Oldie Literary Lunch on Tuesday 12th December at The National Liberal Club with anecdotes about his privileged life. The Duke wrote his memoir in lockdown in Badminton with nothing else much to do but weekly estate meetings on covid-related matters. He said the problem is 'he rivals Sleeping Beauty' and is inherently lazy, but in lockdown with nothing else to do - no parties, golf or rock band to play in - he knuckled down and wrote his memoir. He provides insights in living in a stately home and managing a large estate in the vanishing traditions of the aristocracy. Some of the stories in his book cover his friendsL actors, politicians and even royalty. The Duke said he found himself on stage today with a new super groups Beaufort, Beard and Brandreth! Adventures apart, what really means the most to The Duke in his life, is family and friends, having explored sex, drugs and Rock 'n' Roll. Of sex, he wished he had had more of it; of drugs, he wished he had had less and of Rock 'n' Roll - never enough.