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

June 17 · 26 min
473: David Hockney's biographer Christopher Sykes talks to Harry Mount
Christopher Sykes, author of Hockney: The Biography, tells Harry Mount what the late, great painter was really like and why his pictures were quite so captivating. This week's podcast is kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford, Actual Investors, who take a long-term approach to investing in exceptional companies.
June 16 · 12 min
472: Andrew Graham-Dixon at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Andrew Graham-Dixon speaking about his new book, Vermeer: A Life Lost and Found, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on June 16th 2026.
June 16 · 11 min
471: Sinclair McKay at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Sinclair McKay speaking about his new book, Dad's Army: The Glorious True Story of the Home Guard in WW2, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on June 16th 2026.
June 16 · 14 min
470: James Reed at the Oldie Literary Lunch
James Reed speaking about his new book, Karma Capitalism: Why Being a Good Business is Good Business, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on June 16th 2026.
June 11 · 46 min
469: The Odd Couple, sponsored by Baillie Gifford Actual Investors: John Humphrys and Matthew Norman on the World Cup
World Cup fever is building for everyone – except John Humphrys. The last game the legendary broadcaster watched was the World Cup Final in 1966 – ever since, he has loathed professional sport. Meanwhile, Matthew Norman, former Evening Standard sports columnist, has written two books about sport – and will be glued to the telly for the next month. This week's podcast is kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford, Actual Investors, who take a long-term approach to investing in exceptional companies. Recorded by Yamaha Music.
June 8 · 5 min
468: Maureen Lipman – Driving Miss Maisie
In a special sketch written for The Oldie, Maureen plays an aggrieved ex-wife asking her ex-husband, Brian, for help with her daughter, Maisie, who has gone catastrophically off the rails...
June 4 · 15 min
467: When Harry Met Fruity – the June issue of The Oldie
Oldie editor, Harry Mount, and supplements editor, Charlotte 'Fruity' Metcalf, discuss the latest issue of the magazine – and discuss the ingredients of the perfect article.
June 1 · 29 min
466: Margaret Drabble in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Charlotte Metcalf talks to the multiple-award winning writer Margaret Drabble about her books, her upbringing, her early life in theatre and her new book, The Great Good Places and discovers why she will never write another novel nor be publishing her long memoir during her lifetime.
May 25 · 41 min
465: The Odd Couple, sponsored by Baillie Gifford - John Humphrys and Matthew Norman on Restaurant Hell - and Heaven
John Humphrys loathes the pretence - and expense - of smart restaurants. Matthew Norman, former food critic, has spent some of his happiest moments in restaurants - but has never matched the pleasure of a Chinese meal in Willesden when he was six. Recorded at Yamaha Studios
May 18 · 40 min
464: Christopher Hampton in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Christopher Hampton is one of Britain’s most outstanding and prolific playwrights and screenwriters. Currently his Dangerous Liaisons is playing at the National Theatre, while his Atonement has its world premiere at Chichester Festival Theatre on 29th May and his The Truth opens at The Apollo Theatre in June. He talks to Charlotte Metcalf about his life in film and cinema and the characters he’s met along the way range from his legendary agent Peggy Ramsay and schoolfriend David Hare to David Lean, Stephen Frears, Sean Connery, Emma Thompson, Martin Scorsese and many many more.
May 12 · 17 min
463: Colin Bell at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Colin Bell speaking about his new book, Bloody Dangerous: Fifty missions over Germany: The last first-hand account from WW2, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on May 12th 2026.
May 12 · 14 min
461: Robert Hardman at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Robert Hardman speaking about his new book, Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on May 12th 2026.
May 12 · 11 min
462: Hugo Vickers at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Hugo Vickers speaking about his new book, Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on May 12th 2026. He teased his fellow biographer Robert Hardman for being only three years old when Hugo first met the Queen in 1968. Robert may have met Donald Trump in the Oval Office but Hugo met the Queen in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle, to give her a copy of his book.
May 11 · 26 min
460: Christine Dawood in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Charlotte Metcalf talks to Christine Dawood, whose book 96 Hours is published on 12th May. The book tells Christine’s harrowing story of losing her husband, Shahzada, and 19-year-old son, Suleman, when the Titan submersible imploded on an exploratory diving mission down to the Titanic in June 2023. It intersperses her account of that agonising wait with vignettes from her happy, loving family life. Christina tells Charlotte about her grief, her book and her plans to create a healing centre for others who have suffered a devastating loss.
May 5 · 32 min
459: John Tusa in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Charlotte Metcalf talks to John Tusa, the distinguished journalist and arts administrator about his new podcast, The Best is Yet to Come, interviewing oldies in their nineties about their lives. He also talks about own his life, from leaving Czechoslovakia on the brink of war to his life in London now.
April 27 · 40 min
458: The Odd Couple with John Humphrys and Matthew Norman - Episode 002
John Humphrys, the former Today programme presenter, and Oldie columnist Matthew Norman mourn John's brother, Graham Humphrys, who has just died at 87. Matthew recalls the death of his parents in their late 80s - and how vital it was that they should die at home.
April 20 · 37 min
457: Anne Sebba in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Charlotte Metcalf talks to the historian and biographer, Anne Sebba, about her latest book, The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz. Anne tells Charlotte that she became fascinated with how the women survived and then how she tracked down and interviewed the two remaining survivors, including 100-year-old cellist Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, who came to and was honoured as Oldie Maestra of the Year at this year’s Oldie Awards in February.
April 15 · 16 min
456: Sebastian Faulks at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Sebastian Faulks speaking about his new book, Fires Which Burned Brightly, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on April 14th 2026.
April 14 · 15 min
455: Sara Wheeler at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Sara Wheeler speaking about her new book, Jan Morris: A Life, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on April 14th 2026.
April 14 · 10 min
454: Anna Mathias at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Anna Mathias speaking about her new book, The Greyhound Diary, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on April 14th 2026.