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

Jun 12, 2018 · 16 min
July Issue: Hancock's Last Hours
Barry Cryer on Tony Hancock. Barry recalls the comic genius of his friend, and how Hancock discarded his brilliant writers before finally, tragically discarding himself.
Apr 20, 2018 · 29 min
Paul Atterbury and Marc Allum, Hugo Vickers and John Tusa at the April 2018 Literary Lunch
Paul Atterbury and Marc Allum discuss their new book, which celebrates 40 years of the Antiques Roadshow. They reveal their greatest and most interesting finds over the years, including a letter written by a doomed Titanic passenger and some original Beatrix Potter drawings. Royal family expert Hugo Vickers talks about his strife with big-budget Netflix series The Crown and his issues with the impact of fictional dramatisations on the historical education of the public. He discusses what should be taken as truth and what should not with regards to the popular series. Renowned broadcaster John Tusa tells the story of his journey from Czechoslovakian emigrant, through Cambridge University and on to a distinguished career at the BBC. He shares the lessons that he learnt whilst in prestigious jobs - from presenting Newsnight, to running the BBC World Service. The Oldie Literary Lunch is brought to you by Noble Caledonia - the world leaders in small ship cruising. For more info about the The Oldie and the lunches at Simpson's on The Strand: www.theoldie.co.uk
Apr 16, 2018 · 1 hr 2 min
Extract from the Oldie Computer course with Matthew Webster
In early April we had our ‘rebooted’ computer course at the Royal Geographical Society with Matthew Webster, who has been our technological expert and columnist since 2000. The internet was personified: described as an ‘angsty teenager’; and the course-going oldies were there to ‘tame’ it. Here is a recording from the session.
Apr 16, 2018 · 28 min
May issue: Tom Hodgkinson on being idle
Harry Mount interviews Tom Hodgkinson, our Town Mouse columnist and cofounder of the Idler empire, about eminent Victorians, town vs country, and the key to a harmonious, idling existence.
Apr 16, 2018 · 20 min
May issue: Back to the Falklands
Robert Fox discusses his sombre return to the Falklands to advise on a new feature film about the Battle of Goose Green – where he was one of only two journalists embedded with British forces. In conversation with Harry Mount.
Mar 20, 2018 · 25 min
Spring issue: Those magnificent men of the RAF
It is 100 years since the Royal Air Force took flight. Joshua Levine, author of Fighter Heroes of WWI, commemorates the centenary with a preview of the new RAF museum. In conversation with Harry Mount.
Mar 20, 2018 · 18 min
Spring 2018 issue: Fat pride is fat-headed
Ferdie Rous, our editorial assistant, talks about ‘fat shaming’. No Thinifer himself, he admits he should be revelling in the fight for ‘fat acceptance’, but he feels it’s sad – the obese are not an oppressed group and would all do well to shift the stones. In conversation with Annabel Sampson.
Mar 19, 2018 · 40 min
Nicholas Shakespeare, Peter Snow and Ann MacMillan and Simon Jenkins at the March 2018 Literary Lunch
Nicholas Shakespeare, the distinguished novelist, on Six Minutes in May. A talk on Chamberlain's downfall, Churchill's eventual accession to number 10, and with a brief look at what could have happened had events worked out differently. Harry Mount, our editor, also praised Shakespeare for his great modesty, 'bringing up the 16th century playwright and not admitting that they're related'. Peter Snow and Ann MacMillan, the husband-and-wife writerly pair, on War Stories: Gripping Tales of Courage, Cunning and Compassion. Cheerily and grippingly told: this book examines thirty-four previously untold stories of those who showed great humanity and heroism at a time of war. And, finally, Simon Jenkins, the esteemed journalist and chronicler of the British landscape, on the rituals, ceremonies and architecture of some of our most undervalued national treasures, in Britain's 100 Best Railway Stations. The Oldie Literary Lunch is brought to you by Noble Caledonia - the world leaders in small ship cruising. For more info about the The Oldie and the lunches at Simpson's on The Strand: https://www.theoldie.co.uk/
Feb 20, 2018 · 26 min
April 2018 issue: Paddy the Great, king of Greece
On the eve of a retrospective exhibition at the British Museum, John Julius Norwich recalls the remarkable life and tremendous spirit of his friend Patrick Leigh Fermor, the man whom John Julius credits with opening up the Byzantine world to him – the subject of his subsequent book on the subject Byzantium: The Early Centuries. John Julius talks about Paddy's incredible intellectual curiosity and lightness of touch: ‘All the time you were aware of being in touch with perhaps the most extraordinary man you’d ever met.’ 'Ghika, Craxton, Leigh Fermor – Charmed Lives in Greece’, the British Museum, 8th March to 15th July
Feb 20, 2018 · 15 min
April 2018 issue: I wrote a Ladybird book
Michael Wooldridge is a Professor of Computer Science and Head of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Oxford – he is also the author of the Ladybird Book for Artificial Intelligence, that is published on the 22nd March. He talks to Annabel Sampson, our digital editor, about writing the book, and how you take something as difficult as AI and make it understandable. He also reveals that his very eminent colleagues, distinguished holders of chairs at the University of Oxford, have asked: ‘how’d do you do that?’ – I’d like to do one too.'
Feb 7, 2018 · 34 min
The Oldie of the Year Awards 2018
In our annual event at Simpson’s in the Strand, awards were presented by Gyles Brandreth, and given to Basil Brush, Geoffrey Palmer, Alan Ayckbourn, Henry Blofeld, April Ashley, Baroness Williams of Crosby and the great Dame Vera Lynn.
Jan 25, 2018 · 11 min
Matthew Fort on Summer in the Islands, The Oldie Literary Lunch
Food writer Matthew Fort tells us about his gourmet trip on a Vespa to little known Italian islands, brought to you by The Oldie Literary Lunch. The Oldie Literary Lunch is brought to you by Noble Caledonia - the world leaders in small ship cruising. For more info about the The Oldie and the lunches at Simpson's on The Strand: https://www.theoldie.co.uk/ #Islands #Foodie #Italy #TheOldie
Jan 25, 2018 · 7 min
The Making of the British Landscape by Nicholas Crane at The Oldie Literary Lunch
At The Oldie Literary lunch presents, geographer Nicholas Crane who explains that over millennia Britain has evolved from ice-bound peninsula, to an island of cities and manmade countryside. The Oldie Literary Lunch is brought to you by Noble Caledonia - the world leaders in small ship cruising. For more info about the The Oldie and the lunches at Simpson's on The Strand: https://www.theoldie.co.uk/ #OldieMagazine #England #Geography
Jan 25, 2018 · 6 min
Splash! by Stephen Glover at The Oldie Literary Lunch
Stephen Glover talks journalism, Fleet Street, drink and his book Splash the story of a reporter who uncovers the scoop of the century. The Oldie Literary Lunch is brought to you by Noble Caledonia - the world leaders in small ship cruising. For more info about the The Oldie and the lunches at Simpson's on The Strand: https://www.theoldie.co.uk/ #Journalism #FleetSteet #StephenGlover #TheOldie
Jan 24, 2018 · 30 min
March 2018 issue: My Orwellian holidays
Seventy years ago, George Orwell wrote Nineteen Eighty-Four on Jura. Annabel Sampson recalls her happy childhood on the Hebridean isle. Richard Blair – George Orwell's son – and Annabel discuss the place and Richard's near death experience aboard a dinghy at the Corryvreckan whirlpool, where he reveals his 'ashes will be going out; so the whirlpool will finally get its dues'.
Jan 24, 2018 · 21 min
March 2018 issue: Hit or miss? It's a fine line
A surefire flop can so easily flip into being a smash – and vice versa. Actor Michael Simkins has first-hand experience of both. He talks about the 'nature of acting' with Harry Mount and Annabel Sampson – 'you are essentially on a tight rope; on one side lies triumph, and the other doom'.
Dec 21, 2017 · 15 min
February 2018 issue: 1940s vs 1970s fashion
Mother and daughter, Drusilla Beyfus and Nicola Shulman, debate the case for the ‘greatest decade for fashion’: it’s the 1940s vs the 1970s.
Dec 21, 2017 · 12 min
February 2018 issue: Behind the scenes at the British Museum
Dr Dora Thornton, a senior curator at the British Museum, reveals the delights of being a curator. She talks to Harry Mount about the Holy Thorn Reliquary, a 14th-century masterpiece in the museum's collection. In the photograph attached to this podcast, you can see Dr Dora admiring the incredible object.
Nov 29, 2017 · 24 min
January 2018 issue: Christmas with Jimi Hendrix
Jimi was all alone in London when his friend and photographer Bruce Fleming invited him over for a festive lunch that rocked on...and on. It was turkey with all the trimmings, discover Harry Mount and Annabel Sampson over coffee and croissants at Bruce's home in Marylebone.
Nov 29, 2017 · 24 min
January 2018 Issue: Rachel Johnson and Nicky Haslam's ruthless guide to Christmas parties
Find out why rosé is always ‘pink wine’; why there’s nothing naffer than Christmas overseas, and why Yule Logs are an unqualified ‘no’ from serial partygoers Rachel Johnson and Nicky Haslam. An interview to accompany their festive double-page spread in the January 2018 issue. Presented by Harry Mount.