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

April 13 · 42 min
453: Mary Beard in conversation with Harry Mount
Mary Beard chats to Harry Mount about her new book, Talking Classics - the Shock of the Old. She reveals how she first fell in love with the ancient world when she was five – and a British Museum room steward opened a display case, holding a 4,000-year-old bread roll from Thebes, Egypt, for her. She discusses Mussolini's reconstructions of ancient Roman buildings – and translates the delightfully rude graffiti in the Bar of Salvius in Pompeii.
April 2 · 41 min
452: The Odd Couple with John Humphrys & Matthew Norman - Episode 1
John Humphrys is back! Radio Oldie is delighted to host a new podcast, The Odd Couple, sponsored by Baillie Gifford, starring the great broadcaster and Matthew Norman, Oldie columnist, formerly the Guardian diarist and Telegraph columnist. For over 30 years, from 1987 until 2019, John Humphrys was the chief presenter on Radio 4’s Today programme. Now he and Matthew, great friends - often with severe differences of opinion - lock horns for the Oldie. In the first episode, John recalls how the back-breaking poverty of his childhood in Splott, Cardiff, galvanised him to embark on his extraordinary career. And he movingly remembers being the first journalist on the horrifying scene in Aberfan 60 years ago, when a colliery spoil tip engulfed a school, killing 116 children and 28 adults. John says of his new presenting companion, ‘Matthew is one of the most gifted hacks I’ve ever met: clever, funny, staggeringly articulate and with a total conviction that he’s right about everything. Always. But is he?’ Matthew says of the new venture, ‘At this point of the calendar, it behoves us to remember that we all have a cross to bear. Working with John Humphrys is mine.’ Recording provided by Yamaha Music
April 1 · 29 min
451: Rose Wylie in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Charlotte Metcalf visits the artist Rose Wylie, born in 1934, at her Kent studio to chat to her about her life and her first major one-woman museum show, The Picture Comes First, at the Royal Academy. It’s the biggest exhibition of her work to date and it is also the first time that a British woman painter has ever occupied all the main galleries at the Royal Academy.
March 23 · 24 min
450: Simon Jenkins in conversation with Harry Mount
Simon Jenkins, former Times editor and author of A Short History of America: From Tea Party to Trump, talks to Harry Mount. Next month’s state visit to America by the King should be delayed while the Iran war continues, says Simon. He talks about the 250th anniversary of American independence and how confident he is that the mighty US constitution will ultimately keep Trump at bay.
March 17 · 13 min
449: Antony Beevor at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Antony Beevor speaking about his new book, Rasputin: And the Downfall of the Romanovs, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on March 17th 2026.
March 17 · 12 min
448: Simon Jenkins at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Simon Jenkins speaking about his new book, A Short History of America: From Tea Party to Trump, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on March 17th 2026.
March 17 · 10 min
447: Candida Meyrick at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Candida Meyrick speaking about her new book, Be More Bird: Lessons from a Hawk, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on March 17th 2026.
March 17 · 9 min
447: Candida Meyrick at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Candida Meyrick speaking about her new book, Be More Bird: Life Lessons from a Hawk, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on March 17th 2026.
March 16 · 35 min
446: Derek Jacobi in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
The actor Derek Jacobi talks to Charlotte Metcalf about his long career and his various roles ranging from Hamlet to acting in Gladiator, Dr Who and Last Tango in Halifax. His career stretches back to Cambridge University and then Birmingham Rep where he was spotted by Laurence Olivier and chosen to play Laertes opposite Peter O’Toole’s Hamlet in the National Theatre’s inaugural production at The Old Vic. Putting his success entirely down to luck, Jacobi celebrates his good fortune and is currently on tour in conversation with his partner of 47 years and now husband, Richard Clifford. Tickets for Derek's upcoming tour: https://www.cliveconwayproductions.com/shows/sir-derek-jacobi-in-conversation-with-richard-clifford
March 9 · 28 min
445: Antony Beevor in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
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.
March 2 · 33 min
444: Nigel Planer in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
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.
February 23 · 8 min
443: Dinah - A Maureen Lipman monologue
Part One of a series of specially-commissioned Maureen Lipman monologues for the Oldie, about Dinah - a waitress in the north of England.
February 18 · 15 min
442: Nigel Planer at the Oldie Literary Lunch
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.
February 18 · 12 min
441: Tom Hodgkinson at the Oldie Literary Lunch
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.
February 18 · 13 min
440: Pru Leith at the Oldie Literary Lunch
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.
February 16 · 34 min
439: Miriam Stoppard in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
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.
February 11 · 6 min
438: Lady Antonia Fraser at the 2025 Oldie of the Year Awards
Lady Antonia Fraser, 93 – Oldie of the Year Lady 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.
February 11 · 6 min
437: Maggi Hambling at the 2025 Oldie of the Year Awards
Maggi Hambling, 80 – Oldie Finest Artist Now 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.
February 11 · 4 min
436: Michael Heath at the 2025 Oldie of the Year Awards
Michael Heath, 90 – Oldie King of the Toons At 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.
February 11 · 4 min
435: Stephen Frears at the 2025 Oldie of the Year Awards
Stephen Frears, 84 – Silver-Screen Evergreen Oldie Over 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.