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 2, 2025 · 40 min
374: Nicholas Coleridge in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Nicholas Coleridge, awarded a Knighthood in 2022 for services to Museums, Publishing and the Creative Industries, has had a long career at the helm of Condé Nast, followed by ten years at the Victoria and Albert Musuem. Recently installed as Provost of Eton, Charlotte Metcalf talks to him about his new role and they look back over his extraordinary career in fashion, publishing and journalism during the golden era of magazines.
May 23, 2025 · 34 min
373: Graydon Carter in conversation with Harry Mount
Graydon Carter, editor of Air Mail and former editor of Vanity Fair, tells Harry Mount about his memoir, When the Going Was Good: An Editor's Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines. He talks about his greatest scoop – revealing who the real Deep Throat was in the Watergate scandal – and how he nicknamed Donald Trump the 'short-fingered vulgarian'.
May 19, 2025 · 35 min
372: Marks & Gran in conversation with Harry Mount
Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran are one of our finest TV screenwriting partnerships. They tell Harry Mount about their shows Birds of a Feather and Goodnight Sweetheart - and why Donald Trump would be perfect for an American version of The New Statesman.
May 12, 2025 · 46 min
371: Theo Fennell in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Theo Fennell is one of Britain’s most renowned jewellers, having made his name in the eighties by attracting a new generation, including numerous rockstars and celebrities, to his colourful jewellery and witty silver pieces like the silver Marmite lid. Following a 2007 exhibition of his jewellery at the Museum of Mankind on Burlington Gardens, Theo became a champion of and spokesperson for his craft, encouraging people to see the beauty in beautifully made pieces rather than expensive, branded bling. He talks to Charlotte Metcalf about his life, his career and his latest - and very funny - book, The Glory Years: More Chapters of Accidents, which is the follow up to his first acclaimed book, I Fear for This Boy
May 8, 2025 · 13 min
370: Sir Trevor McDonald at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Sir Trevor McDonald speaking about his new memoir, On Cricket, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on May 6th 2025.
May 8, 2025 · 11 min
369: Adam Nicolson at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Adam Nicolson speaking about his new book, Bird School: A Beginner in the Wood, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on May 6th 2025.
May 7, 2025 · 11 min
368: Angela V John at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Angela V John speaking about her new book, Behind the Scenes: the Dramatic Lives of Philip Burton, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on May 6th 2025.
May 2, 2025 · 34 min
367: Tom Hodgkinson in conversation with Harry Mount
Tom Hodgkinson tells Harry Mount about his industrious 32 years as editor of The Idler magazine. He talks about idling, his hero, Dr Johnson, and his upcoming books on the Stoics and Socrates.
Apr 28, 2025 · 12 min
366: Kate Summerscale at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Kate Summerscale speaking about her new book, The Peepshow: the Murders at 10 Rillington Place, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on April 22nd 2025.
Apr 28, 2025 · 12 min
365: Andrew Pierce at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Andrew Pierce speaking about his new book, Finding Margaret: Solving the Mystery of my Birth Mother, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on April 22nd 2025.
Apr 28, 2025 · 8 min
364: Sandy Nairne at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Sandy Nairne speaking about his new book, Titan of the Thames: the Life of Lord Desborough, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on April 22nd 2025.
Apr 21, 2025 · 28 min
363: Loyd Grossman in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Loyd Grossman is the writer, author, broadcaster, television presenter and cultural campaigner. He has served on and chairs numerous boards including the Royal Society of Arts, the organisation he currently chairs, which he sees as pivotal in restoring a sense of enlightened optimism to Britain. He tells Charlotte about his upbringing in America, his career in television and magazines, his books and his passion for heritage and churches. He also talks about playing the guitar, being in a band, trying to be a rock star and how his four wire-haired dachshunds keep him active and fit.
Apr 8, 2025 · 24 min
362: Nicole Farhi in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Nicole Farhi is a household name as a fashion designer, having helped found French Connection with Stephen Marks before setting up her eponymous fashion and homeware brand with a popular concept store at 202 Westbourne Grove. Now she’s turned her back on fashion to sculpt and has a new exhibition, J’Accuse, at Pitzhanger Manor in Ealing. It comprises 24 of her signature small painted busts, of people incarcerated or executed for crimes they did not commit. She talks to Charlotte Metcalf about the travesties of justice which inspired J’Accuse and why she abandoned fashion for sculpture. She describes her upbringing in Nice and her time working in fashion before talking about her life now and her marriage to the playwright David Hare. There will be a discussion between Nicole Farhi and Matthew Foot, APPEAL’s Co-Director and criminal defence solicitor at Pitzhanger Gallery on 1 May.
Apr 7, 2025 · 40 min
361: Lynn Barber in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Lynn Barber, frequently nicknamed ‘the Demon Barber’, is one of the most multiple award-winning, respected and formidable interviewers and writers of her generation. She tells Charlotte Metcalf about her upbringing, which was the subject of the 2009 film An Education starring Carey Mulligan as Lynn, and how it shaped her ability to ask those probing - sometimes combative - questions for which she’s known. She gives us insights into her happy family life until her husband’s early death and reveals whom she’s enjoyed – and not enjoyed - interviewing and talks about her love of art and artists, as reflected in her new book A Little Art Education.
Mar 31, 2025 · 31 min
360: Roger Lewis in conversation with Harry Mount
Roger Lewis tells Harry Mount about his new book on Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor – and about the genius and sheer oddness of Peter Sellers, on his centenary.
Mar 27, 2025 · 47 min
359: Elisabeth Luard, Oldie Cookery Correspondent, on Substack, a new way to publish your articles and make money
Recorded live at The Oldie Journalism Course, at The Marx Memorial Library 13th March 2025, Elisabeth Luard, The Oldie's cookery correspondent, shows how you can make money out of your own Substack column.
Mar 27, 2025 · 58 min
358: How to write a travel feature with William Cook, Oldie Theatre Critic
Recorded live at The Oldie Journalism Course, at The Marx Memorial Library 13th March 2025, William Cook, The Oldie's theatre critic, gives you the ideal essay plan for a travel feature.
Mar 27, 2025 · 57 min
357: How to write a review with Sam Leith, the Spectator’s literary editor
Recorded live at The Oldie Journalism Course, at The Marx Memorial Library 13th March 2025, Sam Leith, Literary Editor of The Spectator, talks about how to get a book review and how to write it properly.
Mar 27, 2025 · 40 min
356: How to write a column with Mary Kenny, Oldie columnist
Recorded live at The Oldie Journalism Course, at The Marx Memorial Library 13th March 2025, Mary Kenny, Oldie columnist and a journalist for 60 years, explains how to make columns fresh and gripping.
Mar 27, 2025 · 36 min
355: Harry Mount, Editor of The Oldie, on the Do’s and Don’ts of journalism
Recorded live at The Oldie Journalism Course, at The Marx Memorial Library on 13th March 2025, Harry Mount, Editor of The Oldie, reveals his tips on how to pitch articles to magazines and newspapers.