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.
13m Mar 17
13m
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.
11m Mar 17
11m
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.
10m Mar 17
10m
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 ...
35m Mar 16
35m
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 electro...
29m Mar 09
29m
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.
34m Mar 02
34m
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.
9m Feb 23
9m
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.
16m Feb 18
16m
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.
13m Feb 18
13m
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.
13m Feb 18
13m
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.
34m Feb 16
34m
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.
7m Feb 11
7m
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.
6m Feb 11
6m
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.
4m Feb 11
4m
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.
4m Feb 11
4m
434: Anita Lasker-Walfisch at the 2025 Oldie of the Year Awards
Anita Lasker-Walfisch, 100 – Oldie Maestra Anita Lasker Wallfisch, 100, a German-British cellist, was a member of the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz.  After the war, she co-founded ensembles including the English Chamber Orchestra and has been honoured for her contributions to music and Holocaust remembrance. Introduced by Gyles Brandreth
4m Feb 11
4m
433: Susan Hampshire at the 2025 Oldie of the Year Awards
Susan Hampshire, 88 – Oldie Comeback Kid Susan Hampshire starred in The Forsyte Saga as Fleur in the late 1960s. Then, last year, she returned as Lady Carteret in the prequel, The Forsytes. Introduced by Gyles Brandreth.
5m Feb 11
5m
432: Stephen Frears in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Stephen Frears is one of Britain’s most prolific and successful film and television directors. His 1985 film My Beautiful Laundrette made his name and launched the careers of Daniel Day-Lewis and Tim Bevan of Working Title. Stephen talks to Charlotte Metcalf about his phenomenal career, from directing Dangerous Liaisons, written by Christopher Hampton in 1988 and starring John Malkovich, Glenn...
27m Feb 02
27m
431: Jeremy King in conversation with Harry Mount
Jeremy King, the greatest restaurateur of the age, tells Harry Mount how he set up the Caprice, the Ivy and the Wolseley. He explains how he trains his waiters, how he spots when a diner is about to hit him and why he wrote his new book, Without Reservation - Lessons from a Life in Restaurants.
30m Jan 26
30m
430: Mary Berry at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Mary Berry speaking about her new book, Mary 90: My Very Best Recipes, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on January 20th 2026.
14m Jan 21
14m
429: Jeremy King at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Jeremy King speaking about his new book, Without Reservation: Lessons from a Life in Restaurants, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on January 20th 2026.
17m Jan 21
17m
428: John Davie at the Oldie Literary Lunch
John Davie speaking about his new book, Greek to Us: the Fascinating Ancient Greek that Shapes our World, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on January 20th 2026.
14m Jan 20
14m
427: Helen Macdonald in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Charlotte Metcalf talks to Helen Macdonald, author of H is for Hawk - the best-selling story of how she dealt with the grief over her father's death by bringing up a goshawk in Cambridge. The book has just been made into a film, starring Claire Foy (pictured) as Helen - it comes out this Friday, January 23rd.
31m Jan 19
31m
426: Hunter Davies in conversation with Harry Mount
As he turns 90, Hunter Davies tells Harry Mount about being the Beatles' only official biographer – the priceless, hand-written lyrics he picked up off the floor of Abbey Road Studios, John Lennon's disapproving Aunt Mimi and the swimming trunks Paul McCartney left at his Portugal house.
50m Jan 12
50m
425: Michael Palin in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Beyond being one of the Pythons in Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Michael Palin has had a varied career as an actor, writer and television presenter and is now known for his popular books and travel documentaries.  He was knighted in 2019 for services to travel, culture and geography.  He talks to Charlotte Metcalf about his love of travel and art, how he began in comedy, stammering, as he did i...
36m Dec 17, 2025
36m
424: Anne Glenconner in conversation with Harry Mount
Lady Glenconner tells Harry Mount about life as Princess Margaret's lady-in-waiting: how Fergie told her how much the Queen liked her book; and the royal waves, from the Queen's crisp wave to the Queen Mother's - like 'stirring a pudding'.
21m Dec 16, 2025
21m
423: Matthew Bourne in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Matthew Bourne is widely hailed as Britain’s most popular and successful choreographer with a record number of prestigious awards.  He talks to Charlotte Metcalf about Red Shoes, currently playing at Sadlers Wells, and much more.  His 1995 Swan Lake, replacing female swans with male dancers, is the world’s longest running full-length dance classic in the West End and on Broadway.  He was knight...
30m Dec 15, 2025
30m
422: Gyles Brandreth at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Gyles Brandreth speaking about his new book, Somewhere, a Boy and a Bear, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on December 9th 2025.
15m Dec 10, 2025
15m
421: Anne Glenconner at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Lady Anne Glenconner speaking about her new book, Mischief & Manners, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on December 9th 2025.
16m Dec 10, 2025
16m
420: Adam Sisman at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Adam Sisman speaking about his new book, The Indefatigable Asa Briggs, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on December 9th 2025.
14m Dec 09, 2025
14m
419: Pam Ayres in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Pam Ayres is a much-loved poet, comedian, songwriter and broadcaster, particularly famous for her poem ‘I Wish I’d Looked After my Teeth’.  She was awarded an MBE in 2004 for services to literature and entertainment. She talks to Charlotte Metcalf about her life, including performing for the Queen, and performs her most recent poem ‘I’ll Have to Send it Back’.
32m Dec 08, 2025
32m
418: Henry Marsh in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Henry Marsh is a neurosurgeon who became well-known when his best-selling book, Do No Harm was published in 2014. Since then, he’s written two more books, Admissions: A Life in Brain Surgery, followed by And Finally in 2022. He’s had three BBC documentaries made about him and remains a frequent visitor to Ukraine, where he has been a volunteer surgeon and is now a popular lecturer.
30m Dec 01, 2025
30m
417: Andrew Lownie at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Andrew Lownie speaking about his new book, Entitled: Prince Andrew, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on November 25th 2025.
11m Nov 26, 2025
11m
416: Ferdinand Mount at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Ferdinand Mount speaking about his new book, Soft: A Brief History of Sentimentality, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on November 25th 2025.
13m Nov 26, 2025
13m
415: Roger Moorhouse at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Roger Moorhouse speaking about his new book, Wolfpack: The Gripping New World War Two History Taking Us Inside Hitler's U-Boat War, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on November 25th 2025.
9m Nov 25, 2025
9m
414: Nicholas Hytner in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Nicholas Hytner is one of our leading theatre, opera and film directors, knighted in 2010 for services to drama.  He is artistic director at The Bridge Theatre, which he co-founded with Nick Starr after stepping down in 2015 as Director of the National Theatre. He’s also the founder of Lightroom, the innovative immersive venue for art, most notable for its Hockney exhibition.  Nicholas talks to...
30m Nov 24, 2025
30m
413: Michael Morpurgo in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Michael Morpurgo has written over 150 books, many for children, including War Horse.  He has served as the Children’s Laureate and was knighted in 2018 for services to literature and charity.  His latest books is Funny Thing Getting Older.
40m Nov 17, 2025
40m
412: Merlin Holland in conversation with Harry Mount
Merlin Holland pays tribute to his grandfather Oscar Wilde and discusses his new book, After Oscar: The Legacy of a Scandal. Merlin tells Harry Mount how the shock waves from Wilde's trial echoed through the 20th century, right into his own lifetime. How he wishes he could ask Wilde why he took the fatal step of suing the Marquess of Queensberry.
30m Nov 10, 2025
30m
411: Merlin Holland at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Merlin Holland speaking about his new book, After Oscar: The Legacy of a Scandal, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on November 4th 2025.
17m Nov 05, 2025
17m
410: Sarah Vine at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Sarah Vine speaking about her new book, How Not to be a Political Wife, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on November 4th 2025.
7m Nov 05, 2025
7m
409: Ysenda Maxtone-Graham at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Ysenda Maxtone-Graham speaking about her new book, Screams: Shrieks of Horror and Yelps of Pleasure from Modern Life, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on November 4th 2025.
12m Nov 05, 2025
12m
408: Edward Fox in conversation with Harry Mount
Edward Fox tells Harry Mount about playing Sir Brian Horrocks in A Bridge Too Far and his starring role as Edward VIII in Edward & Mrs Simpson. He details his extraordinary acting bloodline and explains how he approached the melon-shooting scene in The Day of the Jackal.
32m Nov 03, 2025
32m
407: Daniel Finkelstein in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Daniel Finkelstein is an award-winning political commentator and journalist.  He’s a Times columnist, and author of his 2023 memoir, Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad. Previously he was a politician and political advisor to John Major and William Hague. He was appointed to the House of Lords as a life peer in 2013. He talks to Charlotte Metcalf about his book and his parents – his mother was sent to...
34m Oct 27, 2025
34m
406: Jeremy Hunt in conversation with Harry Mount
Jeremy Hunt, former Chancellor and Foreign Secretary, tells Harry Mount about his new book, Can We Be Great Again?: Why a Dangerous World Needs Britain. He sympathises with Rachel Reeves about the prospect of dealing with a mammoth deficit – and recalls meeting Donald Trump at Chequers.
22m Oct 20, 2025
22m
405: Gus Christie in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Gus Christie took Glyndebourne Opera over from his father George in 2000.  He tells us about Glyndebourne’s beginnings when his grandfather John Christie fell in love with and married the soprano Audrey Mildmay and decided to build her an opera house. Gus also reflects on his own decision to step into his father’s shoes, describes his vision and tells us about the upcoming Autumn Festival.
24m Oct 13, 2025
24m
404: Jonathan Dimbleby at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Jonathan Dimbleby speaking about his new book, Endgame 1944: How Stalin Won the War, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on October 7th 2025.
14m Oct 08, 2025
14m
403: Jeremy Hunt at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Jeremy Hunt speaking about his new book, Can We Be Great Again?: Why a Dangerous World Needs Britain, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on October 7th 2025.
11m Oct 08, 2025
11m
402: Frances Wilson at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Frances Wilson speaking about her new book, Electric Spark: The Enigma of Muriel Spark, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on October 7th 2025.
14m Oct 07, 2025
14m
401: Gyles Brandreth in conversation with Harry Mount
Gyles Brandreth tells Harry Mount about his new book about Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne and Gyles’s friend, Christopher Robin Milne. Winnie the Pooh first appeared in print 100 years ago.
46m Oct 06, 2025
46m
400: A N Wilson at the Dartmouth Literary Festival
A N Wilson in conversation with Harry Mount at this month's Dartmouth Literary Festival, sponsored by The Oldie. A N Wilson chatted about two of his books, Goethe: His Faustian Life andVictoria: A Life.  In a dazzling talk, he discusses Queen Victoria's hidden child with John Brown and how Goethe discovered evolution before Darwin.
1hr Sep 29, 2025
1hr