Radio Oldie

Appearing at the Henley Literary Festival, Max Hastings talks to Harry Mount about his new book, Plunder – the Last of the War in Europe, 1945.

The book takes its title from Montgomery’s ‘Operation Plunder’, the 23 March 1945 crossing of the Rhine, witnessed by Winston Churchill, with huge amphibious and airborne landings. Max Hastings brilliantly unpicks the chaos, tragedy and heroism of the closing months of the war.

This week's podcast is kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford, Actual Investors, who take a long-term approach to investing in exceptional companies.

Sixty years ago, on October 21, 1966, a colliery spoil tip collapsed, and engulfed the Welsh village of Aberfan, killing 116 children and 28 adults.

John Humphrys, the Today programme presenter, was the first reporter to get to that harrowing scene hours later. He tells Oldie columnist Matthew Norman how vividly he still recalls the agony and bravery of the bereaved villagers, desperate to rescue their children.

This week's podcast is kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford, Actual Investors, who take a long-term approach to investing in exceptional companies.

Madeline Smith - the Bond Girl in Live and Let Die - tells Harry Mount about Roger Moore's magnetic digital watch that undid her dress in the film. And she recalls the dazzling list of stars she's worked with, from Alec Guinness to The Two Ronnies.

This week's podcast is kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford, Actual Investors, who take a long-term approach to investing in exceptional companies.

Madeline Smith speaking about her new book, Bond Girl: From '60s Fashion Model to Half a Century on Stage and Screen, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on October 6th 2026.

This week's podcast is kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford, Actual Investors, who take a long-term approach to investing in exceptional companies.

Giles Milton speaking about his new book, Empire at the Edge of the World, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on October 6th 2026.

This week's podcast is kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford, Actual Investors, who take a long-term approach to investing in exceptional companies.

William Cook speaking about his new book, The Fifteenth Man, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on October 6th 2026.

This week's podcast is kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford, Actual Investors, who take a long-term approach to investing in exceptional companies.

Crammed airports. Traffic jams. Thugs playing loud music on trains… Is any form of travel bearable these days?
Editor, Harry Mount, and Supplements Editor, Charlotte ‘Fruity’ Metcalf, compare their war stories of modern travel. 

And yet… there are still some empty spots left - from the Pembrokeshire coast to the Greek islands. Harry and Fruity name their dream hideaways…

This week's podcast is kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford, Actual Investors, who take a long-term approach to investing in exceptional companies.

Editor Harry Mount and Supplements Editor Charlotte 'Fruity' Metcalf discuss the new issue of the Oldie.

In his book, Idle in Provence, Eric Idle looks back at 55 years in his French hideaway. In his interview with Harry Mount, he mourns the terrible loss of 29 nearby houses in the forest fires this summer. And he still doesn't know why the other Pythons aren't talking to him any more. 

Fruity is much moved by Rachael Stirling's new book about her mother, Diana Rigg, and the actor Simon Williams's review of the book. 

And they discuss the theory coined by Oldie rock columnist Mark Ellen - that stars are frozen at the age they become famous. Nigel Planer - Neil in The Young Ones - is much taken with the theory in his article in the new issue.

All in the thrilling October issue!

This week's podcast is kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford, Actual Investors, who take a long-term approach to investing in exceptional companies.

We're not at war, says John - so why waste money that could go to African aid? Russian attacks are increasing - and the Far Right is on the march - across Europe. So we must pay to keep them at bay, says Matthew.

This week's podcast is kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford, Actual Investors, who take a long-term approach to investing in exceptional companies.