Radio Oldie

Ian La Frenais tells Harry Mount about his extraordinary writing partnership with Dick Clement that has lasted over 60 years. Starting with The Likely Lads in 1964, they have written Porridge, Lovejoy, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet - and The Commitments.

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

Mary Beard speaking about his new book, Talking Classics: The Shock of the Old, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on September 8th 2026.

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

Julian Lloyd-Webber speaking about his new book, Bows and Arrows: The Autobiography, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on September 8th 2026.

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

Matthew Sweet speaking about his new book, The Great Dictator: A Life of Barbara Cartland, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on September 8th 2026.

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

Natalie Livingstone is a writer whose book, The Nuremberg Women, published earlier this year, became an instant bestseller. She’s also chairs the Cliveden Literary Festival, now in its ninth year and coming up in October.  She talks to Charlotte Metcalf about the festival and about extraordinary women involved in the Nuremberg trials.

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

Robert Harris tells Harry Mount about his new historical novel, Agrippa. Agrippa, Emperor Augustus's righthand man, built the Pantheon and won the Battle of Actium. But he was a plebeian - and the ultimate insider-outsider of the Roman Empire.

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

Nigel Havers is the well-known actor, renowned for his numerous movies from Passage to India with David Lean to Chariots of Fire alongside his television work.   

He’s been in The Charmer and acted for long stints in Coronation Street, Don’t Wait Up and the very popular The Bidding Room. 

He talks to Charlotte Metcalf about his latest one-man show Talking Bollocks, being in the annual pantomime at the Palladium and much more.

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

Michael Rosen is the multi award-winning and prolific children’s author and poet and the former Children’s Laureate. He’s also the presenter of BBC Radio Four’s Word of Mouth, a hugely successful You Tuber and Professor of Children’s Literature at Goldsmith’s College.  He talks to Charlotte Metcalf about his latest book Where are You Eddie? Exploring his feelings around his son’s tragic death from Meningitis, as well as about his own near death from Covid and his life and work.

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

John Humphrys talks to Matthew Norman about the death of Rod Liddle, 66, his dear friend and old producer at the Today programme. John also salutes his old Today colleague, the late Ed Stourton, and analyses the art of the perfect interview.

Recorded at Yamaha Studios

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