Radio Oldie

Beethoven expert John Suchet tells The Oldie why he has written his eighth book on Beethoven and why this story is personal to him.

The Oldie Literary lunch was held at The National Liberal Club on 12th November 2024, sponsored by Kirker Holidays. Photos by Neil Spence.

Listen and watch Bendor Grosvenor talking about The Invention of British Art at The Oldie Literary Lunch 12th November 2024.

The lunch was sponsored by Kirker Holidays. Photos by Neil Spence Photography.

Craig Brown, the funniest man alive, tells Harry Mount about his latest book A Voyage Around The Queen. Listen here.

The Oldie podcast is sponsored by Baillie Gifford

Listen to Leslie Caron, aged 93, in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf.

Multi-award winner Leslie Caron was born in 1931 and is a French and American actress and dancer. Leslie is best known for her role in Gigi.

As Americans go to the polls, listen to Antonia Fraser on taking a dip in the White House pool with President Kennedy – in Jackie Kennedy's swimming costume.

In March 1962, Antonia Fraser and her husband, Conservative MP Hugh Fraser, dropped in on President Kennedy at the White House. They joined him for a dip in the White House pool - and Antonia Fraser borrowed Jackie Kennedy's swimming costume

Hugh Fraser, my first husband, MP for Stafford and Stone since 1945, was an old friend of Jack Kennedy’s. They were exact contemporaries and first knew each other when Joe Kennedy was American Ambassador to London in 1938.

In 1962, Hugh was Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. On his way back from an official visit to British Guiana, he joined me at the British Embassy in Washington, as guests of another contemporary, David Ormsby-Gore, the new Ambassador. We were invited to swim in the White House pool by the President.

In my photograph album, I wrote beneath the photo: Probably the most worthwhile photograph I have ever taken. First and foremost, Hugh bathing in the White House pool. Also present the President of the United States. I actually took this photograph myself, never believing it would come out (it was the last one on the reel). Our bathe in the White House pool was really the high point of our stay in Washington – and indeed of my stay in America. I managed to squeeze into Jackie Kennedy’s bathing dress and cavorted in the boiling pool [warmed up to help JFK’s back problems], hoping to catch the Presidential eye, while Hugh buttonholed him about British Guiana.

Listen to Griff Rhys Jones in conversation with Harry Mount.

Regular contributor to The Oldie, Griff Rhys Jones is a Welsh actor, comedian, writer and television presenter. He starred in a number of television series with his comedy partner, Mel Smith.

War Poems, recited by Kenneth Cranham, specially for The Oldie. 

Listen to Kenneth reciting Disabled by Wilfred Owen. Kenneth Cranham was born towards the end of the Second World War on 12 December 1944.

Kenneth Cranham, Scottish film, television, radio and stage actor, is best known for Oliver! in 1968 and more recent films such as Layer Cake in 2004. 

War Poems, recited by Kenneth Cranham, specially for The Oldie. 

Listen to Kenneth reciting Dulce Et Decorum est by Wilfred Owen. Kenneth Cranham was born towards the end of the Second World War on 12 December 1944.

Kenneth Cranham, Scottish film, television, radio and stage actor, is best known for Oliver! in 1968 and more recent films such as Layer Cake in 2004. 

50 years after the Lord Lucan murder, click here to listen to Algy Cluff talk about his memories of Lucan – and the grisly truth about who killed the family nanny, Sandra Rivett. On 7 November 1974, Lord Lucan vanished without a trace. 

Listen here to Algy Cluff in conversation with Harry Mount, Editor of The Oldie. Algy, whose real name is John Gordon Cluff was a serial oil and gas entrepreneur. Algy has certainly had his fair share of experiences, from serving in the Guards and the SAS to writing dispatches from Vietnam for The Guardian. He was the former owner of The Spectator, in the 1980s, selling on the magazine to the Telegraph Group. 

Pam Ayres recounted poetry that slipped off her tongue. It is no wonder that she is one of Britain's most famous poets.

The Oldie Literary Lunch was held on 22nd October 2024 at The National Liberal Club and kindly sponsored by Kirker Holidays. All photos by Neil Spence Photography.