Radio Oldie

By Radio OldieSociety & Culture Personal Journals

Radio Oldie episodes

April 14 454: Anna Mathias at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Anna Mathias speaking about her new book, The Greyhound Diary, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on April 14th 2026.
11 min
April 13 453: Mary Beard in conversation with Harry Mount
Mary Beard chats to Harry Mount about her new book, Talking Classics - the Shock of the Old.
She reveals how she first fell in love with the ancient world when she was five – and a British Museum room steward opened a display case, holding a 4,000-year-old bread roll from Thebes, Egypt, for her.
She discusses Mussolini's reconstructions of ancient Roman buildings – and translates the delightfully rude graffiti in the Bar of Salvius in Pompeii.
43 min
April 02 452: The Odd Couple with John Humphrys & Matthew Norman - Episode 1
John Humphrys is back!
Radio Oldie is delighted to host a new podcast, The Odd Couple, sponsored by Baillie Gifford, starring the great broadcaster and Matthew Norman, Oldie columnist, formerly the Guardian diarist and Telegraph columnist.
For over 30 years, from 1987 until 2019, John Humphrys was the chief presenter on Radio 4’s Today programme. Now he and Matthew, great friends - often with severe differences of opinion - lock horns for the Oldie.
In the first episode, John recalls how the back-breaking poverty of his childhood in Splott, Cardiff, galvanised him to embark on his extraordinary career. And he movingly remembers being the first journalist on the horrifying scene in Aberfan 60 years ago, when a colliery spoil tip engulfed a school, killing 116 children and 28 adults.
John says of his new presenting companion, ‘Matthew is one of the most gifted hacks I’ve ever met: clever, funny, staggeringly articulate and with a total conviction that he’s right about everything. Always. But is he?’
Matthew says of the new venture, ‘At this point of the calendar, it behoves us to remember that we all have a cross to bear. Working with John Humphrys is mine.’
Recording provided by Yamaha Music
42 min
April 01 451: Rose Wylie in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Charlotte Metcalf visits the artist Rose Wylie, born in 1934, at her Kent studio to chat to her about her life and her first major one-woman museum show, The Picture Comes First, at the Royal Academy. It’s the biggest exhibition of her work to date and it is also the first time that a British woman painter has ever occupied all the main galleries at the Royal Academy.
30 min
March 23 450: Simon Jenkins in conversation with Harry Mount
Simon Jenkins, former Times editor and author of A Short History of America: From Tea Party to Trump, talks to Harry Mount.
Next month’s state visit to America by the King should be delayed while the Iran war continues, says Simon. He talks about the 250th anniversary of American independence and how confident he is that the mighty US constitution will ultimately keep Trump at bay.
25 min
March 17 449: Antony Beevor at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Antony Beevor speaking about his new book, Rasputin: And the Downfall of the Romanovs, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on March 17th 2026.
14 min
March 17 448: 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.
13 min
March 17 447: 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.
11 min
March 17 447: 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.
10 min
March 16 446: 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 The Old Vic.

Putting his success entirely down to luck, Jacobi celebrates his good fortune and is currently on tour in conversation with his partner of 47 years and now husband, Richard Clifford.
Tickets for Derek's upcoming tour: https://www.cliveconwayproductions.com/shows/sir-derek-jacobi-in-conversation-with-richard-clifford

36 min

About Radio Oldie

From the publisher's feed

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.