Radio Oldie

Charlotte Metcalf talks to John Tusa, the distinguished journalist and arts administrator about his new podcast, The Best is Yet to Come , interviewing oldies in their nineties about their lives.  He also talks about own his life, from leaving Czechoslovakia on the brink of war to his life in London now.

John Humphrys, the former Today programme presenter, and Oldie columnist Matthew Norman mourn John's brother, Graham Humphrys, who has just died at 87.  Matthew recalls the death of his parents in their late 80s - and how vital it was that they should die at home. 

Charlotte Metcalf talks to the historian and biographer, Anne Sebba, about her latest book, The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz .   Anne tells Charlotte that she became fascinated with how the women survived and then how she tracked down and interviewed the two remaining survivors, including 100-year-old cellist Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, who came to and was honoured as Oldie Maestra of the Year at th...

Sebastian Faulks speaking about his new book, Fires Which Burned Brightly , at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on April 14th 2026.

Sara Wheeler speaking about her new book, Jan Morris: A Life , at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on April 14th 2026.

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.

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 delightfull...

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 seve...

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.  

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Th...

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 electron...

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. 

Part One of a series of specially-commissioned Maureen Lipman monologues for the Oldie, about Dinah - a waitress in the north of England.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.