The Oldie Podcast

Tracy Chevalier speaking about her new book, The Glassmaker, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on June 24th 2025.

Sinclair McKay speaking about his new book, Saint Petersburg: Sacrifice & Redemption in the City that Defied Hitler, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on June 24th 2025.

Anne Sebba speaking about her new book, The Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz: A Story of Survival, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on June 24th 2025.

Emma, the Duchess of Rutland, has lived at Belvoir Castle for nearly 25 years, transforming it into a going commercial concern and a comfortable home for her five children. On the eve of her oldest daughter’s wedding, she talks to Charlotte Metcalf about her book, The Accidental Duchess, her podcast and her sense of duty and commitment to keeping Belvoir a thriving concern for the next generation.

James Holland is an eminent historian who specialises in the Second World War and has numerous books, television programmes and a podcast to his name.  He talks to Charlotte Metcalf about the forthcoming Chalke History Festival, which he co-founded in 2011, originally to raise money for a cricket pavilion.  Chalke is now the biggest history festival in the world and James tells us what to expect from this year’s exciting line-up at a dangerous time when he believes learning lessons from history is more important than ever.

Bruce Beresford, director of Oscar-winning Driving Miss Daisy, tells Harry Mount why films have got too long - and what made his great friend Barry Humphries such a comic genius

Nicholas Coleridge, awarded a Knighthood in 2022 for services to Museums, Publishing and the Creative Industries, has had a long career at the helm of Condé Nast, followed by ten years at the Victoria and Albert Musuem. Recently installed as Provost of Eton, Charlotte Metcalf talks to him about his new role and they look back over his extraordinary career in fashion, publishing and journalism during the golden era of magazines.

Graydon Carter, editor of Air Mail and former editor of Vanity Fair, tells Harry Mount about his memoir, When the Going Was Good: An Editor's Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines. He talks about his greatest scoop – revealing who the real Deep Throat was in the Watergate scandal – and how he nicknamed Donald Trump the 'short-fingered vulgarian'.

Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran are one of our finest TV screenwriting partnerships. They tell Harry Mount about their shows Birds of a Feather and Goodnight Sweetheart - and why Donald Trump would be perfect for an American version of The New Statesman.

Theo Fennell is one of Britain’s most renowned jewellers, having made his name in the eighties by attracting a new generation, including numerous rockstars and celebrities, to his colourful jewellery and witty silver pieces like the silver Marmite lid.  Following a 2007 exhibition of his jewellery at the Museum of Mankind on Burlington Gardens, Theo became a champion of and spokesperson for his craft, encouraging people to see the beauty in beautifully made pieces rather than expensive, branded bling.  He talks to Charlotte Metcalf about his life, his career and his latest  - and very funny - book, The Glory Years: More Chapters of Accidents, which is the follow up to his first acclaimed book,  I Fear for This Boy

Sir Trevor McDonald speaking about his new memoir, On Cricket, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on May 6th 2025.

Adam Nicolson speaking about his new book, Bird School: A Beginner in the Wood, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on May 6th 2025.

Angela V John speaking about her new book, Behind the Scenes: the Dramatic Lives of Philip Burton, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on May 6th 2025.

Tom Hodgkinson tells Harry Mount about his industrious 32 years as editor of The Idler magazine. He talks about idling, his hero, Dr Johnson, and his upcoming books on the Stoics and Socrates.

Kate Summerscale speaking about her new book, The Peepshow: the Murders at 10 Rillington Place, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on April 22nd 2025.

Andrew Pierce speaking about his new book, Finding Margaret: Solving the Mystery of my Birth Mother, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on April 22nd 2025.

Sandy Nairne speaking about his new book, Titan of the Thames: the Life of Lord Desborough, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on April 22nd 2025.

Loyd Grossman is the writer, author, broadcaster, television presenter and cultural campaigner. He has served on and chairs numerous boards including the Royal Society of Arts, the organisation he currently chairs, which he sees as pivotal in restoring a sense of enlightened optimism to Britain. He tells Charlotte about his upbringing in America, his career in television and magazines, his books and his passion for heritage and churches. He also talks about playing the guitar, being in a band, trying to be a rock star and how his four wire-haired dachshunds keep him active and fit. 

Nicole Farhi is a household name as a fashion designer, having helped found French Connection with Stephen Marks before setting up her eponymous fashion and homeware brand with a popular concept store at 202 Westbourne Grove.  Now she’s turned her back on fashion to sculpt and has a new exhibition, J’Accuse, at Pitzhanger Manor in Ealing.  It comprises 24 of her signature small painted busts, of people incarcerated or executed for crimes they did not commit.  She talks to Charlotte Metcalf about the travesties of justice which inspired J’Accuse and why she abandoned fashion for sculpture.  She describes her upbringing in Nice and her time working in fashion before talking about her life now and her marriage to the playwright David Hare. There will be a discussion between Nicole Farhi and Matthew Foot, APPEAL’s Co-Director and criminal defence solicitor at Pitzhanger Gallery on 1 May. 

Lynn Barber, frequently nicknamed ‘the Demon Barber’, is one of the most multiple award-winning, respected and formidable interviewers and writers of her generation.  She tells Charlotte Metcalf about her upbringing, which was the subject of the 2009 film An Education starring Carey Mulligan as Lynn, and how it shaped her ability to ask those probing - sometimes combative - questions for which she’s known. She gives us insights into her happy family life until her husband’s early death and reveals whom she’s enjoyed – and not enjoyed - interviewing and talks about her love of art and artists, as reflected in her new book A Little Art Education.