The Oldie Podcast

"Short speech. Short script. Act 1. Old. Act 2. Old fart. Act 3. Dead. Somewhere lurking between the acts The Oldie magazine, these awards... What an honour, thank you. I’m really overwhelmed. It’s great. Cut." Sponsored by Baillie Gifford Photos by Neil Spence Photography

"I just want to say thank you for the remarkable account of what I’ve done and so on and so forth and how marvellous are all the people here." Sponsored by Baillie Gifford Photo by Neil Spence Photography

"I’ve got a little thing written down... I feel very embarrassed. I’m very honoured to receive this but it's also strange to me to be here, as a poor working class kid from South London. I can only thank my grandma. She taught me everything. She taught me to write a diary, to scrapbook, the art of collecting things, to say the alphabet backwards. Anyone else? Someone’s nodding over there... (at the request of a wayward heckle Wyman does prove he can still say the alphabet backwards much to our delight) I can never thank my grandma for what she did for me. I wouldn’t be me without all she’s done. I get very emotional when I speak about her. I simply wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for her. She sadly died at the age of 61, before I had fame and fortune really, and I never got to thank her for what she did for me. However, one thing I want to share which I will always remember is that she used to say to me to grow up thinking about the poem 'If' by Rudyard Kipling." If you can keep your head when

Hugo Vickers speaks to Harry Mount about his latest book on Clarissa: Muse to Power, The Untold Story of Clarissa Eden, Countess of Avon. Our podcasts are sponsored by Baillie Gifford.

Dame Jacqueline Wilson tells The Oldie Literary Lunch how she wrote her first-ever sex scene. Think Again is her first adult book. The Oldie Literary Lunch took place on 12th November 2024 at The National Liberal Club, sponsored by Kirker Holidays and photos by Neil Spence photography.

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 photog

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.

Our most loved and famous cricket commentator tells The Oldie Literary Lunch on 22nd October 2024 about his love of the game and his worry for the future of cricket and the T20 franchise. 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.

Headlines were made as ex-Rolling Stone Bill Wyman aged 88 broke into tears as he remembered foraging for food in the war. 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.

The Oldie magazine sponsored The Dorchester Literary Festival which ran for several days in the beautiful and historic market town.  Harry Mount, Editor of The Oldie, interviewed Giles Wood and Mary Killen, Britain's most favourite couple.  Listen here to what they had to say.

At 92, the Oldie's new columnist, historian Lady Antonia Fraser, has written a new book, Patchwork Pieces. She tells Harry Mount all about Guy Fawkes – and the sex life of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

At 80, Anne Robinson tells Harry Mount about facelifts, drinking and Robert Maxwell