The Oldie Podcast

Tom Assheton is an editor, producer and presents the Bloody Violent History podcast.  His career spans time in the army, as a land agent and owner of a cigar and coffee company. Mary Killen is a very well-known and prolific journalist and the author of several books. She’s instantly recognisable today for being on Gogglebox with her husband Giles. She’s The Spectator’s agony aunt and a regular contributor to The Oldie with a column on beauty and fashion.

Writing Love From Venice has "literally given me a new lease of life" – Gill Johnson speaking at The Oldie lunch Gill Johnson told The Oldie, 'I have never published a word in my life, never have I had any ambition to do so, so how did a over 90 year old non-celebrity first time author get to write a book?' Gill stayed seated and delivered a evocative speech about Love From Venice, her book focused on her 25th year of her life, when she left The National Gallery in pursuit of her love David Ross who had 'an exotic Russian Scottish heritage'. Gill found herself working for a grand Italian family in Venice and all the stories that ensued. The book has 'literally given me a new lease of life' as Gill fought away tears, sitting next to her brother and highly esteemed wine writer Hugh Johnson (to whom she had dedicated the book) and her son, writer, Rory Ross. Rory held the microphone for Gill. The Oldie audience applauded.

As the 5th July beckons, how topical that Geoffrey Wheatcroft spoke to The Oldie about 'Bloody Panico: Or, Whatever Happened to The Tory Party'. The election is more 'send in the clowns' than 'things can only get better'. Geoffrey retorted, 'I have never felt more gratitude to anyone than I do to Rishi Sunak, calling this election just as my book is published!' Liz Truss was due to be speaking at the Oldie Literary Lunch, but pulled out due to election commitments in Norfolk. Liz was due to speak about how the Tory party can save the world, but Geoffrey Wheatcroft would be one person that does not agree. Liz Truss's time as Prime Minister reminded Geoffrey of 19 years ago, when he published his book 'The Strange Death of Tory England' to which his latest book is a 'kind of afterthought'. The book was shortlisted for the Channel 4 Book Prize. 'Some bright spark doing the publicity' thought that it would be amusing to have a Booker prize style dinner and Geoffrey sat next-door to the leader of the Conservati

When Liz Truss pulled out of The Oldie Literary Lunch, leading classicist author, Daisy Dunn, stepped in. Daisy, who wrote the Ladybird guide to Homer, has just written 'The Missing Thread', which is a new history of the ancient world through women. Daisy set the record straight that in no way was this a history, where she had shoehorned 'some girls into the grand narrative of ancient history for the sake of equality and branding it woke, to which I respond ladies and gentleman, I write for The Spectator'. Following Geoffrey Wheatcroft's speech, Daisy told the audience: 'You will notice that I'm not Liz Truss either, for which I'm sorry. Or maybe I'm not.' Daisy met Liz Truss for the first time 'about 9 months after she left Downing Street or to put it another way, about 10 months after she arrived at Downing Street and she was actually very friendly so I am sort of sorry not to see her in some respects.' Daisy came to The Oldie lunch thinking of something that Liz had once said that 'nobody wants to be

Charlotte Metcalf is a journalist, editor, award-winning documentary film-maker and was co-presenter of the Break Out Culture podcast.   She is Supplements Editor and a frequent contributor at The Oldie. John Humphrys is the legendary BBC journalist who presented Radio Four’s Today for 30 years.  He talks about his Welsh upbringing, how Superman inspired him to become a journalist and what it was like digging for truth from the dominant politicians of our time, notably Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair.

Wearing an elegant cream suit and American accent, almost remnant of Wallis Simpson, historian Jane admitted to The Oldie audience of the huge challenges, facing her when writing about Edward VIII. "There is no denying that the material I presented in Once A King paints a very different portrait of Edward VIII than the one that we have in recent years become all too familiar with" - a monarch with selfish ambitions and Nazi sympathies. When the Duchess died in 1986, a "suffering narrative has prevented a balanced understanding of Edward VIII." She confessed to being "clearly very much a newbie, not very much an oldie!" Jane announced: "I am no idealist, but I recognise that one book, however startling, will not overturn decades of judgements about this most controversial of British royals".

"The Oldie, for me, has undisputedly become my favourite magazine"

It was rather ironic that Lady Anne Somerset addressed The Oldie about her latest book on Queen Victoria, at The National Liberal Club, yesterday because as Gladstone said of Queen Victoria,"there is no greater Tory in the land!" "It's wonderful to be talking to you here today, the only thing that is perhaps a bit awkward is that the event is taking place in The National Liberal Club!" The club was founded in 1882 by William Gladstone for the Liberal cause - certainly not a cause close to Queen Victoria's heart! Queen Victoria had an eye for the men, strongly supporting Lord Melbourne's Whig movement, only because "she simply adored the enchanting Lord Melbourne", finally accepting the Tories in 1841, "what does she owe them (the Tories)? Nothing but hate!"  Politicians these days can sit easy. Nothing compares to Queen Victoria with her "absurdly high notions" of the amount of political control she ought to exercise. She despised Gladstone whom she challenged, but when Tory, Benjamin Disraeli, became Prim

Twentieth Century Heroines. 1.Citation  2. Edith Cavell  3. Maxine Elliott  4. Gertrude Bell  5. WW2 Operations  6. Ursula Graham Bower  7. MI9  a. Pat O’Leary Line b. Nancy Wake c. Dédé   d. Mary Lindell  8. Virginia Hall 9. Special Operations Executive  10. SOE Women a. Vera Atkins  b. Noor Khan  c. Violette Szabo  d. Odette Churchill  11. Bletchley Park  12. The Banka Island Massacre  13. Conclusion Many are names in the wartime Hall of Fame.  Yet others have faded from view and collective memory.  All are heroines and all sacrificed much in two world wars to defend their country and help others in need.  As nurses or secret agents, from Edith Cavell to Violette Szabo, they stand as extraordinary examples of courage, fortitude, and duty. Reading from Leo Marks code poem for Violette Zabo.  Read by David Hartley First published: https://www.bloodyviolenthistory.com The Oldie subscriptions: https://www.theoldie.co.uk

"You would make a good Labour MP!" said Chaplin, and "Selfish, arrogant he believes he is at the centre of the world - he is a great man!" said Charles de Gaulle about Churchill. Sinclair McKay reveals Winston's encounters at The Oldie Literary Lunch. Why is Sinclair's book called '90 Encounters?' Well, Churchill was the 'dazzling' age of 90 when he died, Sinclair told The Oldie. Sinclair continued, 'there have been many books written about Churchill, but not one that researches his encounters'. We asked Sinclair what view he had of Churchill post writing the book - 'Churchill was the opposite of cancel culture' and kept enemies 'close to his bosom' replied Sinclair. The Oldie Lunch was sponsored by Noble Caledonia River Cruises. Photos by Neil Spence Photography. Audio by Tom Assheton. Held at The National Liberal Club, 1 Whitehall Place, London.

'There is a sort-of link between my two books', Rick Stroud told The Oldie audience today, 'I have had an enormous amount of satisfaction trying to write about very, very brave women'. Rick's latest book 'I'm Not Afraid of Looking Into The Rifles' was sold to Publisher, Simon & Schuster on what would have been his late daughter Nell's 47th birthday (in 2020). 'There is a link to (my books), and that is Lonely Courage is dedicated to my daughter Nell who died of cancer, she was a very, very brave woman and ran a circus, and I'm Not Afraid Of Looking Into The Rifles was sold to publisher Simon Schulster by a sad coincidence on what would have been her 47th birthday, but by then she left us'. Rick had tears in his eyes. He ended his speech with the poem 'The Life That I Have' by Leo Marks. The Oldie Lunch was sponsored by Noble Caledonia River Cruises. Photos by Neil Spence Photography. Audio by Tom Assheton. Held at The National Liberal Club, 1 Whitehall Place, London.

Charles Spencer recounted, to The Oldie Literary Lunch today, the stories of 24 boys who had been at Maidwell Hall in 1972 and the terrifying story of how the Headmaster's religion had affected them. The Headmaster told one boy that he was 'outraged that the boy's parents were getting divorced'. This was something that the boy was clearly struggling with. The Headmaster announced 'I think you should consider me as your father now'. The boy was taken down on Sunday evenings for what were called 'Sunday Night Confessions'. He had to strip and tell the Headmaster all the things that he had done wrong that week. He hadn't done anything wrong, so he invented 'little schoolboy crimes' said Spencer. Charles Spencer told The Oldie Literary Lunch 'Maidwell Hall is actually a very good school now - that's not lawyers asking me to say that'. Charles told us: 'I have friends with children there (Maidwell Hall) and they seem to like it very much' Earl Spencer called the book A Very Private School 'because that is how i

To salute the 80th anniversary of the Great Escape and the recent article about POW Roger Mortimer by his son, Charlie Mortimer we present this discussion between Tom Assheton and James Jackson on Great Escapes – events that have captured the imagination for generations.  From the simplest adoption of disguise to the longest tunnels, both successful and failed attempts have entered the realm of legend.  Everyone knows the tale of the Great Escape, yet far fewer remember the names of those who dug myriad escape tunnels to confound the Germans and try to reach home. Colditz and Stalag Luft III have been the subject of television and the big screen.  But the real stories of boredom, fortitude, courage and starvation – and death – give a picture that is more layered and complex than most now imagine.  1. Inertia 2. The Wild, the Wacky and the Simple Plan  3. Organisation  4. Equipment, Killing Time & Techniques  5. The Camps  6. Other Escapes Readings: First published by https://bloodyviolenthistory.com/epi

Welcome to this special episode to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the capture of General Kreipe. One of the greatest feats in Patrick Leigh Fermor's remarkable life was the kidnapping of General Kreipe, the German commander in Crete, on 26 April 1944. He and Captain Billy Moss hatched a daring plan to abduct the general, while ensuring that no reprisals were taken against the Cretan population. Here, Harry Bucknall, interviews General Sir Michael David Jackson. 

Harry Mount, Editor of The Oldie, speaks about Oldie Reader Tours and Barry Cryer's joke about Parrots

Pictured here with war photography Don McCullin - photos by Neil Spence Photography and sponsored by Charles Stanley Wealth Managers

Sponsored by Charles Stanley Wealth Managers

The lunch was sponsored by Charles Stanley Wealth Managers

Tom Assheton interviews Huon Mallalieu about his forthcoming Oldie Reader trip to the Low Countries which is happening on 9th - 14th December, 2024. To book tickets please visit www.theoldie.co.uk and go to tab Courses & Tours. Huon will be hosting this tour with Kirsty Fergusson.