Podcast
Radio Oldie
Hosted by Radio Oldie · EN
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.
61episodes
Episodes
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458: The Odd Couple with John Humphrys and Matthew Norman - Episode 002
Apr 2700:40:58Tap to summarizeJohn 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.
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457: Anne Sebba in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Apr 2000:37:24Tap to summarizeCharlotte 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 this year’s Oldie Awards in February.
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456: Sebastian Faulks at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Apr 1500:16:16Tap to summarizeSebastian 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.
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455: Sara Wheeler at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Apr 1400:15:36Tap to summarizeSara 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.
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454: Anna Mathias at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Apr 1400:10:50Tap to summarizeAnna 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.
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453: Mary Beard in conversation with Harry Mount
Apr 1300:42:58Tap to summarizeMary 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.
Transcribe →452: The Odd Couple with John Humphrys & Matthew Norman - Episode 1
Apr 200:41:59Tap to summarizeJohn 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
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451: Rose Wylie in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf
Apr 100:29:40Tap to summarizeCharlotte 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.
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450: Simon Jenkins in conversation with Harry Mount
Mar 2300:24:26Tap to summarizeSimon 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.
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449: Antony Beevor at the Oldie Literary Lunch
Mar 1700:13:12Tap to summarizeAntony 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.
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