Radio Oldie

John Lloyd is a multi-award-winning television and radio producer. He is the creator of Not the Nine O’Clock News, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Blackadder,  Spitting Image, QI, The Museum of Curiosity and much more.  In 2011 was awarded a CBE for services to broadcasting.

Rachel Kelly is a bestselling author, keynote speaker and mental health advocate, who has just published her new book The Gift of Teenagers, recently serialised in the Daily Mail.  A former Times journalist, Rachel has been named one of the UK’s top five mental health influencers and is an official ambassador for the mental health charities Rethink Mental Illness and SANE.  

Helen Lederer tells Harry Mount about a life in comedy. A stand-up comedian at the Comedy Store, she has starred with Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Ben Elton and the late Rik Mayall, . And she excelled as Catriona, the dim Sloane in Absolutely Fabulous.

Sarah Sands is a well-known journalist. She edited Readers’ Digest, the Sunday Telegraph and the Evening Standard before becoming editor of Today, BBC Four’s flagship news programme. Recently she abandoned her career in exchange for a quieter, more fluid life and has written three books about monasticism, faith and inner peace.  She also now organises pilgrimages. She talks to Charlotte Metcalf about her time in journalism, the deaths of her father, her brother and her ex-husband, Julian Sands and her quest for a very different way of life. 

Philippa Langley speaking about her new book, The Princes in the Tower: Solving History's Greatest Cold Case, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on July 15th 2025.

David Hepworth speaking about his new book, Hope I Get Old Before I Die: Why Rock Stars Never Retire, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on July 15th 2025.

Lucy Moore speaking about her new book, Christopher Gibbs: His World, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on July 15th 2025.

Oldie columnist and Irish writer, Mary Kenny, tells Harry Mount about her 60 years in journalism. She salutes her old boss, the novelist Edna O'Brien, and remembers her time leading the Irish Women's Liberation Movement. And she reflects on her biography of Lord Haw-Haw, the Nazi propagandist.

On Radio Oldie, writer, designer and singer Nicky Haslam does a perfect Truman Capote impression. He recalls meeting Marilyn Monroe and Cole Porter. He reveals Diana Cooper's recipe for a good party – 'Too much to drink and a chocolate pudding.' And he explains why the Sistine Chapel is common.

As we head towards the 40th anniversary of Live Aid on 13th July, Charlotte Metcalf talks to the writer and broadcaster Mark Ellen, then a hugely successful editor of magazines like New Musical Express and Time Out, Mark was plucked from The Old Grey Whistle Test to be one of the main television anchors on the concert.  He looks back at a phenomenal event and how it changed our attitudes to rock music and its role forever.