Radio Oldie

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.