Radio Oldie

Merlin Holland pays tribute to his grandfather Oscar Wilde and discusses his new book, After Oscar: The Legacy of a Scandal.  Merlin tells Harry Mount how the shock waves from Wilde's trial echoed through the 20th century, right into his own lifetime. How he wishes he could ask Wilde why he took the fatal step of suing the Marquess of Queensberry.

Merlin Holland speaking about his new book, After Oscar: The Legacy of a Scandal, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on November 4th 2025.

Sarah Vine speaking about her new book, How Not to be a Political Wife, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on November 4th 2025.

Ysenda Maxtone-Graham speaking about her new book, Screams: Shrieks of Horror and Yelps of Pleasure from Modern Life, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on November 4th 2025.

Edward Fox tells Harry Mount about playing Sir Brian Horrocks in A Bridge Too Far and his starring role as Edward VIII in Edward & Mrs Simpson. He details his extraordinary acting bloodline and explains how he approached the melon-shooting scene in The Day of the Jackal.

Daniel Finkelstein is an award-winning political commentator and journalist.  He’s a Times columnist, and author of his 2023 memoir, Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad. Previously he was a politician and political advisor to John Major and William Hague. He was appointed to the House of Lords as a life peer in 2013.   He talks to Charlotte Metcalf about his book and his parents – his mother was sent to Bergen-Belsen, his father to a Siberian gulag – and shares his views on politics, Israel, multi-culturalism, the state of Britain and much, much more with openness and candour.

Jeremy Hunt, former Chancellor and Foreign Secretary, tells Harry Mount about his new book, Can We Be Great Again?: Why a Dangerous World Needs Britain. He sympathises with Rachel Reeves about the prospect of dealing with a mammoth deficit – and recalls meeting Donald Trump at Chequers.

Gus Christie took Glyndebourne Opera over from his father George in 2000.  He tells us about Glyndebourne’s beginnings when his grandfather John Christie fell in love with and married the soprano Audrey Mildmay and decided to build her an opera house. Gus also reflects on his own decision to step into his father’s shoes, describes his vision and tells us about the upcoming Autumn Festival.

Jonathan Dimbleby speaking about his new book, Endgame 1944: How Stalin Won the War, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on October 7th 2025.

Jeremy Hunt speaking about his new book, Can We Be Great Again?: Why a Dangerous World Needs Britain, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on October 7th 2025.