Radio Oldie

Lady Glenconner speaking at The Oldie Literary Lunch on 9th May 2023 about her latest book "Whatever Next?"

Chris Mullin speaks at The Oldie Literary Lunch 9th May about his latest book "Didn't You Used To Be Chris Mullen?"

Husband and wife team Henry Dimbleby and Jemima Lewis speak about their latest book Ravenous. Henry of Leon Restaurant fame talks about changing our eating and farming habits to save our planet for future generations.

The Oldie hosted a road show tour of Literary Lunches this year. Fairlight Hall in Hastings hosted a charity lunch in aid of the Conquest Hospital. Listen to Craig Brown's hilarious account of his latest book Haywire. 

Harry Mount speaking about his latest book Et Tu, Brute? at Fairlight Hall, Hastings The Oldie Literary Lunch

Giles and Mary speaking at The Oldie Literary Lunch Hastings about their latest book - A Diary Of Two Nobodies

Sasha Swire speaking at The Oldie Literary Lunch about her book Diary of an MP's Wife Tuesday 14th March

Harry Mount speaks about his book Et Tu, Brute: The Best Latin Lines Ever at The Oldie Literary Lunch in Dorset 14th March 2023

Andrew Lownie speaking about his book Traitor King at The Oldie Literary Lunch on Tuesday 14th March 2023

PRUE LEITH ON HER LATEST RECIPE BOOK BLISS ON TOAST Our final speaker at The Oldie Literary Lunch was Prue Leith on her new cookery book, Bliss on Toast. Prue Leith is best known for The Great British Bake Off, but her greatest achievement in the room at The Oldie Literary Lunch, said Editor, Harry Mount, was for "writing a column for The Oldie Magazine". Harry introduced Prue, whose father made explosives in South Africa, as "utter dynamite". This column has now become a book as it was so popular, called Bliss On Toast. It has been selling like hot toast. Prue has also written an autobiography called Relish but her huge fan base in America said "no, that's what you put on hamburgers like jam" so in the USA, her book is called I Will Try Anything Once. Next year, Prue plans to do a one woman show in the spring, touring the UK and then to America. She told The Oldie Readers, "Am I completely mad, I am 82?" Prue's advice to The Oldie Literary Lunch was, "you can still be old and have a good time". In the first 25 years of Prue's career she focussed on setting up her cookery business, writing columns and cook books. The next 20 years she wrote novels. This was a time when the boards of most major companies were all occupied by men. A well known supermarket was asked why 80% of its customers were women, 70% of its staff were women and yet the Board of Directors consisted of men in grey suits. Prue was asked to be on the Board of National Rail. Her first AGM started from 8am until 2pm with no breaks and endless cups of tea, at which point she was "bursting for a wee". Being the only female, she felt embarrassed but eventually had to go, and she stood up. At which point, all the men stood up and bowed her out of the room. They stood up on her return. Prue said to them, "hey guys, can you just treat me like a chap!" The next stage in her career is the third revolution and is all about television. Prue gave the sound advice to The Oldie Readers: "You should do what you want" in life. Even if this has cheesed off her children. She never once watched a football match, and the only parents evening that she took her daughter to, they missed because they missed their train. However, Prue says, "you serve your grandchildren best by having a good time, and of course, teaching them how to cook, is helpful too."