Radio Oldie

Welcome to the Oldie's September podcast with Harry Mount the editor of The Oldie and the actor, Simon Williams, who played Captain Bellamy in Upstairs, Downstairs and has written a piece about the class dynamic in Downton Abbey for the latest issue of The Oldie.

What is the funding gap between private and state schools? Is there equal educational opportunity? How can we end Britain's educational apartheid? David Kynaston and Francis Green ask the questions and they have an answer. They examine the impact of private schools on public life. They spoke at the Oldie's August lunch about their book Engines of Privilege: Britain's Private School Problem, published by Bloomsbury.

The world is getting better. Amid the doom and gloom of the news, things are actually pretty good, says Douglas Carswell. In this talk, Carswell charts the history of human progress and explains how we have held ourselves back. Douglas Carswell spoke at the Oldie's August lunch about his new book Progress vs Parasites: A Brief History of the Conflict That's Shaped Our World, published by Head of Zeus.

What is the difference between Old Masters and old mistresses? Where did Chanel put her No. 5? Whose yacht was called the 'floating double-bed'? Anne de Courcy examines life in the French Riviera before and during the war. Her new book, Chanel's Riviera: Life, Love and the Struggle for Survival on the Côte d’Azur, 1930–1944, is published by W&N.

Welcome to August Issue of the Oldie podcast. George Courtauld, a former Queen's messenger and bestselling writer of The Travels of a Fat Bulldog, has penned a delightful piece about discovering his grandmother Daisy Dobell's diaries in his attic. He speaks to The Oldie's editorial assistant Ferdie Rous about his grandmother: her childhood, why she earned the nickname – 'Naughty Daisy' – and her close friendship with her cousin the poet, Eva Dobell. Courtauld's book, a collection of his grandmother's diaries, Daisy's Diary 1888-1900 was published in April.

Introduced by Barry Cryer, Sir Tim Waterstone spoke at the Oldie's July lunch about what inspired him to create Waterstones, the difficulty of getting funding for it and a set-to with a journalist in the 90s. His book is The Face Pressed Against a Window: A Memoir.

Introduced by Barry Cryer, Sir Antony Beevor spoke at the Oldie's July lunch about the British fascination with defeat, the disaster at Arnhem bridge and Field Marshal Montgomery's appalling behaviour before, during and after the battle. Antony Beevor's book is Arnhem: The Battle for the Bridges, 1944.

Introduced by Barry Cryer, Anna Pasternak speaks at the Oldie's July lunch. Looking past the steely scheming facade that is so familiar  the public, Pasternak praised the better side of one of the most hated royals. Anna Pasternak's book is Untitled: The Real Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor.

Welcome to the July issue of the Oldie podcast. Harry Mount editor of The Oldie speaks to the comic genius Barry Cryer, who has been working in comedy since 1957. Here Barry Cryer talks about his life as a raconteur, the art of the perfect punchline and the beginnings of any good gag.

Christopher Lee speaks at the Oldie Literary Lunch about Lord Carrington: his peculiarly-named dogs, how he came to be 'an honourable man', and why he hated Boris. His new book Carrington: An Honourable Man was published by Viking books.