The Oldie

The idea for the Oldie was cooked up 25 years ago by its founding editor, Richard Ingrams, and his much-lamented successor, the late Alexander Chancellor. Their aim was to create a free-thinking, funny magazine, a light-hearted alternative to a press obsessed with youth and celebrity. The Oldie is ageless and timeless, free of retirement advice, crammed with rejuvenating wit, intelligence and delight. With over 100 pages in every issue, The Oldie is packed with funny cartoons and free-thinking and intelligent articles covering a wide range of topics – from gardening and books to travel, arts, entertainment, and so much more.

The Oldie

Among this month’s contributors

The Old Un’s Notes

NOT MANY DEAD • Important stories you may have missed

Rattigan’s name in lights - for ever • Should a London theatre be named after the great playwright?

Our motto? What a bleedin’ family • My latest disaster - the discovery of a long-lost cousin

OLDEN LIFE

MODERN LIFE

When Dad beat Winston • Felicity Harwood salutes her father, Clement Attlee, 80 years after Labour’s 1945 election victory

On the road • After 40 years of travel shows, Griff Rhys Jones hits the Deep South

Latin lover • Dr Jonathan Katz, Oxford’s Public Orator, maintains the university’s ancient roots

Martin Scorsese’s Degree Oration by Dr Katz

Powell’s Sistine Chapel • While Anthony Powell wrote his epic series of novels, he also embarked on a vast collage.

The soldiers’ painter • Piers Butler salutes his great-grandmother, Lady Butler, who depicted great British battles with deep humanity

A penny for the guide dogs • Liz Hodgkinson longs for cash collection boxes

Rolling with the Stones • Fifty years ago, Christopher Simon Sykes photographed the band on their American tour

Danger! Lip-plumping alert • Stay natural - lilo lips look ridiculous

RIP BO • What happened to body odour? The Clean Young Generation have washed it away for ever.

Queen of the Empire State

My son’s saviour? A Victorian banker

Sickness of the Sycamore Two

Dame Edna, my dream boss • Sixty years ago, Mary Kenny was the adoring secretary of Edna O’Brien, star of a new documentary

Cupid strikes in a tatty tourist shop • My heart-throb fell for my stalking routine amid the kiss-me-quick hats

Bloody-minded Magna Carta • Let’s have a new national day, celebrating the Great Charter

Great war stories • WWII inspired Evelyn Waugh, Anthony Powell and Olivia Manning

Death becomes him

Marianne Faithfull (1946-2025)

Monday, Monday - so good to me • Is it really better to be operated on at the start of the week?

Eric Morecambe

My vision of Hell - a North Sea riptide

READERS’ LETTERS • The Oldie, 23-31 Great Titchfield Street, London, W1W 7PA letters@theoldie.co.uk To sign up for our e-newsletter, go to www.theoldie.co.uk

Prime of Mrs Spark

Deep waters

Wild Bill Buckley

Up Pompeii

Club class

Planet Plantagenet

Double trouble

Commonplace Corner

RANT

FILM

THEATRE

RADIO

TELEVISION

MUSIC

GOLDEN OLDIES

EXHIBITIONS

GARDENING

KITCHEN GARDEN

COOKERY

RESTAURANTS

DRINK

SPORT

MOTORING

Beware of the web’s rabbit holes

Rare-earth metals aren’t so rare

Join us in the real Tenerife at the time of the famous Carnaval with Kirsty Fergusson 11th to 18th February 2026

Long-eared owl

Sun, sea - and the Mob • In Calabria, James Pembroke tracks down Greek bronzes and Mafia hoods

Beauty of the Isle of Bute • At...