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

GREAT BORES OF TODAY – THE NHS

Jeffrey Archer’s last day on Earth • After 66 years as friends, we were on stage on his final afternoon

Adolf Hitler - the plus points • Fans of the Führer are on the march once more

OLDEN LIFE

MODERN LIFE

Generation O • Generation Oldie – born between 1934 and 1964 – are attacked for having it all. But we went through a lot to get there, says Peter York

Our Roman holiday • I, Claudius was a hit 50 years ago. Its stars, Derek Jacobi and Siân Phillips, loved all the stabbing and poisoning.

Living beyond my means • All his life, James Pembroke has merrily plunged into debt in pursuit of devil-may-care fun

Homage to Caledonia • A new show reveals the Picts got on well with the Romans in Scotland and taught them all about jewellery and chariots.

My lethal midlife crisis • In his late 40s, Barnabas Watkins had a great marriage, lots of friends and plenty of money - but still tried to kill himself. He explains why

When Fry met Laurie • The Cambridge friends burst to fame in A Bit of Fry & Laurie four decades ago. Jem Roberts is now publishing the complete scripts

Juicy Bits of Fry & Laurie

Gambon’s last gamble • The great actor retained his magnetic screen charisma, even when dementia struck. By Jasper Rees, his biographer

My prayer to the DVLA • Please let me go on driving my dear little Renault Modus at 82, says Mary Kenny

Two Oldie reader trips

Old Money Face vs the Mar-a-Lago Look • Wrinkles are more charming than facelifts

Have you heard the news? Gossip is dying • How I long for the golden age of Nigel Dempster and John Junor

The joy of getting rid of everything

Me vs pheasants? The pheasants won

On the long road to Cleethorpes A&E • My hearing aids buzzed away on the ambulance trip with Mother

My addict husbands

Did Oxford spark the Second World War? • In 1933, the Oxford Union voted not to fight for King and Country

You ran away to the circus? Well done!

David Tomlinson

Close encounter with Brief Encounter

Trailblazing Blaise Pascal

Sir Angus Stirling (1933-2026)

The strange death of home visits • House calls saved on ambulances, relieved A&E and helped patients

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

Delia will heal ya

Over a barrel

Right royal adventures

Up the garden path

Real Canterbury Tale

British Man Dates

FILM

THEATRE

TELEVISION

RADIO

MUSIC

GOLDEN OLDIES

EXHIBITIONS

GARDENING

KITCHEN GARDEN

COOKERY

RESTAURANTS

DRINK

SPORT

MOTORING

Commonplace Corner

RANT

Adios Avios

Digital dementia

Snow bunting

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