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

The Old Un's Notes

Among this month's contributors

NOT MANY DEAD • Important stories you may have missed

I hate the wee hours of the morning • My nocturnal bathroom visits stop me sleeping

Strange case of a mystery benefactor • Who returned my lost glasses? It's far from elementary, my dear Watson

OLDEN LIFE

MODERN LIFE

Raise a glass to Jeff • Robert Bathurst is playing Jeffrey Bernard at his Soho watering hole, the Coach & Horses

The real Plum • David Cazalet salutes P G Wodehouse, his step-great-grandfather, 50 years after the Master's death

Fashionably early • Gone are the days when people turned up late to parties. Now everyone wants to go home as soon as possible.

Go to Husband School! • Is your man a let-down in the kitchen and the bedroom? Time to send him to Kathy Lette‘s new boot camp

My academic failure • Griff Rhys Jones was flattered by his honorary degrees – until he was publicly humiliated

Why do we love le vice anglais? • Disgracefully, the English are still allowed to hit their children

Truman Capote

An officer longs for ladies’ tights

Children behaving badly? It's naughty but nice

Hot underwear for cold weather • Thermal underwear has made huge advances – and needn't look bulky

Want to be a Latin lover? • Then learn how to speak it! Bijan Omrani admires an Oxford course that teaches you to chat in the greatest language of all

My yogi dad, to the manor borne

Mary and I embrace the Good Life

Chas & Dave & me • Kate Garner was a little girl when she inspired her father, Chas, to write his first album with Dave, 50 years ago

Happy 100th wedding anniversary, Dad • Mary Kenny salutes her father, born in 1877

The Seventh Circle of Train Hell • In the quiet carriage – with a drunk lady in a loud hat

Turkmen delights

The Olympic Modesty Champion

Rosemary Righter (1943-2024)

Big Brother will be watching you • Brain surgery, advancing at top speed, has dangerous implications

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

Conflict that made the Maltese cross • The Great Siege of 1565 was a crucial clash of religions and empires

Cars drive me crazy • Modern car design produces terrible drivers, says Henry Jeffreys

Join the Oldie for a tour of Gardens of the Côte d'Azur • With Kirsty Fergusson 19th to 26th June 2025

Commonplace Corner

RANT

Wallis in Warlordland

Capital gardens

Harold Pinter's right royal cricket bat

Requiem for a brother

Ira got rhythm

OLDIE NOVEL OF THE MONTH • Burmese Dave

FILM • WE LIVE IN TIME (15)

THEATRE • THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

RADIO

TELEVISION

MUSIC • ALAN HOLLINGHURST'S MUSIC

GOLDEN OLDIES • BRING ON SPINAL TAP II

EXHIBITIONS • THE VAUGHAN BEQUEST OF TURNERS

GARDENING...