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

Our glamorous holiday – at home • We binge-watched The Forsyte Saga and then dined with its stars

My stalking season begins • In our troubled age, I long for the kind diffidence of Michael Kitchen

OLDEN LIFE

MODERN LIFE

It takes two to tango • Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran have written sitcoms – and argued – for 45 years

An orphan - at 69 • After his mother died at 98, Griff Rhys Jones still felt subtle losses when she was no longer there

At home with Harold Pinter • Antonia Fraser has lived at the same house for 66 years – 50 of them with the playwright

Best of Manchester • In 1968, Kenneth Cranham played a hippie in Granada Television’s Coronation Street - and befriended a young George Best

The sad old Duke of York • A new biography captures the horrors of Prince Charmless

I'm tired of retirement • At 83, businessman Richard Britton has retired – and he’s bored of doing nothing

Soho's little Malta • In the ’40s and ’50s, the Maltese Syndicate were kings of vice in Soho, before disappearing for good.

Fortune-hunter • Lee Rodwell was on the edge of her seat when her statue of Diana the huntress was valued on Antiques Roadshow

My garden secret • Candida Crewe is ashamed to confess it to her friends – she hates gardening

The very ancient world • Old men now rule the world – but it’s nothing new. Oldies ran Greece and Rome, says Professor Paul Cartledge, aged 78¼

Model behaviour • When Lucas Chancellor moved from the London catwalk to the Manhattan runway, he fell for the American way of life

Nowt so queer as folk • Joe Cushnan has been eavesdropping on the public for decades. Here are the funniest things he’s overheard

Hair necessities • Watch out for malicious hairdressers who hack away your locks

Title deeds • Eleanor Doughty on titles inherited by remote twigs on the family tree

Wedding bells for Rioting Ron • Cleethorpes high society? Jailbird Crazy Jacko and a sandwich thief

Foodies leave a bad taste

Fancy seeing you here! My small world

The past is a foreign, joyful country

The fight to be Irish President • Conor McGregor, Michael Flatley and Mary Kenny have all pondered going for the top job

Reasons to be cheerful • Some things today are much better than in the old days.

The history man • A new biography of Asa Briggs salutes one of the last great dons

Agony and ecstasy of my school stroke

St Jerome, the Bible's Latin lover

Norman Tebbit (1931-2025)

Golf's biggest handicap • A new study suggests golf courses give you Parkinson’s

Jessica Mitford

Young Peter Sellers, the movie love rat

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

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