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
The MPs’ guide to whips and prostitutes • Fancy an orgy? I preferred dinner with Nicholas Parsons
Black tie – worse than the Black Death • A friend's party meant the ultimate torture – ordeal by bow tie
OLDEN LIFE
MODERN LIFE
The 2022 Oldie ofthe Year Awards • Our champion, from Darkest Peru, was beloved by the Queen
The Duke of Kent FIRST-TIME AUTHOR OF THE YEAR
Siân Phillips and Edward Fox OLDIE STAGERS OF THE YEAR
Dr Henry Marsh OLDIE BRAINBOX OF THE YEAR
Jeremy Paxman CUDDLY OLDIE ROTTWEILER OF THE YEAR
Jane Goodall OLDIE QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE
Alan Garner WISE OLDIE MAN OF THE YEAR
I'm dreaming of a comic Christmas • Joseph Connolly yearns for the Beano parties of his 1950s youth with top pals Dennis the Menace and Minnie the Minx
Stay-at-home grandpa • Richard Oldfield went from looking after a bank to looking after two toddlers – and he's shattered
Single bells • Jane Brooke, a 75-year-old singleton, will be lonely this Christmas
My 1939 pub crawl • As a show of drinking pictures opens, Hugh Thompson staggers around London pubs in the footsteps of artist Edward Ardizzone
Once more unto the breach • Martin Jarvis, 81, was in Twelfth Night at school, 70 years ago. Now, after four appearances in the play, he's finally directing it
Fringe benefits of colourful hair • White locks can look stylish – but why not dare to go violet or burnt sienna?
My Oz trials • For Bruce Beresford, Christmas in the Outback meant spiders, snakes and his aunt stripping naked in the intense heat
Mrs Who • Verity Lambert produced Doctor Who, Rum pole of the Bailey and Minder – and revolutionised TV. By Nick Brown
Grandad's perfect present • What should you get oldies for Christmas? Miranda Thomas has the answer
The Jeremy Lewis Prize for New Writing • A Kind of Mugging by Heather Malcolm This year's winner of the annual award in honour of our late deputy-editor
It doesn't add up • Why does the Prime Minister want us to learn maths until we're 18? By Liz Hodgkinson, who's good with money and bad with figures
You're nicked! • Despite his dodgy driving record, Roderick Gilchrist loved learning to catch speeding motorists
Knock me off my pedestal! • With her customary modesty, Dame Edna Everage actually wants her statue to be toppled
Make it snappy, vicar! • This Christmas, Ysenda Maxtone Graham is praying for a short sermon
In London, the world is your oyster
My journey to tropical Hell and back
Gay hero of the SAS • Paddy Mayne, a tormented warrior, drowned his sorrows with Mary Kenny's brother
My brief encounter at Cleethorpes Station • I fell for a beauty on the platform – until a pigeon chased her away
Wicked war against classic books
Quite Interesting Things about … owls
Mary, a picture of patience
Dame Carmen Callil (1938-2022)
To screen or not to...