464: Christopher Hampton in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf

464: Christopher Hampton in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf

Author: Radio Oldie May 18, 2026 Duration: 40:10

Christopher Hampton is one of Britain’s most outstanding and prolific playwrights and screenwriters. Currently his Dangerous Liaisons is playing at the National Theatre, while his Atonement has its world premiere at Chichester Festival Theatre on 29th May and his The Truth opens at The Apollo Theatre in June. 

He talks to Charlotte Metcalf about his life in film and cinema and the characters he’s met along the way range from his legendary agent Peggy Ramsay and schoolfriend David Hare to David Lean, Stephen Frears, Sean Connery, Emma Thompson, Martin Scorsese and many many more.


Tucked away from the frantic pace of modern media, Radio Oldie offers a quiet corner for reflection and conversation. This podcast feels like a series of thoughtful letters from a wise friend, weaving together personal journals, societal observations, and cultural musings. Each episode is a gentle exploration of life’s quieter moments and larger questions, all delivered with a warmth that feels distinctly human. You’ll hear stories that ponder the nuances of daily existence, discussions that delve into how we live and connect, and personal narratives that resonate with authenticity. It’s a collection of audio essays and dialogues that value depth over speed, and perspective over noise. The Radio Oldie podcast doesn’t shout for attention; it invites you to lean in and listen closely, creating a space where the personal and the universal comfortably meet. For anyone seeking a respite from the clamor and a genuine, considered take on the world, this series provides a consistently engaging and thoughtful companion.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Radio Oldie
Podcast Episodes
496: When Harry Met Fruity - the September issue of The Oldie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:26
Harry Mount, Oldie editor, talks to Charlotte 'Fruity' Metcalf, Supplements Editor, about the new issue.They discuss Mary Kenny's article on what it means to be bohemian. They salute Geoff Roberts, 101, the last British…
495: Michael Rosen in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:35
Michael Rosen is the multi award-winning and prolific children’s author and poet and the former Children’s Laureate. He’s also the presenter of BBC Radio Four’s Word of Mouth, a hugely successful You Tuber and Professor…
494: The Odd Couple, sponsored by Baillie Gifford, actual investors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:20
John Humphrys talks to Matthew Norman about the death of Rod Liddle, 66, his dear friend and old producer at the Today programme. John also salutes his old Today colleague, the late Ed Stourton, and analyses the art of t…
493: When Harry Met Fruity - Ed Stourton remembered [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:02
Charlotte 'Fruity' Metcalf pays tribute to her dear Cambridge friend, the BBC broadcaster Ed Stourton, who has died at 68.This week's podcast is kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford, Actual Investors, who take a long-term…
492: Amanda Craig in conversation with Charlotte Metcalf [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:41
Amanda Craig is a critic, award-winning journalist and author. She’s one of our only female state-of-the-nation novelists and has been compared with Balzac, Trollope and Dickens. She talks to Charlotte Metcalf about her…
491: Titus Mills in conversation with Harry Mount [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:27
Titus Mills is a headmaster - and an expert on Operation Market Garden, the doomed Allied landings in Holland in 1944, recalled in A Bridge Too Far (1977).As we approach the 82nd anniversary, Titus took a group of Oldie…
490: When Harry Met Fruity – the August issue of The Oldie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:47
Editor Harry Mount chats to Supplements Editor Charlotte Metcalf about the new issue. They admire the article on David Hockney by his friend, biographer and fellow Yorkshireman, Christopher Sykes. And they're moved and a…
488: Tony Adams at the Oldie Literary Lunch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:12
Tony Adams speaking about his new book, 1996 - Reflections on the Year that Changed My Life, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on July 14th 2026.This week's podcast is kindly sponsored…
487: Rowan Williams at the Oldie Literary Lunch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:45
Rowan Williams speaking about his new book, Solidarity - The Work of Recognition, at the Oldie Literary Lunch, held at London’s National Liberal Club, on July 14th 2026.This week's podcast is kindly sponsored by Baillie…