The Oldie

The Oldie is a monthly magazine launched in 1992 by Richard Ingrams, who for 22 years was the magazine's editor following 23 years in the same post at Private Eye. In June 2014, after Ingrams's dispute with the magazine's publisher led to his departure, Alexander Chancellor became the editor.

History and outline

The magazine was founded in 1992 by Richard Ingrams, previously editor of Private Eye, together with Auberon Waugh, Alexander Chancellor and Stephen Glover. The magazine aimed to contrast with youth culture. The Independent on Sunday described it as "The most original magazine in the country".

It carries general-interest articles, humour and cartoons, and its contributors include James Le Fanu, John Sweeney, Thomas Stuttaford, Virginia Ironside, Melanie McDonagh and Raymond Briggs. It is sometimes regarded as a haven for "grumpy old men and women"—an image it has played up to over the years with such slogans as "The Oldie: Buy it before you snuff it", and its lampooning of youth subculture and what it sees as the absurdities of modern life. It was first mainstream publication to break the Jimmy Savile sex scandal.