Age UK Chief Calls for Urgent Shift in How Britain Treats Older People

Hosted by former BBC Look East News anchor Louise Priest and former Head of News at ITV Anglia Mike Talbot, the locally produced podcast Older and Bolder recently welcomed Paul Farmer, the Chief Executive of Age UK, during his visit to Norwich to celebrate Age UK Norwich’s 80th anniversary.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Paul discussed why he joined Age UK, the charity’s work nationwide, influencing government policy, and shifting public attitudes towards ageing. He joined Age UK in October 2022 from MIND, the leading mental health charity in England and Wales.

Each episode of olderandbolder blends personal stories with expert insight, exploring topics such as money, travel, scams, relationships, dementia, and more. Aimed at people in or approaching retirement, the podcast offers practical advice, relatable experiences, and vital support for later life.

Mr Farmer said “This podcast is an excellent example of the art of the possible in later life. Mike and Louise have embraced new technology, applying their media skills to a new format for a new purpose as part of their retirement. Giving a voice to older people is hugely important, and I know that’s why Age UK Norwich sponsored this podcast as part of their Age Friendly Norwich mission.”

Age Friendly is an international initiative to ensure all aspects of our society change in support of a growing, ageing population – covering housing, transport, health, employment and tackling ageism. Founded by the World Health Organization, its championed locally by Age UK Norwich in the city and North Norfolk District Council and Breckland District Council in their respective areas.

Louise Priest said “It was a delight to interview Paul and hear the national picture. This is our thirteenth episode, and each one has been an eye-opener. Some have been heartfelt, hearing personal stories about care or loneliness that affect so many people nationwide. We’ve also tackled complex issues like arranging care, scams, and holiday insurance. It’s been a lot of fun, and making the podcast has been a big focus in our lives for the past eight months.”

The podcast was launched in February 2025 thanks to sponsorship from Age UK Norwich. Olderandbolder is produced at the city studios of Future Radio. It’s free to download and available via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and online at https://olderandbolderpod.podbean.com.

Mike Talbot added “When I retired, I saw plenty of information about pensions or savings, but very little about the broader experiences of later life – good and bad. We wanted to change that. As two recently retired people ourselves, we’re finding our way too, and thought sharing this journey through a podcast might help others.”

If you’d like to get involved with the podcast, contact Mike and Louise at olderandbolderpod@gmail.com.