Tributes paid to 'oldest podcaster in the world' who died in Scottish care home

Broadcaster Janice Forsyth has paid tribute to the “world’s oldest podcaster” after she died in a Glasgow care home.

Ida Schuster, who was 101, had recently completed an eight-part podcast series during which she talks about her life in the arts and what it was like growing up in the Gorbal.

It is not clear whether Ida died from COVID-19, but it is understood she was showing symptoms.

Janice Forsyth said Ida was fiercely intelligent, stylish, vivacious and funny.

BBC Radio Scotland presenter Forsyth spent a lot of time with Ida helping her produce her own podcast called Old School.

In a tribute the broadcaster said: “I spent many wonderful hours with Ida at her home, recording her stories of family life, wartime, the Glasgow Jewish Institute Players, Citizens Theatre as well as her views on the 21st Century. Many of her insights, especially into the power of acting, are profound and poignant.

I really miss her, but I smile when I think of her - fiercely intelligent, stylish, vivacious, funny - a truly inspiring woman. I'm so pleased that people all over the world can hear her words and be inspired by her through her podcast.”

Ms Forsyth said she admired Ida for years after watching her in various productions.

She said the stage and screen veteran loved her radio shows and helped her connect to Scotland’s art world.

She added: “Our paths crossed at a concert when she was 100 and she told me that, because of her great age, she was getting lots of calls from people with questions about theatre and music stretching back over the decades. She told me "I'm beginning to think 'Ich bin ein Archiv'" - "I am an Archive". I loved that and on the spot suggested to her that we make a podcast series together, and she immediately agreed, becoming the world's oldest podcaster, with her podcast, Ida Schuster's Old School.”

Ida’s work included parts in This Man Craig and Dr Finlay’s Casebook, with later roles in River City, Taggart, Hamish Macbeth and Still Game.