Tributes paid to ‘world’s oldest podcaster’ Ida Schuster

Broadcaster Janice Forsyth has paid tribute to the Glasgow actor dubbed the “world’s oldest podcaster” after she died from Covid-19 last week.

Ida Schuster, who was 101, had recently completed an eight-part podcast series in which she recalled her life as an actor, growing up in the Gorbals and her take on the international politics of today.

A veteran of stage and screen, her work included parts in This Man Craig and Dr Finlay’s Casebook, with later roles in River City, Taggart, Hamish Macbeth and Still Game.

She died on Wednesday in a Glasgow care home.

BBC Radio Scotland presenter Forsyth, who produced Ida’s podcast Old School for her own podcast network The Big Light, said: “She was still so vigorous, both physically and of mind, and remained really curious about the world, and especially world politics.

“I loved talking to her. There was a real sense of her spirit. It’s very sad.”

Ms Schuster’s parents were immigrants, moving to Glasgow’s Gorbals from Vilnius, Lithuania.

She first became aware of her knack for performance when she staged impromptu shows for neighbours looking out of their tenement windows and into the back courts she played in as a child.