Oliver is in demand as a broadcaster and guest speaker on art, music and literature; he narrated his biography of Michael Tippett for BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week and his biography of Noel Coward (unabridged) for Audible. A regular guest on BBC Radio 3, Oliver has appeared on programmes such as Composer of the Week, Music Matters, In Concert, In Tune, Proms Plus, Opera on 3 and Twenty Minutes. His work on the revival of Tippett's Symphony in B flat saw him interviewed for the 6 O'Clock News on Radio 4, and he is a talking head in BBC 2's forthcoming documentary on Tippett's life.

As a guest speaker or interviewee he has appeared at prestigious literary and music festivals including the Bath Festival, Hay Music, Morley College, and Little Missenden Festival. As a presenter he has hosted live interviews and podcasts with leading composers and musicians, notably Krzysztof Penderecki, Radovan Vlatković and Magnus Lindberg.

He has curated and hosted symposiums, study days, talks and conferences for the London Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Opera Company, Wigmore Hall, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and Britten-Pears Arts; and has lectured or given pre-performance talks in venues across the country, including the National Galleries of Scotland, Royal Opera House, Cambridge Arts Theatre, City Halls Glasgow, London University, Cambridge University, and the Royal College of Music.

He has appeared in filmed interviews and documentaries for London Symphony Orchestra, Britten-Pears Foundation, and Morley College; recorded voice-overs for programmes and documentaries on BBC Radios 3 and 4; and provided readings to accompany numerous talks and lectures, for the London Handel Festival and others.