Matt Goss: When were you happiest?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded Matt Goss said elsewhere, not written here

At 37 Crawford Road in Camberwell, London. My mother had separated from my father and we had nothing, but I remember roast potatoes, twopence in the gas meter and music. It was the only time in my life when I felt at home.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 March 2022 source ↗

Others on this question

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Sarah Parish English actress

In the first month of my second daughter Nell’s life. My first daughter, Ella-Jayne, was born with a serious heart defect so I didn’t get to just be a mum, I was a carer for the eight months of her life and lived in a hospital. When Nell was born, having a healthy child and being able to be a mum was incredible.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 December 2019 source ↗

Emilia Fox English actress and presenter

In my childhood, when I didn’t think about whether it was happy. It just was.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 October 2018 source ↗

Jeanette Winterson Novelist and essayist

Happiness is planting the vegetables, sleeping with my girlfriend, running, doing my work, sitting by the fire with a book and a glass of wine... I need a reason to be unhappy, but do not need one to be quietly cheerful.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 December 2009 source ↗

Ed Balls British broadcaster and politician