Bella Freud
British fashion designer
When my son, Jimmy, was two and I was just pottering about with him.
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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.
In my 20s, touring small arts centres with my best mate, performing sketch comedy to a handful of people.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 October 2018 source ↗
Others on this question
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Tina Brown
British and American journalist
In my second year at Oxford University. There was much lolling over the side of punts on the river with languid male companions plying me with cheap champagne.
Lesley Sharp
British actress
When I am up in the air and about to hit the water, literally and metaphorically.
Peter Gabriel
English musician
When surrounded by my family.
More from Sue Perkins
View profile →Cleaning toilets in a hotel in Croydon when I was 16. A guest once gave me a half-eaten bag of pistachios as a tip, so there were perks.
Not accepting every dare.
Anna dared me to jump off a cliff in Menorca on holiday a couple of years ago. I did. I fell 30m through the air, hit the water at an odd angle and shattered my coccyx.
An eye surgeon. I had an operation on my cornea when I was little, and remember being deeply enamoured with the team who looked after me. Subsequently, I was very disappointed to learn that a degree of scientific aptitude was required for the job, which ruled me out.
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