Susan Calman: When were you happiest?

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 Susan Calman said elsewhere, not written here

Genuinely – and my wife, Lee, knows this – dancing with Kevin Clifton on Strictly.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 November 2018 source ↗

Others on this question

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Christy Turlington Burns American model

Before kids, when I was 13 or so, on the back of my horse, running at full speed in an open pasture. Post kids, happiness happens often, but in more subtle ways. I now prefer the word “content”.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 May 2017 source ↗

Robert Peston British journalist

With my late wife, Siân Busby, and our boys, Max and Simon, on assorted Welsh and English beaches, in sunshine and rain – especially when there was a Punch and Judy show on the prom.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 June 2018 source ↗

Douglas Stuart Scottish fashion designer and novelist

The summer of 1997. My husband, who is an American, gave up everything to come and live with me in Edinburgh when we were students, and we were so skint but we had so much fun.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 April 2023 source ↗

Sarah Millican English comedian

The day our rescue dog came for a visit. I burst into tears. And my (most recent) wedding, of course.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 January 2018 source ↗