Richard Coles: Which moment embarrassed you most?

Which moment embarrassed you most?

Originally asked

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

A verbatim recurring question in The Guardian's Q&A series.

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

Recorded Richard Coles said elsewhere, not written here

My paso doble on Strictly Come Dancing would be hard to beat.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 June 2023 source ↗

Others on this question

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Toby Stephens

I was in a restaurant with my daughter in Los Angeles and I had an accident involving a stomach upset. That was mortifying for both of us.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 June 2026 source ↗

Jane Asher English actress and author

When I was a teenager, I laughed at a joke I didn’t understand. Whoever told the joke turned to me and said, “What are you laughing at?” Of course I didn’t know and he obviously knew I didn’t know. It was excruciating.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 May 2023 source ↗

Adele Parks

When I concentrate, I put my thumb in my mouth. I once did it during a really important meeting when asked a question I didn’t know the answer to. When I left the meeting my friend said: “What did you put your thumb in your mouth for?” I didn’t know I’d done it.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 August 2026 source ↗

Lee Child

Appearing on US breakfast radio. I heard the DJ say that after the news we would hear from the author Lincoln Child. I had to choose between making a guy with a mixed-up PR release look like an idiot or pretending to be Lincoln. I pretended.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 June 2025 source ↗