Bryn Terfel: 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 Bryn Terfel said elsewhere, not written here

One horrible afternoon in Chicago when I forgot my words in The Marriage of Figaro, in a role I’d sung hundreds of times.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 November 2024 source ↗

Others on this question

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Hugh Skinner

Accidentally walking on to set naked for a scene where I wasn’t actually supposed to be naked.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 May 2026 source ↗

Phoebe Dynevor

When I was 17, my friends and I threw a fashion show for a breast cancer charity. Breast cancer is something my mum went through when I was 14, so prevention is very close to my heart. Our singer, who was performing during the fashion show, dropped out at the last minute so I had to step in. It’s on video, and my sister always brings it up.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 February 2024 source ↗

Kerry Godliman

Farting in front of Colin Firth.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 September 2023 source ↗

Su Pollard

Gloria Hunniford’s wedding at Hever Castle 20-odd years ago. We had a lovely buffet and a few drinks and then I had to get a cab back to the train station. I said to the driver: “I’m ever so sorry, but I’m not going to be able to hang on till I get to the train. Could you possibly take me down this alleyway?” He said: “Yes, of course.” As I prepared myself to go “to the ladies”, this police car came along and the policeman said: “Hi-de-Hi!”

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 August 2025 source ↗