Marian Keyes
Irish writer
Not having had children.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 January 2021 source ↗
What has been your biggest disappointment?
Question
How close have you come to death?
Death & what remains
Question
When were you happiest?
Time & hindsight
Question
What would you like to be remembered for?
Death & what remains
Question
What does love feel like?
Relationships
Question
Who most deserves an apology from you, and why?
Failure & regret
Question
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Daily life
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
This exact question recurs in The Guardian's institutional Q&A pool.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
Falling off the stage in the third preview of Macbeth at the RSC.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 October 2019 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 218 →Not winning Celebrity MasterChef. I am still gutted, despite many months of pretending to be fine with it.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 August 2026 source ↗
Shirley Ballas
English ballroom dancer
People close to me throwing me under a bus for a crust.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 June 2018 source ↗
Not standing up to bullies.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 May 2025 source ↗
More from Christopher Eccleston
View profile →During my severe clinical depression in 2016. I was at Piccadilly station in Manchester and a train was coming.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 October 2019 source ↗
Now. I am father to Albert, seven, and Esme, six. I’ve never experienced happiness as complete as caring for them.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 October 2019 source ↗
As a loving father.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 October 2019 source ↗
I think I’ve only really experienced it on a parental level, and it feels like the rhythm of nature.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 October 2019 source ↗
To my children, because their mum and dad’s relationship failed, and I know that has caused them great sadness.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 October 2019 source ↗
A little more spiritual enlightenment.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 October 2019 source ↗
More on failure & regret
- Who most deserves an apology from you, and why? 209 answers
- If you could edit your past, what would you change? 203 answers
- What is the worst thing anyone has said to you? 122 answers
- Which moment embarrassed you most? 122 answers
- How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a favourite failure? 60 answers
- What is the hardest thing that has happened to you, and what did you carry out of it? 35 answers
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