Richard Eyre: What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you? — FLAPSS

The question

What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you?

Originally asked

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

A fixed Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.

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

RE

Richard Eyre

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Edward Bond, the playwright, said I was like a turd flowing on the effluent of British culture.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 February 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

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Michael Ball English singer, presenter and actor

“Unfortunately, Michael, I don’t think you’re ever going to work in the acting profession until you’re about 40, and then it’ll only be in minor character roles.” Drama teacher at Guildford School of Acting.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 May 2023 source ↗

Someone said that I had a laugh like Jimmy Carr.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 September 2025 source ↗

“You don’t stand a chance of succeeding as a writer in this country. The demographics are against you.” They were wrong. The only demographic that counts is the human heart.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 July 2026 source ↗

“Try this, you’ll love it.”

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

More from Richard Eyre

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Question What most recently moved you to tears? Identity & self

In despair, because of my wife’s illness.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 February 2026 source ↗

Question How would you want people to remember you? Death & what remains

Isn’t it enough just to be remembered?

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 February 2026 source ↗

Question What do you believe happens when we die? Death & what remains

The rest is silence.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 February 2026 source ↗

Question Who deserves an apology from you, and for what? Failure & regret

To my father, who was aggressively indifferent to what I was doing. He did say sorry to me when he was dying and I don’t think I was very gracious.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 February 2026 source ↗

Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

When I was doing a masterclass at a theatre and I had to leave the stage because I was about to shit my pants.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 February 2026 source ↗

Question What disappointment has stayed with you longest? Failure & regret

At university in the 60s, I thought social justice was going to improve exponentially. How wrong I was.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 February 2026 source ↗

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Arlene Phillips, Adam Clayton, Alison Steadman, Paul McKenna, Brandi Carlile, Michael Ball

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