Julie Hesmondhalgh: What is the worst job you have done? — FLAPSS

What is the worst job you have done?

Originally asked

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

The Guardian's long-running Q&A repeatedly asks this standing question, with minor tense variation.

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

Recorded Julie Hesmondhalgh said elsewhere, not written here

I cleaned for a very posh lady in Knightsbridge who made me handwash her knickers. I’d advertised myself in The Lady as a dog walker, so I’m not sure how I ended up there.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 February 2018 source ↗

Others on this question

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Kwame Kwei-Armah Actor and playwright

Doing the bins while working for McDonald’s in west Ealing.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 October 2018 source ↗

Adrian Edmondson English actor, comedian, musician and writer

I worked in the largest pork pie factory in Europe. I had a plastic mushroom-shaped thing and had to tamp down the meat into the pie base. It was a conveyor belt of pies from nine to five. The worst thing was the crackly AM radio, which was played loudly through the tinny tannoy system. I still can’t listen to I’m Not In Love by 10cc without thinking of raw minced pork.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 July 2018 source ↗

I don’t think I’ve ever done a job that I hate. I worked as a temp briefly when I was out of work and it was fun.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 June 2026 source ↗

John Waters American filmmaker

I worked in a unisex clothes store for three days. Girls would say, 'Do I look fat in this?' I'd say, 'Yes.' I was fired.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 September 2008 source ↗

More from Julie Hesmondhalgh

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Question If you could edit your past, what would you change? Failure & regret

Every time I got drunk and out of order. Especially in my teens and 20s.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 February 2018 source ↗

Question Who most deserves an apology from you, and why? Failure & regret

To all those whose fleeting interaction with me has fallen short of what they’d hoped; the unwitting recipients of my occasional grumpiness.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 February 2018 source ↗

Question How close have you come to death? Death & what remains

Childbirth. And the wheel of our camper van coming clean off on the M1.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 February 2018 source ↗

Question What keeps you awake at night? Daily life

Worrying that I’ve upset people.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 February 2018 source ↗

Question Aside from a property, what is the most expensive thing you have bought? Money & investment

An old camper van that has cost me more in repairs than my house, my wedding and all the holidays I’ve ever been on.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 February 2018 source ↗

Question What has been your biggest disappointment? Failure & regret

That the last general election didn’t take place later. We might have got rid of the Tories with a couple more weeks.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 February 2018 source ↗

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