Jessica Hynes: What song would you like played at your funeral?

What song would you like played at your funeral?

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.

Recorded Jessica Hynes said elsewhere, not written here

Paprika Plains by Joni Mitchell.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 August 2016 source ↗

Others on this question

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Sandi Toksvig Danish and British broadcaster, comedian and writer

How about The Hokey Cokey? That’s always fun, especially if they’re carrying the coffin.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 March 2018 source ↗

Suggs Singer

Is That All There Is? by Peggy Lee. I find it uplifting, because we all suffer these things in life. Will my funeral be happy or sad? Depends who you’re talking to. Some people will be happy. A couple will be sad. But I’d like a jolly affair.

Recorded The Guardian, Honest playlist, The Guardian, 16 November 2025 source ↗

Bill Bailey Comedian and musician

Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads. When I first heard it at 15, it was different to all the punk I was listening to. When I was starting out in my career, it was all about: ‘How is this possible? How am I doing this?’ Now it’s: ‘Is this my life? How did I get here?’ The lyrics are all about returning full to nature. That’s how I imagine death to be. So that’s what I want at my funeral. And they’ll play Combine Harvester by the Wurzels as people are leaving the church.

Recorded The Guardian, Honest playlist, The Guardian, 19 February 2024 source ↗

Joely Richardson British actress