I am too ashamed to answer.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 March 2024 source ↗
Who most deserves an apology from you, and why?
Question
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Daily life
Question
Aside from a property, what is the most expensive thing you have bought?
Money & investment
Question
What is your greatest fear?
Identity & self
Question
When were you happiest?
Time & hindsight
Question
What does love feel like?
Relationships
Question
Which moment embarrassed you most?
Failure & regret
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.
Walsall fans. I wanted to be a good manager but I was really bad with drink and gambling at the time. I should have done better.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 January 2023 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 209 →
Fran Healy
Scottish musician
If I’m ever out of line, I’m very quick to apologise and try to make amends.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 July 2024 source ↗
Tracy-Ann Oberman
Actor and writer
To my grandma Faye, because I didn’t realise, when I was growing up, what an icon she was. She fought at Cable Street, and worked her arse off to get the family out of the tenements. She had a lot of wisdom to impart.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 August 2021 source ↗
To Gorka Márquez, who was my Strictly partner, for not winning the glitterball in 2022.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 January 2026 source ↗
More from Paul Merson
View profile →Nothing, because it’s up to me how I feel. I’ve been a millionaire three times and I still wanted to kill myself.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 January 2023 source ↗
Thirty-odd years ago I bought a black pinstripe suit which I thought was £900. But when I went to pay that was just the jacket – the trousers and waistcoat were extra. I didn’t have the balls to put anything back. I dread to think how much it cost me in the end.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 January 2023 source ↗
Going back to addiction.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 January 2023 source ↗
On holiday in Orlando with my wife, Kate, and kids just before lockdown. I wasn’t drinking or gambling. I was so happy, so at peace with myself – I’d been searching for that for many a year.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 January 2023 source ↗
For me, love is working through things when it’s not going well.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 January 2023 source ↗
When you jump out of addiction and look back, things like drink-driving and sitting in crack houses are not good.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 January 2023 source ↗
More on failure & regret
- What has been your biggest disappointment? 218 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? 49 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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