Dermot O'Leary: Which living person do you most admire, and why?

Which living person do you most admire, and why?

Originally asked

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

The Guardian's Q&A repeatedly uses this prompt, sometimes dropping 'living' while retaining the same comparative judgment.

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

Recorded Dermot O'Leary said elsewhere, not written here

My parents for the roots; my old parish priest, Father Arthur Barrow, for the fire and the reason; Richard Curtis for the drive and humanity; and, for living in the public eye with principles, George Clooney.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 September 2014 source ↗

Others on this question

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Douglas Booth

My friend Josie Naughton, the co‑founder and CEO of the charity Choose Love, which supports refugees and displaced people. She left her job working for Coldplay to dedicate her life to this cause.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 February 2025 source ↗

Shirley Manson Scottish singer and songwriter; lead vocalist of Garbage

Greta Thunberg, a brightly coloured little bird in a coalmine, desperately sounding the alarm for others while laying her childhood to waste.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 May 2022 source ↗

Kevin Bacon

My wife – for her intelligence, talent, ability to survive this business and be such a fantastic mother to our two kids. (Of course, I have to say that, because she’s sitting right here.)

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 November 2018 source ↗

Terry Wogan Irish-British radio and television broadcaster