Lucy Beaumont: Which moment embarrassed you most?

The question

Originally asked

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

A verbatim recurring question in The Guardian's Q&A series.

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

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

I worked with Stephen Fry recently and we had a real heart-to-heart. I asked: “What was it like being in prison for being gay?” And thank God someone came in and he didn’t hear me say it. I was mixing him up with when he played Oscar Wilde. I could picture him in his cell.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 October 2024 source ↗

Others on this question

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Marina Abramović Performance artist

Pretending I’m happy when I’m not.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 October 2024 source ↗

Alison Steadman British actress

Playing a pregnant woman, and not being able to find the padding - I shoved a cardie under my dress, and spent the whole play walking around with a sleeve dragging along the floor.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 January 2009 source ↗

Belinda Carlisle American singer

On stage in Tasmania, I tripped over a floor monitor and landed on my back like a turtle, kicking my legs in the air trying to get back on my feet in front of about 5,000 people. But when I got on my feet, the whole crowd roared in triumph.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 March 2023 source ↗

Keir Starmer

When I was appointed director of public prosecutions, I had a government car and visited the security services. When I came out, I got into the back of what I thought was my car, but it was somebody’s private car and they told me in no uncertain terms to get out. I had to reverse out with as much dignity as I could, with the head of security services watching.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 August 2023 source ↗