Richard Coles: When were you most embarrassed?

The question

When were you most embarrassed?

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.

Richard Coles

British musician, writer, presenter and priest

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

My paso doble on Strictly Come Dancing would be hard to beat.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 June 2023 source ↗

Others on this question

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Frank Bowling

In the 1950s I went to the Chelsea Arts Club’s New Year’s Eve ball at the Royal Albert Hall dressed as a Christmas pudding, with swimming trunks under my costume and holly in my hair.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 June 2026 source ↗

Bear Grylls

Holding the hand of some random lady at an airport who I mistook for my wife, Shara.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 January 2026 source ↗

Monica Dolan

I once walked up to Harriet Walter while she was having lunch on her own because I thought I knew her, and then when I got up to the table I realised I didn’t know her, I just recognised her because she was Harriet Walter.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 January 2024 source ↗

Ed Harris American actor and director

Modelling tuxedos at the Oklahoma State Fair in 1971.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 August 2007 source ↗