The question
How would you sum yourself up in three words?Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
The Guardian's weekly The Q&A repeatedly uses this exact standing prompt.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
Curious, playful and silly.
The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 October 2025 source ↗
Nurturing, musical, uncompromising.
Should talk less.
Fairly decent bloke.
Imaginative, dull, amiable.
When I was naive to the complexities of life.
To a resistant materials teacher at secondary school called Mr Noel. He had a comb-over and whenever he turned his back to write on the blackboard, we would roll up bits of paper and launch them at his head. Once, I hit him. I remember him turning around and looking crestfallen.
Telesales – having to sell terrible kitchens. I thought, maybe I’m not a good actor because I can’t even convince myself that these kitchens are worth paying for.
I don’t think anything scares me. It’s a gift and I want to embrace it.
Helen Mirren was in the elevator with me at the National Theatre. She pressed the button but it didn’t move. I said, “Fancy seeing you here and being stuck in an elevator.” And she said, “Was that meant to be funny?” I apologised, and she laughed. Even talking about it now, it feels so awkward and embarrassing.
Finding a tenner in your jeans pocket. It has always been there but you find it at the moment you really need it.
Bear Grylls, Carol Vorderman, Graydon Carter, Milton Jones, Tuppence Middleton, Meghann Fahy
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