Tuppence Middleton: What is the worst job you have done?

What is the worst job you have done?

Originally asked

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

The Guardian's long-running Q&A repeatedly asks this standing question, with minor tense variation.

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

Recorded Tuppence Middleton said elsewhere, not written here

Christmas elf at the Rainforest Cafe.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 May 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 229 →

Bernadine Evaristo English author and academic

On a cosmetics production line. I walked out after half a day.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 July 2020 source ↗

Daryl McCormack Irish actor

I once had to dress up as [fast food chain] Supermac’s bunny during a St Patrick’s Day parade and shake people’s hands. Kids kept trying to take off my gloves and punching my bunny head. It was awful.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 February 2023 source ↗

Paul Whitehouse Welsh comedian

I was what I call a “nut lifter” in a factory in Enfield. I had to get nuts and bolts from the production line into big tins.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 June 2018 source ↗

Juliet Stevenson

I worked in a supermarket on the Kings Road when I was 17, standing by the beers, wines and spirits to make sure people didn’t shoplift. They were such horrible employers that I didn’t care whether people shoplifted or not.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 May 2026 source ↗

More from Tuppence Middleton

View profile →

Question Which moment embarrassed you most? Failure & regret

Congratulating Dua Lipa on managing to release a single in such a tough industry, because I thought she was a struggling indie artist. I Googled her the next day and realised that she has 88 million followers.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 May 2026 source ↗