Frank Cottrell-Boyce: Excluding property, what is the most expensive thing you have ever bought?

The question

Excluding property, what is the most expensive thing you have ever bought?

Originally asked

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

The Guardian's weekly The Q&A repeatedly uses this standing prompt, with minor contractions and word-order variation.

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

Frank Cottrell-Boyce

British screenwriter, novelist and actor

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

I took the whole family to live in the Basque Country for a year. My children and I have a hereditary blood condition so I took out a health insurance policy. I’m still furious that none of us so much as stubbed a toe.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 July 2023 source ↗

Others on this question

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Martin Sheen American actor

Shares in The Way, which turned out to be the best movie I have done. Written and directed by my son Emilio, it’s a father-son story about the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 March 2017 source ↗

Michael Kiwanuka English singer-songwriter

A 1962 Fender Stratocaster guitar I bought in 2014 for £10,000.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 November 2019 source ↗

Scott Mills English radio DJ and television presenter

I splash out on holidays and scented candles – I’ve got one that my fiancee won’t let me light, so it’s just for show.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 October 2022 source ↗

Carlos Acosta Cuban ballet dancer

A 1955 Jaguar XK120. It was not in very good condition and, little by little, I brought it back to its former splendour.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 September 2018 source ↗

More from Frank Cottrell-Boyce

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Question What is the worst job you have ever had? Craft & work

I spent an advent in my late teens throttling turkeys.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 July 2023 source ↗

Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

I once found myself chatting to a big handsome bloke at a party in Oslo. I said, “And what do you do?” “Well,” he said, “I am the king.” Being a great wordsmith, I zinged back, “Oh. Errm. Cool.”

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 July 2023 source ↗