Andrew O’Hagan: When were you most embarrassed? — FLAPSS

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.

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Andrew O’Hagan

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

My first holy communion, where my trousers were too big for me and fell down, a circumstance which earned me both the instant contempt of the girls and the heightened interest of the priests. That’s just how it was in 1975.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 July 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

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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 ↗

Recently, sending a negative text about a person to that person.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 October 2023 source ↗

Nikki Amuka-Bird

Being an actor is inherently embarrassing. You have to embrace it.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 May 2025 source ↗

Olly Alexander English singer and actor

At the Mighty Hoopla festival, Kimberley and Nicola from Girls Aloud joined me on stage for a Girls Aloud song. I completely forgot the words.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 March 2025 source ↗

More from Andrew O’Hagan

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Question What trait do you most dislike in other people? Values & belief

Making people smaller than they are because of something they can’t handle in themselves.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 July 2026 source ↗

Question Which trait in yourself do you like least? Identity & self

My interest in Los Angeles.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 July 2026 source ↗

Question What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you? Failure & regret

Somebody once told me I was the spitting image of David Cameron.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 July 2026 source ↗

Question How would you describe what love feels like to you? Relationships

Like getting out of the right side of the bed every morning, even when you don’t.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 July 2026 source ↗

Question As a child, what career or life did you imagine for yourself? Identity & self

Most days, I wanted to be Albrecht in the classical ballet Giselle, dancing until I dropped dead.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 July 2026 source ↗

Question What one change would most improve the quality of your daily life? Daily life

For world capitalism to grind to a halt.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 July 2026 source ↗

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