Christopher Eccleston: Which living person do you most admire, and why?

Which living person do you most admire, and why?

Originally asked

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

The Guardian's Q&A repeatedly uses this prompt, sometimes dropping 'living' while retaining the same comparative judgment.

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

Recorded Christopher Eccleston said elsewhere, not written here

Elsie Eccleston, my mother, for her emotional intelligence, kindness, intense curiosity, and chicken and leek pies.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 October 2019 source ↗

Others on this question

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Reece Shearsmith British actor, comedian and writer

There's a man at the tube who hands out ShortList magazine. He has never given up trying to make me take one. I admire that.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 August 2014 source ↗

Esther Rantzen

Alan Bates, Lord Arbuthnot and Nick Wallis for exposing the Post Office and Fujitsu and, let’s hope, for ensuring everyone is properly compensated.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 February 2024 source ↗

Jackie Chan Hong Kong actor and martial artist

Wow, so many – Robert De Niro, James Cameron, Will Smith.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 November 2010 source ↗

Bear Grylls

I love and admire Julia Roberts, one of our Running Wild guests, for the way she has a few close friends, is loyal to her family, doesn’t believe in all the fame stuff and can laugh at herself.

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