Penny Lancaster: How close have you come to death?

Originally asked

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

A recurring Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.

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

Recorded Penny Lancaster said elsewhere, not written here

In a different sense, I’ve helped to try to resuscitate a dead man.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 September 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

Julian Clary English actor, comedian, novelist and presenter

A gig in Chatham.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 June 2022 source ↗

Kathy Lette Australian-British author

Hitchhiking across Australia as a teenager, relying on the kindness of passing serial killers.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 June 2024 source ↗

Bradley Wiggins British former professional road and track racing cyclist

I had quite a chequered childhood. I had a knife put to my throat once when I was a kid, which was very scary.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 September 2019 source ↗

Tracey Ullman British and American actress

On a plane with Meryl Streep in 1984: the engines blew and we had to make an emergency landing.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 March 2017 source ↗