Ally McCoist: What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you?

The question

What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you?

Originally asked

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

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

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

Ally McCoist

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

“You’re getting old.” My son Harris was factually correct, but I didn’t need to hear it.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 November 2024 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 122 →

Paul McKenna British hypnotist and TV personality

“Oh, he’s all about money.” I’ve never charged anyone in all the years I’ve been doing one-to-one work. That’s my gift to the world.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 January 2023 source ↗

Indira Varma

Go back to where you came from.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 April 2024 source ↗

Sharleen Spiteri

Somebody wrote that my voice was more numbing than novocaine.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 May 2024 source ↗

Arlene Phillips

In school, I was 11, and we had to paint a picture of family life. My painting was held up to the class and I was told it looked like a spider with ink on its feet had walked across the page. It was done so viciously – humiliating.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 June 2025 source ↗