Frank Cottrell-Boyce: When were you most embarrassed?

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.

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 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.”

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

Others on this question

View all 122 →

Daryl McCormack Irish actor

Missing a cue on stage. I had to come on and move a piece of furniture with another actor and I completely forgot. I looked at the monitor and said, “Why is he standing on his own?” And somebody said, “Aren’t you meant to help him?”

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 February 2023 source ↗

Rory Stewart

Having somebody pull my judo trousers down at a competition when I was seven. And finding I wasn’t wearing any pants.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 January 2026 source ↗

Alison Steadman British actress

Playing a pregnant woman, and not being able to find the padding - I shoved a cardie under my dress, and spent the whole play walking around with a sleeve dragging along the floor.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 January 2009 source ↗

Sam Ryder

I once did a record store signing in LA, which I had no business doing. No one was there – just staff. They were getting ready to close the shop and sweeping up.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 August 2023 source ↗