Esther Freud: When were you most embarrassed?

The question

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.

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

I bumped into an old schoolteacher and her even more ancient and deaf sister, and she shouted to her, “Remember Esther? Now she writes books … ABOUT HERSELF.”

The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 July 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

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Neil Gaiman Author of fiction, comics and screenplays

The idiocy of going to Skye from New Zealand in April 2020. All of a sudden, I’m turning on the news and hearing myself as an item. I have never been more mortified.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 October 2023 source ↗

Edward Enninful Ghanaian-born English editor and stylist

When my trousers nearly fell down at Buckingham Palace. I was there to collect my OBE, and the suspenders for the beautiful Alexander McQueen suit I’d had made for the occasion went missing. Naomi Campbell was with me and we had a good laugh about it.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 December 2022 source ↗

Nick Frost

I’ve pooed myself a couple of times.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 January 2025 source ↗

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 ↗