Miriam Margolyes: Excluding property, what is the most expensive thing you have ever bought?

The question

Excluding property, what is the most expensive thing you have ever bought?

Originally asked

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

The Guardian's weekly The Q&A repeatedly uses this standing prompt, with minor contractions and word-order variation.

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

Miriam Margolyes

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Every time I got a lucrative voiceover, I bought a picture. The most expensive was by James Gillray.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 July 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 198 →

Rebecca Ferguson

Antiques and art – I collect 17th‑century portraits.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 December 2023 source ↗

Erin O'Connor English model

An electric-yellow mohair rug.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 March 2008 source ↗

Susan Calman Scottish comedian

A Tiffany watch for my wife. The security guard was following us, so I deliberately bought a really expensive watch to prove we had money. I don’t think I’ve seen her wear it.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 November 2018 source ↗

Charlie Higson

Three mature palm trees. We restored a property in Italy that had been derelict and I needed to make it look established as quickly as I could.

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