Richard Coles: If you could revise one chapter of your past, what would you change? — FLAPSS

The question

If you could revise one chapter of your past, what would you change?

Originally asked

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

Repeated verbatim in The Guardian's long-running Saturday Q&A; two publisher-hosted examples establish recurrence.

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

RC

Richard Coles

British musician, writer, presenter and priest

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

My financial incompetence.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 June 2023 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 203 →

Julia Stiles American actress

I’d have been less precocious as a child (you grow up fast in New York). I’d have prolonged the naivety.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 July 2015 source ↗

The years of self-doubt.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 April 2025 source ↗

David Jason English actor

Not getting older at each birthday, but I appreciate it beats the alternative.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 May 2021 source ↗

Clare Bailey Mosley

I wouldn’t because everything is connected with everything else.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 December 2025 source ↗

More from Richard Coles

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Question What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy? Time & hindsight

Technically, Ibiza 1990, because of the amount of ecstasy I’d taken.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 June 2023 source ↗

Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

My paso doble on Strictly Come Dancing would be hard to beat.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 June 2023 source ↗

Question How would you describe what love feels like to you? Relationships

The best thing in the world.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 June 2023 source ↗

Question As a child, what career or life did you imagine for yourself? Identity & self

A great composer. I wrote to Benjamin Britten to tell him this and that he was my third favourite composer. For some reason he didn’t feel moved to reply.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 June 2023 source ↗

Question How would you want people to remember you? Death & what remains

With an international holiday.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 June 2023 source ↗

Question What lesson has mattered most in your life? Time & hindsight

Don’t overcook pasta.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 June 2023 source ↗

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