Helen Skelton: 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

After the 2012 Olympics I hosted the parade. I had on a little skirt and when the prime minister came on everyone cheered. I thought: “Oh my God, they love David Cameron,” but they were cheering because my skirt had blown up, and I’d flashed my knickers at him.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 January 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

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Michael Ball English singer, presenter and actor

During the technical rehearsal of Aspects of Love in 1989. They told me it would be discreetly lit because I was paranoid about being in just my pants. I walked on and every spotlight in the building followed me round the stage.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 May 2023 source ↗

Jared Harris

Where do I begin?

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 February 2025 source ↗

Bruce Dickinson English heavy metal singer

I once threw up on the shoes of one of my vocal heroes, the Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan. He sent me home in a taxi with a towel.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 July 2024 source ↗

Rose Ayling-Ellis British actress

Rapping the Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme on national television.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 August 2024 source ↗

More from Helen Skelton

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

As someone who made you think that anything’s possible. I did three marathons in a day once but walking the high-wire at Battersea Park station was the challenge I loved most because I had to master a skill.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 January 2026 source ↗

Question When did you last change your mind about something important? Change of mind

There’s a house near me that I adore and it came up for sale, and I got to the point of nearly buying it and then pulled out because I’m trying to be sensible.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 January 2026 source ↗