Paul O'Grady: What has been your biggest disappointment? — FLAPSS

The question

What has been your biggest disappointment?

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

This exact question recurs in The Guardian's institutional Q&A pool.

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Paul O'Grady

British comedian, actor and television presenter

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Too many of my friends, family and peers dying.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 May 2009 source ↗

Others on this question

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Dawn O'Porter British writer, director, and television presenter

Not winning Celebrity MasterChef. I am still gutted, despite many months of pretending to be fine with it.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 August 2026 source ↗

Francesca Martinez British comedian

The 2019 general election.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 March 2020 source ↗

kd lang Canadian musician

My limited capacity to learn.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 May 2021 source ↗

Boy George British musician

Getting arrested in New York and discovering how lacking in morality US law enforcers are. Being handcuffed to a metal trolley in Bellevue Hospital because I cut my foot while being dragged from a police car, and listening to nurses chatting about hair products as I screamed for something to stop me hallucinating.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 February 2008 source ↗

More from Paul O'Grady

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Question When were you happiest? Time & hindsight

When I hit 30 and managed to get a council flat in London. It was in the most terrible state, but it was bliss to have a flat of my own.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 November 2021 source ↗

Question Aside from a property, what is the most expensive thing you have bought? Money & investment

I had a midlife crisis and paid 70 grand for a Morgan AeroMax which looked just like Cruella de Vil’s car. I was in a permanent state of terror and soon sold it.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 November 2021 source ↗

Question What did you want to be when you were growing up? Identity & self

To work in a dry cleaner’s.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 November 2021 source ↗

Question How close have you come to death? Death & what remains

I had a bad heart attack 20 years ago: I think I slid off the mortal coil for about 30 seconds.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 November 2021 source ↗

Question What most recently made you cry? Identity & self

When I watched a series called Pose. The hospital scenes took me right back to when we were going through the Aids years. It’s the same with It’s a Sin.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 November 2021 source ↗

Question What would you like to be remembered for? Death & what remains

I don’t care, because I won’t be here.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 November 2021 source ↗

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