Paul O'Grady: What disappointment has stayed with you longest? — FLAPSS

The question

What disappointment has stayed with you longest?

Originally asked

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

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

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

PO

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

View all 367 →

Marilyn Manson American musician

My last three relationships.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 June 2009 source ↗

Cybill Shepherd American actress and former model

Not doing more movies.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 June 2008 source ↗

Reece Shearsmith British actor, comedian and writer

That I grew old.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 August 2014 source ↗

Kelly Macdonald Scottish actress

Not enjoying tap dancing.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 January 2014 source ↗

More from Paul O'Grady

View profile →

Question How would you want people to remember you? 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 ↗

Question How close have you come to dying? 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 As a child, what career or life did you imagine for yourself? Identity & self

To work in a dry cleaner’s.

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

Question Excluding property, what is the most expensive thing you have ever 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 period or moment in your life brought you the most joy? 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 What most recently moved you to tears? 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 ↗

More on failure & regret

Also answered this

Ray Winstone, Benedict Cumberbatch, Nora Ephron, Rob Lowe, Michael Sheen, Adeel Akhtar

Search the directory for somebody in particular.

Explore further

All failure & regret questions
The The Q&A questionnaire — 25 questions from the same format
Explore the archive — by field, age, era, and subject

Report this answer