Billy Ocean
British singer
My parents, because growing up you think you know more than they do.
Who most deserves an apology from you, and why?
Question
What is the worst thing anyone has said to you?
Failure & regret
Question
How close have you come to death?
Death & what remains
Question
If you could edit your past, what would you change?
Failure & regret
Question
What is your greatest fear?
Identity & self
Question
What has been your biggest disappointment?
Failure & regret
Question
Which moment embarrassed you most?
Failure & regret
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
A fixed Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
The Prince and Princess of Wales for not knowing when to leave their home.
The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 October 2023 source ↗
Others on this question
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Shirley Manson
Scottish singer and songwriter; lead vocalist of Garbage
Myself. I have never been harder on anyone else.
Liam Gallagher
English singer-songwriter
Any sorrys I’ve needed to say have been said already.
My husband, Ludo, for not really getting why war movies are fun to watch.
More from Lemn Sissay
View profile →When I was a child, a member of staff at Wood End Assessment Centre [a former children’s home in Wigan] bellowed: “He copies them poems off of Bob Marley records.”
I made a suicide attempt at 12 or 13 years old.
I would build relationships. I would remember people’s significant moments. I would not fear closeness.
That I can’t write.
I spent my life searching for family. I travelled around the world to look each one of them in the eye. Unfortunately, but understandably, for most of them, I am their biggest disappointment.
Also my most triumphant: 2017 at the Royal Court. Julie Hesmondhalgh reads my psychologist’s report over two hours. Every excruciating intimate word of it. Extreme verbatim theatre. One night only.
More on failure & regret
- What has been your biggest disappointment? 366 answers
- If you could edit your past, what would you change? 203 answers
- What is the worst thing anyone has said to you? 122 answers
- Which moment embarrassed you most? 122 answers
- How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a favourite failure? 69 answers
- What is the hardest thing that has happened to you, and what did you carry out of it? 36 answers
Also answered this
Jenna Coleman, Joe Wicks, Gabby Logan, Martin Sheen, Jason Isaacs, Lucy Worsley
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