Graham Norton: What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you?

The question

What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you?

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.

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

When I was growing up, my mother would accuse me of showing off. That’s the most shaming, humbling, horrible thing. What was I doing? Showing off!

The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 April 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 122 →

Nikki Amuka-Bird

In a rehearsal just after graduating from drama college, I say my lines to an older actor. He pauses, turns to the director and says: “I’m sorry, but is she going to do it like that?”

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 May 2025 source ↗

Hugh Skinner

I’m not interested.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 May 2026 source ↗

Isabel Allende

“You’re a narcissist!” From someone who was a narcissist himself.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 December 2024 source ↗

Chiwetel Ejiofor English actor

“You’ll never do well as an actor unless you change your name.” I’m not going to say who.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 October 2024 source ↗

More from Graham Norton

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Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

I called Elizabeth McGovern Elizabeth Montgomery throughout a show. But, bless her, she didn’t say anything.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 April 2026 source ↗

Question Which trait in yourself do you like least? Identity & self

Impatience married with being very quick to judge.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 April 2026 source ↗

Question Who deserves an apology from you, and for what? Failure & regret

Back in the day, when comedy was crueller, my monologues were full of terrible jokes about people, and you can’t apologise because then you’re asking people to forgive you. Your punishment is to walk around knowing you said these horrible things.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 April 2026 source ↗