Fearne Cotton: 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

People have said, “I wish you would die.” That’s the stark truth of being in the public eye – people dehumanise you and say ghastly things.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 March 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 122 →

Nick Frost

I like you but I wish you looked more like David Beckham.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 January 2025 source ↗

Melanie Blatt English singer

“Your career will be over if you have the baby.”To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why? My parents, for my teenage years. I tried to run away when I was 15. We lived in a fishing village in France and, with my boyfriend, I headed to Spain to sell arts and crafts on the beach. Mum came and took me home.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 July 2023 source ↗

Philippa Dunne

Someone once saw me in a play and said that I was disgusting.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 June 2026 source ↗

Munroe Bergdorf

Apart from stuff on social media, an ex-partner telling me I’m unlovable.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 July 2025 source ↗

More from Fearne Cotton

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Question What lesson has mattered most in your life? Time & hindsight

The more you face shame and stare it in the eyes and talk about it, the less potent it is.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 March 2026 source ↗

Question As a child, what career or life did you imagine for yourself? Identity & self

An air steward, because I loved airports. I wrote a letter to British Airways when I was seven and I’ve got the reply in the loft, which says, “You’re a bit young at seven but do stay in touch.” I was that kind of kid who was eager to start the ball rolling.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 March 2026 source ↗