Jon Sopel: What did you want to be when you were growing up?

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Originally asked

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

This is a standing question in The Guardian's decades-long The Q&A and also recurs independently in career and life interviews.

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

Recorded Jon Sopel said elsewhere, not written here

Professional footballer for Tottenham, or train driver.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 October 2024 source ↗

Others on this question

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Fearne Cotton

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 ↗

John Malkovich American actor

A baseball pitcher.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 March 2018 source ↗

Shirley Ballas English ballroom dancer

Dancing was in my bones from when I started ballet at two.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 June 2018 source ↗

Fay Ripley English actress, television presenter, cookbook author

Donny Osmond’s wife. Still do.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 November 2022 source ↗

More from Jon Sopel

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

I’ve had motorcycle accidents – I had one where I ended up in intensive care. But if you are on a frontline – which I have been – and people start shooting at you – which they have done – you put yourself in quite considerable danger. So: on a moving frontline in northern Afghanistan in 2001.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 October 2024 source ↗