Charles Collingwood: What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy? — FLAPSS

The question

What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?

Originally asked

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

Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.

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

CC

Charles Collingwood

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

My childhood. I was an only child, happy and secure, and there was always plenty of time to play cricket.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 March 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

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Yo-Yo Ma Cellist

When our children were born.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, June 2016 source ↗

Bonnie Raitt Singer and guitarist

As a kid, my summers at camp in the Adirondacks. And as an adult, when I’m onstage.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2022 source ↗

Scott Mills English radio DJ and television presenter

Now. I’ve moved to Hertfordshire after 25 years in London, got a fiancee and a dog, so everything has fallen into place.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 October 2022 source ↗

On a train journey to Arcadia many years ago while making a TV documentary.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 July 2026 source ↗

More from Charles Collingwood

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Question How would you want people to remember you? Death & what remains

As a man who tried his best to entertain.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 March 2025 source ↗

Question Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them? Values & belief

Freddie Flintoff. He played cricket in the best spirit and in his series Field of Dreams, you could see the boys hanging on his every word. He’s a special guy.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 March 2025 source ↗

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

I talk too much.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 March 2025 source ↗

Question What most recently moved you to tears? Identity & self

Watching the Festival of Remembrance last autumn.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 March 2025 source ↗

Question What one change would most improve the quality of your daily life? Daily life

If you’d asked me last year, I would have said a knee replacement.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 March 2025 source ↗

Question How would you sum yourself up in three words? Identity & self

Glass half full.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 March 2025 source ↗

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