John Simpson: Who most deserves an apology from you, and why?

Who most deserves an apology from you, and why?

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 John Simpson said elsewhere, not written here

I’d like to say sorry to my mother. I had to choose between my parents, and I chose my father because he didn’t have any other kids. (My mother was a war widow and had two children from her first marriage.) I thought, in a childish way, that one had to be fair. It was very difficult for my mother and me, and we never really got over it.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 December 2016 source ↗

Others on this question

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Victoria Derbyshire British broadcaster

I’m good at saying sorry – so no one, because I’ve already said it.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 September 2021 source ↗

Guz Khan

To my cousin P, who was one of my best mates growing up. We lost him when we were in our 20s and, before he passed away, I was so busy with this stupid thing called life and a brand new kid. He called me and said: “Bro, I’m not feeling right.” And I said: “Bro, you’ve never been feeling right.” And it always sits on my head that if me or somebody else had been paying more attention maybe things would have worked out different. He had extremely rare bowel cancer and died five weeks later at 27.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 December 2025 source ↗

Adam Clayton

To all my ex-girlfriends because I never turned into the person I thought I was. And to Naomi Campbell, for not being ready to deal with my addictions.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 December 2024 source ↗

Nicola Walker British actress

To anyone I’ve worked with between 5.30am and 8.30am. I am not a morning person.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 January 2017 source ↗