Arlene Phillips: Excluding property, what is the most expensive thing you have ever bought?

The question

Excluding property, what is the most expensive thing you have ever bought?

Originally asked

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

The Guardian's weekly The Q&A repeatedly uses this standing prompt, with minor contractions and word-order variation.

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

Arlene Phillips

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

A Biba dress when I really couldn’t afford it. It was every scrap of my money and I’ve never parted with it.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 June 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

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Kwame Kwei-Armah Actor and playwright

A family holiday – anywhere the kids demand. Last year, I wanted us all to go to Egypt and my daughter said, “No, we’re going to go to Grenada.” So we did.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 October 2018 source ↗

Omid Djalili British stand-up comedian and actor

The concept of New Labour.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 August 2010 source ↗

Carlos Acosta Cuban ballet dancer

A 1955 Jaguar XK120. It was not in very good condition and, little by little, I brought it back to its former splendour.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 September 2018 source ↗

Munroe Bergdorf

Gender-affirming surgery. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not widely available on the NHS and a lot of it you have to pay for yourself.

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

More from Arlene Phillips

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Question What is the worst job you have ever had? Craft & work

In a Dagenham factory at 6am, picking soldiers’ greatcoats from wars around the world to sell at the market in Chelsea. I smelled like mothballs, and no one would come near me.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 June 2025 source ↗