Rose Ayling-Ellis
British actress
Rapping the Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme on national television.
Which moment embarrassed you most?
Question
What would you like to be remembered for?
Death & what remains
Question
What most recently made you cry?
Identity & self
Question
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Daily life
Question
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Time & hindsight
Question
Which trait do you most dislike in yourself?
Identity & self
Question
What has been your biggest disappointment?
Failure & regret
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
A verbatim recurring question in The Guardian's Q&A series.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
I was 17 and about to go on a first date with my first boyfriend. I was so desperate for my mum not to meet him that I was trying to get to the door before she did. I ran down the stairs as she opened it, and slid down the last five steps on my arse.
The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 July 2025 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 122 →I’ve shat myself in public three times. It’s never quite as bad as you fear.
The very first day that I was filming Top Gear, for which I was so unqualified because I’d only ever driven a Fiat Uno. I got into a DB7 Vantage Volante outside the Aston Martin factory, put my foot on the accelerator and bunny-hopped across the gravel because I’d forgotten to take the handbrake off.
Julian Lloyd Webber
British cellist and conductor
I’m president of my neighbourhood association. At my first meeting there was a discussion about developments the association should oppose. I said: “Nothing could be as bad as that horrible new house next to the church.” “I designed that,” the chairman replied. I shut up.
More from Naga Munchetty
View profile →By my friends and loved ones as someone who loved ferociously and always had their back.
The FA Cup final, watching Crystal Palace win.
Being able to cram the quality of eight hours’ sleep into four.
Worry about the things you can control and don’t worry about the things you can’t.
Self-flagellation.
Not being a scratch golfer.
More on failure & regret
- What has been your biggest disappointment? 366 answers
- Who most deserves an apology from you, and why? 209 answers
- If you could edit your past, what would you change? 203 answers
- What is the worst thing anyone has said to you? 122 answers
- How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a favourite failure? 69 answers
- What is the hardest thing that has happened to you, and what did you carry out of it? 36 answers
Also answered this
Chris Bryant, Bruce Dickinson, Olly Alexander, Jared Harris, Sharleen Spiteri, Craig Charles
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- All failure & regret questions
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