TA
I did a corporate gig early in my career, and they opened the buffet in the middle of my set and everybody left.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 November 2023 source ↗
The question
When were you most embarrassed?Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
A verbatim recurring question in The Guardian's Q&A series.
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Others on this question
View all 122 →Fainting as a chorister in Winchester Cathedral in the middle of a service.
Shaznay Lewis
English singer
A gazillion years ago I was in Gucci with Melanie Blatt, and I attempted to sit down on a chair that wasn’t there. I did a full-on stuntwoman backward roll, landed in a ball of the floor and laughed so hard I wet myself. Everybody in the shop moved to a different section.
Chiwetel Ejiofor
English actor
Being torn to shreds by a very elderly woman for driving badly on the Isle of Man, maybe 15 years ago. She stopped in the middle of the road and really let me have it.
Giving a speech in high school at a pep rally that wasn’t going so well and the dean unplugged the mic. Apparently, I was rambling and the spirit of the cafeteria was being weighed down.
More from Tom Allen
View profile →The fear of nightmares.
Never save anything for best.
Not understanding myself until I was in my 30s.
I once had to sit on a sleigh and pretend to be Bing Crosby for a corporate party. I had to mime to White Christmas over and over again.
On holiday in Spain with my family about 20 years ago. Sad, but true.
The greatest athlete we never knew we had.
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