I’ve never been entirely happy, although for about 45 seconds after David Platt scored the winning goal against Belgium in the World Cup in 1990, I kind of blacked out with joy.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 May 2016 source ↗
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.
I’ve never been entirely happy, although for about 45 seconds after David Platt scored the winning goal against Belgium in the World Cup in 1990, I kind of blacked out with joy.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 May 2016 source ↗
Happiness is planting the vegetables, sleeping with my girlfriend, running, doing my work, sitting by the fire with a book and a glass of wine... I need a reason to be unhappy, but do not need one to be quietly cheerful.
On my wedding day.
When I hired two private detectives and got them to follow each other.
I am happiest when I am working.
I cry a lot. Especially on planes. What is that about? On a plane, I’ll be in floods at The Good Dinosaur.
A spreadsheet that, taking into account all other people’s experiences, makes it absolutely clear that I do have enough sex.
The comedian Norm Macdonald. He’s the funniest man in the world, but so committed to being funny, he’s continually screwing up his career.
My parents, for my new show.
My daughter Dolly singing Your Song by Elton John when she was 11. I was filming and the filming is pathetic because you can tell I’m just wobbling with tears. I want everyone to cry at my funeral, including my daughter.
Gok Wan, Julie Andrews, Viv Albertine, Joanna Scanlan, Siri Hustvedt, Adrian Edmondson
Search the directory for somebody in particular.