Helen Skelton: Who deserves an apology from you, and for what?

The question

Who deserves an apology from you, and for what?

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.

Helen Skelton

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

To Gorka Márquez, who was my Strictly partner, for not winning the glitterball in 2022.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 January 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

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Meghan Trainor American singer-songwriter

My younger self for not believing in her.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 June 2024 source ↗

Tracy-Ann Oberman Actor and writer

To my grandma Faye, because I didn’t realise, when I was growing up, what an icon she was. She fought at Cable Street, and worked her arse off to get the family out of the tenements. She had a lot of wisdom to impart.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 August 2021 source ↗

Julian Clary English actor, comedian, novelist and presenter

I’ve made some terrible remarks about people over the years in the interests of light entertainment, and I regret them all.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 June 2022 source ↗

Adele Parks

When I was in my 20s, I had an uncle who took his own life. I would like a second chance to say: “Hang in there.” My parents were living abroad, and me and my sister were just too young to notice the flags.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 August 2026 source ↗

More from Helen Skelton

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Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

After the 2012 Olympics I hosted the parade. I had on a little skirt and when the prime minister came on everyone cheered. I thought: “Oh my God, they love David Cameron,” but they were cheering because my skirt had blown up, and I’d flashed my knickers at him.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 January 2026 source ↗

Question What lesson has mattered most in your life? Time & hindsight

That you get out of life what you put in. When you grow up on a farm you literally reap what you sow.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 January 2026 source ↗

Question When did you last change your mind about something important? Change of mind

There’s a house near me that I adore and it came up for sale, and I got to the point of nearly buying it and then pulled out because I’m trying to be sensible.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 January 2026 source ↗