Philip Gould: If you could revise one chapter of your past, what would you change?

The question

If you could revise one chapter of your past, what would you change?

Originally asked

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

Repeated verbatim in The Guardian's long-running Saturday Q&A; two publisher-hosted examples establish recurrence.

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

Philip Gould

Political strategist and pollster; architect of New Labour

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

When I thought maybe I've just got a few weeks, I thought God this is what they mean by the reckoning. I've got to sort all this stuff out in days. Is it possible to sort out all those things in your past that you'd prefer not to have done? ... But actually by going through the process we've gone through, I think we have. And it's a real blessing to have this time do that.

Simon Hattenstone, The Guardian, interview at Gould's home in London, 20 September 2011 source ↗

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Monica Dolan

My friend Fritha Goodey wouldn’t have committed suicide.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 January 2024 source ↗

Francesca Martinez British comedian

My all-girls’ high school. I hated it. Large groups of teenage girls aren’t known for their empathy and kindness. It was a shock to realise that people viewed me as uncool because of the way my body worked.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 March 2020 source ↗

Rebecca Lucy Taylor

I’d have gone solo sooner.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 November 2025 source ↗

Isabel Allende

I would not leave my teenage children to follow an unworthy love. It lasted a month and scarred the family for ever.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 December 2024 source ↗

More from Philip Gould

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Question Has knowing you will die changed how you live? Death & what remains

I live by the day. Just sitting in the park, looking at the flowers thinking how beautiful they are. It's almost … not hallucinogenic but it's a much stronger feeling than previously. For me, at the moment, going for a walk in the park with Gail is heaven.

Recorded Simon Hattenstone, The Guardian, interview at Gould's home in London, 20 September 2011 source ↗

Question Does the thought of dying frighten you? Death & what remains

From the moment I resolved and reconciled things with Gail the fear went. I don't feel I've got any fear now. I think acceptance is the key. If you accept death, fear disappears.

Recorded Simon Hattenstone, The Guardian, interview at Gould's home in London, 20 September 2011 source ↗

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