Arlene Phillips: What thought won't let you sleep?

The question

What thought won't let you sleep?

Originally asked

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

A long-running fixed question in The Guardian's weekly Q&A questionnaire.

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

Arlene Phillips

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

One after the other, thoughts come banging in – and it’s no sleep for you tonight, dearie.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 June 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

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Tom Burke

It’s usually a slight feeling that, having got through the day, I didn’t get any time to do any writing or something creative – it was a lot of admin, exhaustion from that and rumination.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 May 2026 source ↗

Melanie Chisholm British pop singer

My little girl. I often get visits just for a cuddle.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 October 2016 source ↗

Ciarán Hinds

An inability to get myself to bed at a reasonable hour.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 July 2025 source ↗

Griff Rhys Jones British actor and comedian

The next morning. It rarely turns out as bad as I think it’s going to be.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 December 2017 source ↗

More from Arlene Phillips

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Question What is the worst job you have ever had? Craft & work

In a Dagenham factory at 6am, picking soldiers’ greatcoats from wars around the world to sell at the market in Chelsea. I smelled like mothballs, and no one would come near me.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 June 2025 source ↗