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

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.

AP

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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Charles Dance British actor

My rational brain doing battle with my emotional brain.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 November 2024 source ↗

Donna Tartt American novelist and writer

All kinds of ridiculous things, like worrying about the lobsters I see in restaurant tanks in Chinatown.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 October 2013 source ↗

Stress, love, people not understanding me, me not understanding people.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 September 2023 source ↗

Chris Bonington

It’s my snoring that keeps Loreto awake!

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 March 2025 source ↗

More from Arlene Phillips

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

Life is never fair.

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

Question How would you want people to remember you? Death & what remains

Kind, thoughtful and gave damn good advice.

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

Question Excluding property, what is the most expensive thing you have ever bought? Money & investment

A Biba dress when I really couldn’t afford it. It was every scrap of my money and I’ve never parted with it.

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

Question What accomplishment matters most to you? Craft & work

My daughters and granddaughters.

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

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 ↗

Question What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you? Failure & regret

In school, I was 11, and we had to paint a picture of family life. My painting was held up to the class and I was told it looked like a spider with ink on its feet had walked across the page. It was done so viciously – humiliating.

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

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