Which moment embarrassed you most?

Originally asked

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

A verbatim recurring question in The Guardian's Q&A series.

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

Recorded Lee Child said elsewhere, not written here
Appearing on US breakfast radio. I heard the DJ say that after the news we would hear from the author Lincoln Child. I had to choose between making a guy with a mixed-up PR release look like an idiot or pretending to be Lincoln. I pretended.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 June 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

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At the TV Baftas last year I was wearing these heels that had stiff bows on the front. One heel locked into the other bow and I went arse over tit.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 February 2024 source ↗
Tom Allen British comedian
I did a corporate gig early in my career, and they opened the buffet in the middle of my set and everybody left.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 November 2023 source ↗
Falling off the stage and on to the pianist during the opening number in the Mother Goose pantomime at the Citizens theatre in Glasgow.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 July 2025 source ↗
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 ↗

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