Frank Cottrell-Boyce: What is the worst job you have ever had? — FLAPSS

The question

What is the worst job you have ever had?

Originally asked

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

The Guardian's long-running Q&A repeatedly asks this standing question, with minor tense variation.

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FC

Frank Cottrell-Boyce

British screenwriter, novelist and actor

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

I spent an advent in my late teens throttling turkeys.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 July 2023 source ↗

Others on this question

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Terence Conran British restaurateur and designer

When I was 19, I washed up in the basement of a Paris restaurant that stank of rotted food. I did it for six months, until I was promoted to vegetable boy.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 August 2016 source ↗

Bar and buffet at Top Ten Bingo in Greenford. A lot of the old people were quite bigoted.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 September 2023 source ↗

John Simpson English journalist

Reading the news. It’s a dull job.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 December 2016 source ↗

Liam Gallagher English singer-songwriter

Digging holes in Manchester in January.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 October 2017 source ↗

More from Frank Cottrell-Boyce

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Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

I once found myself chatting to a big handsome bloke at a party in Oslo. I said, “And what do you do?” “Well,” he said, “I am the king.” Being a great wordsmith, I zinged back, “Oh. Errm. Cool.”

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 July 2023 source ↗

Question Which trait in yourself do you like least? Identity & self

My inability to say no.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 July 2023 source ↗

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

That it’s impossible to persuade other people of the value of the lessons that life has taught you.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 July 2023 source ↗

Question Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them? Values & belief

So many. All childcarers and most primary teachers.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 July 2023 source ↗

Question How would you describe what love feels like to you? Relationships

The unguiltiest pleasure.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 July 2023 source ↗

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

I took the whole family to live in the Basque Country for a year. My children and I have a hereditary blood condition so I took out a health insurance policy. I’m still furious that none of us so much as stubbed a toe.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 July 2023 source ↗

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