Alex Lawther: Excluding property, what is the most expensive thing you have ever bought?

The question

Excluding property, what is the most expensive thing you have ever bought?

Originally asked

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

The Guardian's weekly The Q&A repeatedly uses this standing prompt, with minor contractions and word-order variation.

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

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

My partner was doing a play in Hong Kong last year and I went to visit him, and I bought him a beautiful teacup. But I didn’t look at the price tag before I took it to the till and it was £100, the most expensive teacup imaginable.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 September 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 198 →

Kellie Maloney Retired boxing manager, promoter and politician

A black Russian terrier – I paid almost £4,000 for him.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Madhur Jaffrey Actress, cook, and TV host

A 19th-century ebony and cane chair from the Raj period.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 February 2021 source ↗

Daniel Mays British actor

A designer green jacket from Selfridges I bought in my 20s for £700, a ridiculous amount of money. My family and friends said I looked like a peace activist and I never wore it again.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 April 2020 source ↗

Nicola Walker British actress

Ten years ago I bought a painting. I lived with it for a year before realising I didn’t like it at all. So it’s on my wall, mocking me daily.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 January 2017 source ↗