Anonymous: What has been your biggest disappointment?

What has been your biggest disappointment?

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

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Anonymous first published 1 Sep 2026

Not being able to start my own company

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Simon Mayo English radio presenter and author

Feeling as though I had to leave Radio 2 to get my life back on track. I had every intention of being David Jacobs or Brian Matthew and going on until I was 127, but it didn’t turn out like that.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 August 2020 source ↗

Philippa Dunne

I started my career not getting jobs, but then you learn that 95% of this job is not getting jobs, and you just have to make peace with it.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 June 2026 source ↗

Trisha Goddard English television presenter

Many of the so-called celebs I've met.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 October 2010 source ↗

Kevin Rowland British singer

My brother Pete passing on in 2005.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 August 2025 source ↗

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