Mark Radcliffe: What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you? — FLAPSS

The question

What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you?

Originally asked

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

A fixed Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.

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

MR

Mark Radcliffe

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

This was said about me in a Radio 1 focus group: “I don’t pay my licence fee to hear scummy northerners.”

The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 August 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

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Edward Enninful Ghanaian-born English editor and stylist

Any time I’ve been racially profiled. The words might be different, but the feeling is the same.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 December 2022 source ↗

It happened when I was younger, somewhere outside London. We were on bikes, and this older girl pulled up and said something racist that I won’t repeat. I will never forget that, because it was the first time, and I was like, “Oh, I am feeling different from everyone around me right now”.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 December 2023 source ↗

“You’ll never, ever work.” When you are young and full of hopes and dreams it’s devastating. I am just grateful that I thought: “Well, I’m going to try.”

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 December 2025 source ↗

“You’re selfish.” It was a friend.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 April 2025 source ↗

More from Mark Radcliffe

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Question What worries you about getting older? Time & hindsight

Nothing. I survived a cancer scare at 60, so I am just overjoyed to be here.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 August 2025 source ↗

Question What accomplishment matters most to you? Craft & work

Having three great daughters, having been on the radio for nearly 50 years and not being dead.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 August 2025 source ↗

Question As a child, what career or life did you imagine for yourself? Identity & self

A drummer in a famous band or an astronaut.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 August 2025 source ↗

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

As someone who made people laugh, introduced them to good music and wasn’t too much of a pain in the arse.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 August 2025 source ↗

Question What would you most want to leave your children? Death & what remains

A sense of what’s right, a few quid and some nice paintings.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 August 2025 source ↗

Question What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy? Time & hindsight

When I changed the toner cartridge in my printer all on my own – that was a day of pure euphoria.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 August 2025 source ↗

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