Gino D'Acampo: As a child, what career or life did you imagine for yourself? — FLAPSS

The question

As a child, what career or life did you imagine for yourself?

Originally asked

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

This is a standing question in The Guardian's decades-long The Q&A and also recurs independently in career and life interviews.

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

GD

Gino D'Acampo

Italian-British celebrity chef and media personality

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

I wanted to be a footballer at first, like any other Neapolitan kid.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 December 2022 source ↗

Others on this question

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A ballet dancer.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 May 2025 source ↗

Julian Lloyd Webber British cellist and conductor

A detective, a train driver on the underground and Leyton Orient’s centre forward.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 July 2023 source ↗

Felicity Jones British actress

A magazine editor.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 May 2023 source ↗

Dominic Cooper English actor

A librarian. Or a racing driver for Ferrari F1.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 August 2017 source ↗

More from Gino D'Acampo

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

As a nice and fair guy who helped bring authentic Italian cooking to the UK.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 December 2022 source ↗

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

Minimum effort, maximum satisfaction. That’s the way everyone should live.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 December 2022 source ↗

Question What disappointment has stayed with you longest? Failure & regret

That Italy didn’t qualify for the World Cup this year.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 December 2022 source ↗

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

I am always very happy in Sardinia with my family; I spend at least six months of the year there. Six months working and six months relaxing – I think that is a great balance.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 December 2022 source ↗

Question What do you fear most? Identity & self

Overcooking pasta for my Italian family in Napoli – they would kill me.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 December 2022 source ↗

Question If you could revise one chapter of your past, what would you change? Failure & regret

I would have spent more time with my parents. I did see them often, but you don’t realise how much you’ll miss someone or something until it’s gone.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 December 2022 source ↗

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