Failure & regret

Which moment embarrassed you most?

126 answers answered between 2004 and 2026 one of 25 in The Q&A

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

A verbatim recurring question in The Guardian's Q&A series.

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Public figures who have answered a question like this elsewhere. Quoted from the source shown, not written for FLAPSS.

When I was appointed director of public prosecutions, I had a government car and visited the security services. When I came out, I got into the back of what I thought was my car, but it was somebody’s private car and they told me in no uncertain terms to get out. I had to reverse out with as much dignity as I could, with the head of security services watching.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 August 2023 source ↗
Clive Myrie British journalist, newsreader, and presenter
Being called upon by President Bush to ask him a question at a press conference when I wasn’t there. He called my name … and there was no response!
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 June 2024 source ↗
An earthquake in Peru forced me and a young man into the street, where he had to introduce me to his family at three in the morning.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 September 2025 source ↗

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