When were you most embarrassed?

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.

Fainting as a chorister in Winchester Cathedral in the middle of a service.

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!

In my early days of transitioning, I used to come to London and meet for a drink with a group going through the same thing. I used to wear a full wig, and one night I’d drunk too much and fell asleep on the train, and my wig slipped off.

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.

Being misrepresented by a Sun journalist 12 years ago.

Having somebody pull my judo trousers down at a competition when I was seven. And finding I wasn’t wearing any pants.

I can always remember, when I was at high school we had a school sort of army battalion and because, at that time, I was one of the larger boys, I was appointed sergeant of the number one platoon, and I was always absolutely petrified that when I was meant to turn the platoon left or turn it right, I was really actually hopeless at knowing quite what to do. But fortunately, my platoon, who were really all the misfits in the school, the larger misfits, they stood by me, and some of them were quite good at knowing when to turn left or turn right. So whatever command I gave, they would do the right thing. We were a pretty good platoon as a consequence although, at the time, I felt an absolute idiot.