Who most deserves an apology from you, and why?

Dozens of women – I think you’ll figure out why.

My son Ramón was the victim of my wrath at a particular time that still withers me with disgrace.

I don’t really owe anybody any apologies.

I wish I could say sorry to my husband, because I couldn’t save him from his dementia.

I would very, very much like to say sorry to my mother, for all the times I told her I hadn’t got the time to talk.

My wife. I made mistakes in my early life and hurt her. Everybody thinks the grass is greener, but it’s not. To say sorry to her when she understands will be one of the greatest gifts God has given me.

My parents. We didn’t realise how absolutely desperate they were when we left Germany, because my father couldn’t earn anything. A letter turned up fairly recently in which he said, “We’ve been through a terrible time because Julia [my mother] never stopped talking about suicide and not just for herself, but to take the children with her.”

I think I over-apologise as it is.

To my daughter, because she felt that I spent too much time saving other children. I would go to war zones and travel the world for human rights work, and she was missing me.

To my brother, because I wish I’d been there for him more.

A little girl called Pat. We were nine-year-olds together and all the class made her life a misery. I knew she wanted to be my friend and I would only be friends with her if nobody else was around. I feel dreadful about that.

I’ve said sorry to the people I have to say sorry to.

To everyone I’ve bored.

To myself. I am my harshest critic.

My ex-wife, for the way I behaved towards the end of our marriage.

To my first husband for being unfaithful, bossy, and eventually leaving him.

My first wife – we were too young.

I think that’s a thesis.

Canadians are trained to say sorry to almost everything and everyone.

To my mother for disappointing her. Mummy wanted me to be a different sort of person from who I am, but one can’t change oneself.