Failure & regret

Who most deserves an apology from you, and why?

209 answers answered between 1998 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 fixed Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.

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

Read by field Everyone Science and medicine 1 Arts and letters 178 Politics and public life 13 Business and finance 5 Sport 12
Read by age Any age Before thirty 4 In their thirties 37 In their forties 46 In their fifties 47 In their sixties 40 Seventy and beyond 32
Order Earliest first Most recent Surprise me
David Haye British boxer
A few ex-girlfriends in my teens. I didn’t know how to treat a lady.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 April 2016 source ↗
Max Whitlock English artistic gymnast
My coach, Scott Hann, for all the stress before competitions.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 October 2016 source ↗
Victoria Pendleton British cyclist
Lots of people, mainly for being so absent from their lives while I was concentrating on sport. I’d also like to say sorry to my dad’s mum, because, aged four, I told her she was the worst cook in the world.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 July 2017 source ↗
Chris Hoy British track cyclist, 1994–2013
Max Levy, a German sprint cyclist who came second behind me a lot.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 February 2018 source ↗
Mo Farah British track and field athlete
Probably my wife, because sometimes I do crazy things.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 April 2019 source ↗
Harry Redknapp English football player and manager
To any of the players I may have fallen out with during my time in management.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 May 2019 source ↗
Ian Wright English footballer and pundit
My ex-wife, because I should have been a better man.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 July 2019 source ↗
Joe Wicks British fitness coach, television presenter and author
I would like to say sorry to my ex-girlfriend. I was with her for 10 years. I wish I’d treated her with more respect and been kinder at the end.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 May 2020 source ↗
Adam Peaty British swimmer; Olympic champion 2016 and 2021
To the people who, because of my career, I cannot spend time with. I have to be selfish, unfortunately.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 January 2022 source ↗
Gabby Logan Welsh TV/radio presenter and rhythmic gymnast
I feel I have made amends, so I don’t feel that anyone is owed an apology but, if they read this and they think they are, do drop me a line.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 November 2022 source ↗
Paul Merson English footballer and pundit
Walsall fans. I wanted to be a good manager but I was really bad with drink and gambling at the time. I should have done better.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 January 2023 source ↗
Ronnie O'Sullivan English snooker player
Frank Adamson, my first coach, for not spending more time with him in his later years. I feel bad about that.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 May 2023 source ↗

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