- The only public-voted for award is the first category to be revealed for the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards
- Nominees represent the most talked about TV moments of 2021 including An Audience with Adele, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, It’s A Sin, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Squid Game and Strictly Come Dancing
- Voting opens 23rd March at 7am and closes on 19th April at 5pm. Fans can vote here www.virginmedia.com/bafta
- The winner will be announced at the Virgin Media BAFTA TV Awards on Sunday 8th May 2022
IMAGES & VIDEO ASSETS – download here. YOUTUBE LINKS BELOW TO EACH NOMINEE
Today, Virgin Media announces the six nominees for the Must-See Moment, the only award that is voted for by the public. The winner will be announced during the Virgin Media BAFTA TV Awards on 8th May 2022.
Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment celebrates the diversity of British TV, and the moments that got our nation talking, tweeting, laughing, shrieking and so much more in 2021.
The six nominees for Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment 2022 are:
- ITV 1, An Audience With Adele – Adele’s surprised by the teacher who changed her life – LINK
- ITV 1, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! – Ant and Dec dig at Downing Street’s lockdown parties – LINK
- Channel 4, It’s A Sin –– Colin’s devastating AIDS diagnosis – LINK
- BBC Three, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK – ‘UK Hun?’ – Bimini’s verse – LINK
- Netflix, Squid Game– Red Light, Green Light game – LINK
- BBC One, Strictly Come Dancing– Rose and Giovanni’s silent dance to ‘Symphony’ – LINK
Members of the public can vote for their Must-See Moment online at www.virginmedia.com/bafta and will automatically enter into a prize draw to win tickets to attend the 2022 Virgin Media BAFTA TV Awards. Virgin Media customers can also vote through their television, via their TiVo®, V6 or Virgin TV 360 box, or the Virgin TV Go app.
David Bouchier, Director of TV and Entertainment at Virgin Media O2, said:
“Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment has celebrated some of the most talked about TV moments in recent years and we are proud to say it’s now one of the most talked about categories and more relevant than ever, reflecting TV in all its diversity.
“In response to the pandemic, 2021, like 2020, was a year of much change, and great television was at the heart of every moment that kept the nation connected, entertained, and informed through such difficult times.
“This year’s incredibly strong list of nominees represents some of the biggest conversations of 2021 and proves that TV has never been better more popular or widely discussed through various platforms. We can’t wait to see who the public will crown the sixth winner of our Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment award.”
Sara Putt, Chair of BAFTA’s Television Committee, said:
“We are delighted to be revealing the six moments which truly showcase the very best and most-talked about programmes of 2021, demonstrating what BAFTA is about: excellence and inspiration. Television in 2021 highlighted the importance and power of entertainment. From heart-warming moments to raising awareness of hugely important issues, the shows and moments nominated for Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment Award 2022 reflect our TV habits of the last year and perfectly celebrate the relationship between TV viewers and the people who make it. I am so excited to see what the public choose to be their Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment winner, in what is sure to be a close contest.”
The nominees were chosen from a longlist based on audience viewing figures (BARB), social listening data (TalkWalker) and vigorous desk research to ensure strong representation of TV viewing across the country. The final shortlist of six nominees were then selected by an independent jury of national media experts including TV critic Caitlin Moran. The virtual jury was chaired by BAFTA Television Committee Chair Sara Putt.
Nominations for the Virgin Media BAFTA TV Awards will be announced on Wednesday 30th March on BAFTA’s website and social channels (@BAFTA).
Notes to editors:
For accreditation, photography, BAFTA logos, press releases and more visit www.bafta.org/media-centre
About the Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment nominations: virginmedia.com/bafta
#VirginMediaBAFTAs #MustSeeMoment
ITV 1, An Audience With Adele – Adele’s surprised by the teacher who changed her life
Episode: n/a
LINK
Moment snapshot – A question from Emma Thompson leads to the reveal of a particularly special audience member – Adele’s old English teacher from school. After spotting her in the audience, they emotionally reunite on stage for the first time in over 15 years.
Moment description – ‘An Audience With Adele’ sees the iconic artist perform her record-breaking number one single ‘Easy On Me’ and other songs from her highly anticipated, newly released album, ‘30’. She does many of her classic hits too, in front of a specially invited audience of friends, family, fans, fellow musicians, actors, sports people and more. Unknown to Adele, Miss McDonald, her old English teacher who “changed her life” has been tracked down and invited along. After a perfectly worded question from Emma Thompson, Miss McDonald joins Adele on stage for an emotional reunion – much to her surprise and delight.
ITV 1, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! – Ant and Dec dig at Downing Street’s lockdown parties
Episode: Episode 14
LINK
Moment snapshot – Following David Ginola’s departure as camp leader, Ant insists the celebs “didn’t have a party”. Delivered with the cheeky wit Ant and Dec are known and loved for, the dig was a thinly veiled reference to the emerging stories of several parties held at Downing Street over lockdown, breaking their own rules around gatherings during a tough time for the British public.
Moment description – Ant and Dec rarely veer away from topics outside the world of the camp. But during the uproar around Downing Street’s lockdown parties, the pair picked the perfect moment to deliver a thinly veiled dig in the direction of the Government, and specifically, Boris Johnson. Reacting to the end of David Ginola’s reign as camp leader, Ant insists the celebs “categorically deny any suggestions that they had a party. And this fictional party definitely didn’t involve cheese and wine.” The moment closes with Dec twisting the knife… “Evening Prime Minister… for now.” Within hours, the scene was all over the news and social media, and was even mentioned at PMQs. Delivered with the cheeky wit Ant and Dec are known and loved for, the moment perfectly captures the nation’s horror, anger and frustration around the Government’s rule-breaking during a time that was so tough for them.
Channel 4, It’s A Sin – Colin’s devastating AIDS diagnosis
Episode: Episode 3
Moment snapshot – Colin lies in a Welsh hospital with his mum, Jill and Ash by his side. Confused and distraught, he’s told the devastating news that he’s got AIDS. His mum does her best to console him, but the pure sadness is hitting them all. They make a plan to move Colin to London for treatment.
Moment description – Colin lies in a Welsh hospital with his mum and friends by his side, when he’s told the devastating news that he’s got AIDS. Scared and upset, Colin wants his mum to know that ‘he’s not dirty’. He tries his hardest to think who could’ve given it to him, then remembers – the boy in the football shirt. He’s terrified nobody can help him. Crying, he asks his mum to make the doctors cure him. The pure sadness is hitting them all – they feel helpless, so make a plan to move Colin to a London hospital in the hope he’ll receive the best possible treatment there.
BBC Three, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK – ‘UK Hun?’ – Bimini’s verse
Episode: Series 2 Episode 5
Moment snapshot – Bimini Bon Boulash returned with fire in their belly to prove themselves after a 7-month filming break due to lockdown. Bimini’s verse in The RuRuVision Song Contest was their time to shine, combining powerful lyrics with unbelievable dancing to help propel The United Kingdolls and ‘UK Hun?’ into pop-culture herstory. Bing bang bong to that!
Moment description – East London queen Bimini Bon Boulash returned with fire in their belly to prove themselves after a 7-month filming break due to lockdown. Bimini’s verse in The RuRuVision Song Contest was their time to shine, combining powerful original lyrics with unbelievable dance moves to help propel The United Kingdolls and ‘UK Hun?’ into pop-culture herstory. Not only was this Bimini’s turning point in the competition that catapulted them into the top three, it also crowned them as one of the most legendary queens in the RuPaul’s Drag Race multiverse. Bing bang bong to that!
Netflix, Squid Game – Red Light, Green Light game
Episode: Episode 1: Red Light, Green Light
LINK
Moment snapshot – Contestants line up to play the traditional Korean children’s game, Red Light, Green Light – but it quickly becomes apparent that this is no ordinary schoolyard game, and the consequence of losing is death. Who’ll make it across the line, and what’s the purpose behind this barbaric game?
Moment description – 456 participants from all walks of life, but all in dire need of money, have been locked into a secret location and given the chance to win 45.6 billion won. Contestants line up to play the traditional Korean children’s game Red Light, Green Light – but it quickly becomes apparent that this is no ordinary schoolyard game, and the consequence of losing is death. Terrified and confused, they have no choice but to play, knowing only the most agile or devious will survive. Who’ll make it across the yard, and what’s the purpose behind this barbaric game?
BBC One, Strictly Come Dancing – Rose and Giovanni’s silent dance to ‘Symphony’
Episode: Week 8
LINK
Moment snapshot – Strictly Come Dancing champs Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice danced their Couple’s Choice in week eight of the competition to Clean Bandit’s ‘Symphony’. In the middle of the performance, the studio fell silent for eight bars of music while Rose and Giovanni continued to dance. Rose said the positive and joyful dance was a tribute to the deaf community
Moment description – In week eight of Strictly Come Dancing, Rose Ayling-Ellis and her dance partner Giovanni Pernice performed their Couple’s Choice to Clean Bandit’s ‘Symphony’. In the middle of the performance, the studio fell silent for 16 stunning seconds of dancing. Rose said it was important to her that the moment gave an insight into her experience as the show’s first-ever deaf contestant, but that it also celebrated the deaf community by being a positive and joyful dance. “It’s such a joy to be deaf”, she explained, and thanked Giovanni for helping her express that through this beautiful dance – that after performing once more at the final, saw them crowned champions of Strictly Come Dancing 2021.
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