LONDON, 31 July 2020: BBC One’s Gavin & Stacey wins Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment award at tonight’s Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards.
The award, which was presented by Stacey Dooley, was collected virtually by Ruth Jones and James Corden who play Nessa and Smithy in the much-loved British sitcom. The show made a highly anticipated return for a one-off episode on Christmas Day, bringing in an enormous 17.1million viewers. In the Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special, Nessa finally plucks up the courage to tell Smithy she loves him, “with all my heart”, before dropping to one knee and proposing, leaving viewers at home in heart-bursting suspense – will Smithy say yes?
This moment perfectly embodies what Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment award is all about – the dramatic scenes, cliff hangers, laugh-out-loud and edge-of-your-seat TV moments that grip the nation and bring us together.
Ruth Jones and James Corden thanked the British public in their acceptance speech as they virtually tuned in from home to accept the award.
Nessa proposing to Smithy was one of the most talked about, tweeted about and watched TV moments of 2019. It had been 10 years since Gavin & Stacey was last on British television screens, and the Christmas Special broke records to become the most-watched scripted show of the last decade and the biggest Christmas day programme of the decade too.
James Corden spoke of the moment: “In many ways, that moment between Smithy and Nessa had been a scene that we’d talked about for years really. It’s thrilling to know people have lived with these characters and that they know who they are and that they’re invested in their lives. We feel the same I think, Ruth and I, I’m as interested to see where they go as anyone else is.”
Ruth Jones spoke of watching the moment on Christmas Day: “We were sat there with James and his family, watching and waiting for a conclusion to this gorgeous Christmas special. When it happened, the reaction in the room was amazing. James’s sisters were going ‘NOOOOOO’ It was genuine frustration and delight all mixed together in one big explosive moment.”
The six nominees for Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment award 2020 were:
· ITV 1, Coronation Street – The Death of Sinead Osbourne
· BBC 3, Fleabag – Confessional scene
· Sky Atlantic/ HBO, Game of Thrones – Arya kills the Night King
· WINNER: BBC 1, Gavin & Stacey – Nessa proposes to Smithy
· ITV 2, Love Island – Michael recouples after Casa Amor
· BBC 1, Line of Duty – John Corbett’s death
David Bouchier, Chief TV & Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media, said:
“2019 was another stand-out year in television, and the variety of nominees for Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment award celebrated everything from comedy, drama, soaps, reality and fantasy. British television has the power to truly connect our nation and this moment in Gavin & Stacey really resonated with the British public through its warm, comedic and optimistic spirit. We’re thrilled to have a comedy win our award for the first time. It truly was a stand-out TV moment from 2019 which brought us all together.”
Hannah Wyatt, Chair of BAFTA’s Television Committee, said:
“We at BAFTA would like to congratulate the Gavin & Stacey team on their win for Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment award. The public had a difficult choice on their hands with all nominees being such captivating moments and so varied in genre. It’s always an award we’re excited about as it’s all down to the British public.”
ENDS