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Nominees for Virgin Media's Must-See Moment Award 2020 are announced

3 June 2020

The only public voted for award in the ceremony is the first shortlist to be revealed for the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards

  • Shortlisted programmes represent the most-talked about TV moments of 2019
  • Voting opens 3rd June at 8am and closes on 15th July at 5pm. Fans can vote here 
  • The winner will be announced at the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards on Friday 31st July 2020

Today, Virgin Media announces the six nominees for the Must-See Moment, the only award at the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards that is voted for by the public. The winner will be announced during the Virgin Media BAFTAs on 31st July 2020 hosted by Richard Ayoade.

Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment Award celebrates the dramatic scenes, cliff hangers, laugh-out-loud and edge-of-your-seat TV moments of 2019. It recognises the television that got the nation talking, tweeting and sharing, and those on-screen moments that truly resonated with TV fans across the UK.

The six Virgin Media Must-See Moment 2020 nominees are:

  • 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
  • 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

Members of the public can vote for their favourite Must-See Moment online at www.virginmedia.com/bafta and will automatically enter into a prize draw to win the ultimate night in with Virgin Media, including Taittinger champagne, gourmet chocolates, make-up and skincare from KIKO Milano, Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, an instant camera and loads more! Virgin Media customers can also vote through their television, via their TiVo® or V6 box and via social media @virginmedia.

The shortlist of six nominees was selected by an independent BAFTA-approved jury of national media experts including TV critic Caitlin Moran. The jury was chaired by BAFTA Television Committee Chair Hannah Wyatt.

The Awards will be broadcast as-live on BBC One on Friday 31st July. In accordance with current restrictions, the ceremony will take place in a closed studio, as a socially-distanced show with nominees invited to accept their awards virtually.

David Bouchier, Chief Digital Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media said: “Great TV is at the heart of our business, so we are delighted to have an award that continues to represent and showcase the biggest shows and conversations in British television. Now in its fourth year, Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment is all about the fans and in this year’s incredibly strong list of nominees, their voice really shines through. I can't wait to see what the fans will choose as their Must-See Moment winner.”

Hannah Wyatt, Chair of BAFTA’s Television Committee, said: "Television in 2019 showcased the incredible craft, gripping scriptwriting and brilliant visuals which continue to captivate the British public. From bringing back nostalgic favourites, to raising awareness about hugely important issues, the shows and moments nominated for Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment Award 2020 reflect BAFTA's values to champion excellence and inspire creativity. I can’t wait to see what audiences choose to be their Virgin Media Must-See Moment winner at the BAFTAs, in what is sure to be a close contest.”

Quote from Virgin Media Ambassador and Must-See Moment Judge Caitlin Moran: "This "Golden Age" of television has now been going on for so long, we are, perhaps, entering a Diamond Age - or even a Platinum one. Now, more than ever, we have needed the sense of escape, truth, community and joy that the best television delivers, and we are talking about it everywhere: on the sofa, on Twitter, and at a safe distance of two metres whenever we meet up. 2019 delivered some of the best TV we have ever seen, and it was a privilege to once again represent the fans at home on the jury for the Virgin Media Must See Moment,  and argue for the moments that truly made everyone gasp. So whether you were shouting "GET IN THERE, ARYA!" as she went head-to-head with the Night King, Tweeting "Gngngngngn" at the hot Priest in Fleabag, or finding yourself, unexpectedly, bursting into tears when Nessa proposed to Smithy, it's now over to you to decide on which moment truly "won the telly." Who will take home the award this year? It’s time to vote for your Virgin Media Must-See Moment of 2019.”

The full list of the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards nominees will be announced on Thursday 4th June at 7:30am on BAFTAs channels, including Facebook (facebook.com/bafta), Twitter (@BAFTA), Instagram (@BAFTA) and at www.bafta.org/television/awards.

Notes to editors:

For accreditation, photography, BAFTA logos, press releases and more visit www.bafta.org/press

About the Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment nominations: virginmedia.com/bafta

#VirginMediaBAFTAs #MustSeeMoment

 

ITV 1, Coronation Street – The Death of Sinead Osbourne

Episode: 9906/07

Moment snapshot - As Daniel Osbourne reads to their baby son Bertie, his terminally-ill wife Sinead quietly surrenders to her cancer. In accordance with her wishes, Daniel prevents Bertie from seeing his mother’s lifeless body, before finally confronting the reality of losing the love of his life.

Moment description - After a year-long fight with cervical cancer, Sinead Osbourne dies peacefully at home while her new husband Daniel reads to their baby son, Bertie. The sound of Sinead’s laboured breathing stops, prompting Daniel to look up from the book and realise that the moment he has been dreading for so long has finally arrived. In accordance with Sinead’s wishes, Daniel prevents Bertie from seeing his mother’s lifeless body, then sits beside her as he absorbs the loss of the love of his life and breaks down sobbing.

 

BBC 3, Fleabag – Confessional scene

Episode: 4

Moment snapshot - While Fleabag battles with demons of her own, the Priest is forced to choose between faith and love with groundbreaking consequences for them both in the confessional.

Moment description - After attempting to find relief from old wounds at the church, Fleabag turns to the Priest for advice in the confessional. While Fleabag battles with demons from her past, the Priest is forced to choose between his faith for god, or love for her. As tensions and emotions rise, the pair's encounter will have groundbreaking consequences on their relationship with one another, and with God.

 

Sky Atlantic/ HBO, Game of Thrones – Arya kills the Night King

Episode: S08 E03 The Long Night

Moment description – In one of the most highly anticipated and talked about television moments of the decade, HBO’s Game of Thrones reached an ultimate climax in its final season as viewers watched Arya Stark kill The Night King. Throughout its eight seasons, Game of Thrones’ fans followed Arya on a journey from young girl to fearsome assassin, leading up to this stunning moment that shocked the world. When all appeared to be lost in a final battle between the living and the dead, Arya plunges a dagger into the Night King’s chest, defeating the iconic villain and saving not only her family members Jon Snow and Bran Stark, but the entire kingdom of Westeros from a gruesome fate.

 

BBC 1, Gavin & Stacey – Nessa proposes to Smithy

Episode: Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special

Moment snapshot - On Christmas night 2019, Nessa Shanessa Jenkins unexpectedly proposes to Neil ‘Smithy’ Smith.

Moment description - Nessa and Smithy have been in an unconventional, on-off, long distance relationship for thirteen years. Nessa lives in Barry with their child ‘Neil the Baby’ and Smithy lives in Essex, visiting Wales every other week to see his boy. On Christmas night 2019 Nessa shocks everyone by declaring to Smithy that she loves him, ‘with all my heart’ before getting down on one knee and proposing marriage. But before we hear Smithy’s response, the credits start to roll…

 

BBC 1, Line of Duty – John Corbett’s death

Episode: Episode 4

Moment snapshot - When John grabs a gun and attempts to escape the OCG's new brothel site with McQueen, it soon becomes clear Lisa has double-crossed him – Ryan is able to catch John by surprise, brutally cutting his throat. "You're a rat, John… a rat!" she spits, as he slowly bleeds to death.

Moment description - Corbett meets with Miroslav and Lisa McQueen, who are in the process of completing a trade-off of a group of sex-trafficked Eastern European. The violent manhandling of the women disturbs Corbett and McQueen, and the pair hatch a plan to escape the violent clutches of the OCG. Miroslav and other members play poker whilst Ryan Pilkington leaves the room to "control" the women. When sounds of a woman in distress start to come from the opposite room, John picks up a pistol and holds the group back whilst he and McQueen make their way to Ryan and the women. Upon opening the door, he discovers another member of the gang simulating sex noises, distracting him long enough for Ryan to sneak behind him and slit his throat. "You're a rat, John… a rat!" McQueen spits as he slowly bleeds to death.

 

ITV 2, Love Island – Michael recouples after Casa Amor

Episode: TX30

Moment snapshot - When the girls went to Casa Amor, Amber & Michael were one of the strongest couples. But while Amber was away, new girl Joanna turned Michael’s head. Faced with the choice of sticking with Amber or recoupling with Joanna, Michael followed his heart, while Amber returned to the villa alone.

Moment description - Amber & Michael were one of the strongest couples in the Love Island villa when the girls went away to Casa Amor. Despite interest from the new boys, Amber remained loyal to Michael while she was away. But Michael’s head was turned by new girl Joanna, and when it came to the crunch and he had to choose whether to stick with Amber or recouple with one of the new girls, Michael followed his heart. As the other girls who’d returned from Casa Amor watched on in shock and disbelief, Amber walked back into the villa alone to find out what Michael had decided to do.

 

For further information, please contact: 

Claire Walley, Influence (on behalf of Virgin Media)
T 07784 217380
E [email protected]

Emma Sweet, Influence (on behalf of Virgin Media)
T 07592121384
E [email protected]

Olivia McKee, Virgin Media
T 0333 000 2900
E [email protected]

Amanda Hearn, Multitude Media (on behalf of BAFTA)
T 0207 299 4254
E [email protected]

About BAFTA

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is a world-leading independent arts charity that brings the very best work in film, games and television to public attention and supports the growth of creative talent in the UK and internationally. Through its Awards ceremonies and year-round programme of learning events and initiatives – which includes workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes in the UK, USA and Asia – BAFTA identifies and celebrates excellence, discovers, inspires and nurtures new talent, and enables learning and creative collaboration. For advice and inspiration from the best creative minds in working in film, games and television, visit www.bafta.org/guru. For more, visit www.bafta.org.

About Virgin Media

Virgin Media offers four multi award-winning services across the UK and Ireland: broadband, TV, mobile phone and landline. Our dedicated, ultrafast network delivers the fastest widely-available broadband speeds to homes and businesses and we’re expanding this through our Project Lightning programme, which will extend our network to up to 17 million premises. Our interactive Virgin TV service brings live TV, thousands of hours of on- demand programming and the best apps and games to customers through a set-top box, as well as on-the-go through tablets and smartphones. Virgin Mobile launched the world’s first virtual mobile network, offering fantastic value and flexible services. We are also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the UK and Ireland. Through Virgin Media Business, we support entrepreneurs, businesses and the public sector, delivering the fastest speeds and tailor-made services. Virgin Media is part of Liberty Global, the world’s largest international TV and broadband company. Liberty Global connects 21 million customers through operations in 10 countries across Europe subscribing to 45 million TV, broadband internet and telephony services. It also serves 6 million mobile subscribers and offers WiFi service through 12 million access points across its footprint.