Lois : 𝙽𝚘 𝙲𝚛𝚞𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕

‘Paddington Meets The Queen – Platinum Jubilee: Party at the Palace, BBC One’ won P&O Cruises first Memorable Moment award at last night’s 2023 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises, the only award at the ceremony voted for by the public.

The winning moment received 15 million YouTube views and was shown during the BBC’s coverage of the Platinum Jubilee: Party at the Palace. Carrying a tray of afternoon tea through Buckingham Palace, the footman (Simon Farnaby) places it onto the table of Her Majesty and her guest Paddington Bear (Ben Whishaw) wishes her a happy Jubilee. After drinking all the tea, Paddington offers Her Majesty a marmalade sandwich from under his hat, at which point The Queen reveals her own sandwich hidden in her handbag. As the footman announces that the Jubilee concert is about to begin, Paddington thanks The Queen “for everything”.

The accolade was presented to the voice of Paddington Bear, Ben Whishaw by presenting duo, Chris and Rosie Ramsey who said: “Presenting the very first P&O Cruises Memorable Moment award was a huge honour and to award it for such an iconic moment was so so special. The public overwhelmingly voted to crown this nominee as its winner and we couldn’t agree more! Paddington Bear in the palace, incredible!”

Claire Popplewell, Creative Director, BBC Studios Productions said: “We are so thrilled that what started out as an idea to celebrate the late Queen Elizabeth’s well-known sense of humour in her Platinum Jubilee year has evoked so many smiles and touched the hearts of people not just in the UK but all over the world. As well as being chosen as this year’s Memorable Moment from an outstanding field of fellow nominees, we also hope Paddington Meets The Queen will prove to be timeless – and we’re honoured to have been a part of this wonderful piece of television history.”

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “Television has the power to entertain, inspire and move audiences and 2022 was another phenomenal year for showcasing the best of the best in British entertainment. We are delighted that the public voted for such an incredibly touching piece of TV history as its deserved winner. Watching it when it was first broadcast, now or in 50 years’ time, it can’t fail to bring a smile or a tear and there’s no greater possible entertainment accolade.” 

The six nominees for P&O Cruises Memorable Moment award 2023 were:

• Derry Girls, Channel 4 – The Finale, the people of Northern Ireland vote overwhelmingly for peace
• Heartstopper, Netflix – Nick and Charlie’s First Kiss 
• Platinum Jubilee: Party at the Palace, BBC One – Paddington Meets The Queen 
• Stranger Things, Netflix – Lucas, Dustin, and Steve rescue Max from the demonic Vecna by playing her favourite song – Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill
• The Real Mo Farah, BBC One – Sir Mo Farah revealing he was illegally trafficked to the UK
• The Traitors, BBC One – The Final Roundtable