Yahoo News The best TV moments of 2023
From 'Firstly, are you OK?' to the ghost of Diana, it's been a memorable year of telly
It's been another brilliant year of TV in 2023, from the gripping drama of Happy Valley in January to the unexpected sighting of Nigel Farage's bare backside in December.
Here are my ten most memorable moments. I could have done more than ten, but I'm afraid I was too busy rewatching a clip of Naga Munchetty laughing at a pigeon.
Queen Holly addresses the nation on This Morning
It was Holly Willoughby’s first day back at work after Phillip Schofied had discussed his “unwise, but not illegal” relationship with a This Morning runner on Newsnight, and, for some reason, Holly decided it would be a good idea to address the viewers directly.
Unfortunately, her opening line “Firstly, are you OK?” was greeted with howls of derision on social media, and things went downhill from there. Holly’s year then took another turn for the worse, and she ended up following Phillip out of the This Morning door.
Hopefully she’ll be OK next year.
David Beckham turns into Jeremy Paxman in Beckham
For many viewers the most notable thing about David Beckham’s imaginatively-titled Netflix documentary Beckham was what it failed to include. Luckily, Rebecca Loos put that right with a series of high profile interviews.
As for the show itself, this hilarious clip of working-class lad David outing his wife’s childhood of luxury was a wonderful insight into what daily life must be like at Beckham Towers. I mean, there was a reason she was nicknamed Posh, Dave.
Naga and the pigeon on BBC Breakfast
BBC Breakfast showed a pigeon hitting a man’s head and Naga Munchetty lost it. It’s absolutely delightful. pic.twitter.com/2NDBFlb64S
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) September 22, 2023
Maryam Moshiri’s middle-fingered welcome on BBC News and Martin Daubney’s “Straight to me, this is breaking news - it is fast happening” brainfart on GB News were both strong contenders for my favourite live TV news moment of the year.
However, I’m giving it to Naga Munchetty for absolutely losing it on BBC Breakfast over a CCTV clip of a pigeon flying into a man’s head. Naga’s giggle is so infectious, I could happily watch this clip a hundred times in a row without getting bored. For me, it’s already up there with “We’re just innocent men.”
Bill and Frank loving each other for a long, long time in The Last Of Us
The opening two episodes of The Last Of Us had delivered pretty much what we’d been tuning in for — rampaging zombies and an apocalyptic nightmare. So no-one — even those who’d played the video game — was expecting the third episode to bring us one of the greatest TV love stories of all time.
It told the tale of Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett) who found each other amongst the carnage. For me the standout scene was the moment where they first clicked: Bill stepping in to perform Linda Ronstadt’s Long, Long Time properly after Frank had murdered it.
Tommy peering through Catherine’s bay window in Happy Valley
There were so many jaw-dropping and heartstopping moments in the final series of BBC1’s gritty Yorkshire-based police drama Happy Valley that I should probably just advise you to watch the whole thing again.
The scene that had me yelling at the screen more than any other though, came in the final episode as escaped convict and all-round psychopath Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton) hunted down his nemesis Sergeant Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire).
Tommy peered through Catherine’s bay window, looking like a cross between a Meerkat and someone who still wants to connect with you on LinkedIn, while eight million viewers sat in their own living rooms yelling “Wake up, Catherine!”
Logan Roy’s death in Succession
Given his health struggles and the fact that the show was all about who would succeed him, Logan Roy’s death in Succession shouldn’t have been that much of a shock. What made it such a surprise was the timing. The writers slipped it into the third episode of the ten-part final series when we were just getting settled in.
The manner of his demise was also startling. One of the most powerful men in the world ending his days being given CPR on the floor next to an aeroplane toilet, with his frantic kids listening to it all unravel by phone back on the ground in America. Still, at least it was one of those fancy private jets.
Prince Harry recalls a brotherly ruck with Prince William
There were at least ten revelations in Tom Bradby’s explosive interview with Prince Harry that would have had the Royal Family dropping their best china in shock. However, the anecdote that really captured my attention and imagination was Harry’s first-hand account of a massive fight he had with William, which was caused by William’s attitude towards Harry’s wife Meghan.
Harry told how the red mist had descended over William during a row about Meghan. In the ensuing altercation Harry was thrown to the floor and ended up accidentally smashing the dog bowl. What I really want to know is, did the dog get a new bowl and who paid for it?
Mary Earps’ sweary penalty save at the Women’s World Cup Final
“Mary Earps comes up with a big moment,” said the BBC commentator after the England goalkeeper saved a penalty against Spain in the Women’s World Cup Final. It certainly was a big moment, but it won’t be the save that will be remembered — especially as England ended up losing anyway.
It will be the sight of Earps losing it in the euphoria and very clearly yelling “F*** off!” in front of millions of viewers. Just what you want on a Sunday lunchtime when you are watching the telly with your young kids.
Nigel Farage’s scary shower scene on I’m a Celebrity
Behold the most expensive bottom in television history! ITV reportedly paid divisive former politician Nigel Farage £1.5m to take part in this year’s I’m A Celebrity, so that works out at £750k per bum cheek. Big Nige did little else of note to earn his money in ITV’s annual jungle extravaganza, which struggled to hit the heights this year.
Whether the likes of Grace Dent and Jamie Lynn Spears quit the camp because they were scared of catching a glimpse of Farage in all his glory we will never know. ITV can’t complain though. Well, Nigel did say he wanted to show everyone his good side.
Princess Diana’s ghost haunts The Crown
I’m still scratching my head over writer Peter Morgan’s bizarre decision to bring Princess Diana back as a ghost in the final season of his Netflix drama The Crown. Maybe he did it for a laugh. In which case, job done — I was smirking from the minute Diana appeared doing that sneaky “two-fingers on the face” swearing that kids do.
Or maybe he realised Elizabeth Debicki was the best thing about the later seasons and decided he had to give her some more screen time. Either way, the visions added nothing to the story. And, even in Charles’ wildest dreams, would Diana really have said something like “It’ll be easier for everyone with me gone”?
