Viewers were in tears as the Memorable Moment TV Bafta award was awarded to Paddington bear having tea with the late Queen during the Platinum Jubilee: Party At The Palace celebrations on the BBC. Queen Elizabeth II surprised the world when she appeared in a heart-warming sketch with the adorable bear to celebrate her 70 year reign on Saturday, June 4 last year.
The animated bear visited Buckingham Palace for afternoon tea and the Queen beamed as she produced a marmalade sandwich from her handbag. After her death in September, at the age of 96, mourners left teddy bears and marmalade sandwiches among the floral tributes outside her royal residences.
In a stunning moment at the awards, televised on BBC One, the camera panned to Paddington applauding in the audience as the winner was called out and gasps could be heard. Actor Simon Farnaby, who played a footman in the video, went on stage to accept the gong at the 2023 British Academy Television Award.
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Simon called the segment a “lovingly handcrafted moment” that also served as a "farewell" to the longest-serving British monarch. He said: “She had a very joyful Jubilee tea that day. The person who most deserve this award is no longer with us. We can only accept it on her behalf and say 'thank you, ma’am, for everything.'”
Paddington is voiced by Ben Whishaw who also appeared on stage at the Baftas and went on to win the best leading actor for This Is Going To Hurt. The sweet moment beat the The Good Friday Agreement vote in the finale of comedy series Derry Girls and Nick and Charlie’s first kiss in Heartstopper.
Also nominated was the moment in Stranger Things where Max was rescued from the demonic Vecna through the playing of her favourite song Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill, Mo Farah revealing he was illegally trafficked to the UK in The Real Mo Farah and The Traitors final roundtable.
@captainswilson tweeted: "SIMON GOING UP FOR PADDINGTON. I’M SO CLOSE TO TEARS RIGHT NOW." @LWebb71 agreed: "Made me cry that speech." And @Reashelby1 said: "And, I'm crying again."
@Tweet9874 wrote: "That was very sweet…thank you ma’am for everything. She is missed. #QueenElizabethII." And @duchess_salty said with crying emojis: "The speech."
@Jess_N_1980 said: "One of the most touching, loveliest and unforgettable TV moments in my life. It still brings me to tears." And @Integercode wrote: "In tears and she wasn't even my grandmother."
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