And the BAFTA for best tea party...

Paddington Bear’s unexpected encounter with the late Queen during Platinum Jubilee celebrations last year is voted most memorable moment.

It was a night when an Olympic champion and one of Britain’s greatest living actresses were among stars recognised for their contribution to television.

But for the viewing public, there was nothing to beat an unexpected meeting between Queen Elizabeth II and a small bear from Peru.

Paddington Bear’s tea party with the Queen as part of last summer’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations was named the winner in the memorable moment category at last night’s (Sunday’s) Bafta TV awards.

Mr Brown said we've won a BAFTA but I'm not quite sure what that means. Bear Awards For Teatime Adventures? How marvellous. Thank you all. #BAFTATVAwards

— Paddington (@paddingtonbear) May 14, 2023

Voted for by the public, Simon Farnaby, 50, who played a footman in the sketch, paid tribute to the late Queen as he picked up the Bafta.

“Of course the person that most deserves this award is no longer with us,” he said. “Paddington and the Queen had a joyful jubilee tea that day but it was also perhaps a farewell because the person who most deserves it is no longer with us to receive it. We can only accept it on her behalf and say thank you ma’am and goodbye.”

Ben Whishaw, Simon Farnaby and team take to the stage to collect the P&O Cruises Memorable Moment Award for Paddington meets The Queen from the Platinum Jubilee: Party At The Palace! 👑#BAFTATVAwards with @pandocruisespic.twitter.com/jaXcGe05XS

— BAFTA (@BAFTA) May 14, 2023

It was the first of two wins for Ben Whishaw, the voice of Paddington. He also won best leading actor for his portrayal of Adam Kay in BBC1’s medical drama This is Going to Hurt.

Whishaw, 42, said: “The Queen did a brilliant job of acting. Most of the time there’s just a stick with a white tennis ball on the end of it and that’s quite hard to do.” Platinum Jubilee - Party at the Palace also won for live event coverage.

Last night’s (Sunday’s) ceremony also saw powerful speeches by Sir Mo Farah, 40, and a double win for Kate Winslet.

The BBC led the field with a total of 13 victories. The Olympic champion won single documentary for The Real Mo Farah in which he revealed he was trafficked to the UK as a boy. “It’s something no child should have to go through. I hope telling my story will show others they’re not alone,” he said.

Winslet, 47, was named best actress for her performance in the Channel 4 drama I Am Ruth in which she played a concerned mother watching her teenage child (played by Winslet’s daughter Mia Threapleton) become consumed by the pressure of social media.

“To the people in power who can make change - please criminalise harmful content. We don’t want it. We want our children back,” she said. “And to youngsters addicted to social media and its darker sides. This does not need to be your life.”

Kate Winslet with the award for Leading Actress for I Am Rut' during the 2023 BAFTA Television Awards, at The Royal Festival Hall, in London, England. Picture: Getty

Sharon Horgan, creator of Apple TV’s black comedy Bad Sisters also used the show’s double win, including in the drama category, to voice her “solidarity” with the writers on strike in the United States. “It all begins and ends with them, so we are in solidarity with our Writers Guild America brothers and sisters,” she said.

Horgan said she was “right in the middle of the Venn diagram of Irish women of a certain age” after Siobhan McSweeney, of Derry Girls, started proceedings by ignoring the advice she had been given not to be too political.

“To the people of Derry, I’ve been impressed with how you encompass the spirit of resilience despite the indignities and stupidity of your so-called leaders in Stormont, Dublin and Westminster. In the words of Sister Michael - it’s time they started to wise up.”

The BBC1 series The Traitors won the reality and constructed factual award, with the host Claudia Winkleman instantly reneging on her promise that her parents could have her trophy. “You can just touch it,” she said.

The Times