This post is a collaboration with TV Licensing (a trademark of the BBC), but all thoughts and experiences are my own.
Television has the remarkable ability to bring people together, providing us with unforgettable moments that we relate to at so many given points in our lives.
For me personally, sitting around the TV after dinner has been something we always did as a family. We watched everything from soaps and game shows to nail-biting live sport on TV, in which I still watch heartwarming family sitcoms and sports to this day. Some of my most cherished memories have been shaped by moments on TV. Whether sitting with friends in a crowded living room, texting family members during a big game, or catching up on nostalgic reruns, TV has left such a huge mark on my life.
Here are a few moments that stand out.
1. Women’s 100m Sprint, Paris 2024 Olympics
One of the most iconic TV moments from the Paris 2024 Olympics came during the breathtaking final of the women’s 100m sprint, where athletes from around the world competed in what I feel became a historic race. Reigning champion, Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and her fiercest rivals, including the rising American star Sha’Carri Richardson, created so much tension and excitement.
As Richardson surged alongside Fraser-Pryce, creating a neck-and-neck battle, the dramatic moment unfolded in the final few meters. We watched Fraser-Pryce pulling slightly ahead, claiming the gold and further cementing her legacy as one of the greatest sprinters in history.
What made this moment particularly iconic wasn’t just the pure skill on display, but the raw emotion that followed. As Fraser-Pryce crossed the finish line, she collapsed to her knees in tears, overwhelmed by her fifth Olympic title at age 37, a record-breaking achievement. This race, broadcast live across the world, became a symbol of resilience, passion, and sportsmanship, forever marking Paris 2024 as a momentous chapter in Olympic history.
2. Football Fever: The 2018 World Cup
I can’t reflect on TV without mentioning the emotional rollercoaster that is watching England in the World Cup. The 2018 tournament was special, especially the semi-final against Croatia. I remember being glued to the screen with friends, our excitement (and anxieties!) rising and falling with every play. We texted and called family members, even neighbours, as the excitement built. England didn’t win that night, but the memory of watching those games, the shared hope, and the adrenaline we felt as a community made the experience unforgettable. It’s moments like this that remind me of how TV brings us closer, not just as spectators but as part of a larger collective experience.
3. ‘Home Alone’ and The Magic of Christmas TV as a Child
TV has this incredible ability to transport us to different worlds, and as a child, nothing captured that magic quite like Christmas specials. I still vividly remember huddling around the TV with my sister, Mum and Dad, eager to catch the annual “Home Alone” reruns. We knew every line by heart, yet it never got old. TV didn’t just entertain us; it brought our family closer during the Christmas holidays, and the reruns every year of Home Alone soon became a family tradition. TV can do that perfectly well – giving families a shared tradition that is looked forward to every year.
4. The Rise of Streaming and “Binge-Watching”
In recent years, streaming platforms have become a massive part of my life. I’m always busy with being a working mum of two, so I need to be able to stream. It’s a more recent one for me, and I can still recall my first full weekend of “binge-watching”— it was one of the most iconic TV shows available on BBC iPlayer, Sherlock.
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the brilliant but eccentric Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as his loyal companion, Dr John Watson, Sherlock is incredibly sharp-witted, with clever plot twists, and was the mind-awakening series I needed while in my post-partum days.
5. The Great British Bake Off Revealing My Talents
TV doesn’t always have to be big and bold to leave an impact. One unexpected way it’s made an impact on me is through cooking shows. The Great British Bake Off became a weekly event in my household. There was something so soothing and communal about watching amateur bakers craft intricate desserts, cheering for your favourite contestants, and marvelling at their creations.
But the key thing here is that it even sparked a newfound love for baking in me! It ignited my passion for baking, and I soon carved some time to recreate bakes from the show. I now absolutely adore baking for my family or for events that arise, and I’ll always remember how The Great British Bake Off kicked this passion off for me.
The show even shaped events with friends, and the workplace too! So many times I have hosted “bake-offs” in the workplace or with friends. TV has a way of inspiring us in everyday life, and this was one of those simple joys that I never expected.
In many ways, television has shaped some special moments throughout my life. Whether it’s the shared joy of sporting victories, the comfort of nostalgic reruns, or the excitement of watching a new series unfold, these experiences remind me of the power of TV to connect us, inspire us, and even help us make sense of the world.
Your TV Licence lets you enjoy a huge range of live TV. It covers you for:
• All TV channels, like BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Dave and international channels – but you don’t need a licence if you only watch non-BBC channels on-demand
• Pay TV services, like Sky, Virgin Media, and BT – but these are platforms that could have both live and on-demand services
• Live TV on streaming services, like YouTube and Amazon Prime Video
• Everything on BBC iPlayer.
This includes recording and downloading. On any device.
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