WHEN Scottish engineer John Logie Baird demonstrated the first working television in 1926 it’s unlikely he knew exactly what he was unleashing on the world.

Since then, TV has become part of our lives — an ever-present service to be viewed on a device that grew into major screens filling the walls of living rooms and then shrunk to be viewed on our mobile phones.

We have our own telly routines, our favourite programmes and stars and there are now annual awards, including a Bafta for top moments. As this is the only award voted by viewers, it’s probably the most important and insightful.

This year, those in the frame include potential worthy winners like the assassination of Home Secretary Julia Montague (played by Keeley Hawes) in Bodyguard, Gail’s speech on suicide in the remarkable Coronation Street storyline around Aidan Connor’s death, Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor Who time-travelling to 1950s America to ensure Rosa Parks stages her bus protest and the finale of Peter Kay’s much-lauded Car Share series. Although favourite anythings are very subjective, you are bound to have your own favourites over the years which you just can’t understand are not classified as winners. For example, there are several memorable moments on Michael Parkinson’s amazing chat show. After he managed to persuade Orson Welles to appear in 1971, a whole raft of internationally famous faces followed.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono appeared later that year. Woody Allen’s interview was memorable as was Peter Sellers’(who appeared in disguise, talking in a variety of voices). Boxer Muhammed Ali appeared four times, each time mesmerising audiences at home. Interestingly, another standout moment took place 29 years ago when a very drunk George Best was interviewed on Terry Wogan’s show. It was memorable for all the wrong reasons, seeing a football genius brought so low by his addiction.

Victoria Wood offered legendary TV moments throughout her shows: her keep-fit characters, her clever songs and, in 1985, the touching and unsettling sketch about the naïve young Channel swimmer, Chrissie. She wore her swimming cap throughout the “interviews”, even at home, with the humorous moments gently offset by the pathos of this rather sad character.

Larry Grayson on The Generation Game, Kenny Everett’s show with Rod Stewart guesting in 1979, Eric and Ern showing no respect to acclaimed conductor Andre Previn (or Preview as Eric insisted on calling him) – all wonderful TV moments.

Only Fools and Horses gave us many – Delboy in the wine bar, the chandelier episode, discovering that the old watch made them, finally, millionaires. The soaps have offered many more including Kathy returning to EastEnders, murderer Richard Hillman driving the Platt family into the canal and Holly’s fatal overdose in Emmerdale.

Yes, we know it’s all fictional and written just for entertainment but, in our homes, they appear real and part of our own viewing history. It will be fascinating to discover in May who takes this award – and whether we all agree with the choice.