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Survey: “Gladiators ready” most iconic TV quote of the year

November 27, 2024

Sky has revealed the most meme’d, quoted, and repeated phrases from TV in the last year, with ‘Gladiators ready’ (Gladiators, 19 per cent), ‘I am a Faithful’ (The Traitors, 15 per cent) and ‘Sent from iPhon’ (Baby Reindeer, 14 per cent) topping the list.

It has been a hit year of television, with quotes from our favourite shows sparking cultural trends, cropping up in everyday language and in our social newsfeeds; from ‘Be honest’ (Beckham) t-shirts to ‘I think I love you’ (Love Is Blind,)TikTok trends.

Top 10 Most Iconic TV Phrases of the Year: 

(October 2023-2024)

  1. Gladiators ready – Gladiators 2024 (19%)
  2. I am a Faithful – Traitors (15%)
  3. Sent from iPhon – Baby Reindeer (14%)
  4. Give Over! – Brassic (12%)
  5. Be honest – Beckham (12%)
  6. I think I love you – Love is Blind (10%)
  7. Yes Chef! – The Bear (9%)
  8. I’m the daddy – I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here (9%)
  9. Dearest gentle reader – Bridgerton (8%)
  10. No war so bloody as a war between dragons – House of the Dragon (7%)

The research also revealed the most popular classic lines from the small screen, finding ‘Lovely jubbly’’ (Only Fools and Horses, 37 per cent), ‘How you doin’? (Friends, 22 per cent) and ‘Get outta my pub’ (Eastenders, 14 per cent) amongst those most commonly quoted by the British public.

TV phrases have found their way into social culture, with 37 per cent of survey participants sending their friends and family TV memes on social media, while 22 per cent can often be found messaging TV phrases, clips and GIFs on WhatsApp or text. In fact, 24 per cent believe there is a TV phrase and GIF for every occasion.

Four in ten (38 per cent) admit they regularly quote phrases from their favourite TV shows – an average of ten times a month – so much so that a quarter (24 per cent) believe they are now part of everyday life and have helped shape modern day language (15 per cent).

The power of TV phrases is so strong that four in ten (40 per cent) have even quoted a line from a show that they’ve never watched.

Sky is celebrating these memorable lines by adding a selection into Sky TV’s voice control glossary, making it easier to dive into beloved shows and relive iconic scenes. To try out the new commands, viewers can say ‘Be honest’, ‘Dearest gentle reader’ or ‘Give over!’  into the Sky Glass or Sky Stream remote to bring up the shows. New voice commands also include classic TV lines that have become iconic in our everyday language, including ‘Here’s one I made earlier’ (Blue Peter), and ‘Winter is coming’ (Game of Thrones).

Gyles Brandreth, Sky TV Sofa Critic, commented: “I love this new addition to the Sky voice control feature. It brings such fun to my viewing experience! As my anticipation builds for my evening programme, I can really get into character as I huskily growl into my remote control… ‘Winter is coming…’ and the full Game of Thrones collection is brought up on my Sky Glass TV.Slippers at the ready, I delve into another great night of entertainment. Television has become a central part of time with our loved ones; we have created TV rituals, it fuels talking points in our everyday chatter, at dinner parties and on social media. Hearing David Beckham call out Victoria with his little Be honest around the door on the Beckham documentary was such a moment on TV this year, and look at what happened – it blew up on social media. They are selling ‘my dad has a Rolls Royce’ t-shirts in Camden market – these little moments catch like wildfire.”

Ben Case, Managing Director, Sky TV, added: “TV makes up a big part of our cultural identity, with many modern and classic lines from shows finding their way into our vocabulary and social media feeds. Eighty-five per cent of us say we’ve used a quote from a TV show in conversation, demonstrating the real power of TV in shaping the zeitgeist. We’re celebrating this by adding some of the most iconic phrases to our Sky TV voice control glossary, so viewers can find the shows they’re from in a new, fun way.”

The Top 10 most popular classic TV phrases

  1. Lovely jubbly – Only Fools and Horses
  2. D’oh – The Simpsons
  3. Here’s one I made earlier – Blue Peter
  4. How you doin’? – Friends
  5. Get outta my pub! – Eastenders
  6. You’re fired! – The Apprentice
  7. Live long and prosper – Star Trek
  8. Winter is coming – Game of Thrones
  9. Soggy bottom – Great British Bake Off
  10. I’ve got a text – Love Island

Full list of this year’s iconic phrases, and the all-time classics that have been added to the Sky TV voice command glossary:

  • Give over – Brassic
  • Be honest – Beckham
  • Dearest gentle reader – Bridgerton
  • You live to work. We work to live – Emily in Paris
  • Whatever grows together, goes together – The Bear
  • I am a Faithful – The Traitors
  • Why tell a dead man the future? – Shogun
  • I wish humans had a chin zip – Baby Reindeer
  • Are you five – Mary & George
  • No war so bloody as a war between dragons – House of the Dragon
  • Lovely jubbly – Only fools and horses
  • Here’s one I made earlier – Blue Peter
  • We were on a break! – Friends
  • Get out of my pub – Eastenders
  • Winter is coming – Game of Thrones
  • Live long and prosper – Star Trek

Survey

The survey results are based on 2,000 participants from across the UK. TV phrases used in this research were sourced from online searches and public social data. In order to use phrases on the voice control feature, final lines added were selected taking compatibility with the product into account.

Sky is one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment compan

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