Sky reveals the most iconic TV phrases of the last year with Diversity stars Jordan and Ashley Banjo

Sky has declared that the most iconic television phrase of 2024 came from 'Gladiators' and has added a selection of the most famous lines from television to their remote control.

Diversity's Jordan Banjo and Ashley Banjo

Sky has declared that the most iconic television phrase from the last year is ‘Gladiators Ready!’ from 'Gladiators'.

Diversity stars Ashley and Jordan Banjo have recreated some of TV’s most beloved phrases in their living room. Phrases which have come from the small screen to be a part of everyday life and language. The brothers chose David Beckham’s "Be honest" from the recent documentary and Game of Thrones' "Winter is Coming" to show how to find the biggest shows of the year with Sky voice control.

The study found that 19 per cent of people thought that "Gladiators ready" from the recent BBC revival was the most memorable phrase of the year. Just below that was "I am a faithful" from the hit reality gameshow 'The Traitors' and "Sent from iPhone", which made multiple appearances in the Netflix stalking drama 'Baby Reindeer'.

The research also found that 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 via WhatsApp or text.

Four in 10 (38 per cent) admit they regularly quote phrases from their favourite TV shows – an average of 10 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).

Sky is celebrating these unforgettable lines by adding a selection into Sky TV’s voice control glossary, making it easier than ever to dive into beloved shows and relive iconic scenes. To try out the new commands, viewers can simply say "Be honest", "Dearest gentle reader" or "Give over!" into their Sky Glass or Sky Stream remote to bring up the shows.

Gyles Brandreth, Sky TV Sofa Critic, says: "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 of Sky TV, says: "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. 85% 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.”

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 iPhone - 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%)