Looking back on the biggest TV moments of 2019

THE FREAK IS ALIVE! (WENTWORTH)

To say jaws were on the floor after the final seconds of season seven of Wentworth would be the understatement of the year. Presumed dead (though never fully confirmed) after being buried alive at the end of season five, the final image of season seven revealed that the hated Joan “The Freak” Ferguson was still very much alive. “WHAT? HOW?” Wentworth fans cried, us among them. In a genius reveal, the Wentworth writers have proven once again to be among the best in the industry. Bring on season eight!

SAMUEL JOHNSON’S EMOTIONAL WIN (DANCING WITH THE STARS)

If there’s one thing you can count on with Samuel Johnson is that he’s a man of his word. When he said he’d do anything to raise $10 million in his role as the “cancer vanquisher” – in memory of his late sister Connie – he meant it. And although his Dancing With The Stars win, which came with a $50,000 donation to his Love Your Sister foundation, helped Sam (left with dance partner Jorja Freeman) achieve his goal, his win was far from token. In week three, when Sam dedicated an emotional dance to Connie, there wasn’t a dry eye in the country. Such an inspiration.

LINDSAY LOHAN’S REACTIONS (THE MASKED SINGER)

She was the star attraction on a show that became the year’s surprise hit, but Lindsay Lohan’s reactions to the celebrity reveals on The Masked Singer provided as much entertainment as the acts themselves. Clearly not knowing who the stars were, Lindsay struggled to contain her confusion as each new singer was revealed. Lindsay would go on to have the last laugh, correctly guessing the eventual winner, Cody Simpson.

MARY-LOUISE’S EAR-PIERCING SCREAM (BIG LITTLE LIES)

As Mary-Louise, the mother of the abusive − and now dead − Perry, Meryl Streep stole every scene in season two of Big Little Lies. When she sat at the dinner table to share stories of her beloved Perry (Alexander Skarsgård) with her grandsons, the emotions became too much for her to bear. Letting out a harrowing scream that sounded as if it came from the depths of hell sent chills down the spines of all who watched.

LUKE BLINDSIDES EVERYONE (AUSTRALIAN SURVIVOR)

Luke Toki was always strategising in this season of Australian Survivor, but his greatest moment was storming into the final four with blindside upon blindside that no-one saw coming – least of all, his victim Abbey. With sly looks and whispering in the ears of all the contestants at Tribal Council, no-one knew what was going on. But Luke knew exactly what he was doing. It was ballsy, daring and unforgettable.

PIA REIGNS SUPREME (AUSTRALIAN SURVIVOR)

Actress Pia Miranda waited until the final stretch to make her play, and make it she did. Down to the final two against Baden Gilbert, she scooped the $500,000 after a landslide 9-0 vote at the final Tribal Council.

FIRST EVER WINNER CROWNED! (AUSTRALIAN NINJA WARRIOR)

After two seasons with no winner, this year on Australian Ninja Warrior we finally got one − kind of. Charlie Robbins didn’t complete the final course nor scale Mount Midoriyama, but he did go the furthest and thus claim the $100,000 prize. And despite Charlie − bespectacled and in golf gear − not looking like a traditional ninja warrior, he’d been a standout all season, so deserved his win.

JASMINE & ROBBO MARRY… THEN GO INTO WITNESS PROTECTION (HOME AND AWAY)

After a tumultuous road to the altar, this year we finally saw Robbo and Jasmine have their happily ever after. Or so we thought. In dramatic scenes just moments after tying the knot, Robbo (Jake Ryan)and Jasmine (Sam Frost), along with a pregnant Tori (Penny McNamee), who was carrying Robbo’s baby, were whisked off and into witness protection. What followed involved death threats, a near fatal hit-and-run and Tori giving birth in the safe house. Eventually, the happy couple were able to return to Summer Bay, but will the scars of this harrowing ordeal haunt the newlyweds’ marriage?

RELATED: Looking back on the biggest twists and jaw-dropping moments of Home and Away in 2019

GRACE & JAX’S BOND (OLD PEOPLE’S HOME FOR 4 YEAR OLDS)

This unique social experiment was a must-watch. The bond between the residents of a seniors home and the wide-eyed youngsters was touching, none more so than the one Jax and 89-year-old Grace enjoyed. Sadly, Grace died before the show went to air.

YVIE JONES EMOTIONAL SPEECH (I’M A CELEBRITY… GET ME OUT OF HERE!)

When former Gogglebox Australia star Yvie spoke to the I’m A Celeb camp about her battle with body image, the raw emotions she laid bare was a brave and candid moment that reminded us all to love who we are and not to judge others on their appearance.

KRISTY SELLARS’ INSPIRING WIN (AUSTRALIA’S GOT TALENT)

Pole-dancing mum Kristy (above right with Ricki-Lee Coulter) wowed both viewers and the Australia’s Got Talent judges with her gravity-defying routines all season. Even more remarkable was that Kristy was on stage taking out the AGT crown just a year after giving birth to her third child.

SONYA DIES IN TOADIE’S ARMS (NEIGHBOURS)

Arguably the year’s most tear-jerking moment. When Sonya (Eve Morey) received the news that her cancer had spread and her condition quickly deteriorated, the Rebecchis went on a road trip. In some of the most heartbreaking scenes, Sonya slipped away in the arms of her husband Toadie (Ryan Moroney) as they watched their children play on the beach. The storyline earned both Ryan and Eve a TV WEEK Logie Award nomination for Most Popular Actor and Actress respectively, with Eve also getting a nod for the big one: the Gold Logie.

MACKENZIE IS FIRST TRANS CHARACTER (NEIGHBOURS)

Neighbours broke new ground in 2019 with the show’s first transgender character, played by Georgie Stone. Read our interview with the actress about the incredible role here.

THE GOT FINALE (GAME OF THRONES)

The final episode of Game Of Thrones was surely the most anticipated on TV this year. In a season that both delighted and infuriated, the finale was a neat wrap-up to the epic series. While Jon Snow (Kit Harington) killed Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) and the last living dragon scorched the Iron Throne, Bran “Three-Eyed Raven” Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) was anointed ruler of the Six Kingdoms. Should have been Arya (Maisie Williams)! Meanwhile Sansa (Sophie Turner) became Queen of the North.

REACTOR 4 EXPLODES (CHERNOBYL)

Terrifying because it was a deadly real-life disaster in 1986, Chernobyl proved gripping viewing from start to finish. We gasped at the explosion of reactor number four at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the show’s opening moments − as well as at the shocking events that followed.

JOSH AND AUSTIN UNLEASH− ON EVERYONE (MY KITCHEN RULES)

Brothers Josh and Austin couldn’t stop insulting everyone on MKR this year. “We thought you were like a sassy plastic chick with the friend who you brought along to make yourself look prettier,” Josh told Ruby and Andy. Not a great way to make a good first impression.

FINALE WINNER REVEAL BOMBSHELL (THE BACHELOR AUSTRALIA)

The golden rule of any Bachelor finale is that the girl who steps out of the car first is the runner-up. So we were shocked when a sly bit of editing saw Chelsie show up first, making it appear as though Abbie had won. Though Chelsie was then crowned the winner, her romance with Matt was short-lived and they split soon after.

CAM & JULES’ HAPPILY EVER AFTER (MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT)

After a season full of drama, drama and even more drama, the love story of Cam and Jules proved that true love can be found among the craziness of MAFS. Who knew?

When Cam and Jules laid eyes on each other for the first time at the altar, it was clear it was love at first sight. And soon after, we all knew this was more than just them being swept up in the moment of the social experiment. By the final commitment ceremony, their love had grown so much that Cam got down on one knee and proposed, vowing to marry Jules again in the real world.

HOPPER DIES (STRANGER THINGS)

We reached for the tissues when loveable Chief of Police Jim Hopper (David Harbour) – Eleven’s adopted father – nodded at Joyce to destroy the machine keeping the door to the Upside Down open, thus sealing his fate in the season finale of Stranger Things. Dev-a-stated.

TYLER AND TOM FALL SHORT (THE AMAZING RACE AUSTRALIA)

They appeared destined to win, but despite coming first in eight of the 10 legs, footy mates Tyler and Tom fell at the penultimate hurdle. Forced to complete two challenges instead of one, they failed to qualify for the final by just seconds.

JUDGES AXED (MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA)

We couldn’t believe it when we heard the news: the three iconic hosts of MasterChef Australia – George Calombaris, Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan – wouldn’t be returning for season 12. It’s hard to imagine the show without them, but new beginnings await for MasterChef.

TESS AND LUKE BLITZ THE BLOCK (THE BLOCK)

In the weeks leading up to The Block finale, no-one was really talking up Tess and Luke’s chances of winning. So when the underdog couple’s house at the newly renovated The Oslo, in Melbourne’s St Kilda, went for $630,000 over reserve, jaws hit the floor. They ended up walking away with a cool $730,000 in total.

TOM GLEESON WINS GOLD (TV WEEK LOGIE AWARDS)

The creator and host of Hard Quiz delighted and irked viewers in equal measure, but Tom played to his strengths in a voting campaign that saw him take home the TV WEEK Gold Logie Award.

But once the dust settled, Tom’s win proved the country still cared about TV’s highest honour.