Battle of the Bastards faces strange competition at the BAFTA awards

The British Academy Television Awards will take place on May 14 this year, and while Game of Thrones hasn’t received a nomination for Best International Program, it has been nominated in another category, alongside some unusual contenders.

Season 6’s ninth episode, “Battle of the Bastards” has made the shortlist for Virgin TV’s Must-See Moment, a category judged entirely by the viewing public. This isn’t surprising — it’s arguably one of the most exhilarating episodes of Thrones ever made. What is surprising is the full list of nominees, which includes a retired politician dancing to Gangnam Style and a dramatic battle between a snake and an iguana. The full list of nominees is below.

• Game Of Thrones: Battle Of The Bastards
• The Late Late Show: Carpool Karaoke with Michelle Obama
• Line Of Duty: Urgent Exit Required
• Planet Earth II: Snake versus Iguana chase
• Strictly Come Dancing: Ed Balls doing Gangnam Style
• Who Do You Think You Are: Danny Dyer discovering his origins

Danny Dyer, for those who don’t know, is a cockney actor (and something of a national joke…or treasure, depending on whom you ask) who auditioned for and was rejected by Game of Thrones three times. Now it’s time for payback.

If it seems like a no-brainer that Thrones will slaughter the competition, think again. This award is being decided by the British public, the same British public who once voted to name a polar research ship Boaty McBoatface, among other things. Also, have you seen those snakes chase that iguana?

My guess is that the award will go to Ed Balls, a politician and former Labour Party MP who gained infamy in April 2011 when he accidentally tweeted his own name. This error is celebrated every April 28, also known as ‘Ed Balls Day’, with thousands of people retweeting it.

You can vote for your favorite ‘must-see’ moment here.