SHANE WATSON PEOPLE OF THE YEAR

From Meghan to Harry (Redknapp), 2018 was full of unmissable individuals. Here’s my list of winners and losers…

ho made us watch them the most, gave us the most pleasure and generally deserves to be included in our People Watching round-up of 2018? It’s been tough to whittle down, but here goes.

THE LOVED-UP COUPLE

Harry Redknapp and Sandra. Even people who’ve never watched I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! fell for Harry, because he was an old-school geezer, who couldn’t stop telling everyone about the love of his life and wife of 51 years. It’s “Saaarn” this and “Saaarn” that, he said, and “Saaarn” is always there to sort it. We got it.

THE MOST SPARKLY

Meghan Markle, of course! It’s been a very busy year for Meghan, who has become a British citizen, a wife, a Duchess, an international fashion icon, an expectant mother, etc, and still she’s getting up at 4.30am to do yoga. Meanwhile she has “lost” two aides, and you know… just saying. We’ll definitely be watching next year.

THE POWER PLAYER

Michelle Obama. Now a bestselling author, work-life balancer to make Sheryl Sandberg look behind the curve, and still… fun! With great arms! So many reasons to gawp, but her “be smart first” message to girls was an encouraging counterpoint to Love Island.

THE HIMBO OF THE YEAR

Dr Alex! The posh doctor on the said Love Island, who swapped the sexiest job on Earth (mending people) for preening by a pool with a bunch of lobotomised dolls. Respect points nil.

THE HAPPIEST ENDING

Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner (better known as the parents in Outnumbered) got together in real life! Which almost compensates for the adorable Karen having grown up.

THE BEST YEAR

Hugh Grant, who was generally agreed to have found his lifetime-best form playing the villain in Paddington 2 and then another sort of cad, Jeremy Thorpe, in A Very English Scandal.

THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

It’s got to be Elton – all the Eltons – playing Your Song in the John Lewis Christmas ad. Well, it makes us cry every single time (his little lonely back, seated at the piano! All the good times… and the bad hair).

THE GUILTY PLEASURE

Bodyguard. By which we mean Richard Madden being firm with the Home Secretary and, although we loyally watched until the final credits rolled, we were all thinking, come on, what is the point without Keeley Hawes! But then we often think that.

THE CONSTANT GENTLEMAN

Whatever your politics, it’s Jacob Rees-Mogg. Whether on the doorstep with Nanny Cook, being heckled by Class War, or sparring with

Emily Maitlis, Moggy is now officially our most consistently courteous politician.

THE MOST CHEERING EVENT

The return of cheesy Abbatastic jollies in Mamma Mia 2. There was Cher! There was Andy Garcia (can you hear the drums, Fernando)! It was lovely to be back in our happy place (the mid-Seventies on a Greek island… even if it was Croatia).

THE VILLAIN

There was Seann on Strictly (who kissed his married dance partner), Ray Kelvin (huggy boss of the year), and so many more to choose from…

THE MOST STRIKING COUPLE

Had to be Liz Hurley and her son Damian. Liz won prizes for her age-defying bikinitastic body and Damian won prizes for looking like Liz in a suit, only with better eyebrows. Impressive, if weird.

THE BEST DRAMA

Not confirmed, but it has to be the Fab Four, or rather the Fab Two (Haz and Wills) trying to keep their two lady wives from handbags at dawn.

THE COMEBACK OF THE YEAR

There was David the chimp on Dynasties and then there was Sir Paul McCartney. This year Sir Paul has officially got back his groove, at 76, and, crucially, let his hair go a bit silvery. Amazing the difference that ditching the hair dye has made.

THE BEST IN SHOW

The final episode of Peter Kay’s Car Share, back by demand (viewers actually petitioned for a decisive ending to John and Kayleigh’s story) and 6.4million watched on the night.

THE MOST MEMORABLE IMAGE

There were a lot to choose from, but the one we will take away is Meghan in the one shoulder dress at the British Fashion Awards, bump cradling, which is now a thing.

Until next year…