The Stage reports that the Beeb have done extraordinarily well in the nominations for this year’s Pioneer Audience Award. This is the only BAFTA Award voted for by the viewing public (the rest of the vote is open only to industry members) and could therefore claim to be the most coveted.

This year several BBC shows – Life on Mars, The Royle Family, Planet Earth, Dragon’s Den, and the Vicar of Dibley Christmas Special – have made the shortlist, along with Celebrity Big Brother 2006. But hang on. The award is intended to "honour the show that has helped to define television in 2006, receiving critical acclaim through its original approach and capturing the public’s imagination." So let’s just take a look at how those nominees stack up against that aim.

Celebrity Big Brother 2006
Did this define television in 2006? Why that year particularly, rather than any of the other years we’ve been subjected to CBB? Original approach? Maybe it was original six years ago when Jack Dee won, but now?

Vicar of Dibley Christmas Special
I don’t know how anyone could use the word "original" in the same sentence as VoD. And for a Christmas Special too! Christmas Specials must be the most UNoriginal telly event on the planet. Did it define television in 2006? Did it capture the public imagination? I certainly don’t remember overhearing anyone discussing the magic of Dibley in my local, or anywhere else come to think.

Dragon’s Den
This is a stronger contender from an originality perspective, although the 2006 series was the third so I don’t think it can legitimately be said to have "defined" TV in that year.

Planet Earth
As the number 1 show in our Best TV Moments of 2006, you won’t be surprised to see me defending Planet Earth’s position in the list. Original? Yes, of course. It’s Attenborough we’re talking about and this latest of his most excellent shows broke new ground on so many levels it’s impossible to list them. Capture the public’s imagination? Without question. Friends, family, colleagues, talked about it every Monday morning.

The Royle Family – The Queen of Sheba
Don’t get me wrong, I loved the Royle Family in its heyday. But I can’t help feeling that it was a child of its time. No longer fresh, original and compelling as it was back then, this was more a reminiscence. A visit to see an old friend. I can’t agree that it captured the essence of 2006…

Life on Mars
…whereas Life on Mars was undoubtedly, from a purely entertainment perspective, the show of 2006. Original? Well can you think of another show like it? It’s the most original drama there has been for decades. As original as a Dennis Potter, with as many laughs and quirks. Did it capture the public’s imagination? You only have to look at the breathless anticipation there was for series two to understand exactly how that imagination was not just captured but sentenced to life imprisonment. Did it define TV in 2006? I believe it did, more than any other show. New, mysterious, challenging, brilliantly written, acted and filmed it represented the pinnacle of TV drama in virtually every respect.

But that’s just my opinion. I’d love to hear yours, but even more importantly if you want to cast your vote for the Pioneer Award? Off you go.