It set social media alight back in March when a shirtless and ridiculously buff Aidan Turner pulled out his scythe and started getting sweaty in the fields of 18th century Cornwall. Some scything experts claimed that Poldark's technique was unnecessarily vigorous but viewers weren't complaining, and now, nine months later, the scene from BBC1 period drama Poldark has been named the TV moment of 2015, in a poll of over 44,000 RadioTimes.com users.

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Drawing 19,766 votes, almost 45% of the total, the Poldark scene came just ahead of Jay McGuiness's Pulp Fiction inspired Strictly Come Dancing jive with professional partner Aliona Vilani (43%), which wowed audiences and drew the first ten from the judges on his way to claiming the Glitter Ball Trophy.

While trailing a long way behind in terms of votes, Peter Capaldi's eloquent and affecting anti-war speech from Doctor Who episode The Zygon Inversion was in third place, with 3.4%, closely followed by the tense moment Ben Whishaw's Danny received his HIV test results in BBC2 thriller London Spy (2.8%) and another Doctor Who scene, the revelatory montage from penultimate episode Heaven Sent (1.5%), making up the top five.

RadioTimes.com editor Tim Glanfield said: "Poldark lit up the Sunday nights of millions of viewers earlier this year with a heady mix of high drama and breathtaking scenery, but it was the shirtless scything scene that proved to be its defining moment – and turned Aidan Turner into a household name. Scything experts may not have been impressed with Ross Poldark's technique but the women of Britain certainly were."

Users were asked to vote for one from a shortlist of 32 of the funniest, most dramatic, inspiring and emotional TV moments of 2015, ranging from Nadiya Hussain's winner's speech in the Great British Bake Off to a starving polar bear's attempts to catch a seal in natural history series The Hunt, Lord Grantham's burst ulcer in Downton Abbey to Jon Snow's apparent death in Game of Thrones.

See the full list of TV moments in order below...


TV moments of 2015


Aidan Turner’s topless scything – Poldark


Jay McGuiness's Pulp Fiction jive earns the first 10 of the series – Strictly Come Dancing


The Doctor’s anti-war speech – Doctor Who


Danny waits for his test results – London Spy


The revelatory montage from Heaven Sent – Doctor Who


Nadiya's winner's speech – The Great British Bake Off


Bobby Beale is revealed as Lucy’s killer – EastEnders


Miranda finally marries Gary – Miranda


Jo Joyner’s "How's Adam?" gaffe – EastEnders


Jon Snow's (possible) death – Game of Thrones


Tamwar explains the true meaning of Islam – EastEnders


The White Walkers attack Hardhome – Game of Thrones


The dinner party from hell – Doctor Foster


Andrew Neil's message to the Paris attackers – This Week


Robert's ulcer bursts all over the dinner table – Downton Abbey


Trixie admits she is an alcoholic – Call the Midwife


Daredevil dispatches a building full of bad guys in one take – Daredevil


A starving polar bear goes after a seal – The Hunt


Lance's murder – Cucumber


A reporter is moved to tears during his Paris bulletin – Breakfast


Ken's speech at Deirdre's funeral – Coronation Street


The elephant in the room – Top Gear


Anne Boleyn’s execution – Wolf Hall


Val's death after the helicopter crash – Emmerdale


Madonna's stage dive – The Brit Awards


Derek Shepherd dies – Grey's Anatomy


Steve Backshall’s whale watching freak-out – Big Blue Live


Claire Underwood tells Frank she’s leaving him – House of Cards


Don Draper’s smile – Mad Men


Sheila consoles Lance – Detectorists


Dermot’s 24-hour dance marathon – Sport Relief


A couple on different dates fall for each other – First Dates


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Relive the TV moments of 2015

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