Having struggled early on in the Italia 90 World Cup, England had changed formation, found form and made it all the way to a semi-final match with Germany. Paul Gascoigne set the tournament alight with a series of dazzling performances but, as we all know, it would all end in tears. Late in a challenge, Gazza received a yellow card, which meant he would miss the final if England made it. The whole of England watched as Gazza burst into tears, and then wept itself as England went out on penalties.

Roman Polanski returns to form with this true story-based account of Wladyslaw Szpilman, "the greatest pianist in Poland - maybe even the whole world", as he aims to evade capture by the Nazis in war-torn Warsaw. Adrien Brody bagged an Oscar for his performance as the musician, forced to hide out for the duration of the Second World War in a crumbling city. Polanski's film rivals Schindler's List in terms of emotional power and the scene in which Brody is forced to play the piano for a Nazi, literally for his life, is nearly unbearable.

Richly sentimental, and brimming with a contagious love of movies, this Academy Award winner is heart-warming, escapist and inspiring to armchair filmmakers everywhere. A famous director returns to the village where he grew up and relives the moments in his life that made him the man he is. Most of these centre on the local fleapit, the Cinema Paradiso, and projectionist Philippe Noiret, who became a surrogate father offering advice on how to live a life well. The film's most touching moment comes when the director watches a montage of screen kisses left behind by his childhood friend in the cinema.

The Pride of Britain Awards, which began in 1999, were created to pay tribute to the outstanding men, women and children who make Britain great. The stars turn out in force to present awards to ordinary member of the public who have done extraordinary things. The very nature of some of their stories makes The Pride Of Britain Awards awe inspiring. Some of the most moving winners include a little girl saving her father when he fell into a diabetic coma, a teenager who risked all to rescue his friend from power lines and young Kirsty Howard, who captured the hearts of the nation (including the Beckhams) in her battle against terminal illness.

An unashamedly old-fashioned crowd pleaser, featuring Tom Cruise as a sports agent whose crisis of conscience forces him out of a job and onto the scrapheap. Cuba Gooding Jr is the loyal football pro who sticks by him (and coined the infamous "Show me the money!" catchphrase) and Renee Zellweger plays the single mum love interest. The slushy speech when Maguire (Cruise) pleads for a second chance, culminating with Zellweger's "You had me at hello" reply, is sure to raise a lump of some description in your throat.

Redgrave created one of those 'where were you?' moments when he won a historic fifth gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Having won his first in LA in 1984, then in Seoul and Barcelona, Redgrave famously remarked that anyone who saw him near a boat could shoot him after winning a fourth in Atlanta, in 1996. However, he was back rowing again come Sydney. What makes Redgrave's achievement even more remarkable were the odds against him. Rowing received minimal financial sponsorship for most of his career and the relentless training had taken its toll. A diabetic Redgrave wept for joy after crossing the line first and the whole nation cried too.

Based on the true story of Joy and George Adamson, who raised a lion cub on their game reserve until she was ready to set off into the big wide world. The popular drama spawned a sequel and a TV series, but the real tears flowed at the end of the first film when a devastated Adamson couple finally released their pride and joy back into the wild.

Jenny Agutter and Bernard Cribbins star in this enduring adaptation of E Nesbit's classic children's story. After their father disappears, three Edwardian children move to the country where the local railway becomes a source of hope and adventure. Sensitive without being sentimental, moving but never quite mawkish, Lionel Jeffries' adaptation of E Nesbit's book succeeds on the back of its quiet wit, great performances, and its refusal to patronise. You'll be holding back the tears when the children's father returns in the final scene.

The residents of Albert Square have had their fair share of tearjerker moments - especially around Christmas. From Albert's death in prison, Den's disappearance and astonishing return, Little Mo's abuse at the hands of Trevor and Kat and Alfie's wedding, Walford has seen many good and bad times. Saddest of all was the funeral of long-time favourite Mark Fowler, after he died of AIDS.

It's hard to feel pity for any celebrity that has a hard time after desperately going on Big Brother to try to resurrect what's left of their career, but Vanessa Feltz really suffered. 11m people tuned in to watch Vanessa press the self-destruct button on the Comic Relief Celebrity Big Brother. Voted out and unable to deal with her unpopularity, she wailed like a spoilt child and scribbled words like "frustrated" on a table, before telling Big Brother to "f*** off". Mark Owen would later cry tears of joy upon winning.