Yahoo!’s Year in Review – the definitive list of the people, places and events that grabbed the UK’s imagination over the past 12 months, based on billions of searches on Yahoo.co.uk – has uncovered a nation still worried by economic uncertainty and dazzled by celebrity.
After 12 months of belt-tightening, the public’s concern about a future age of austerity is reflected in the top searches – with lottery and job centre the most searched for terms in the UK.
Job centre was one of the top three searches for the second year in a row, having charted at number three last year.
The Top 10 Searches are:
1. Lottery
2. Job centre
3. Weather
4. Big Brother
5. Cheryl Cole
6. TV guide
7. World Cup
8. Train times
9. Katie Price
10. Horoscopes
A new entry into the Top 10 Searches shows how the British are watching the pounds by staying in – TV guide is in at number 6. Perhaps even the entry of horoscopes at number 10 is a sign of desperation as the nation turns to the stars for a guide to our future
The UK found the perfect embodiment of its obsessions with celebrity, entertainment and reality television in Cheryl Cole (No. 5) – the most searched-for celebrity of 2010.
Ms Cole was the number one searched for celebrity and the number one searched for musician. Her divorce from England and Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole was named top ‘celebrity scandal’, while X Factor remained one of the most searched for TV shows.
However, her crown may be under threat from Kate Middleton – searches for the future Princess Catherine went up by more than 20, 000 per cent on the day of the announcement of her wedding to Prince William, a trend that will only accelerate as the big day approaches.
In fact, the royal wedding is already dominating the news this year – announced only two weeks ago, it was the number four most-searched for news event of 2010.
Richard Evans, Yahoo!’s UK news editor, said: “Looking at the billions of searches made on Yahoo.co.uk over the last year, two things jump out. One is that we are a worried nation, concerned about our futures as we enter an ‘age of austerity’.
“The second is that we find our escape from this worry through reality TV, entertainment and celebrity. In 2010, for a lot of people, that meant following the rollercoaster life of Cheryl Cole.
“Next year, however, the Royal Wedding is likely to become our celebrity fixation – is Kate going to become the new Cheryl?”
Top 10 celebrities
1. Cheryl Cole
2. Katie Price
3. Lady Gaga
4. John Terry
5. Angelina Jolie
6. Victoria Beckham
7. Megan Fox
8. Justin Bieber
9. Peter Andre
10. Katy Perry
This year, Cheryl Cole was the number one searched for celebrity and the number one searched for musician. Her divorce from England and Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole was named number one ‘celebrity scandal’, while X Factor remained one of the most searched for TV shows.
“Wor Cheryl’s” influence even spreads to other top searches – her X Factor protégé, Cher Lloyd, was the number one searched for reality TV contestant.
Year on year, Lady Gaga and Megan Fox also climbed the rankings of celebrity searches, while Lily Allen, Oasis and Susan Boyle all fell from the Top 10.
Richard Evans said: “The past 12 months have been mixed for Cheryl Cole – chart topping success and X-Factor fame, but also her divorce and a nasty case of malaria. But the ups and downs have definitely kept the public interested! It’s hard to see where she can go from here – America perhaps?”
Top 10 news stories
1. Volcanic ash disruption
2. General Election
3. Haiti earthquake
4. Royal Wedding
5. Kraft takeover of Cadbury
6. Pakistan floods
7. David Cameron
8. Alexander McQueen
9. Raoul Moat
10. Chilean miners
There are the searches you would expect, such as volcanic ash disruption and general election. However, the one trend coming through loud and clear from Yahoo!’s Top News Searches of the year is the concern and empathy the UK feels for other countries’ difficulties.
The Haiti earthquake and Pakistan floods both featured in the top 10, as generous Britons searched for a way to donate money to help. The incredible story of the rescued Chilean miners also touched the hearts of the nation.
Interestingly, the only business story to make it into the Top 10 News Searches is the Kraft takeover of Cadbury – showing that Brits are (fruit and) nuts about our chocolate!
It’s clear which news story is going to dominate the first half of 2011 after the Royal Wedding entered the chart at Number four.
Richard Evans said: “There have been some unforgettable moments over the past 12 months and our analysis captures all of it. From ash in the skies to Chilean miners underground – 2010 has been a year to remember.”
Top 10 sports stars
1. John Terry
2. Wayne Rooney
3. Ashley Cole
4. David Beckham
5. Tiger Woods
6. Andy Murray
7. Steven Gerrard
8. Cristiano Ronaldo
9. Fernando Torres
10. Roger Federer
Top 10 TV shows
1. Big Brother
2. X Factor
3. EastEnders
4. Dancing on Ice
5. Doctor Who
6. Coronation Street
7. Britain’s Got Talent
8. Strictly Come Dancing
9. Home and Away
10. Glee
Other searches:
Celebrity couple – Brangelina
Fashion garment – Ugg Boots
Beauty product – Nivea cream
Fashion label – New Look
Film – Twilight Eclipse
Leading lady – Kristen Stewart
Festival – Glastonbury
Song – Baby by Justin Bieber
Politician – David Cameron
Political news story – General Election
International news story – Haiti earthquake
Brand – Apple
Online video – Telephone by Lady Gaga
Premier League footballer – John Terry
Sporting event – World Cup
Soap star – Kym Marsh
Reality TV contestant – Cher Lloyd
Soap – Eastenders
TV Star – Cheryl Cole
Mobile phone – iPhone 4
Car – Vauxhall Astra
Car manufacturer – BMW