Yahoo's biggest search terms of 2024 in the UK revealed
The Euros, Donald Trump, Oasis and Liam Payne were among the biggest topics being searched for by UK Yahoo users, our exclusive data reveals.
The results, which were pulled from hundreds of millions of searches on Yahoo in the past 12 months, highlight the stories, famous figures, TV shows and films that most caught the eye in 2024.
But can you guess what made it into the top 10? This year's mix may contain a few you could probably guess — but there are also a few surprises.
Yahoo's 10 biggest search terms of 2024
In terms of the overall search results, there's no mistake 2024 was a big sporting year with both the Euros and the Paris Olympics in the top three searches.
In June and July, football fans watched with bated breath as England progressed all the way to the Euros final in Germany, only to suffer (yet another) heartbreaking defeat. This time it was at the hands of Spain in what turned out to be manager Gareth Southgate's swansong tournament after eight successful years in charge.
Paris put on a spectacular (albeit damp) Opening Ceremony, which included a memorable appearance from Celine Dion. In the sporting action, US gymnast Simone Biles and French swimmer Leon Marchand made the global headlines, while Keely Hodgkinson was the breakout British star, winning gold in the 800m.
Second on the list of our search results was Donald Trump's remarkable victory over Kamala Harris in the US election. Trump, who was the target of two assassination attempts, will officially be inaugurated as US President on 20 January for another four years in charge.
The top 10 most searched celebrities
Former model and TV personality Katie Price was the most searched for celebrity on Yahoo in 2024, and it's not surprising really. Despite having released her eighth autobiography this year (titled: This Is Me: The high life. The dark times. The FULL story), Price lived through enough headline-making events to fill a ninth volume.
In February, Price was declared bankrupt for a second time and had her so-called 'Mucky Mansion' repossessed. In March, she was convicted of driving without a valid licence and insurance and received a fine. In July, an arrest warrant was issued by the police after she failed to attend a bankruptcy court hearing. This led to her airport arrest in August when she returned from Turkey where she'd undergone plastic surgery on her face. It's not all bad news for Pricey though, as she also met her new man JJ Slater in 2024, and the pair are already rumoured to be talking about tying the knot, which would be her fourth marriage.
The top 10 most searched TV shows
It would be naive to think Strictly Come Dancing was the most searched TV show on Yahoo in 2024 purely for the dancing. This year's edition featured some truly incredible dance routines though, particularly from winner Chris McCausland — the show's first ever blind contestant — who was crowned champion alongside his dance partner Dianne Buswell after impressing viewers and judges alike.
However, the show faced a turbulent few months ahead of its return to BBC One after it was hit with accusations that everything was not rosy behind the scenes. Amanda Abbington filed a complaint against her 2023 dance partner Giovanni Pernice. A BBC investigation into the allegations upheld "some, but not all" of the complaints made against the professional dancer, who rejected "any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour". He didn't appear in the 2024 series, and neither did fellow pro Graziano Di Prima who was also axed from the show after allegations of misconduct towards Zara McDermott.
The top 10 most searched films
The 2021 adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune won six Oscars, so expectations for Part Two were through the roof, and interest in the sequel — which starred Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, and Austin Butler — drove more movie searches on Yahoo than any other 2024 release, including the billion dollar busting Deadpool & Wolverine.
The sequel saw Paul Atreides immersing himself in the world and culture of the native Fremen on Arrakis, and fighting back against the villainous Harkonnens. Oh, and don't forget the massive sandworms, too. Fans and critics loved the movie, and it raked in over $700m (£562m) at the worldwide box office.
The top 10 most asked questions
Yahoo search data also reveals the biggest questions people had about 2024. Top of the list regarded the cause of death of Radio 1 DJ Steve Wright. The beloved presenter’s passing was announced in February this year with his cause of death - a ruptured stomach ulcer - confirmed in July.
The second most searched question on the list was a very specific one: 'When did Oasis last play Wembley Stadium?'. Fans invited to enter a second ticket ballot in September for two extra shows in September had to answer the question to prove they were genuine. In the first ballot, fans had been asked to name the original Oasis drummer. (The answers are 2009 and Tony McCarroll.)
Other top questions on everyone’s lips and fingertips included users trying to nail down some of the buzzwords of the year, including demure, aura and sigma.
