Google reveals 2024’s most searched-for topics and questions in the UK | Science, Climate & Tech News

Google has revealed the UK’s most searched topics in 2024.

After Oasis announced they were reuniting for a UK tour back in August, they instantly became the most searched musicians of the year, with ‘how to get Oasis tickets’ the second top trending ‘how to’ question of the year.

Loads of us also asked when the US presidential election would be and searched for teenage darts sensation Luke Littler as he made history as the youngest player to reach the PDC World Championship final in January.

Here are a few more of the top searches that defined 2024 in the UK.

News

Hope, determination, and in the end, disappointment, fuelled the month of July when England’s men’s football team made the final of Euro 2024 in Germany, making it the most searched term of the year.

The tournament gripped the nation as the Three Lions were on the cusp of winning a major final on foreign soil for the first time, before being beaten 2-1 by Spain.

The tragic death of One Direction star Liam Payne was the second most searched-for news topic of the year, according to Google.

Jay Slater, the British teenager who went missing on the Spanish island of Tenerife, was also widely searched for after his disappearance sparked an extensive rescue mission and online fundraiser before his body was recovered 29 days later.

The hunt for TV doctor Michael Mosley, who was found dead after going missing on the Greek island of Symi, was also of huge interest.

1. Euros
2. Liam Payne
3. Jay Slater
4. Michael Mosley
5. US Election
6. Kate Middleton
7. Baby Reindeer
8. Olympics
9. Oasis tickets
10. Fool Me Once

People

The prolonged absence of the Princess of Wales from royal duties sparked online speculation and conspiracy theories earlier this year. The subsequent announcement that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing preventative chemotherapy also had the UK searching for Kate more than any other person this year.

President-elect Donald Trump closely followed on the list, beating the likes of Sir Keir Starmer, who led the Labour Party into Downing Street, putting an end to 14 years of Conservative rule, and the King, who was also diagnosed with cancer this year.

1. Kate Middleton
2. Donald Trump
3. Luke Littler
4. Keir Starmer
5. Imane Khelif
6. Alan Hansen
7. King Charles
8. Richard Gadd
9. Michelle Keegan
10. Yung Filly

Deaths

The unexpected death of One Direction star Liam Payne back in October sparked huge interest. The 31-year-old died after he fell from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

1. Liam Payne
2. Jay Slater
3. Michael Mosley
4. Steve Wright
5. Maggie Smith
6. Robin Windsor
7. Donald Sutherland
8. Shannen Doherty
9. Kevin Campbell
10. James Earl Jones

Film

In a year full of cinematic sequels, it was Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the gothic comedy follow-up to the 1988 hit of a similar name, that people searched the most this year. Other notable sequels to make the list included Dune: Part Two and the long-awaited Gladiator II, directed by Ridley Scott.

1. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
2. It Ends With Us
3. Inside Out 2
4. Dune: Part Two
5. Deadpool & Wolverine
6. Alien: Romulus
7. Gladiator II
8. Poor Things
9. Madame Web
10. Joker: Folie A Deux

TV shows

It was Emmy-award-winning series Baby Reindeer that led searches in the world of television, with the show sparking an online frenzy over the real-life identities of some of the characters.

The Netflix series, that follows the life of Donny Dunn, a barman and struggling comedian who is stalked by a woman called Martha Scott, maintained interest off-screen as Scottish lawyer Fiona Harvey was named as the “real Martha”.

Ms Harvey later said she had been “forced” to come forward after receiving online death threats from “internet sleuths” – and filed a $170m (£127m) lawsuit claiming the story was inaccurate and had falsely accused her of being a convicted stalker.

1. Baby Reindeer
2. Fool Me Once
3. The Gentlemen
4. One Day
5. Fallout
6. Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story
7. Rivals
8. The Perfect Couple
9. Mr Bates Vs The Post Office
10. Until I Kill You

Musicians

The reunion which some thought would never happen was finally confirmed this summer, with Noel and Liam Gallagher confirming rumours that the band were getting back on the road next year. The duo initially announced a 14-date UK and Ireland tour, which has since grown to dates around the world, kicking off in Cardiff next July.

Other notable searches included Raye, who picked up a history-making six Brit Awards, including ones for best artist, best song and best album.

1. Oasis
2. Sabrina Carpenter
3. One Direction
4. Dave Grohl
5. Raye
6. Coldplay
7. Chappell Roan
8. Linkin Park
9. Justin Timberlake
10. Cyndi Lauper

Athletes

It comes as no surprise that the likes of Jude Bellingham and Simone Biles were among the most searched athletes of the year, but topping the list was darts player Luke Littler.

Despite the 17-year-old losing out to Luke Humphries at the PDC World Championships, he has gone on to claim the Premier League title and win the Grand Slam of Darts – achievements he claims have been fuelled by his love for kebabs and ham and cheese omelettes.

1. Luke Littler
2. Lamine Yamal
3. Simone Biles
4. Jude Bellingham
5. Adam Peaty
6. Anthony Joshua
7. Ollie Watkins
8. Chris Hoy
9. Cole Palmer
10. Nico Williams

‘When is…’

The race for the White House got people in the UK talking this year, with many asking when the US presidential election would be. But perhaps even more surprising was the nation’s interest in when they could watch ITV soap Coronation Street, which was searched for far more than the date of the UK’s general election.

1. The US election
2. The budget
3. The Euros final
4. Coronation Street on this week
5. Mike Tyson v Jake Paul
6. England playing next
7. Traitors on
8. The solar eclipse
9. The general election
10. The World Cup

‘How to…’

Despite little concern for when the general election was, many people were interested in how they could participate in it, with the question ‘how to vote in the UK’ topping searches.

Other popular “how to” questions asked by Britons included how to watch Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s bout in the ring, as well as ‘how to see the Northern Lights‘ which were visible far more often in the UK than in previous years – and led to some spectacular snaps.

1. Vote in the UK
2. Get Oasis tickets
3. Watch Fury vs Usyk
4. Watch Tyson vs Paul
5. Make a pornstar martini
6. Watch the Olympics
7. See the Northern Lights
8. Block someone on TikTok
9. How to make life in infinite craft
10. Vote for the UK in Eurovision