Netflix dominates the most searched for streaming shows of 2021

Netflix has dominated the binge-watching conversation in 2021 taking seven spots in the top ten of the most searched-for streaming shows of the year.

Compiled from billions of Yahoo searches, period romance show Bridgerton was the 2021 show everyone wanted to learn more about, followed by Netflix's dystopian Korean hit Squid Game.

HBO's superb detective drama Mare of Easttown took third spot, with the Kate Winslet drama proving a hit with Yahoo users.

Read more: The best movies of 2021

Here's the full run down of the Top 10:

10: The Queen's Gambit (Netflix)

Starring Anya Taylor-Joy as a troubled chess prodigy, The Queen's Gambit was an instant hit on Netflix when it launched in October 2020, and became the platform's most-streamed original series after just four weeks. It also sparked a surge of interest in chess, and was praised by the game's community for its portrayal of the complex game.

9: The Crown (Netflix)

Although the fourth series of Peter Morgan's royal drama launched in November 2020, search around The Crown remained high throughout 2021 as the show gathered new viewers, and the real life drama around the royals reached fever pitch.

8: Sex Education (Netflix)

With just a nine-month gap between the second and third season of Netflix's raunchy teen comedy, Sex Education fans were spoiled for content in 2021. The third season, which landed on the service in September, was met with universal critical acclaim, and a fourth series was quickly commissioned.

7: Tiger King (Netflix)

The surprise hit of Lockdown 1.0 returned in 2021 with new updates to the tawdry tale of Joe Exotic and his network of big cat 'conservationists'. Although it didn't become the cultural phenomenon of its predecessor, Tiger King 2 was still a hit online, and third instalment Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story has just arrived on the platform.

6: The Walking Dead (Disney+)

AMC's long-running zombie drama reached its eleventh and final season in 2021, and its faithful fans continue to pore over recaps, fan theories, and speculation online. Every single episode of the show launched on Disney+ under the age-gated Star label this year, making the series more available in the UK than ever.

5: Behind Her Eyes (Netflix)

Every once in a while, a TV show becomes a hot topic not because of its quality, but because of its outlandish storyline. Behind Her Eyes was one of those shows. Starring Eve Hewson (daughter of U2's Bono), Simona Brown and Tom Bateman, this six-part psychological thriller had a mind-boggling final act that left viewers stunned, but not always for the right reasons.

4: Game of Thrones (NOW)

Despite airing its final episodes in 2019, HBO and Sky's hit fantasy show has remained an enduring property with fans online throughout 2020 and now 2021 too. This will be reassuring for the broadcasters who have already filmed its first prequel spin-off House of the Dragon. Starring Matt Smith, Paddy Considine, Rhys Ifans, and Olivia Cooke, the series is scheduled to air in 2022.

3: Mare of Easttown (NOW)

HBO's oppressively bleak detective drama Mare of Easttown featured a career-best performance by Kate Winslet, who deservedly won the Best Actress Emmy playing troubled cop Mare Sheehan. As usual, the story revolved around a missing girl, but alongside its unexpected twists and turns, the show also had a lot to say about the state of America right now too.

2: Squid Game (Netflix)

No-one could have predicted the success of Squid Game, let alone Netflix, who released Hwang Dong-hyuk's show with very little fanfare in September this year. Unprecedented word-of-mouth powered this dystopian social satire to the top of the Netflix charts, making it the platform's most-watched show EVER with 142 million households tuning in globally.

1: Bridgerton (Netflix)

Launched on Christmas Day, 2020, Shonda Rhimes' frothy Regency-era drama Bridgerton landed at the perfect time. Arriving as the UK found itself locked down for Christmas after an already relentlessly bleak year, audiences found escapism in abundance as they devoured the trials and tribulations of the Featherington family. Regé-Jean Page smouldered as the aloof but charming Duke of Hastings, becoming the telly crush to beat in 2021.

Watch: Phoebe Dynevor updates Yahoo on Bridgerton S2