The new year is thundering towards us like the queue outside the Harrod's sale, but let's spare a thought for 2010 and the most important stories, people and events we've witnessed.

Not in technology, of course, but in the juicy world of celebrities, movies and TV, as Bing and MSN UK have combined to reveal the most searched for or polled terms, couples and gossip from the last 365 days.

Bing has provided the search results, while MSN UK polled its readers for extra information. And it comes as no surprise that the nation's sweetheart (?) and X-Factor judge Cheryl Cole tops all of the lists when it comes to luuuurve...

She is the subject of both Bing's most searched for celebrity couple of 2010 (with Derek Hough) and most searched for celebrity break-up (with Ashley Cole). Other couples to rank highly include Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal (couple), and Charlotte Church and Gavin Henson (break-up).

In politics, the most searched for political fall-out in 2010 was "bigotgate"; Gordon Brown's recorded slip-up when he called a woman a bigot during his general election campaigning.

The rise in university tuition fees, even though it was a late comer, reached fourth in the list.

Bing's most searched for celebrity scandal is ripe with juicy gossip, as affairs dominate the list, with Wayne Rooney's alleged dalliances with a prostitute hitting the number one spot. Tiger Woods, Jason Manford, Mark Owen and Vernon Kay also all feature.

"2010 has been a year of scandal and allegations, with numerous high-profile affairs rocking the celebrity world," says Lucy Mapstone, MSN celebrity editor. "Wayne Rooney and Tiger Woods are sporting superstars so their love lives are bound to be of great public interest and be top Bing searches.  Tiger’s live public admission and grovelling apology to family and fans scored him another ten minutes in the spotlight, but who knows whether he can earn back the respect and adoration he once had".

But the most bizarre result comes in Bing's most searched for UK TV show of 2010; Daybreak. Really. Audience figures may be on the decline, but the Adrian Chiles/Christine Bleakley helmed breakfast show is the most searched for on the 'net. The second? The Only Way is Essex. Is there no hope?

All of the results can be found below:

Bing's most searched for celebrity couple of 2010

1 Cheryl Cole and Derek Hough

2 Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal

3 Peaches Geldof and Eli Roth

4 Sienna Miller and Jude Law

5 Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez

Bing's most searched for celebrity break-up of 2010

1 Cheryl Cole and Ashley Cole

2 Charlotte Church and Gavin Henson

3 Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes

4 Shia LeBeouf and Carey Mulligan

5 Courtney Cox and David Arquette

Bing's most searched for political fall-outs of 2010

1 Gordon Brown calling a woman a bigot during the election campaign

2 Rumours about William Hague's sexuality after sharing a room with his 25-year-old male aide

3 Ed Miliband named Labour leader over older brother David

4 The rise in university tuition fees

5 Lib Dems forming a coalition with the Conservatives

Bing's most searched for celebrity scandal of 2010

1 Wayne Rooney allegedly cheating on Coleen with a prostitute

2 Tiger Woods' affairs

3 Jason Manford's sexy tweets to female fans

4 Mark Owen's affair

5 Vernon Kay's saucy texts to other woman

Bing's most searched for TV show of 2010

1 Daybreak

2 The Only Way is Essex

3 Misfits

4 Downton Abbey

5 Sherlock

MSN UK Alternative Review of the Year 2010 (polled)

Most surprising celebrity break-up: Lenny Henry and Dawn French (50 per cent of vote)

Most surprising celebrity hook-up: Shane Warne and Elizabeth Hurley (36 per cent)

Celebrity couple most likely to last in 2011: Katy Perry and Russell Brand (71 per cent)

Celebrity couple who Brits think will break-up: Katie Price and Alex Reid (54 per cent)

Favourite celebrity couple: Prince William and Kate Middleton (33 per cent)

Most shocking celebrity scandal: Wayne Rooney's alleged cheating (24 per cent)

Political scandal: Gordon Brown calling a woman a bigot (16 per cent)

Favourite soap storyline: The tram crash in Coronation Street (47 per cent)

Best reality show: X-Factor (23 per cent)

Overpaid TV star: Jonathan Ross (33 per cent)

Best new TV show: Downton Abbey (28 per cent)

Most popular TV channel: BBC1 (32 per cent)

Do you agree or disagree with any of the above? Or do you have better candidates? Let us know in the comments below...