Events

#ThisHappened - revealing the most liked UK Tweets of 2018

By
Wednesday, 5 December 2018

As 2018 draws to a close, we’re reflecting on the year that was: from breaking news, entertainment, sports, if it happened anywhere, it happened on Twitter.

Here in the UK, we enjoyed one of the most memorable summers on record with #Heatwave. From the #RoyalWedding to #LoveIsland, and #ItsComingHome. We were spoiled with iconic moments of British culture.

With the nation at a point of heightened political and social uncertainty, there has never been a greater desire for people to come together. New Twitter research (1) shows that 54% of Britons feel that treating other with kindness and respect is the key to building a better society.

And this is precisely what we saw on UK Twitter in 2018. In the face of this division, we’ve seen Tweets unite people like never before. Communities have prevailed, huge cultural moments have captivated, and of course, humour has shone through.

To celebrate this, we’re today revealing the 10 most liked Tweets in the UK since January.

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Where better to start than the story of the summer? With one million mentions of #ItsComingHome, it’s fair to say that England’s journey in Russia gripped the entire nation.

This meme of England defender @HarryMaguire93 with his partner quickly became the gift that kept on giving.

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Inspired by the #WorldCup, this dad took his parenting responsibilities a bit too seriously when he couldn’t bear the thought of his son conceding a goal. His face, when his cheeky trick proved futile, is just brilliant.

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The one where Ross gets mistaken for a shoplifter.

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When Blackpool meets Hollywood. Twitter couldn’t contain its joy when “Friends” star @DavidSchwimmer was a dead ringer for a criminal in Blackpool. Schwimmer’s video response was pure genius.

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If you missed out on an invite to Windsor for the #RoyalWedding, Twitter was the next best place to be. From witty observations to powerful tributes to Megan Markle, Royal Twitter came alive on 19th May.

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A year on from the atrocity in Manchester, @ArianaGrande shared a poignant Tweet, which was a timely reminder of remembrance for those affected by the tragic events that unfolded.

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One thing that seemed to unite UK households this summer was having the TV fixed to ITV2 at 9 pm, for eight weeks solid.

#LoveIsland saw over 11 million Tweets this year, and it Danny Dyer senior was just as gripped as the rest of us.

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This is one of those brilliantly random, British Tweets that you simply couldn’t make up. Sadly, it's not an official job title, but it takes nothing away from the Tweet.

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The hottest summer on record banished memories of the #BeastFromTheEast, with the #Heatwave bringing out the very best out of our typically ambivalent attitude to British weather.

@liamgallagher may have let the heat overcome him when he offered an olive branch to brother Noel. Could we yet see an Oasis reunion when #Glastonbury returns next summer?

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Moving tributes poured in far and wide for Barry Chuckle, as millennials everywhere recalled the impact that the Chuckle Brothers had on their childhood. His brother Paul shared this heartfelt Tweet.

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And if it wasn’t enough that we were treated to the #RoyalWedding, a #RoyalBaby was soon to follow! It wouldn’t be a quintessentially British moment if @petercrouch wasn’t on hand to make a self-deprecating, token quip about his height.

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Research source: 1) Twitter Internal Data - 2018.

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