Breaking Bad beaten by EastEnders as 2013's most searched for TV show

The drama was the only US series to make Google's most searched list

Bryan Cranston as Walter White, in the acclaimed series 'Breaking Bad' (AP)

It finished its televised run to huge hype, won its first Emmy and made Bryan Cranston a household name, but Breaking Bad has lost out to EastEnders as the most searched for television show of 2013.

While Danny Dyer may not be as hard as Bryan Cranston’s meth-making Walter White, his imminent appearance in EastEnders has helped the soap to become the most Googled show this year.

Coronation Street was the third most searched for programme of 2013, joined by soaps Emmerdale and Hollyoaks in sixth and seventh place.

Big Brother was the fourth most searched for television show of 2013, marking the programme’s continual popularity despite its relegation to Channel 5 two years ago.

Saturday night staple Strictly Come Dancing came in fifth with The Voice named tenth, but Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor notably failed to make the Google Zeitgeist list.

Ratings hit Downton Abbey and BBC stalwart The Apprentice were also not searched for enough to make the top ten.

Even Katie Hopkins’ appearances on This Morning did little to rank the ITV chat show, with early morning news show Daybreak named the eight most searched for programme.