The 12 most-viewed 2011 video articles

As newspaper reporting enters an age where it is as much about multimedia as it is about print, the videos Independent.co.uk readers have been most interested in this year provide a diverse snapshot of what you want from televised news.

Readers were transfixed by the magic of Harry Potter, worried about predictions of an apocalypse and wanted to judge for themselves the FHM 100 Sexiest women of 2011.

Big stories that were supported by original video reports included a special undercover investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism into the lobbying company, Bell Pottinger, as well as mobile phone footage of  a plain-clothes policeman being outed by members of London’s Occupy movement.

Here are the 12 most-viewed 2011 video articles:

1. JK Rowling unveils Pottermore

Over a million of you watched JK Rowling talking about Pottermore. The author announces the brand new Harry Potter website and gives viewers a sneak peek of what is in store for young readers.

2. ‘The world will end on May 21’

Preacher Harold Camping predicted the apocalypse would take place on 21 May 2011, and spent many months leading up to that date telling everyone, organising high-profile advertising campaigns and preparing to be “raptured” to Heaven. Needless to say, Judgement Day didn’t arrive when predicted, but hundreds of thousands of you watched this advert warning of it.

3. FHM 100 Sexiest women 2011

Diligent Independent readers thought they’d check out the FHM 100 Sexiest women of 2011 for themselves in this online video of the round-up. This may have had something to do with the inclusion of an androgynous man in the list. See if you can spot him.

4. Plain-clothes policeman

Mobile phone footage revealed a “hoodie-wearing” undercover police officer being exposed, and confronted, by members of the Occupy movement, as they attempted to take over a building near Piccadilly Circus.

5. Tulisa’s X Factor makeover

Ratings for X Factor might be down, but its seems interest in Tulisa Contostavlos and her appearance couldn’t be greater.

6. Thousands join London protest

Footage of 500,000 protestors attending anti-cuts demonstrations on 26 March 2011 revealed the scale of public dissatisfaction with the Coalition government.

7. Amy Winehouse leaves Camden

After the sudden death of 27-year-old singer Amy Winehouse, fans watched tributes to her from local residents as well as pictures of her shrouded body being removed her Camden flat.

8. Special undercover investigation

Lobbying company, Bell Pottinger, was secretly filmed boasting about its access to the heart of the Government and how it uses the "dark arts" to bury bad coverage and influence public opinion.

9. Cameron: No to EU treaty

Many of you wanted to see for yourselves exactly what Prime Minister David Cameron said when he vetoed a formal EU treaty in Brussels in early December.

10. Prince Philip turns 90

The Independent is normally fairly reticent when reporting tales of Britain’s Royal Family, but it seems our readers have the appetite for footage of Prince Philip on his 90 birthday.

11. Jeremy Clarkson controversy

When Jeremy Clarkson upset rather a lot of people by saying on The One Show that public sector workers should be “shot”, many of you wanted to see exactly how he said it for yourselves.

12. Amazing film of nuclear blasts

Extraordinary aerial footage shows the devastating impact of the tsunami and earthquake on the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

Editor's pick

For me the video of the year was the moment Wendi Deng stepped in to defend her husband Rupert Murdoch when he was hit in the face by a foam pie during questioning by MPs.