Newsbeat's top television moments of 2012

By Amelia Butterly
Newsbeat reporter

A parachuting Queen and Sherlock's dramatic leap - 2012 had plenty of television highlights.

The London Olympics gripped the nation while new series of Doctor Who and Homeland kept drama lovers watching.

Not forgetting the reality shows - The Valleys brought Geordie Shore-style partying to Wales and Towie aired its first ever live episode.

And The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent were joined by a newcomer to the scene - The Voice.

Sherlock Holmes

Cumberbatch appears alongside Martin Freeman in Sherlock

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman teamed up again for series two of Sherlock.

Created by Doctor Who writer Stephen Moffat, viewers last saw Sherlock back in January, falling off a building in the episode The Reichenback Falls.

Moffat left viewers wondering how Sherlock would survive all this year and it won't be until sometime towards the end of 2013 that viewers will finally be let in on the secret.

The Brits

Adele was unhappy at being cut short at the Brits

After the incredible success of her album 21 in 2011, it seemed inevitable that Adele would dominate February's Brit Awards.

She was called to the stage to pick up the most prestigious award of the evening - best British album.

As she made her acceptance speech, host James Corden was forced to interrupt her by producers, as the programme had started to overrun.

Adele clearly showed viewers her feelings at being cut short.

The Voice

The Voice features Danny O'Donoghue, Tom Jones, Jessie J and Will.i.am

Newcomer to the talent scene, The Voice had the audience at home copying the judges in their spinning chairs.

The panel sat with their backs to the competitors, only turning when they decide they wanted the singers to join their team.

As the series went on, viewing figures dropped from more than 10m to 4.5m, with only 7m tuning in to see Leanne Mitchell named the winner.

London 2012 Olympics

The opening ceremony lasted more than three-and-a-half hours

After years of planning, the London 2012 Olympics opened on 27 July.

Created by film director Danny Boyle, the ceremony, named The Isles of Wonder, featured an array of highlights, from a segment with James Bond visiting the queen to David Beckham in a speedboat on the Thames.

It marked the beginning of a season of sport, which became must-see television across the UK and around the world.

Felix Baumgartner's freefall

Felix Baumgartner daredevil jump was watched by millions around the world

You may have caught this daredevil jump on television during the news but the millions of people viewed it live online too.

Felix Baumgartner broke more than just one record when he leapt from a balloon, 24 miles or 39km (128,100ft) above the Earth.

In addition to completing the highest freefall ever, this jump became the most watched live event ever on YouTube, seen by approximately eight million people.

The X Factor

The X Factor made plenty of headlines again this year

James Arthur may have won this year's competition but Rylan Clark and Christopher Maloney got more than their fair share of X Factor headlines.

Rylan, who was ridiculed by judge Gary Barlow, was known for his hysterical weeping, while Christopher, who was revealed to have topped the voting for the first eight weeks of the competition, was frequently likened to a cabaret singer.

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