There's a lot of interest, that's transferring into Bids ( allow for Auction frenzy) in .dot UK release at the moment. There's a lot to happen in this namespace over the next few months. As challenges will dig a deep hole in what Nominet (Our UK icann equivalent) Got away with in allowing the shorter .UK release.
I personally consolidated my own ,co.uk domains to take ownership of the UK's But guess what I still own dozens of UK's from.co.uk's I sold or dropped (The free two year rights issue by 123-reg gave me them all for free)
The true story is that it's a Mess that still hasn't reared its head - but it's coming.
Subsequent (free one-year .UK registrations,) FREE right up until last week, with certain registrars, (holders of the .co.uk) are only going to complicate matters. Nominet ballsed everything-up in its desire for more Money - There's a Big Price still to pay