Dan Howell

Howell came out as gay in a video published in June 2019, after first telling his family by email. He has spoken about experiencing homophobia while growing up, including an attempt to take his own life, and has discussed his subsequent recovery from clinical depression through therapy, antidepressants and basic self-care.

Howell has been in a relationship with Phil Lester since October 2009. The pair met online earlier that year and confirmed their relationship publicly in October 2025. Howell and Lester also bought a home together in 2020.

Howell uploaded his first YouTube video, “HELLO INTERNET,” on 16 October 2009. His main channel developed through anecdotal storytelling and recurring series such as Reasons Why Dan's a Fail and Internet Support Group. In May 2017, he changed the channel's name from danisnotonfire to Daniel Howell, explaining that the original name no longer represented him in professional settings.

Howell and Lester created DanAndPhilGAMES in September 2014. The channel became known for recurring features including The Sims 4, Golf with Friends, Spooky Week and Gamingmas. After a hiatus that began in 2018, the channel returned in October 2023 with the comedy sketch “Saying Goodbye Forever,” written by Howell. Howell and Lester also created the April Fools channel DanAndPhilCRAFTS, whose “squareflakes” video produced the phrase “Don't cry, craft” and earned the channel a YouTube Silver Play Button.

Howell took a break from regular YouTube uploads between 2019 and 2022. He explained the hiatus in the 2022 video “Why I Quit YouTube,” which addressed his sexuality, mental health, audience pressures and the demands of online content creation. His later series Dystopia Daily ran from 2022 to 2023 and covered subjects including climate anxiety, parasocial relationships and his return to touring.

In January 2013, Howell and Lester began presenting the Sunday evening entertainment and request show Dan and Phil on BBC Radio 1. The interactive programme included listener requests, audience challenges and music videos submitted by fans. Four months after its launch, it won the Sony Golden Headphones award.

From September 2014 to April 2016, Howell and Lester presented the station's monthly Internet Takeover slot. Howell also hosted online material connected with the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards and the BRIT Awards.

His screen work includes a voice cameo as Male Technician One in the UK cinema release of Disney's Big Hero 6, as well as the voice of Majinuni in The Lion Guard. In 2016, he presented the BBC Three esports documentary The Supergamers. He later presented Channel 4's The Cost of Being a YouTuber: UNTOLD in 2023.

Howell and Lester co-wrote The Amazing Book Is Not on Fire, published in 2015. It reached number one on the Sunday Times General Hardbacks list and became a number one New York Times young adult hardcover bestseller. They followed it with the photo book Dan and Phil Go Outside in 2016, which also became a number one New York Times bestseller.

The pair's stage show, The Amazing Tour Is Not on Fire, toured the United Kingdom in 2015 before travelling through North America, Australia and Europe. A YouTube Red film and documentary about the tour followed in 2016. Their second joint production, Interactive Introverts, ran from April to September 2018 across 80 shows in 18 countries and was later released as a film.

Howell published You Will Get Through This Night in 2021, a practical mental-health guide written with psychologist Heather Bolton. The book became a number one Sunday Times bestseller. He returned to live performance with the solo comedy tour We're All Doomed!, which travelled through the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, and later released a filmed version of the show.

Howell has used his public platform to discuss mental health and online behaviour. He became an ambassador for YoungMinds after speaking publicly about depression and supported the #HelloYellow campaign. He also participated in Stop, Speak, Support, an anti-cyberbullying campaign launched by Prince William, and created the #NicerInternet initiative.

His individual honours include the 2014 Lovie Award for Internet Video Person of the Year. With Lester, he won awards for The Amazing Tour Is Not on Fire, Phil is not on fire 7 and The Amazing Book Is Not on Fire. Howell also co-founded IRL Digital with Martyn Lester, a company focused on merchandise for media personalities.