Phil Lester

Lester was born on 30 January 1987{{cite web|url=https://celebmix.com/happy-birthday-phil-lester/|title=Happy Birthday, Phil Lester|first=Annemarie|last=Cutruzzola|publisher=CelebMix|date=30 January 2017|access-date=30 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204233708/http://celebmix.com/happy-birthday-phil-lester/|archive-date=4 February 2017|url-status=live}} and grew up in Rawtenstall, Lancashire.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/Mv1SLUjDGpA|title=Draw My Life / AmazingPhil|via=YouTube|date=1 February 2013|access-date=23 December 2016}} He has an older brother, Martyn. Lester attended Helmshore Primary School{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003816/19951222/032/0032|title=Mayor in tune with choir|work=Rossendale Free Press|date=22 December 1995|accessdate=5 April 2024}}{{subscription required}} and then Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School.{{cite web|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/rossendale/waterfoot/10755159.Ex_students_from_Bacup_and_Rawtenstall_Grammar_School_celebrate_a_century_of_education/|title=Ex-students from Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School celebrate a century of education|date=23 October 2013|website=Lancashire Telegraph|access-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208234731/http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/rossendale/waterfoot/10755159.Ex_students_from_Bacup_and_Rawtenstall_Grammar_School_celebrate_a_century_of_education/|archive-date=8 December 2015|url-status=live}}

Before making vlogging and radio presenting his full-time profession, Lester's early jobs included being a dog walker and car washer, working at a veterinary clinic and at WHSmith, and appearing in Faintheart.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/AmazingPhil/status/761864544348241923|title=Phil Lester on Twitter|date=6 August 2016|via=Twitter|access-date=15 December 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nouse.co.uk/2007/11/19/student-wins-myspace-movie-role/|title=Student Wins Myspace Movie Role|publisher=Nouse|first=Jenny|last=O'Mahony|date=19 November 2007|access-date=9 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110060342/http://www.nouse.co.uk/2007/11/19/student-wins-myspace-movie-role/|archive-date=10 January 2018|url-status=live}} Lester graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in English Language and Linguistics in 2008 and a Master of Arts in Video Postproduction with Visual Effects in 2009, both from the University of York.{{cite web |url=http://www.nouse.co.uk/2009/01/20/york-student-stars-in-confusedcom-advert/ |title=York student stars in confused.com advert |author= |date=20 January 2009 |website=Nouse |access-date=29 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413142713/http://www.nouse.co.uk/2009/01/20/york-student-stars-in-confusedcom-advert/ |archive-date=13 April 2014 |url-status=live }}

At age 19 on 27 March 2006, Lester posted his first YouTube vlog titled "Phil's Video Blog" on his main YouTube channel, AmazingPhil.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0dsyXzmHFM|title=Phil's Video Blog - 27th March 2006|date=27 March 2006|people=Phil Lester|medium=YouTube|format=video|access-date=4 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307050341/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0dsyXzmHFM|archive-date=7 March 2016|url-status=live}} Since then he has posted over 350 videos on his channel and, as of August 2024, has over 3.87 million subscribers and 659 million video views.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/amazingphil |title=AmazingPhil |via=YouTube |date=7 February 2006 |access-date=4 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508034600/https://www.youtube.com/amazingphil |archive-date=8 May 2017 |url-status=live }} He reached 1 million YouTube subscribers on 6 July 2013,{{cite tweet|user=AmazingPhil|author=Phil Lester|number=353584372915507200|date=6 July 2013|title=1 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS!!!! :D Woah thank you so much guys! Can't believe it. Best 7 years ever! ^__^ <3}} 2 million on 29 August 2014,{{cite tweet|user=AmazingPhil|author=Phil Lester|number=505290921874063360|date=29 August 2014|title=Woke up to 2⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣ subscribers!!! 😮🎈🎉😁 THANK YOU!}} 3 million on 12 October 2015,{{cite tweet|user=AmazingPhil|author=Phil Lester|number=653519531093196801|date=12 October 2015|title=Aahh I hit 3⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣ subscribers!! Thanks so much guys! 😁🎈🎉💚💜✨}} and 4 million on 14 March 2017.{{cite tweet|user=AmazingPhil|author=Phil Lester|number=841658924713594880|date=14 March 2017|title=Woop just saw I hit 4 MILLION subscribers! thanks guys!! *shares some cake with you all*}}

Lester also has a second channel, LessAmazingPhil, which has over 1 million subscribers and 26 million views, as of September 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/user/LessAmazingPhil/about |title=LessAmazingPhil - About |via=YouTube |access-date=4 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606065624/https://www.youtube.com/user/LessAmazingPhil/about |archive-date=6 June 2017 |url-status=live }} He occasionally broadcast hour-long live shows on this channel, as well as YouNow livestreams, but has since used the channel to archive his more recent streams.

From 2009 to 2011, Lester participated in RTÉ's Ireland-based cross-media show, ApartmentRed.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwiIRi9ZAu4&list=PLP32z2CbFVWv_274_QEiJXMRNgCRfpUTD|title=Apartment...Phil|via=YouTube|access-date=29 December 2017}}

In 2010, Lester and Howell took part in the live, annual 24-hour internet broadcast "Stickaid", a fundraiser for charity UNICEF.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZp0tTD3Ta0|title=Phil and Dan love Stickaid!|date=4 September 2010|via=YouTube|access-date=7 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309034627/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZp0tTD3Ta0|archive-date=9 March 2015|url-status=live}}

In 2011, Lester and Howell created a collaborative YouTube channel through the network My Damn Channel. Titled The Super Amazing Project, it featured the duo discussing and investigating paranormal events.{{cite web |author=door The Super Amazing Project |url=https://www.youtube.com/superamazingproject |title=The Super Amazing Project |via=YouTube |date=26 September 2011 |access-date=27 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131232126/http://www.youtube.com/superamazingproject |archive-date=31 January 2013 |url-status=live }} Segments included "Viewers Spooky Happenings", where the audience of the show would send in "scary" items for the video bloggers to react to, and "In The News This Week", where the duo recapped recent light-hearted news items and viral videos. In October 2014, it was announced that as of that month Lester and Howell would not carry on working on The Super Amazing Project to concentrate on their Radio 1 show.{{cite web|last1=Howell|first1=Dan|title=Danisnotonfire on Facebook|url=https://www.facebook.com/danisnotonfire/posts/10152427898698481|via=Facebook|access-date=27 August 2015|date=1 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521214427/https://www.facebook.com/danisnotonfire/posts/10152427898698481|archive-date=21 May 2016|url-status=live}}{{Primary source inline|date=May 2024}} Lester and Howell later announced that the Super Amazing Project would be hosted by new presenters, Alastair James Murder and Victoria Atkin, found by channel owners My Damn Channel.{{cite tweet|user=AmazingPhil|number=517279060867948544|date=1 October 2014|title=Saying farewell to The Super Amazing Project: https://www.facebook.com/danisnotonfire/posts/10152427898698481 ... whenever I see a dog with red eyes I will remember you. 👻|author=Phil Lester|access-date=27 August 2015}}

File:Dan & Phil (14539396735).jpg

Lester has also appeared alongside Howell in Benjamin Cook's twelve part web series Becoming YouTube, and was interviewed on the various topics Cook covered.{{cite web|title=Anatomy of a YouTuber| date=9 December 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6p1JBYWFt0|via=YouTube|access-date=30 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923011132/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6p1JBYWFt0|archive-date=23 September 2014|url-status=live}}

On 12 September 2014, Howell and Lester posted the first video on their new gaming YouTube channel, DanAndPhilGAMES. On 8 March 2015, the channel hit 1 million subscribers.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/danisnotonfire/status/574591780903108608|title=Dan Howell on Twitter|via=Twitter|access-date=7 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151216183905/https://twitter.com/danisnotonfire/status/574591780903108608|archive-date=16 December 2015|url-status=live}}{{Primary source inline|date=May 2024}} It was officially the fastest growing channel on YouTube.{{Cite web|title=SITC 2015| date=15 August 2015 |via = YouTube|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yes771oJ370&t=20m18s|access-date = 4 November 2015}} DanAndPhilGAMES reached over 3.1 million subscribers.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/DanAndPhilGAMES|title=DanAndPhilGAMES|via=YouTube|access-date=20 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116120844/https://www.youtube.com/user/DanAndPhilGAMES|archive-date=16 November 2017|url-status=live}} Popular recurring and annual series on this channel include their Sims 4 series, Spooky Week, and Gamingmas.{{cite journal|url=http://papyrus.greenville.edu/2015/10/danandphilgames/|title=DanAndPhilGames|journal=Papyrus|publisher=Greenville University|first=Rebekah|last=Dothager|date=2 October 2015|access-date=15 January 2013}}{{cite journal|url=https://teneightymagazine.com/2017/12/26/our-favourite-moments-from-dan-phils-gamingmas-2017/|title=Our Favourite Moments From Dan and Phil's Gamingmas 2017|journal=TenEighty|first=Clare|last=Fitzgerald|date=26 December 2018|access-date=24 June 2019}} The channel went on hiatus from December 2018 to October 2023.{{Citation |title=Saying Goodbye Forever | date=15 October 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYO30KpiVEo |access-date=17 October 2023 |language=en}}

On 1 April 2015, Lester and Howell launched a spin-off crafts-based channel, DanAndPhilCRAFTS, as an April Fools joke. It featured a single video of them creating square snowflakes out of paper, with an amateur editing style and humour throughout. It reached over 154,000 subscribers and 500,000 total video views in one week.{{cite web|title=DanAndPhilCRAFTS|via=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAEs9f6wWiJPjmyW58HpGjA|access-date=7 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508083635/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAEs9f6wWiJPjmyW58HpGjA|archive-date=8 May 2015|url-status=live}} Additional videos were uploaded on April Fool's Day in 2016 and 2017. On 1 April 2024, the channel returned with the video titled 'Slime', which emphasised the horror aspects present in the previous videos.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbUYQtfeqOQ |title=DanAndPhilCRAFTS - Slime |date=1 April 2024 |last=DanAndPhilCRAFTS |access-date=19 May 2024 |via=YouTube}}

In 2007, Lester appeared as a contestant on The Weakest Link,{{cite web |author=Daniel Ashby |url=http://theyorker.co.uk/legacy_articles/729 |title=Student star to appear on Weakest Link |publisher=The Yorker |date=9 November 2007 |access-date=27 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210027/http://theyorker.co.uk/legacy_articles/729 |archive-date=12 August 2014 }} making it to the final round. He also played the role of Tim in 2008 film Faintheart and appeared in a Confused.com advertisement later that year. At the time of making the advert, he had around 27,000 subscribers.

Lester was interviewed with other internet entertainers on Channel 4 News in October 2012 about the increased popularity of YouTube and video blogging as a profession.{{cite web |author=Katie Razzall |url=http://www.channel4.com/news/the-rise-of-the-vloggers |title=The rise of the vloggers – Channel 4 News |publisher=Channel 4 |date=20 October 2012 |access-date=27 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130219025535/http://www.channel4.com/news/the-rise-of-the-vloggers |archive-date=19 February 2013 |url-status=live }}

In 2013 Lester and Howell appeared on Friday Download, a BAFTA award-winning CBBC TV show.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRAjBcbLuJ8|title=friday download with dan & phil - one|date=4 October 2013|via=YouTube|access-date=7 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401094932/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRAjBcbLuJ8|archive-date=1 April 2016|url-status=live}}

From 2014 to 2016 Howell and Lester hosted the worldwide YouTube livestream of the Brit Awards as well as making backstage videos for their channel.{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0Kro0grO1E1YiuHUVROPPQUqAKvVPUfy|title= Dan & Phil at the BRITs {{!}} BRIT Awards 2014|website=BRIT Awards|access-date=8 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228090540/http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0Kro0grO1E1YiuHUVROPPQUqAKvVPUfy|archive-date=28 February 2014|url-status=live}}

In 2015, Lester and Howell had voice cameo appearances in the UK cinema release of Walt Disney Animation Studios' Big Hero 6 as Technician 1 & 2.{{cite web | url=https://twitter.com/Disney_UK/status/552083307110748160 | title=UK cinema release of Big Hero 6 | publisher=Disney UK | access-date=5 January 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232512/https://twitter.com/Disney_UK/status/552083307110748160 | archive-date=3 March 2016 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}{{Primary source inline|date=May 2024}}{{cite web | url=http://www.disney.co.uk/big-hero-6/characters/technicians#/videoId/1_p61qmwfb | title=The Technicians | publisher=Disney | access-date=4 May 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504213605/http://www.disney.co.uk/big-hero-6/characters/technicians#/videoId/1_p61qmwfb | archive-date=4 May 2015 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }} However, this version is not in the UK home release. That same year, the duo also guest-starred in fellow YouTuber PJ Liguori's online series Oscar's Hotel for Fantastical Creatures, voicing anthropomorphic food items Brie and Rash.{{cite web |url=http://teneightymagazine.com/2015/08/16/new-oscars-hotel-characters-announced-at-summer-in-the-city-2015/ |title=New Oscar's Hotel Characters Announced at Summer In The City 2015 |publisher=TenEighty Magazine |date=16 August 2015 |access-date=10 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210221451/http://teneightymagazine.com/2015/08/16/new-oscars-hotel-characters-announced-at-summer-in-the-city-2015/ |archive-date=10 December 2015 |url-status=live }}

In December 2016, Howell and Lester voiced two gorilla princes named Majinuni and Hafifu respectively, in the episode "The Lost Gorillas" in Disney Junior's The Lion Guard.{{cite web|url=http://teneightymagazine.com/2016/12/01/dan-and-phil-to-feature-in-disneys-the-lion-guard/|title=Dan and Phil to Feature in Disney's The Lion Guard|first=Conor|last=Riley|publisher=TenEighty|date=1 December 2016|access-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908155239/http://teneightymagazine.com/2016/12/01/dan-and-phil-to-feature-in-disneys-the-lion-guard/|archive-date=8 September 2017|url-status=live}}

{{main|Dan and Phil (radio show)}}

In November 2012, the BBC announced that from January 2013 onwards, Lester and Howell would present the Sunday night entertainment and request show for national UK radio station BBC Radio 1.{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-11-09/vernon-kay-and-reggie-yates-to-leave-radio-1|title=Vernon Kay and Reggie Yates to leave Radio 1|first=Susanna|last=Lazarus|work=Radio Times|date=9 November 2012|access-date=27 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927075404/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-11-09/vernon-kay-and-reggie-yates-to-leave-radio-1|archive-date=27 September 2013|url-status=live}} The duo had occasionally worked with Radio 1 before, making videos for the station's YouTube channel{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/bbcradio1|title=BBC Radio 1|via=YouTube|access-date=27 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130712165033/http://www.youtube.com/bbcradio1/|archive-date=12 July 2013|url-status=live}} and presenting two Christmas broadcasts.

The show was designed to be an interactive, audio-visual broadcast involving music videos made by viewers, physical challenges performed on air by Howell and Lester, and song requests from listeners. It was streamed in a video, live on the BBC Radio 1 website, and accessible worldwide.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/bbc_radio_one|title=Radio 1 Greg James – 27/02/2013|publisher=BBC|access-date=27 February 2013}}

In August 2014, it was announced that the last Dan and Phil show would be broadcast on 24 August, with the duo moving to a different show on Monday nights, featuring other popular video bloggers.{{cite web|last1=Cooper|first1=Ben|title=New youth presenters for Radio 1|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2014/r1-youth-presenters|publisher=BBC|access-date=30 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825025717/http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2014/r1-youth-presenters|archive-date=25 August 2014|url-status=live}} This new show was titled The Internet Takeover, and featured Lester alongside Howell live on the first Monday of every month, before coming to an end in April 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2016/r1-student-radio|title=BBC - Radio 1 announces new student radio curated playlist show - Media Centre|publisher=BBC|access-date=2 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505055144/http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2016/r1-student-radio|archive-date=5 May 2016|url-status=live}}

In 2014, Lester, Lester's brother, Martyn, and Howell co-founded IRL Digital, Ltd., a company that creates and sells the merchandise of various other media personalities, starting with Dan and Phil Shop and branching out from there.{{cite web|url=https://irlmerch.com|title=IRL Merch: Brand You|access-date=8 July 2019}}

In August 2015, Howell and Lester created an app, The 7 Second Challenge, based on a YouTube challenge started by Lester in a 2014 video on his main channel.{{cite journal|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2015/08/11/phil-lester-dan-howell-7-second-challenge-app/|title=YouTube Stars Phil Lester, Dan Howell Turn "7 Second Challenge" Into An App|journal=Tubefilter|first=Sam|last=Gutelle|date=11 August 2015|access-date=24 June 2019}} The app was discontinued in 2019. In October 2017, the duo released a party board game via Big Potato, Truth Bombs, also the brainchild of Lester.{{cite journal|url=https://teneightymagazine.com/2017/10/20/dan-and-phil-release-new-board-game/|title=Dan and Phil Release New Board Game|journal=TenEighty|first=Will|last=Moore|date=20 October 2017|access-date=24 June 2019}}

On 26 March 2015, Lester and Howell announced via a trailer on Howell's channel that they had co-written a book titled The Amazing Book Is Not on Fire (TABINOF).{{Cite journal|url=https://teneightymagazine.com/2015/03/27/dan-phil-announce-book-and-tour/|title=Dan & Phil Announce Book and Tour|journal=TenEighty|first=Ant|last=Lightfoot|date=27 March 2015|access-date=9 June 2016}} It was released in the UK on 8 October 2015, and worldwide on 15 October 2015, published by Ebury Press and Random House Children's Books.{{cite book|title=The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire|author1=Lester, Phil|author2=Howell, Dan|author-link2=Daniel Howell|date=13 October 2015|publisher=Random House Children's Books|isbn=9781101939840|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jKJlrgEACAAJ|access-date=25 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006133901/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=jKJlrgEACAAJ|archive-date=6 October 2015|url-status=live}} The book topped the General Hardbacks Sunday Times Bestsellers list having sold 26,745 copies in the UK in the first week of its release.{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/the-amazing-book-is-not-on-fire-youtuber-authors-dan-and-phil-top-bestseller-chart-a3092046.html|title=The Amazing Book is Not On Fire - YouTuber authors Dan and Phil top bestseller chart|work=Evening Standard|first=Rehema|last=Figueiredo|date=16 October 2015|access-date=9 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109235618/https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/the-amazing-book-is-not-on-fire-youtuber-authors-dan-and-phil-top-bestseller-chart-a3092046.html|archive-date=9 January 2018|url-status=live}} It also became a No. 1 New York Times Bestseller in the young adult hardcover list.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-11-01/young-adult-hardcover/list.html|title=Best Sellers - The New York Times|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=4 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029060745/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-11-01/young-adult-hardcover/list.html|archive-date=29 October 2015|url-status=live}}

In the same trailer the pair announced their theatrical stage show The Amazing Tour Is Not On Fire (TATINOF), which travelled around the UK during October and November 2015, ending with a show at the London Palladium.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huAYjF2FY9c |title=The Dan and Phil BOOK & TOUR! - YouTube |via=YouTube |access-date=20 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508080740/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huAYjF2FY9c |archive-date=8 May 2015 |url-status=live }} During the tour, they sung original song "The Internet Is Here", which they later released as a charity single for Stand Up To Cancer, earning them a gold record disc for the sales of the song.{{cite web|url=http://teneightymagazine.com/2016/10/13/dan-and-phil-release-charity-single/|title=Dan and Phil Release Charity Single|publisher=TenEighty|first=Conor|last=Riley|date=13 October 2016|access-date=10 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817120426/http://teneightymagazine.com/2016/10/13/dan-and-phil-release-charity-single/|archive-date=17 August 2017|url-status=live}}

In 2016, they took the tour to the US and Toronto, starting with a show in Orlando, Florida on 22 April and ended on 24 June with a show at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.{{Cite web|url=http://danandphiltour.com/|title=Dan & Phil - The Amazing Tour Is Not On Fire|website=danandphiltour.com|access-date=27 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227003524/http://danandphiltour.com/|archive-date=27 February 2016|url-status=live}} It was the largest tour ever achieved by YouTube creators.{{Citation|last=VidCon|title=YouTube @ VidCon: Susan Wojcicki Keynote|date=24 June 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UVOK4SdVno&t=36m58s|access-date=3 August 2016}} They later toured Australia in August 2016, starting in Perth and ending in Brisbane,{{cite web|url=http://www.wetheunicorns.com/news/dan-phil-tour-tatinof-australia-dates-tickets-show/|title=It's Official: Dan and Phil are FINALLY Coming to Australia!|first=Benedict|last=Townsend|publisher=We the Unicorns|date=17 June 2016|access-date=10 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110234217/http://www.wetheunicorns.com/news/dan-phil-tour-tatinof-australia-dates-tickets-show/|archive-date=10 January 2018|url-status=live}} and finished the tour with a European leg, performing in Stockholm, Berlin, and Dublin.{{cite web|title=TATINOF Europe|url=https://twitter.com/tatinofeurope?lang=en|via=Twitter|access-date=28 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206063224/https://twitter.com/tatinofeurope?lang=en|archive-date=6 February 2017|url-status=live}}{{Primary source inline|date=May 2024}}

In October 2016, The Amazing Tour Is Not on Fire was released as a YouTube Red Original film by the same name along with a documentary, Dan and Phil's Story of TATINOF.{{cite web|title=YouTube Are Teaming Up With Dan & Phil For A Movie|url=https://www.mtv.co.uk/news/t5d41n/dan-phil-doing-a-movie|first=Linds|last=Foley|publisher=MTV UK|date=24 June 2016|access-date=9 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824014003/http://www.mtv.co.uk/youtube/news/dan-phil-doing-a-movie|archive-date=24 August 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Dan & Phil on Making Their YouTube Red Tour Special, Documentary|url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/dan-howell-phil-lester-youtube-red-tour-special-documentary-1201877905/|first=Todd|last=Spangler|work=Variety|date=4 October 2016|access-date=9 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006003037/http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/dan-howell-phil-lester-youtube-red-tour-special-documentary-1201877905/|archive-date=6 October 2017|url-status=live}} They are the first British YouTube creators to release content on the YouTube Red platform.

Alongside these films, they released a photo book, Dan and Phil Go Outside, in November 2016, which includes a personal collection of candid photos and insightful stories from the tour.{{cite web|title=YouTubers Dan and Phil pen new book for Ebury|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/ebury-release-new-book-youtubers-dan-and-phil-371416|first=Katherine|last=Cowdrey|publisher=The Book Seller|date=5 August 2016|access-date=9 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110054922/https://www.thebookseller.com/news/ebury-release-new-book-youtubers-dan-and-phil-371416|archive-date=10 January 2018|url-status=live}} The book became a No. 1 New York Times bestseller.

In November 2017, Lester and Howell announced their second tour, Interactive Introverts, a world tour that took place in 2018.{{cite journal|url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2017/11/10/dan-phil-interactive-introverts-tour-2018/|title=Dan & Phil to Embark on Massive 'Interactive Introverts' Tour in 2018|first=Geoff|last=Weiss|journal=TubeFilter|date=10 September 2017|access-date=9 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110174304/http://www.tubefilter.com/2017/11/10/dan-phil-interactive-introverts-tour-2018/|archive-date=10 January 2018|url-status=live}} The tour ran from April, starting in Brighton, to September, ending in Mumbai, and included 80 shows in 18 countries, including but not limited to Poland, the Philippines, Russia, New Zealand, Finland, and the Netherlands,{{cite journal|url=http://teneightymagazine.com/2018/10/18/dan-and-phil-announce-world-tour-dvd/|title=Dan and Phil Announce World Tour DVD|first=Beth|last=Jefferies|journal=TenEighty|date=18 October 2018|access-date=21 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022033636/http://teneightymagazine.com/2018/10/18/dan-and-phil-announce-world-tour-dvd/|archive-date=22 October 2018|url-status=live}} making it one of the biggest YouTuber tours of all time.{{cite journal|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/10/04/dan-phil-interactive-introverts-movie-youtube-premium-film/|title=Dan & Phil Fans Can Soon Feast Their Eyes On The 'Interactive Introverts' Tour Film|author=James Loke Hale|journal=TubeFilter|date=4 October 2018|access-date=21 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022073438/https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/10/04/dan-phil-interactive-introverts-movie-youtube-premium-film/|archive-date=22 October 2018|url-status=live}}

Lester and Howell partnered with BBC Studios' TalentWorks to release a movie of Interactive Introverts with bonus features, such as behind the scenes content and director's commentary, on DVD, Blu-ray, and available for digital download in December 2018.{{cite journal|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/bbc-studios-launches-digital-content-label-talentworks-1202981269/|title=BBC Studios Launches Digital Content Label TalentWorks|first=Robert|last=Mitchell|journal=Variety|date=16 October 2018|access-date=21 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022034944/https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/bbc-studios-launches-digital-content-label-talentworks-1202981269/|archive-date=22 October 2018|url-status=live}}

In June 2024, Lester and Howell announced their third joint tour and first since the return of their gaming channel titled Terrible Influence, which would begin that September in Antwerp.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/danielhowell/status/1805297486476558662|title=dan and phil - the terrible influence tour tickets on sale friday 12pm local time|author=Daniel Howell|via=Twitter|date=24 June 2024|accessdate=24 June 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.birminghamworld.uk/community/dan-and-phil-announce-terrible-influence-tour-for-20242025-4679467|title=Dan and Phil announce 'Terrible Influence' tour for 2024/2025|work=Birmingham World|first=Emily|last=Brigstocke|date=25 June 2024|accessdate=2 September 2024}} From there, the tour stretched from the remainder of 2024 into early 2025 with dates in mainland Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, and the UK and Ireland. Further UK dates were added in July 2024 due to demand.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/244400/9|title=Dan And Phil Add Extra Dates To 2025 UK Leg Of The Terrible Influence Tour|website=Stereoboard|first=Jon|last=Stickler|date=9 July 2024|accessdate=2 September 2024}}

Lester and Daniel Howell met on the Internet in 2009 and in person that October.{{cite journal|url=https://www.wetheunicorns.com/news/dan-phil-7-met-origin-friends/|title=Dan And Phil Met 7 Years Ago Today So We're Emotionally Distressed RN|journal=We the Unicorns|first=Charleyy|last=Hodson|date=19 October 2016|access-date=25 June 2019}} They have lived together since August 2011,{{cite AV media|people=Daniel Howell|date=11 August 2011|title=HOT BOYS on Teen Cribz|medium=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOOjzSv-ZMM|access-date=9 August 2015|format=video|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305161837/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOOjzSv-ZMM|archive-date=5 March 2015|url-status=live}} first in Manchester before moving to London in July 2012.{{cite tweet|user=AmazingPhil|author=Phil Lester|number=225953399613554688|date=19 July 2012|title=@hi_jimmy we move next week! Yes we should :D you can teach me what an oyster card is}} In June 2019, Howell stated that their relationship was "more than just romantic" but refrained from clarifying the exact nature of their current or past relationship, stating "I'm somebody that wants to keep the details of my personal life private. So is Phil."{{cite web |last1=Howell |first1=Daniel |title=Basically I'm Gay |date=13 June 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrwMja_VoM0 |via=YouTube |access-date=3 December 2020}} On the same day, Lester tweeted about his own sexuality.{{cite journal|url=https://www.wetheunicorns.com/youtubers/dan-and-phil/daniel-howell-phil-lester-relationship-gay/|title=Daniel Howell opens up about his relationship with 'soul mate' Phil Lester|journal=WeTheUnicorns|date=13 June 2019|access-date=26 June 2019}}{{dead link|date=January 2021}} Two and a half weeks later, Lester publicly came out as gay in a video on his channel, although he had been open about it in his personal life since university.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqXFKSWniVU|title=Coming Out to You|author=AmazingPhil|via=YouTube|date=30 June 2019|access-date=30 June 2019}}{{cite journal|url=https://www.pride.com/comingout/2019/7/01/youtuber-phil-lester-comes-out-gay|title=YouTuber Phil Lester Comes Out as Gay|journal=Pride|first=Rachel|last=Kiley|date=1 July 2019|access-date=1 July 2019}}

• The Amazing Book Is Not on Fire (2015), co-written with Daniel Howell
• Dan and Phil Go Outside (2016), co-written with Daniel Howell

In 2011, Lester won a Guinness World Record for fastest coin stacking, placing 25 coins on top of each other in 31.617 seconds.{{cite web|title=AmazingPhil v DanIsNotOnFire: Cadbury World Record Coin Stacking|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFeOp-Al55Y|via=YouTube|publisher=Cadbury|access-date=10 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601150319/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFeOp-Al55Y|archive-date=1 June 2015|url-status=live}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{IMDb name|2886816}}
• {{YouTube|user = bbcradio1|BBC Radio 1}}
• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b055k5n3 The Internet Takeover] on BBC

{{Dan and Phil}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lester, Phil}}

Category:1987 births

Category:20th-century English LGBTQ people

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Category:Alumni of the University of York

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Category:Dan and Phil

Category:English company founders

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