Grace Eleanor Keeling (born 12 August 1999), known professionally as GK Barry, is an English internet personality, social media influencer and presenter. Keeling began posting on video-sharing platform TikTok in 2020 whilst completing a film studies degree at Nottingham Trent University, during which she worked on the BBC soap opera Doctors. After one year of posting lifestyle videos on the app, she surpassed 1 million followers. She began presenting a podcast, Saving Grace, in April 2022, which sees her interviewing various celebrities. She has since gone on to tour the Saving Grace podcast around the UK.
GK Barry | |
|---|---|
 Keeling in 2024 | |
| Born | Grace Eleanor Keeling 12 August 1999 Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England |
| Alma mater | Nottingham Trent University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2020–present |
TikTok information | |
| Page | |
| Followers | 3.3 million |
| Likes | 238.3 million |
YouTube information | |
| Channel | |
| Years active | 2022–present |
| Genre | Podcast |
| Subscribers | 359,000[1] |
| Total views | 51.3 million[1] |
Last updated: 22 July 2023 | |
Life and career
editGrace Eleanor Keeling was born on 12 August 1999 in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.[2][3] At the age of 2, she moved to the British Virgin Islands until she moved back to England at 8 years old. She later moved to Nottingham and studied film at Nottingham Trent University (NTU), obtaining a master's in digital marketing. Whilst at NTU, she worked on the set of the BBC soap opera Doctors, created videos for ShawMind and Nottinghamshire Police, helped the Nottingham Women's Centre rebrand their business and assisted on the set of the Netflix film Hood.[4]
Keeling rose to fame on TikTok in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] She chose the username @gkbarry due to initially not wanting her real name to become public and has explained that the username comes from her initials, GK, and the surname of her friend, Tatiana Barry.[6] She admitted that in her final year of university, she prioritised TikTok over her work and felt that she could have achieved a better grade.[7]
In late 2021, she appeared on the Fellas podcast, which led to Keeling starting her own podcast under The Fellas Studios, Saving Grace, in April 2022,[6][8] which is also uploaded as a vodcast to YouTube.[9] In November 2022, Keeling participated in Footasylum's Locked In series[10] In February 2023, Keeling toured the UK as part of her Saving Grace podcast.[11] Later that month, she also appeared in an episode of Love Island: Aftersun to discuss the ninth series with presenter Maya Jama.[3] She also fronted an advertisement campaign for KFC in July 2023.[12] Keeling has also appeared on the ITV2 game show CelebAbility in July 2023, as well as starring in episodes of The Wheel and The Weakest Link on BBC One.[3] In September 2023, Keeling was announced as one of the celebrities participating in Don't Look Down for Stand Up to Cancer, which aired on Channel 4 in October 2023.[13]
From February to March 2024, Keeling completed a sold-out UK tour for a second time as part of the Saving Grace podcast.[14] Guests for the second tour included Charity Shop Sue, Gemma Collins, Hannah Elizabeth, Chloe Ferry, Chris Hughes, Katie Price, Louie Spence, and Scott van-der-Sluis.[15] Since August 2024, Keeling has made a series of appearances as a guest panellist on the ITV daytime talk show Loose Women,[16] and made history by becoming the youngest ever panellist on the show.[17]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Love Island: Aftersun | Series 9; Guest host | [18] |
| The Weakest Link | Contestant | [19] | |
| "Don't Look Down" for Stand Up to Cancer | Contestant | [20] | |
| 2024 | Boss Pitches | Host | [21] |
| The Wheel | Contestant | [22] | |
| CelebAbility | Contestant | [23] | |
| Loose Women | Guest panellist, multiple episodes | [24][25] | |
| I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! | Contestant |
References
edit- ^ a b "About Saving Grace". YouTube.
- ^ Jakes, Aimee (17 July 2022). "GK Barry talks fake tan, manifestation and how to go viral on TikTok". Heat. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ a b c "GK Barry is managed by HLD Talent". HLD Talent. Archived from the original on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ Upton-Clerk, Eve (24 May 2023). "Inside the life of TikTok icon and podcast host Grace Barry". OK!. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ Lloyd, Albertina (1 July 2024). "GK Barry speaks out about Strictly Come Dancing rumours". Yahoo News. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ a b Baxter-Wright, Dusty (17 January 2024). "Inside the chaotic world of GK Barry". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ Hudson, Lilith (15 September 2021). "TikTok Star GK Barry Chats Pryzm, Forbes and Studying at Nottingham Trent University". Left Lion. Archived from the original on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ Duke, Simon (21 November 2022). "I'm A Celebrity's Ant and Dec 'sign up' star for next year during Instagram live chat". Chronicle Live. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ Mensah, Katelyn (28 October 2022). "All the young and hilarious TikTok stars in the UK you need to be watching right now". The Tab. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ Gurney, Frances (20 October 2022). "Here's how you can watch Footasylum Locked In featuring GK Barry and Kate Elisabeth". The Tab. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ Norris, Lucy. "Grace Keeling aka GK Barry: All I want for Christmas is... a vodka cranberry and a bit of peace and quiet". Metro. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ Houston, Amy (21 July 2023). "TikTok's GK Barry overstates the power of her influence in KFC promo". The Drum. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ "Celebrities revealed for Channel 4's Don't Look Down for Stand Up To Cancer". Channel 4 News. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ Conlan, Tara (14 April 2024). "'You can be normal. You can have acne!' TikTok star GK Barry on the appeal of social media personalities". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Toohey, Ali (18 October 2023). "GK Barry announces tour including a date in Dublin's Vicar Street". Hot Press. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ Bashforth, Emily (10 August 2024). "Loose Women panellist "turned down" Strictly in favour of I'm A Celebrity". Metro. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Willix, Pierra (8 August 2024). "Loose Women presenter's face drops as she accuses co-star of "backhanded compliment"". Metro. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Love Island: Aftersun - Series 9 - Episode 6". ITVX. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "BBC One - The Weakest Link, Series 3, Episode 15". BBC. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- ^ "Celebrities revealed for Channel 4's Don't Look Down for Stand Up To Cancer | Channel 4". Channel 4. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- ^ "Social media stars Nella Rose and GK Barry lead new girl-boss Channel 4.0 series Boss Pitches from BBC Studios". BBC. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- ^ "BBC One - Michael McIntyre's The Wheel, Series 4, Episode 7". BBC. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- ^ "Episode 5 - Iain Stirling's CelebAbility (Series 7, Episode 5) - Apple TV". Apple TV. 1 September 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- ^ "GK Barry opens up about emetophobia while discussing fears on Loose Women". Yahoo! Life. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- ^ Watson, Shivon (8 August 2024). "GK Barry pauses Loose Women to share six-word message to her school bullies". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 30 October 2024.