Dan Howell and Phil Lester posing for a photo. People.com
Popular British YouTubers Dan Howell and Phil Lester have ended years of fan speculation. In a heartfelt video on their shared channel, the duo revealed they have been in a romantic relationship since 2009.
Straight to the Point
The video opens with Howell asking on camera, “Alright, let's get this over with. Are Dan and Phil in a relationship?” Lester replied without hesitation: “Yes.”
Howell jokingly added, “Alright, bye,” standing up as if to leave the frame. Then he quipped, “Oh, sorry, you wanted more, did you?”
The pair then shared how their relationship began. Howell said, “We fell into it hard and fast in 2009 and here we are almost 16 years later.” Lester responded with humor, “Stop telling me how long it was. So yeah, relationship, boyfriends.”
No Labels, Just Love
Howell admitted they never formally labeled their relationship. “It was so fast that we never labeled it,” he explained. “We just ended up living together and here we are.”
Fans first got hints when Howell came out as gay in a 2019 video. Lester shared a similar video later that month. At that time, Howell revealed they had been linked romantically at the beginning but did not comment on the current status of their relationship.
Careers, Breaks, and Reunions
In 2024, the YouTubers launched the North American leg of their third joint tour, Terrible Influence. This came after the duo went separate ways following the 2018 Interactive Introverts tour.
During their hiatus, Howell focused on solo projects, including his book You Will Get Through This Night and the 2022 comedy tour We’re All Doomed. Lester continued to grow his channel, AmazingPhil.
In October 2024, Howell told PEOPLE that Lester encouraged them to return to their gaming channel, which had been on hiatus since December 2018. The reunion felt natural, leading to their third tour announcement in December 2023.
Honest and Real About Their Journey
Lester emphasized in the video, “No, it's not always perfect. Don’t get it into your head that we are the ideal of human partnerships.” Howell added, “We have had ups and downs like anybody. We have lived a thousand lifetimes of a normal person’s partnership, and I have no idea why we've survived.”
Future Content and Exciting Plans
Fans worried about an influx of couple-focused content can relax. The duo joked they won’t be “turning into couple vloggers in bed” or being overtly romantic on camera.
However, they are excited about the next chapter of joint projects. One of their upcoming ventures is the Dan and Phil Podcast. Lester humorously noted, “15 years of suppressing all of these stories and opinions and they're finally gonna come out.”
A Long-Awaited Confirmation
After years of speculation, Dan and Phil have openly shared their love story. From their early days in 2009 to now, the pair continue to balance careers, creativity, and a long-term partnership. Fans can now celebrate their relationship while looking forward to fresh content from the duo.
