GK Barry explained

GK Barry
Birth Date:12 August 1999
Birth Name:Grace Eleanor Keeling
Birth Place:Cambridge, England
Alma Mater:Nottingham Trent University
Yearsactive:2020–present
Partner:Ella Rutherford (2024–present)
Module:
Embed:yes
Page:gkbarry
Followers:3.7 million
Likes:272.7 million
Module2:
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Genre:Podcast
Channel Url:https://www.youtube.com/@savinggracepod
Channel Display Name:Saving Grace
Subscribers:492,000
Views:51.3 million
Years Active:2022–present
Stats Update:20 November 2024

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.

Life and career

Grace Eleanor Keeling was born on 12 August 1999 in Cambridge.[1] [2] At the age of two, she moved to the British Virgin Islands until she moved back to England at eight 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.[3]

Keeling rose to fame on TikTok in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]

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,[5] [7] which is also uploaded as a vodcast to YouTube.[8] In November 2022, Keeling participated in Footasylum's "Locked In" online reality series in which she finished as the 2nd runner-up.[9] In February 2023, Keeling toured the UK as part of her Saving Grace podcast.[10] Later that month, she also appeared in an episode of Love Island: Aftersun to discuss the ninth series with presenter Maya Jama.[2] She also fronted an advertisement campaign for KFC in July 2023.[11] 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.[2] 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.[12]

From February to March 2024, Keeling completed a sold-out UK tour for a second time as part of the Saving Grace podcast.[13] 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.[14] The same year, she confirmed she was in a relationship with Ipswich Town footballer Ella Rutherford.[15] Since August 2024, Keeling has made a series of appearances as a guest panellist on the ITV daytime talk show Loose Women, making her the youngest panellist ever on the show.[16] In October 2024, Keeling appeared as a guest panellist on the Big Brother companion show, Big Brother: Late & Live, to discuss the twenty-first series with presenters Will Best and AJ Odudu. In November 2024, Keeling starred as a contestant in the twenty-fourth series of the survival reality television show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.[17]

Filmography

YearTitleNotes
2023Love Island: AftersunSeries 9
Guest
[18]
The Weakest LinkContestant[19]
"Don't Look Down" for Stand Up to CancerContestant[20]
Big Brother: Late & LiveGuest panellist, 1 episode[21]
2024Boss PitchesHost[22]
The WheelContestant[23]
CelebAbilityContestant[24]
Loose WomenGuest panellist, multiple episodes[25] [26]
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!Series 24
Contestant
[27] [28]

Notes and References

  1. News: Jakes . Aimee . GK Barry talks fake tan, manifestation and how to go viral on TikTok . 23 July 2023 . . 17 July 2022 . 31 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230531012534/https://heatworld.com/shopping/beauty/gk-barry/ . live .
  2. Web site: GK Barry is managed by HLD Talent . HLD Talent . 23 July 2023 . 23 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230723143610/https://hldtalent.com/talent/gk-barry/ . live .
  3. News: Upton-Clerk . Eve . Inside the life of TikTok icon and podcast host Grace Barry . 23 July 2023 . . 24 May 2023 . 21 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230621211714/https://www.ok.co.uk/celebrity-news/inside-life-tiktok-grace-barry-30065897 . live .
  4. Web site: Lloyd . Albertina . 2024-07-01 . GK Barry speaks out about Strictly Come Dancing rumours . 2024-07-15 . Yahoo News . en-GB.
  5. Web site: Baxter-Wright . Dusty . 2024-01-17 . Inside the chaotic world of GK Barry . 2024-07-16 . Cosmopolitan . en-GB.
  6. News: Hudson . Lilith . TikTok Star GK Barry Chats Pryzm, Forbes and Studying at Nottingham Trent University . 23 July 2023 . Left Lion . 15 September 2021 . 23 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230723143610/https://leftlion.co.uk/features/2021/09/gk-barry-interview/ . live .
  7. News: Duke . Simon . I'm A Celebrity's Ant and Dec 'sign up' star for next year during Instagram live chat . 23 July 2023 . . 21 November 2022 . 22 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221122071427/https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/tv/ant-dec-im-celebrity-instagram-25571505 . live .
  8. News: Mensah . Katelyn . 28 October 2022 . All the young and hilarious TikTok stars in the UK you need to be watching right now . . live . 23 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230529050509/https://thetab.com/uk/2022/08/10/all-the-tik-tok-stars-in-the-uk-you-need-to-watch-right-now-267439 . 29 May 2023.
  9. News: Gurney . Frances . Here's how you can watch Footasylum Locked In featuring GK Barry and Kate Elisabeth . 23 July 2023 . . 20 October 2022 . 21 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221021093337/https://thetab.com/uk/2022/10/20/footasylum-locked-in-season-three-cast-how-to-watch-gk-barry-kate-elisabeth-278116 . live .
  10. News: Norris . Lucy . Grace Keeling aka GK Barry: All I want for Christmas is... a vodka cranberry and a bit of peace and quiet . 23 July 2023 . . 3 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230103042413/https://metro.co.uk/2022/12/17/grace-keeling-aka-gk-barry-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-17945278/amp/ . live .
  11. News: Houston . Amy . TikTok's GK Barry overstates the power of her influence in KFC promo . 23 July 2023 . The Drum . 21 July 2023 . 21 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230721115109/https://www.thedrum.com/news/2023/07/21/tiktoks-gk-barry-overstates-the-power-her-influence-kfc-promo . live .
  12. Web site: Celebrities revealed for Channel 4's Don't Look Down for Stand Up To Cancer. Channel 4 News. 15 September 2023. 15 September 2023.
  13. News: Conlan . Tara . 2024-04-14 . 'You can be normal. You can have acne!' TikTok star GK Barry on the appeal of social media personalities . 2024-07-15 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  14. Web site: GK Barry announces tour including a date in Dublin's Vicar Street. Toohey. Ali. Hot Press. 18 October 2023. 23 March 2024.
  15. Web site: Devine . Kenzi . England footballer Ella Rutherford 'confirms' relationship with GK Barry . OK! Magazine . 12 November 2024 . en . 12 August 2024.
  16. Web site: Who is GK Barry? Meet the I'm a Celebrity 2024 contestant Radio Times . 2024-11-18 . Radio Times . en-GB.
  17. News: I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! official 2024 lineup confirmed. ITV News. 11 November 2024. 11 November 2024.
  18. Web site: Love Island: Aftersun - Series 9 - Episode 6 . 30 October 2024 . ITVX.
  19. Web site: BBC One - The Weakest Link, Series 3, Episode 15 . 2024-10-30 . BBC . en-GB.
  20. Web site: Celebrities revealed for Channel 4's Don't Look Down for Stand Up To Cancer Channel 4 . 2024-10-30 . Channel 4.
  21. Web site: Big Brother: Late & Live - Series 1 - Episode 28 . ITVX.
  22. Web site: Social media stars Nella Rose and GK Barry lead new girl-boss Channel 4.0 series Boss Pitches from BBC Studios . 2024-10-30 . BBC . en.
  23. Web site: BBC One - Michael McIntyre's The Wheel, Series 4, Episode 7 . 2024-10-30 . BBC . en-GB.
  24. Web site: 2024-09-01 . Episode 5 - Iain Stirling's CelebAbility (Series 7, Episode 5) - Apple TV . 2024-10-30 . Apple TV . en-GB.
  25. Web site: 2024-10-29 . GK Barry opens up about emetophobia while discussing fears on Loose Women . 2024-10-30 . Yahoo! Life . en-GB.
  26. Web site: Watson . Shivon . 2024-08-08 . GK Barry pauses Loose Women to share six-word message to her school bullies . 2024-10-30 . Chronicle Live . en.
  27. News: I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! official 2024 lineup confirmed. ITV News. 11 November 2024. 11 November 2024.
  28. Web site: 2024-11-11 . I'm A Celebrity line-up up confirmed including the star set to "bank £5,000,000" . 2024-11-11 . Metro . en-GB.

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