In today’s Internet-Age, it seems only logical that people my
age don’t watch television that much anymore. I certainly don’t. Well, the odd
American TV Series every now and again, but nothing religiously. (Alright, aside
from Grey’s Anatomy, but that doesn’t count.) Okay, okay. People still watch
TV, but what I’m really trying to say is that people watch LESS television now.
I, for one, spend a lot of time watching
people on Youtube which seems like an odd concept, but it’s the television of today only more
interactive, more personable and more accessible.
I thought I would give you a rundown of my favourite
Youtube Creators, listing their various traits, talents and topics. Quite a lot of the
time, these clips of their lives on Youtube inspire and educate me – I hope
they do the same for you.
Carrie Hope
Fletcher. (ItsWayPastMyBedTime)
Carrie’s been on Youtube since March, 2011 and in that time
she has amassed a whopping 500,158 subscribers on YouTube. Carrie was one of the first YouTube creators
that I watched religiously, and since her start on the web she has become a
household name in one of the biggest West End Shows; Cameron Mackintosh’s Les Miserables. Having played Young Eponine years earlier, Carrie is now playing
Eponine as an adult – she says it had always been her dream to play older
Eponine.
Aside from being West End Star, Carrie is also writing her
own book, keeping up a blog, regularly posting on her YouTube account and
writing her own music. She produces videos running a theme of her ‘big sister’
vibe, she gives her following of ‘hopefuls’
advice and posts regular ‘Ask Carrie’ videos where she strives to provide
information, reassurance and charming anecdotes from her life.
Boys In Books Are Better is a hilarious homage to all the
wonderful characters in Carrie’s favourite books that is the culmination of
everything Carrie; books, the inclusion of her fans, singing and making people
smile.
Unfortunately, recently some of Carrie’s messages have been
lost in a cloud of controversial issues surrounding her private relationships involving
other YouTubers; some YouTube viewers and creators can be unforgiving and without
knowing the full stories - the community can be quick to judge. Carrie has navigated
the situation that she didn’t bring upon herself with grace and honesty.
Carrie Fletcher is a member of John and Hank Green’s DFTBA
(don’t forget to be awesome) and this links her to my next favourite
Youtuber...
Charlie McDonnell.
(CharlieIsSoCoolLike)
Charlie is an equally as British, equally as charming member
of DFTBA as Carrie.
The first YouTuber I ever saw consecutive videos by; Charlie
made a cup of tea, filmed it and it went viral. His quintessential British life
online has collected 2,377,747 subscribers and he’s now huge everywhere – a regular
at conventions such as LeakyCon, VidCon, Playlist Live and Summer In The City.
Charlie originally started with funny little skits and songs
that he’d written. He’s now progressed onto explaining tricky science in layman’s
terms with concise logic but also comedy, participating in charity events and
of course, commenting on some of the more controversial topics surrounding the
YouTube community currently. Early- Charlie also took part in the Trock
movement; Time Lord Rock, writing songs about Doctor Who with his band Chameleon
Circuit which featured Micheal Aranda among other You Tubers.
Charlie now focuses mainly on making short films and at this
year’s upcoming VidCon in Los Angeles, he will be hosting his own meet-up and
panel based on the production side of creating short films. From what I can
gather, rather adorably, it seems that Charlie is still in complete awe that
his hobby of making videos at his home computer in Bath now pays his bills and
allows him to travel wherever and whenever he wants.
One of my favourite Charlie videos is one of his earliest –
he doesn’t use this the intro anymore but now he has a fabulous end card voiced by
none other than THE Stephen Fry which emphasizes Charlies quintessentially British
attitude.
Louise Watson, nee
Pentland. (SprinkleOfGlitter)
Mum of one, Louise is full of joy, glitter and enthusiasm. 1,446,552 subscribers watch her weekly/biweekly
videos featuring her darling baby girl, ‘baby glitter’ otherwise known as Darcy
and her husband Matt. Louise’s husband, not Darcy’s; that would be weird.
Louise’s videos range from DIY Craft videos, to make up and
fashion hauls, to family life as well as coping with marriage and having a
young-one around. Louise quite often defends herself against what she calls the
‘Mummy Mafia’ who leave comments and messages for Louise, telling her she’s not
looking after her child properly or not conducting her married self in an
appropriate way, but I honestly think she’s one of the best mother’s I’ve seen.
Not only is Louise raising a baby girl, she’s hosting her
YouTube channel, attending conventions and inspiring viewers left right and centre.
By the looks of it, she never stops, yet still manages to succeed at all of the
above. Darcy is never sad or massively misbehaving, on camera, which speaks
volumes about Louise’s ability as a mother – makes me wish people wouldn’t bash
her so much. I’d like to see them try everything Louise has accomplished.
Louise is completely real on her YouTube channel and doesn’t
struggle to bring both light hearted chatty videos in line with slightly more
topical videos of a serious note. Louise is capable of it all. A wonder woman,
some might say. Louise has a profound honesty about her life; her struggles,
her triumphs and most importantly her beliefs – she doesn’t seem to let people get
to her, although obviously I don’t know what goes on behind closed camera
lenses.
Louise’s very close friend features as my next chosen ‘Top
YouTuber’...
Zoe Sugg. (Zoella)
5,054,357 subscibers makes Zoella our most popular YouTube Creator
so far. Zoe Sugg, sister of Joe Sugg (Thatcher Joe on YouTube) and best friend
to Louise, is vlogging every day in June
as a challenge and so far it’s paid off – she featured on Loose Women, as well
as reaching 5 million subscribers and that’s just this week. Clearly this week was a good week, but Zoe is
plainly honest about her down days. I think it’s that, that love about her. Her
realness on camera makes her so relatable and easy to watch that viewers feel
good about themselves; if this girl on YouTube has down days like I do too, I
am capable of all the success that she has too.
Zoe suffers from anxiety and severe panic attacks, however
the majority of the time we see Zoe in her vlogs and videos she is her usual
charming, bright and bubbly twenty-four year old self. Managed by Gleam Futures, along with boyfriend Alfie (PointlessBlog) as well as Louise and Joe;
Zoe has a PO box that is regularly filled with letters, parcels and packages
from friends and fans but pleads with people not to send presents – she’s not
in it for the free things and gifts, you can tell that from the sheer honesty
in her videos.
Just to truly explain Zoe’s success as Zoella, Sugg won not
only the 2011 Cosmopolitan Blog Award for ‘Best Established Beauty Blog’ but
also ‘Best Beauty Vlogger’ as well as Radio 1 Teen Awards ‘Best British Vlogger’
and the 2014 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards for ‘UK Favourite Vlogger’.
When Zoe was made redundant from a job she hated years ago,
she never knew how popular she would get through her blog and eventually her
YouTube channel, which she only started in 2009. She also has Louise’s chattery
happiness and commitment and this is what makes them a fabulous pair to watch
in their many collaborations. Her ever
changing style, baking, decorative and make up/hair choices inspire viewers
everywhere to be exactly who they want to be, no holds barred. You want to wear
those trousers that kind of look like pyjama pants, you do it.
Zoe is one for saying yes. Her anxiety held her back for so
long and now she won’t let it anymore. As if that personal achievement wasn’t
enough, she’s just been given a book deal. Zoe has signed, apparently a two-book, deal
with Penguin Books and now has her debut novel due for release in November of
this year. According to her announcement video, the novel will circle a young
girl whose blog goes viral and what that means for her life, love and tendency
to have panic attacks. It’s going to be loosely
autobiographical, yet I’m looking
forward to reading this – to my knowledge Zoe has never talked about wanting to
write a book before, so for this to come out of the blue means she obviously
suffers from that writerly-need to have something perfect before she puts it
out into the world. The book will be entitled Girl; Online.
Here are two videos that will hopefully encourage you to
head over to YouTube and check Zoella out;
*
I hope you have enjoyed this sample of a few of my
favourite YouTube Creators, I will however name check a few more, for your
interest: Alfie Deyes, Marcus Butler,
Niomi Smart, Tanya Burr, Jim Chapman, Fleur De Force, Jenna Marbles, CherryWallis, Emma Blackery, and Troye Sivan.
Just below here, you can find links to everyone I’ve discussed above
and I highly recommend you go and check them out. Just the same as watching
television, they offer the escapism and light comedic relief at the end of a
day, only they’re far more relatable; they’re all real people living in the
same world as us.