Sometimes when you’re in need of motivation for the gym all it takes is to log onto social media and see a clip of your favourite Uk fitness influencers smashing their workout.
People often slate the effect content creators can have on our mental health and perception of a realistic body or lifestyle. But some do some incredible work to change the lives of their followers.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of 10 influencers from the UK that you simply have to follow. Let’s get into it…
1. MattDoesFitness
Matt Morsia – or MattDoesFitness, as you more likely know him – is the undisputed king of UK fitness influencers. He followed his wife’s advice and started uploading his workouts to YouTube in 2012 while still working as a PE teacher. But it wasn’t until 3 or 4 years later that he started to reap the rewards. Fast forward to 2023 and he has 2.2m subscribers on YouTube and 1m followers on YouTube to boot.
Aside from his online personal training platform and own energy drink brand – Morsia Energy, Matt is also on the books of mega brands such as Gymshark and MyProtein.
The 37-year-old’s videos usually involve him pushing his body to its absolute limits, whether that be by taking on a Navy Seals fitness test or eating up to 25,000 calories in 24 hours.
Find MattDoesFitness on YouTube and Instagram
2. Meggangrubb
If MattDoesFitness is the king of UK fitness influencers, then Meggan Grubb is the queen. Her channel, which she started in 2018, offers up content for those who are interested in, “getting fit, watching my crazy puppy and cats adventures and enjoying fashion and home life.”
Now 25, the former singer-songwriter has 517,000 subscribers on YouTube and more than 1.3m followers on her Instagram. Meggan has helped thousands of women transform their lives through her BEYOND app, which offers holistic guidance to empower people on their fitness journeys. The fashionista is also in the process of launching her very own active and swimwear company called Bluee.
Meggan is married to fellow fitness, food and travel influencer Niall Kirkland, and the pair have just announced that they’re expecting their first child together. Exciting times are ahead!
Find Meggan on YouTube and Instagram.
3. Thebodycoach
If you don’t already follow this man, then what on earth are you doing? Joe Wicks has gone past the point of being a fitness influencer, he’s now a national treasure. In fact, he has even been awarded an MBE. Born in Epsom, Surrey, Joe started his career by posting 15-second videos of recipes on social media. His first cookbook ‘Lean in 15: 15-Minute Meals and Workouts to Keep You Lean and Healthy’ sold over 900,000 copies, while his award-winning Body Coach app has also proved a smash hit.
During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Joe started live-streaming workouts so that kids wouldn’t miss out on their PE lessons. The workouts proved such a hit that millions of people virtually joined the 37-year-old from across the world.
In fact, he even received a Guinness World Record for “most viewers for a fitness workout live stream on YouTube”, after achieving over 950,000 viewers on only his second stream. With those numbers, it comes as no surprise that he has 4.5m followers on Instagram and an additional 2.82m subscribers on YouTube.
You can find ThebodyCoach on YouTube and Instagramene
4. Jamessmithpt
Although he now lives in the vast, sunny lands of Australia, James Smith is still a true Englishman at heart. The straight-talking star has been described as the ‘Gordon Ramsey of the fitness world’, and if you listen to some of his full-bodied rants it’s easy to see why. Think of James as the Batman of the fitness realm, but instead of fighting crime, he tackles online myths and fads.
James is an expert on weight loss and a 3x Sunday Times Best Selling Author, so it’s no shock that he’s followed by 1.1m people on Instagram and 87,000 more on YouTube. Aside from writing and training clients through his own personal training academy, James also stars on The James Smith Podcast and has recently completed a world tour delivering live shows. If you don’t mind a swear word or two then give him a follow.
Find James Smith on Instagram and YouTube.
5. Gabbydawnallen
Gabby Allen is a personal trainer and professional dancer who rose to fame as so many influencers do nowadays – Love Island. Way back before she appeared on ITV’s smash-hit show she taught dance at some of the country’s most prestigious studios, including Frame, BLOK and Third Space.
She reached the final in her search for love in 2017, coupling up with rapper and former Blazin’ Squad member Marcel Somerville. After leaving the show she used her newfound popularity to launch the hugely popular Shape Up With Gabby Allen app.
The success of her main venture has led her to expand the app’s offering to live shows and retreats. Gabby has 1m followers on her Instagram page, which she regularly updates with snaps of her looking shredded.
Find Gabby on Instagram and Twitter.
6. Mac_griffiths
Another Love Island contestant who has since stepped into the world of fitness full-time, Michael Griffiths is a master motivator and a top class trainer. After stepping into the villa in 2019, Michael has competed in several bodybuilding competitions and continued to hone his already impressive physique.
He has amassed an incredible Instagram fan following of 1m on Instagram and in his short time on YouTube has already garnered more than 1,400 subscribers. Aside from the odd reality TV appearances he is a presenter for major organisations such as MTV, JD Sports and the NFL UK, and the founder and lead trainer at Hustle As One.
Find Michael on Instagram and YouTube.
7. Lucydavis_fit
The best way to describe Lucy Davis is probably the female version of James Smith. She quite fittingly calls herself the ‘No BS Gym Girl’, and she certainly lives up to that title.
After giving up competitive swimming in 2015 Lucy turned her focus to weight training – and it shows. The pocket-sized tank is a huge advocate for people learning to love their own skin and does a lot to empower women to get in and amongst it in the free weights section of their gym.
Lucy’s straight-talking approach has earned her deals with Gymshark, NOCCO and MyProtein as a fitness advocate. She is also the co-owner of the My Coach School app and makes up one-half of The Not So Fit Couple Podcast, which, if you aren’t very good at guessing, she hosts with her partner.
Her YouTube channel, Lucy Davis Fit, has more than 200,000 subscribers, while another 581,000 people keep up to date with her life via Instagram.
Find Lucy on Instagram and YouTube.
8. Adamcollard
Bronzed Geordie Adam Collard is best known for playing the villain on Love Island, but he was turning heads in the gym as a personal trainer long before he was doing the same thing at the fire pit. Since returning from his most recent stint on the show last year he has got straight back on the grind.
Sporting washboard abs and boulder shoulders Adam’s physique is as good as they come, so it’s no wonder he’s the head trainer at Sculpt Fitness in Newcastle. He also plies his trade online and helps clients get their dream bodies via his own website.
With 1.1m followers on Instagram and 55,000 subscribers on YouTube, I’m sure you won’t be shocked to find out that Adam is partnered with huge brands such as NOCCO, BoohooMan, Primal Strength and Fashionnova. With all of that on his plate, it’s no surprise he hasn’t got time to commit to one woman.
Find Adam on Instagram and YouTube.
9. Courtneydblack
If you’re looking to follow fitness influencers who don’t shy away from tackling difficult topics such as healthy weight loss and mental well-being then look no further than Courtney Black. She rose to notoriety by sharing her HIIT-style training regimes and the incredible results they have achieved for her clients. Having suffered from an eating disorder in her earlier years, Courtney is open and informative when she talks about weight loss and is a champion of striking a healthy balance between keeping fit and body positivity.
Between the Courtney Black app, fitness boot camps, and her two other passion projects, Sofina Active and Le Skin, she certainly keeps herself busy. Oh, and did I mention she’s also a 2x Sunday Times best-selling author? She’s definitely harnessed the power of influencer marketing.
Courtney already has 845,000 followers on Instagram and more than 58,000 subscribers on YouTube. But if you wanted to drop her a follow I’m sure she’d be grateful for the extra support. Check her out!
Find Courtney on Instagram and YouTube.
10. Ab_bowen
Alex Bowen is somewhat of a Love Island and influencer OG. He entered the villa on day 18 of season 2 and quickly stole the heart of his now wife and baby mother Olivia Buckland. The 31-year-old wasn’t in bad shape during his time on the show, but since leaving his progress has been consistently remarkable.
His online platform, ABX Coaching, has helped sculpt plenty of his 1.6m Instagram followers, as have his many informative posts about his workouts. His content is mainly centred around sharing tips on form, intensity and the best exercises to maximise results. Why not give him a follow and see if he can’t up your game?
Find Alex on Instagram.
