Charley Marlowe

Marlowe was born in North Yorkshire, but has never lived there and classifies herself as from Liverpool.^[1][2] However, her family moved around a lot when she was a child, including a period of living abroad.^[2] Marlowe attended drama classes aged 11, where she appeared in various stage productions and school musicals, including portraying Pumbaa in The Lion King. Despite enjoying it, Marlowe has recalled that she "just wanted to be around [her] mum's mates, a gaggle of middle aged women".^[2] Growing up, she was a big fan of Coronation Street, as well as watching other freeview programming since they could not afford Sky.^[2] Marlowe is a lesbian and has ADHD.^[3][4]

Various programmes inspired Marlowe to work in television, with her wanting to become a presenter. She recalled reading Holly Willoughby's Wikipedia article, where it read that she was scouted to be a model whilst in a café, which she knew would not happen to her. Whilst working at Vauxhall Motors, she exclaimed that she wanted to be like Peter Kay, to which a co-worker said that she should go to Salford, like he did.^[5] Marlowe then attended the University of Salford and worked on various television production teams, including Naked Attraction.^[6] Whilst at university, she began posting videos on TikTok, with various videos seeing virality. She then attained a management team and began to be booked for presenting gigs.^[2]

In 2024, Marlowe was cast as the narrator for the BBC Three dating series I Kissed a Girl; it marked her debut voiceover role.^[7] That same year, she presented digital content for the British Academy Television Awards, interviewing various celebrities.^[8] In December 2024, Marlowe placed third on an episode of Celebrity Mastermind; her specialist subject was Jane McDonald.^[9] In March 2025, she hosted a Lesbian Visibility Week panel for Queer Britain.^[10] She then became a presenter for BBC Radio 1's early breakfast show throughout September 2025.^[11] On her casting, Marlowe said that she planned to play "as much Jane McDonald and Kylie Minogue as the BBC allow. Otherwise you can expect anything from a show tune to Madonna".^[12] In November 2025, Marlowe was the presenter of all backstage content for Children in Need.^[13] That same month, she won Entertainment Creator of the Year at the British TikTok Awards.^[14][15]