When Harry Clark signed up for the second series of The Traitors, he had modest goals: to make his family proud and, ideally, to win the £120,000 prize. “I hadn’t seen Series 1, so I didn’t realise how big it was,” he tells ReVamp magazine during a photoshoot in sunny Southeast London. “I thought, this is cool—I can show my granny and granddad, and one day, my kids. Plus, there was the chance of winning £120,000. How often do you get close to that?”

Though he pulled off a cunning victory on the show, pulling the wool over his fellow contestants’ eyes and claiming the prize, Harry didn’t intend to become a TV personality. A former Army engineer, he had simply set his sights on winning the cash so he could stash it away as a safety net while transitioning to a new job on the train lines. “I never thought anything would come of it,” he reflects. “I had a job lined up after the army, working on the trains, five days on and five days off. I didn’t want to move back in with my family because I had a girlfriend [CCBC star Anna Maynard], who I’ve been with for three years now. I wanted my own place. The Traitors win was perfect for that. But I never expected everything that followed.”

With a budding media career, Harry’s life has taken a surprising turn. Not only does he present his own podcast with his Traitors mate Paul Gorton, he has been inundated with TV offers - with three major shows already on the horizon - attending celebrity events, and a spot of modelling. 

Although he’s no stranger to the camera now, he admits it still feels strange. “My family would love to say I enjoy looking in the mirror, but it feels weird going from the army to spending your morning getting shot at—with a camera,” he laughs, between shots, dressed in a mint green suit that complements his tall frame and natural charisma.   

Once the photoshoot wraps, Harry sits down with ReVamp for a “banging” cup of tea and a chat. Despite being just 23, he speaks with wisdom beyond his years, openly discussing his dreams of marriage, the importance of family, and his deep-rooted faith. He even shares a chilling story about a random near-death experience that served as a reminder of how precious life—and family—truly are.

Harry, you were a dream in front of our camera. Is fashion a big part of your life?

I think so. I like being someone who’s out there and wears what they want to wear. I don’t really care what anyone else thinks of what I’m wearing. Growing up, it was always about what my mates were wearing. I was saying this at Christmas—I was that kid in D-Squared, skinny jeans, and a side-parting. Now it’s like I’ve gone off the rails in my mates’ eyes and wear whatever I want. Like gold cross earrings, slicked-back hair, that kind of thing.

So, you’re experimenting with fashion. Is that something that’s happened since the programme, or has it been like this for a while?

I got a girlfriend. It’s the girlfriend effect.

So Anna dresses you?

Yeah. So she’s been behind it. It went from my mum to Anna, and now it’s both at the same time.

At least you’ve got personal stylists. Do they pay for your wardrobe?

No, I give them the money, and they take care of it.

Now that’s trust. 

Even on holiday, I just gave her the money and she took care of everything. Though, she did prank me once and bought dissolvable swim shorts. That didn’t go down well.

Has she ever chosen something for you that pushed your boundaries, or is she pretty good at finding what works for you?

At the Brits this year, I wore a high-waisted suit jacket with nothing underneath. I was a bit unsure about that because I don’t like the state of my body, but she convinced me I looked fine. So I went for it.

And did you enjoy it?

Yeah, I had a cool cravat as well. Never worn one of those before.

Do you feel more confident buying your own stuff?  

Probably not. I get bored shopping. If I know what I want, I’ll go get it, but browsing? Nah. I just like someone telling me, “Put this on.” But for today’s outfits, yeah, they were wicked.

You used to be in the army where it’s all uniform and regimented, so it must be nice to experiment now with colourful suits and all that.

I love wearing suits. I feel smart, and I probably get that from the army—looking sharp, clean-shaven. When I was in the army, I was like Jekyll and Hyde. Monday to Friday, I was Corporal Clark, but on weekends, I could be Harry again. Every day was regimented, so when I wasn’t working, I wore whatever I wanted.

Why did you join the army?

At 15, I loved boxing and football, and my granddad, who had been in the army, told me I could do both. When he said I could box, play football, and shoot guns, I thought, “This sounds like the best job ever.” Plus, you get paid. That’s when I learned about all the different jobs in the army. My mum got involved, forced me into a trade, and I’m grateful she did. I became an avionics technician.

Wow! 

I joined as a paratrooper, scored high on tests, and my career advisor told my mum I could do something else. So she made me choose one of the hardest trades, with an 11% pass rate. I didn’t talk to her for two weeks, but she was right. Now, I could work at Heathrow or on trains. I was already lined up for a job on trains in Wimbledon when I left the army.

When you went into the army, you were set to be on the front line. Weren’t you scared of that?

Not at all. I wanted to be there, so my brothers and sisters didn’t have to. I wanted to serve so others could stay safe.

That’s lovely. You seem fearless. Are you afraid of anything? 

I say I’m not scared of anything just to trick my brain into confidence, but of course I’m scared of things. I hate spiders! Even when one runs across the wall, my sisters call me to get rid of it, and I’m there shaking, trying to act brave. I’m terrified of spiders. It might be tiny, but it feels massive when I’m the one getting rid of it. Same goes for heights—I say I love heights, but deep down, I hate them. Working as a helicopter engineer, I only flew once because I wasn’t risking it.

Just once?

I only went up in a helicopter once in six years. That was enough! hate heights, I get shaky legs, but then I’d still be the daredevil jumping off cliffs.

Now, it’s almost been a year since you won The Traitors. How has life changed for you?

The biggest change is I shop at M&S now. Growing up, that was the posh shop. I live back with my family now, in a little council house in Slough. I’ve got the best life ever—so lucky. I live this Jekyll and Hyde life, just like in the army. Back then, I had to be formal all week, and now I have this public life but still come home to Slough and my council estate. I live two different sides of life, and I love it.

That’s great!

But I’ll always remember where I came from. Everything I do is for the people around me. I was happy before The Traitors. I was happy before winning because something happened to me when I was younger, and I got through that with my faith and family. My life got better, and I started learning how to value life. I was lucky it happened at a young age because, by the age of 22, I was like, I need to live every day like it’s my last because it could end tomorrow. So then from there, if I’m happy, it doesn’t matter. Even now, I always say if I was under a bridge tomorrow, but my family and friends were there, I’d still be just as happy as I am today.

Now that you’re able to do all these different things, is this the kind of world you want to stay in, or are you still looking to go back to a “real” job?

It’s weird because I always have that stress and worry of, “I might be back at work next week,” or “I might need to find work.” I might go on a building site with my dad or one of my cousins. But at the same time, I’ve been saying that since February, and I’ve done alright so far. It feels like God’s put me on this path, and I’m here for a reason, so I might as well make the most of it. I’ve filmed three other big TV shows now, and the people I’ve met are just amazing. I walk around every day thinking, “How is this my job?” I’m so lucky. How could anyone ever complain about this being their job. Next year is sorted, so now I’m just working towards 2026.

At least you’ve got a plan. Has winning the money transformed your life? Has it made you happier?

I always used to say money doesn’t make you happy, but it buys you freedom. Now, of course, it makes me happy in the sense that I can do a lot for people around me. I took my family abroad for the first time since 2009. The last time we were on an airplane together, I was 8 years old. Now, I’m 23, and my little brother is 18, so we could finally have a beer together on holiday. I took us all to Portugal, and it was the best feeling ever. It was probably the first time this year I patted myself on the back and thought, “This is mad.” I could see everyone enjoying it. And it doesn’t matter whether I’m smart with money or not because my dad is involved.

Oh, that’s handy.

He’s the one with the screwed-on head. Like he says, and I’ve realised this growing up, parents are always right. My dad spent all his money before—he used to have a sports car and this and that. Now, he looks after my money. He lets me know how much I need. I was getting £2,000 a month in the army, so why do I need more than that? I live at home with my parents now, so I can save. I paid off my mum and dad’s personal debts with the winnings from The Traitors. The rest was just put in the bank. I haven’t even seen it. I live off what I’ve made this year from other work.

You’re very wise, and it’s good your dad’s involved.  

I always say, if it was up to me, I’d have put it all on red!

Oh, you don’t want to gamble it away!  

That’s why I ask my dad for a limit. I went to horse racing this weekend, and I won for once!

For once? That’s not a good sign! Now people saw on The Traitors how good you can be pulling the wool over their eyes, have they treated you differently?  

At home, nothing’s changed. My best mate couldn’t believe what he saw on TV. He didn’t even know I was going on the show because I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone. When it aired, I told him, “You might want to watch this.” He and my mates saw it and were like, “This is Harry?!” Because my mates just know me as clumsy and ditzy. I have no general knowledge about the world, but I have weird knowledge. Like I can tell you the entire alphabet of shark species, but I can’t get the alphabet right because I get mixed up!

That’s a talent! You’re a mastermind!

I always say my brain is wired backwards, which is why I think I did alright. But my mates haven’t treated me any differently. They don’t even say, “Oh, you can pay for this.” I appreciate that my circle hasn’t changed. The people I’ve met in the industry are amazing, but they’re work friends. Not people who want a piece of me. It hasn’t changed at all. People will say, “I’m not going to believe anything you say,” but they’re usually just joking.

Knowing how tricky people can be, has it made you more wary of others now that you’re in the public eye?  

I’d say I’m a good judge of character. I’m blunt about it. If I have a problem with someone, I’ll tell them and leave it at that. If someone does me wrong, I’ll forgive them, but I won’t forget that mument. So it’ll never be the same as it was before. So, yeah, I’m very much straightforward and to the point.

How have your mum and girlfriend dealt with your new showbiz life?  

Luckily, my girlfriend is involved in the industry. She and her brothers were YouTubers and stuff like that. She’s a singer. They’ve been great at keeping me grounded because they know the potential negative side of fame—trolls online, hate, or people wanting to use you. They’ve been good at helping me stay level-headed. But my family? They love every minute of it. They can’t believe it. If there’s a camera around or someone comes to the house to do some filming, my sisters all want to get involved. They love being able to tell their friends, “That’s my brother on TV.” 

Have you experienced much of the negative aspects of your new life?

I don’t see it. I think you only see it if you go looking for it. You could get 300 positive comments, but it’s the one negative comment you’ll remember. So I don’t bother with it. My parents sometimes see it. My dad’s always on it, so he’ll say, “Oh, I saw this written in the paper about you.” But I just keep my head down and keep working.

That’s smart. You see other celebrities always searching for the comments, and it’s not healthy.  

Exactly. You’ve got to back yourself. Confidence is key. Before going into The Traitors, I told myself a hundred times that I knew I was going to win. It’s about confidence, not cockiness. Growing up boxing, you had to believe you’d win before you even stepped into the ring. The mument you doubt yourself, that’s when your brain starts working against you. It’s the same with negative comments—once you read one, you start thinking everyone feels the same. But if that person met you in real life, they’d probably change their opinion. They don’t really know you, they’re just making judgments based on what they’ve seen.

You seem very level-headed and confident. But before you went into the army, what kind of teenager were you?  

I boxed from when I could start walking. It’s a massive family thing. I did a bit of everything, though. I was the Billy Elliot of the family—following my sisters, my mum would sneak me off to do ballroom dancing.  I even went to theatre schools with my sisters. I was obsessed with that, but then my dad got me into boxing with my brothers and cousins, and I was good at that too.

So why aren’t you on Strictly Come Dancing with your ballroom background?

I can’t even remember it now! My dad’s side was football, and my mum’s side was boxing. So I grew up in a boxing ring from a young age, probably around six or seven, always with my cousins. My granddad taught me discipline—how to be a gentleman. Boxing gave me structure. It was the discipline from boxing that set my life on the right path. I had way too much energy as a kid. My mum always said I was the “wonky pancake” of the family, the one always keeping her on her toes.

Are you a middle child?

No, second oldest. My older brother is the prince, then it’s me, the crazy one. I’d be swinging from the tallest tree branches with no fear, hence why I joined the army. I had mad energy as a kid. My mum was called into school most Fridays! But by secondary school, I got it together. I wasn’t a bad kid, never a bully, just cheeky. My teachers always said I was cheeky but harmless.

Did you do well in school?

Weirdly, I never had to revise, but I was good at school. It made no sense. I remember my best mate, Harry (we called ourselves The Harry and Harry Show), we never revised for GCSEs. I’d send my mum fake videos of me revising, but I’d be off on my bike. I passed my GCSEs, but my mate wasn’t as lucky.

How did your granddad teach you how to become the man you are today?

He taught me discipline, how to be a gentleman. I was an angry kid, maybe a bit lost. Boxing was my outlet, but he made it clear: if I ever got into fights outside the ring or caused trouble, I’d never be allowed back in the boxing gym. He instilled that discipline in me. Every Christmas, he’d sit at the head of the table and give a speech, saying how grateful he was to have the whole family together. Growing up with that made me want to provide for my own family one day. In one of the new shows I filmed, I got to work with my granddad. It was the most emotional and best experience of my life. My kids will be able to show their kids that footage. It’s something I’ll cherish forever.

He must be very proud of you. Has he ever taken you aside to say some kind words?

Yeah, which is unusual for him. He’s from the older generation, not very soppy, but he’s told me how proud he is. My gran, though—she always has me on replay on the TV.  She can’t get over it. She’s always watching whatever I’ve done, and she tells all her friends. I can’t even watch myself back, but she loves it.

Your family must be very proud.

Yeah, especially for a kid from Slough. It doesn’t really happen. People around here are like, “Well done, mate. You’ve done something special.”

Earlier, you mentioned you were an angry kid. Was there anything specific you were angry about? Were you rebellious as a teenager?

I was a whirlwind of energy. It was just life. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and I was always searching for something different. I’d become obsessed with certain things, then move on to the next. I just wanted to play football. Everything in life was about different sports. You can ask my mum and dad—one day, I’d come home crying because I wanted to go to the park, just because one of my friends said they were going. I’d wonder, “Why aren’t we going to the park?” Or if a friend was going to Portugal, I’d ask, “Why aren’t we going?” I was always that kid who wanted to be doing something, never staying still.

What helped you calm you down?

Yeah, boxing helped, and the army really moulded me. The army took the good qualities and sharpened them while knocking the bad ones out. At 16, I had to make my bed every day with perfect corners. The discipline was massive. I had to grow up fast. At 16, I was in a man’s world, sharing a room with guys who were 30, 24, and 19. As a 17-year-old kid, you had to grow up quick because if those guys had a problem, they’d tell you. I learned how to be mature in tough situations but also how to still be myself with my mates back home.

You’re still fun with your friends, but do you still make your bed every morning?

Yeah, I always do. Making your bed sets your day up for success. Even if I’m up at 6 a.m. for swimming, I make my bed. It gives me a sense that the day’s going to be good. And when you get home at night and get into a made bed, it feels completely different.

Did you feel that change when you returned home from the army? Did your family think, “Who is this person?”

I noticed the change more in everyday life, especially seeing my friends not doing the same things. I felt like I was different, more motivated. Even when I was a kid in school, I’d tell my best mate, “Don’t worry, I’ll get us out of here.” I always had that drive, telling myself I’d be a millionaire, even though I didn’t know how yet. Even in the army, I was trying everything—crypto, day trading, teaching myself new things. I always wanted more.

You were always pushing yourself.

Which is why I believe in the law of attraction. I didn’t at first, but every time I boxed, I’d dream about winning, and it worked. I’d always picture my future, like a white picket fence and a big family table for Christmas. That’s all I wanted. Even when I was driving my little car, I imagined it was my dream car.

You’ve mentioned faith. Is that important to you?

I’m Roman Catholic. I’d say I’m a cool, modern religious person. My views don’t align with all the old-fashioned parts of the faith. I want to modernise it, especially regarding issues like gay marriage or abortion. Those old views don’t make sense anymore. But my faith is strong. Whenever I’ve been lost, I prayed, and it helped.

Interesting. You went to Catholic schools, right?

Yeah. My mum was the big influence. She’d send me on religious retreats. 

A lot of young people reject religion, but you’ve stuck with it. Do you still go to church every Sunday?

Yeah, I do.  I used to play violin in church, too. My sister played guitar. My mum made us do it. I can still play. I could play any hymn put in front of me.  Looking back, I can’t thank my mum enough for making us do that. At the time, I couldn’t be bothered with church, but now I see how important faith has been in my life. Even though my brother and cousins don’t believe, but I’ve stuck with it. I always say, if you live your life by the teachings of faith, you won’t regret it, even if there’s nothing after death.

So, does your faith help you when it comes to fear, especially when you were in the army and faced with the possibility of death?

Of course. I believe my life is set on a path. I’m not scared of death because I know there’s something else for me.

That’s refreshing to hear.  

When I joined the army. You see things that make you question faith. It’s easy to believe when you’re little, but the real test comes when you grow up and face the big, bad world. I needed faith more than ever after seeing the things I’ve seen. When I wa18 or 19, I wasn’t as into faith as I am now. I’ve come full circle. As a kid, faith was easy. Then I went through a phase of questioning everything, but now I’ve found my way back to it.

It’s good that you’ve reconnected with it.

Seeing my best mate’s nan pass away, she was so calm, so at peace on her death bed, knowing there was something after this life. It was inspiring. That’s how I want to feel at the end.

You’re 23 now. What are the key lessons you’ve learned so far?  

Firstly, everyone’s on their own path, so don’t compare your timeline to anyone else’s. Someone might be a CEO at 23 and die at 26. Someone else might become a CEO at 50 and live till they’re 90. Everyone’s timeline is different, and things will happen when they’re meant to. That’s the first lesson: don’t rush, because who knows what’s coming in a year.  Live life with no regrets. No matter how bad a situation is, at the time, you did what you thought was the only way out. That choice led you to where you are now. For example, if I hadn’t met Anna, she wouldn’t have posted about me on TikTok. The casting team wouldn’t have seen me, and they wouldn’t have messaged me on Instagram. If I hadn’t been doing a supervisor course, staring blankly at a screen, hating life, I wouldn’t have responded. Everything happens for a reason, and that’s why I live with no regrets.

You’ve got a such great optimistic outlook. Has there ever been a time when you didn’t feel happy with yourself?

Definitely. Especially my body. When I was boxing, I had a six-pack. Then I let myself go a little bit. I was living on beige foods like chicken nuggets and chips and I started putting on weight. When you don’t love yourself, it can affect everything, even relationships. But this year, something clicked in me. I decided to focus on being the best version of myself, and that’s when I started getting into fitness again and now I’ve gone from 104 kilos to 90 kilos. I think everyone has insecurities. Anyone who says they don’t is lying.  It’s easy to get caught up in insecurities, but eventually, you realise the only person who cares is you. I always tell myself, “Don’t let the worst version of you win today.”

Have you had any experiences that have changed your outlook on life?  

A couple of years ago I got jumped by a gang in Windsor and ended up with a fractured skull and my two front knocked out. It was a gang scuffle between a gang from my area and a gang from north London. I was mistaken for someone else. But the only thing I could think about afterwards was I was just glad it happened to me and not my brothers. If it had been one of them, I wouldn’t have been able to stop searching for those who did it.

Going through something like that must have been devastating.  

It was the worst and best thing that ever happened to me. Worst because I nearly died, and what it did to my family was hard. Best because it made me realise I’m not invincible. Life can be taken just like that.

Did it make you more cautious?

Very. It made me focus on what’s really important in life instead of drinking. I was at a family party when it happened—I stepped outside for a second, and next thing I knew, I woke up in an ambulance. I was in hospital for a while.  I was 21 and still in the army at the time. I was told I wasn’t able to box, but I went back to boxing while still in the army, but I was told it would be at my own risk. 

Be careful. We don’t want any more injuries!

I’ll try! I’ve gotten tougher since then.

What or who makes you happy?

My family, obviously. You can probably tell. My happiness comes from making the people around me happy. For example, buying my mum a pair of real Prada glasses because she’s the type who’d normally get the fake ones from the beach. Being able to do things like that for her or taking my family on trips—that’s what makes me happy. Giving them a helping hand when they need it. My girlfriend makes me happy. Even simple things make me happy. Playing PlayStation with my friends, going to the gym (though I hate getting motivated to go), and my dog. My dog makes me happy just sitting on me, cuddling me. It’s the little things: a banging cup of tea can make my day. I think if people appreciate the little things, life becomes a lot easier.

That’s such a positive outlook. You’ve mentioned Anna, your girlfriend, a few times. You’ve been with her for three years. Do you see a future with her?

I wouldn’t be with her if I didn’t. Even though I’m young, I think when you know, you know. If it doesn’t work out, I’d be upset because I invested three years of my life, but every experience is a learning one. I wouldn’t be in a relationship if I didn’t see kids or a family in the future.

You’ve mentioned kids a lot. How many are we talking?

We’re negotiating that right now. She wants a couple, and I want about 10, so we’ll see where that goes!

Start small! One step at a time.

Yeah, maybe I’ll have to compromise a bit. I come from a big family myself—one of five, but technically six because my cousin grew up with us like a sister.

But before that you have a lot coming up, haven’t you?

Well, the second series of my podcast The Harry and Paul Guide to Life is out now. Season one was about hilarious crimes and how we’d avoid getting caught, but season two dives more into who we are, our families, and funny stories from our lives. We also have bonus episodes where listeners send in their dilemmas, and we try to give them advice. It’s all light-hearted and fun. And I’ve also been presenting for The One Show, which has been amazing. I love connecting with people. My first gig was working with kids who struggle in school, especially those with special educational needs. I could relate to them because they were just like me—full of energy. We bonded over video games, and they opened-up. I love that kind of work. I’ve got a few more presenting gigs lined up, and there are three big TV shows I’m working on. I can’t reveal much yet, but one comes out in a couple of weeks, and it’s with Paul. I’ve got another BBC show coming out around Easter next year and one at the end of the year. It’s all very exciting.

Wow, you’re busy! Do you enjoy presenting?

I love it. It’s great to connect with people. People have said to me they liked watching me on The Traitors because I’m just a normal person. The best quote I always say is “everyone’s poo stinks!” No one’s better than anyone else and that keeps grounded. People say to me that that seeing me as a guy from Slough or being a council kid on TV helps resonate with them because I am just like them. I am normal. I hope so. I just love helping people, especially children. In today’s world, kids face so many challenges—bullying, social media pressures—and I feel like they need someone they can relate to, someone who’s been through stuff and come out positive on the other side. If I can be that for them, that’s everything.

The Harry and Paul Guide to Life is available now.