Rylan Clark’s big break came on ITV show X Factor in 2012... and the rest is history! Since then, he's become a household name, going on to appear on Celebrity Big Brother, Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, Celebrity Gogglebox, Ready Steady Cook and Eurovision.
"I owe my whole career to the public – and I will never forget it! My first appearance on TV on the X Factor in 2012, and then going on to win Celebrity Big Brother changed everything. The support of the public was amazing and I’ll always be in debt to them. I feel very lucky to be doing what I am doing now and I’m proud of my CV."
"It’s so important to treat everyone the same at work. Everyone asks, ‘why do you think you have done so well?’ and I think it’s down to what I have learnt on the job and the way you treat people. I won’t stand for people being spoken to disrespectfully in front of me."
He's also a talented chef
"Making dough in 30 seconds blows my mind! I’ve been filming a new series of Ready Steady Cook and one of the things that really amazed me is how the chefs can make dough in 30 seconds! And every time we do the ten- minute challenge (to cook a dish in ten minutes), I’m shocked they can make a main and dessert in that time frame, too!
"Presenting the show has taught me some new simple chef tips such as grating an onion instead of cutting it to save time, but I could never follow a strict diet. In fact, I am a terrible eater – I’m like a sponsor for junk food!"
He's appreciating the little things this year
"This year, I’m more thankful than ever. The past 12 months has made me even more appreciative of everything. I’ve been lucky that I’ve been able to work, and I feel lucky to have a nice house and garden. And to be able to do radio from my home is great!"
His guilty pleasure?
"My guilty pleasure... is cleaning! I love a clean. I am in the process of changing my house completely as I’ve spent so much time in it, I’ve now fallen into that lockdown trap of going, ‘I want to change everything now!’"
How does he tackle online trolls?
"Online bullies need to be stopped. On Twitter I’ve got a ‘verified profile’ marked by a blue tick for people in the public eye to let everyone know it’s authentic. Why not introduce a new colour tick for everyone else so all accounts are authenticated? Maybe if social media was better policed people would think twice about sending unkind or bullying messages."
Rylan loves Strictly
"I would do Strictly Come Dancing if the other Strictly presenters took part! Now I am a presenter myself on Strictly: It Takes Two, I don’t think it is fair to go on the show, but if they did a Christmas special and it was me, Zoe Ball, Tess Daly, Claudia Winkleman and Gethin Jones, then that would be a level playing field. There is always talk of a Christmas special and I love doing the show so much. It is so family orientated, and I am so full of admiration that they managed to keep the series on air last year for ten weeks with all the restrictions.
What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self?
"I would tell my younger self to enjoy the next couple of years as you want everyone to watch you and they will! So while they are not watching, get away with murder and go out and have fun!"
Rylan Clark's mum
Linda, Rylan Clark's mum has appeared alongside him in many of his projects and has built a fanbase almost as big as her sons!
If you're craving your regular dose of Linda (and who isn't?), be sure to tune in to BBC Radio 2 on Saturdays from 3pm to 5pm, where she frequently joins Rylan for a chat.
Plus, you can catch Linda Clark and her son on TV in Celebrity Gogglebox. Although the series last aired in 2023, all episodes are available to watch on Channel 4's on-demand service. Trust us, if you're looking for something light-hearted to bring a smile to your face, it's definitely worth watching.
Rylan Clark and Rob Rinder
The trend of celebrity travel shows is on the rise, and now British barrister and TV personality Robert Rinder has teamed up with television and radio personality Rylan Clark for their own series: Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour. In this show, they 'follow in the footsteps of 19th century romantic poet Lord Byron and other Grand Tourists, immersing themselves in the art, culture, bad behaviour and life-changing exploits of historic Brits abroad. Marking the 200th anniversary of Byron's death, Rob and Rylan will draw from the poet's extensive poems and letters to guide them, alongside the diaries of others who made the trip'.
Catch them jet-setting to Venice, delving into the marvels of Italian art and culture while immersing in the carnival's festive spirit. Next stop: Florence, where they'll marvel at glorious statues, before wrapping up in Rome, where they'll explore awe-inspiring ruins.
Fans have praised the two, saying that they make a great pairing as television presenters. Commenting on their closeness in an Instagram post, promoting the show, Rylan said: "Tonight our new show starts at 9pm on BBC Two and iPlayer. It was so special. This man has become family to me because of this experience. It really is a show like no other and we’re so proud of it."
It seems that the feeling is very much mutual for Rob, after he quoted Lord Byron with ''Friendship may and often does, grow into love" above a photo of them together on Twitter.
Here's hoping that another series will be commissioned! In the meantime, if you haven't watched the show, you can catch in on BBC Two, or find all episodes of Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour are on iPlayer now.
Lorna White is a Senior Digital Writer at Yours.co.uk. She was previously a writer at Yours Magazine writing features and news stories before joining the digital team. Lorna loves the great British countryside and likes to spend her spare time out and about in her home of Nottinghamshire walking her dog, Pippin.