Rylan Clark's 'extremely traumatic' split from infidelity confession to co-star rumours
Eurovision star Rylan Clark has had a tough few years after his six-year marriage to ex-husband Dan Neal broke down in 2021, leading to a period of deep depression and loneliness
TV personality Rylan Clark is set to join veteran BBC Radio 1 presenter Scott Mills in the commentary box for the hotly anticipated Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Semi-Final, to be broadcast on BBC One on May 13 and 15.
While achieving immense popularity following his stint on X Factor in 2012, Rylan has faced challenging times away from the limelight, grappling with personal issues since his split from Dan Neal in 2021.
The 36-year-old met his former husband Dan during an eviction interview on Big Brother's Bit on the Side, and he has openly acknowledged that his infidelity contributed to their divorce.
Rylan took to the media in June 2021 to address rumours about his and Dan's separation, saying: "Following reports about Dan and I spending time apart, I feel I have to speak out - as the way it is being reported is unfair."
Plagued by a severe bout of depression following the admission of his infidelities to Dan, Rylan has spoken about enduring what he calls an "extremely traumatic" period, reports the Irish Mirror.
Severe depression
Rylan sunk into a deep depression after his marriage broke down
(Image: YOUTUBE/RYLAN CLARK )
Article continues below
BAFTA TV Awards 2025 winners list in full as Ant and Dec miss out on gong
READ MORE:
In a chat with The Guardian, Rylan disclosed how deeply affected he was: "My body completely shut down. I wouldn't eat."
Sharing more about his distressing experience, he said: "I went through a stage where I couldn't even talk, which for some people might be quite handy. My speech was just slurred. My mum thought I was having a stroke. My body just went."
He also took a break from his BBC Radio 2 show. In conversation with The Guardian's Observer, he disclosed: "I'd got to the point where I didn't know if I wanted to come back.
"Or whether I would be able to do this job again. I'd got... quite ill. I went down to just over 9st and I'm 6ft 4in. It got bad. Like, very bad. And I didn't think it would get better. I needed help."
Infidelities
Rylan Clark has always been honest about cheating on Dan
(Image: @rylan/Instagram )
In his memoir, Ten: The Decade That Changed My Future, Rylan acknowledged multiple infidelities during his six-year marriage.
He revealed: "I have no excuses for what I did way back then, but I had my reasons. I think for many years I had felt a bit like an imposter. That nothing I was doing was right or not quite good enough."
Following his confession to Dan, Rylan was taken aback when his husband chose to leave, as he noted in his autobigraphy: "He left. Told me it was over and that was that. You're not surprised? I get that. But I couldn't believe it."
Lonely
Rylan suffered bouts of severe lonliness
In the aftermath, Rylan sought solitude, focusing on personal reconstruction and wellness. He confided to Oti Mabuse and Emma Willis during a Red Nose Day hike: "I've personally had a bad few years with my mental health, with my physical health. I'm looking forward to doing this because I've rebuilt my life and rebuilt my body."
Reflecting on his recent past, Rylan shared: "The last few years my whole life completely changed, and the year after it happened I wasn't in the best place. Now I'm back to feeling normal. This year I've gone, 'Say yes to things you'd never say yes to'."
Co-star 'romance'
Rylan shut down romance rumours
(Image: Getty Images for BAFTA )
There have been whispers about a special connection blossoming between Judge Rob Rinder and Rylan during the making of their Bafta Award-winning series Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour.
Rylan, who referred to the show as his "therapy" during his Bafta speech, took a moment on Jessie and Lennie Ware's Table Manners podcast to dismiss the gossip about a potential romance.
Clearing the air, Rylan quipped: "I find it funny because I adore him, but we are like a married couple; we row all the time and we don't have sex."
Recent hints of finding new love
Rylan hinted he may have moved on
(Image: Getty Images )
More recently, while chatting with Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2, Rylan revealed that he had stepped away from dating apps, which set tongues wagging about a possible new love interest.
During an intriguing chat, Zoe remarked: "You've got a twinkle in your eye. I know you always have a twinkle in your eye, but that's a particularly big one," prompting Rylan to joke that he may just have a stye.
Article continues below
When further prodded by the host, he admitted: "I'm not on the apps no more, I've come off all the apps and I'm alright."
Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Semi-Final, airing on BBC One, on May 13 and 15, at 8pm.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Alison Hammond's son Aidan confesses to leaving home after disputes with TV star
Alison Hammond's son, Aidan, has opened up about his relationship with his famous mum as the pair are set to appear on screen together in the latest series of Celebrity Gogglebox Alison Hammond's son, Aidan, has given a rare insight into his childhood, revealing he would take refuge in his grandmother's house after disputes with his famous mum. Aspiring DJ Aidan, who turned 20 this year, was born in 2005 to Alison and her then-fiancé Noureddine Boufaied. However, despite their split in 2014, the pair have continued to co-parent the youngster. Chatting on the Spin Justice podcast, Aidan reminisced about visiting his grandmother's house across the road when he and his mum weren't seeing eye to eye: "When we were in the flat, she had a house pretty much opposite us, so we could literally leave and run across the road. So when my mum was doing my head in, I'd just go to my nan's (house)." Aidan fondly recalled the close-knit bond with his nan during his formative years: "It was really nice, because like I said, we were very, very close." Sadly, Alison's mother, Maria, passed away from lung and liver cancer in January 2020, just five years ago. Alison Hammond, who first graced our screens on Big Brother in 2002, has become a household name after taking up presenting duties on This Morning in recent years. Starting as a reporter and making waves with her bubbly personality at various UK locations, Alison has climbed the ranks to regularly co-host alongside Dermot O'Leary. Alison is set to bring her infectious charm to a new project as she joins Aidan and Saundra, her sister, on the sofa for Celebrity Gogglebox 's return tonight. But, it's not the first time that Alison has appeared alongside her son, after they previously appeared together in Alison Hammond's Florida Unpacked. The show sees the pair venture across Florida whilst keeping to a tight budget while offering viewers the hidden beauty spots of the beloved holiday destination. The show also features them kayaking in Silver Springs, and venturing through Miami. The beloved TV personality also shared her delight at joining the Celebrity Gogglebox cast, saying: "I'm so excited to be doing Celebrity Gogglebox with my son Aidan." She added: "We've always loved watching telly together, and now we get to do it on the sofa for the nation! It's a real family affair too, because my fabulous sister Saundra is getting involved as well. Expect laughs, eye-rolls, and lots of commentary – classic Hammond style!".
The National
6 hours ago
- The National
Gary Linker hits out at BBC for dropping Gaza documentary
The former Match of the Day presenter openly criticised the BBC for the first time since he left in May, saying people at 'the very top' of the broadcaster had been failing over the conflict. Lineker's comments come after Channel 4 picked up the documentary, Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, which the BBC would not air despite commissioning the programme, citing concerns that it would 'not meet the high standards' of impartiality. The former footballer turned broadcaster left Match of the Day after he apologised for sharing online material with antisemitic connotations. READ MORE: Senior BBC staff told to 'step back' from duties following Bob Vylan Glastonbury set According to The Guardian, a 'clearly emotional' Lineker was speaking at a private viewing of the Gaza medics documentary in London on Thursday night, where he led a question-and-answer session with the producers after the showing. 'It needed to be seen, it really did need to be seen – I think everyone would agree with that,' he said. 'I think the BBC should hold its head in shame. Lineker added: 'As someone who's worked for the corporation for 30 years, to see the way it's declined in the last year or two has been devastating really, because I've defended it and defended it against claims that it's partial. It talks about impartiality all the time. 'The truth is at the moment, [there is a problem] at the very top of the BBC. Not [all] the BBC because there are thousands and thousands of people that work at the BBC, that are good people, that understand what is going on here and can see it. 'We see it on our phones every day. The problem is they're bowing to the pressure from the top. This is a worry and I think time's coming where a lot of people are going to be answerable to this, and complicity is something that will come to many.' The BBC did not wish to respond to Lineker's comments, according to reports. Responding to a video of Lineker's comments, BBC Radio 5 presenter Nihal Arthanayake said: 'Gary Lineker is a good man. He is spot on about the BBC.' The BBC had commissioned Gaza: Doctors Under Attack more than a year ago from the independent production company Basement Films, but had delayed airing it until an ongoing review into a different programme on the region was completed. The broadcaster said in June it would not show the film due to concerns it may create 'a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect'. Following the BBC's decision to drop the film, there has reportedly been considerable internal unrest over the failure to broadcast the programme, with the corporation's director general, Tim Davie, facing questions about it at a recent virtual meeting with staff. More than 100 BBC staff signed a letter criticising the decision to drop the film. Some 111 BBC journalists have also called for Robbie Gibb, the controversial BBC board member for England, to be removed from the role over his impact on the broadcaster's reporting. Gibb's position on the BBC editorial standards committee is also 'untenable' as his well-known political affiliations mean the BBC is not reporting on Israel 'without fear or favour', a letter coordinated by BBC insiders said.
Wales Online
7 hours ago
- Wales Online
Alison Hammond joins Celebrity Gogglebox 2025 line-up
Alison Hammond joins Celebrity Gogglebox 2025 line-up The 50-year-old presenter will be on the hit Channel 4 programme reacting to some of the hottest TV shows and films alongside her 20-year-old son Aidan and her sister Saundra on Friday (04.07.25) - and she told viewers to expect lots of laughs. Alison first appeared on our screens in 2002 (Image: Getty Images for the NTA's ) Alison Hammond is "excited" to be joining Celebrity Gogglebox with her family members. The 50-year-old presenter will be on the hit Channel 4 programme reacting to some of the hottest TV shows and films alongside her 20-year-old son Aidan and her sister Saundra on Friday (04.07.25) - and she told viewers to expect lots of laughs. She said: "I'm so excited to be doing Celebrity Gogglebox with my son Aidan. We've always loved watching telly together, and now we get to do it on the sofa for the nation! It's a real family affair, too, because my fabulous sister Saundra is getting involved as well. "Expect laughs, eye-rolls, and lots of commentary, classic Hammond style!" Alison signing up for Celebrity Gogglebox comes after the BBC Radio 2 DJ Sara Cox and her best friend Clare Hamilton - who both present the teenage parenting podcast The Teen Commandments - joined the show on June 27. Article continues below Sara - who starred in the 2024 series of Celebrity Gogglebox with DJ Annie Mac, 46 - was quoted by the Daily Star newspaper as saying: "I love watching and shouting at the telly and I love hanging out and having a laugh with my best mate, so doing Gogglebox with Clare is the dream!" And Clare said it is surreal that she gets to star on one of her favourite programmes with her best friend. She added: "I am a huge Gogglebox fan, so to be doing this with my best friend of over 30 years is quite literally a goosebump moment for me." The seventh season of Celebrity Gogglebox - which began on June 6 - features a range of famous faces from the showbiz world. The line-up includes comedian Paddy McGuinness and TV presenter Vernon Kay, The Inbetweeners actor James Buckley and his wife Clair Buckley, reality TV stars Vicky Pattinson and Pete Wicks, and pop star Jess Glynne and her partner, sports commentator Alex Scott. Former Spandau Ballet bassist Martin Kemp and his son, TV presenter Roman Kemp, former Big Brother's Bit on the Side host Rylan Clark and his mum Linda, ex-The Big Breakfast presenters Denise Van Outen and Johnny Vaughan, and Happy Mondays rockers Shaun Ryder and Bez, will also make an appearance. Article continues below Meanwhile, Gavin and Stacey actor Larry Lamb and his son, presenter-turned-businessman George Lamb, former Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds and her close friend, radio personality Richie Anderson, comedic mum-and-daughter duo Jennifer Saunders and Beattie Edmondson, and BBC Radio 1 broadcaster Nick Grimshaw and his niece Liv also share their opinions on some of the hottest entertainment offerings. Comedians Babatunde Aleshe and Mo Gilligan, Diversity duo Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely, as well as TV personality Jamie Laing and comedian Munya Chawawa, and broadcaster Clare Balding and her wife Alice Arnold are also on the show.
