Rylan on recreating Big Brother
Rylan, now hosting his own Radio 2 show, tells us about married life and how much he’s missing Big Brother
Rylan Clark-Neal found fame as a contestant on
TheXFactor in 2012. Since then, a string of presenting jobs – including stints on This
Morning – have made the 30-year-old one of our most popular TV hosts. A self-confessed
BigBrother superfan, he won the celebrity version in 2013 and then hosted its spin-off BigBrother’sBitOn TheSide, where he met his now-hubby, Dan. Now presenting
RylanOnSaturday on BBC Radio 2, there are even rumours he may front iconic game show SupermarketSweep! Rylan tells us all…
Tell us about your new Radio 2 job…
There’s a little bit of pressure! It hasn’t really sunk in yet that I’m doing my own afternoon show. I’m excited and nervous. I can do a TV show with my eyes shut, but radio is different. I stood in for Zoe Ball on her Saturday show last summer and so, when I was offered the job, she was the first person I called. Zoe’s been really supportive.
Who would be your dream guest on the radio show?
The Spice Girls! I’ve met them all – except Posh. I’m the crazy fan up at 6am to get tickets for their Wembley gig in June. But I know Geri [Horner] quite well now. I messaged her randomly, and she said, ‘ You’ll come as my guest, won’t you?’ I’ve never played the ‘do you know who I am?’ card, but when it comes to walking into the VIP entrance at Wembley, nothing will stop me. If Victoria’s there, I’ll be her stalker. The day I’m in a room with all five of them, it’ll be game over for me.
And how is married life?
Probably the best thing, apart from someone else emptying the dishwasher, is the security! Rather than, ‘Oh God, I haven’t been on a date in a year!’ Married life is the same as non-married life – except with a few extra Selfridges vouchers. I’d love to meet the couple who says, ‘My marriage is amazing, I wake up every morning and it’s all smiles and rainbows!’ Rubbish! I don’t think a marriage is real without arguments. I love a row – call each other names, throw the odd candle. Lovely!
Do you want to be a dad?
Definitely. I do get broody. You know how people are about dogs? I’m like that with babies. But having children isn’t a big priority right now.
Is it true you might present Supermarket Sweep?
It would be a dream job, I’ve made no secret of that. As far as I’m aware, it’s a definite possibility. There have been meetings. But it’s a big-budget show. It’s exciting, and fingers crossed it happens.
You took some time out a couple of years ago…
Because I hadn’t had a moment to think about what I’d done over the past six years, I was a bit burnt out. That’s all it was, but the press made it a massive deal and it was ‘mental health worries’. Who hasn’t got mental issues in 2019? It was ridiculous. I took a couple of months off because I just needed a little break.
You turned 30 years old in October. How was it?
I’ve hit 30 and started working at Radio 2! How much more grown-up can you get? It was great, actually. I had a big old party for about 200 people in a manor house not far from my home in Essex. It was the perfect night. It’s not often you get everyone in the same room. I was sort of dreading my birthday in a weird way because my 20s were so good to me, but then it just happened. It’s all good!
How come we never see you and Dan at showbiz events?
I don’t go to premieres or parties. I’ve done it, and it’s so fake. I hate it. I just like doing my job and going home. Dan and I are more than happy to come home, get a takeaway and watch Birds Of A Feather. That’s my life! l Rylan On Saturday is on BBC Radio 2 and on BBC Sounds, 3-6pm.