THE GREAT BRITISH BACON OFF
He praises his “down to earth” husband Dan, a former policeman, for keeping him “sane in this crazy world”, adding: “I’m glad I’m not out there on Tinder. It’s one thing less to worry about.”
But Dan, 40, is also his fiercest critic. “It’s what I need,” Rylan admitted. “He brings me down to earth. We’re both very honest with each other.”
They met in 2013, when Dan was a housemate on Big Brother and Rylan interviewed him on Little Bit On
The Side. They wed at a glitzy
Essex wedding in 2015 – but he likes to keeps their relationship private so when he comes through the door he’s “just normal”.
Rylan is stepdad to Dan’s 19-year-old son Cameron, and has not ruled out becoming a dad himself. But for now, it’s all about his super- sized career – and making his fans smile.
“I’d never be rude to anyone however tired I am. I remember my journey and if it wasn’t for the public I wouldn’t be here now.”
It Takes Two is on BBC2, 6.30pm Monday-thursday and 6pm Friday
A BRITISH baker rose to the occasion after horror writer Stephen King inspired her to make a slaughtered pig cake.
Karen Mitchell, 47, came up with the grisly concept after King challenged fans to bake a treat based around one of his books.
She got the nod to make it after beating 30 other entrants from around the world.
The winning cake – which is interactive and squeals – was inspired by a scene from King’s novel Carrie.
The 1976 horror classic also inspired a movie starring John Travolta and Sissy Spacek.
It is about a bullied teenager who uses psychic powers to exact revenge when she is covered in pig blood at a school prom.
Karen, who runs a cake shop in Kimberley, Notts, said: “It is pretty gory and messed up – and it squeals so loud.”
She used four and-a-half kilos of modelling chocolate to create the sponge cake of the butchered animal, which has a prom queen sash draped across it.
She said: “We’ve had full permission from Stephen King.
“I love Carrie and the storyline, the High School bullying and teasing and then she ends up as this powerful young female and gets full revenge.
“The pig is so important. If it was not for the pig she would not have been covered in pig’s blood.”
She said it took her around 70 hours to create the cake, with the toughest part being the face.
It has been on show at this weekend’s Cake International event, which runs at the NEC, in Birmingham, until 4pm today.