Why Rylan’s working
RYLAN Clark-neal has vowed to protect his mum Linda from the impact of fame after starring with her on Celebrity Gogglebox.
He is fast becoming one of the most recognisable faces in the country – and she is a firm favourite with fans of the hit Channel 4 telly-watching programme.
Linda also has a cosy catch-up each week on her son’s Rylan on Saturday Radio 2 show.
But he doesn’t want her to experience the same level of fame as he does and insisted: “I never want this life for my mum. Absolutely not!
“People love her but I don’t let her have social media or anything like that, so she’s got no idea of how big it is.
“Growing up, she was just a normal East End mum, who’d shout at you, scream at you, but do everything for you.”
After appearing on The X Factor in 2012, Rylan’s rise to fame has been unparalleled for a talent show star.
He won Celebrity Big Brother the following year, beating stars including actresses Gilliantaylforth and Tricia Penfold and pop singer Claire Richards.
Spin-off
That led to a job presenting spinoff show Bit On The Side. And he has never looked back.
As well as his radio show, Rylan, 31, has presented This Morning, The Xtra Factor, Ready Steady Cook and Supermarket Sweep.
He adores his job and admits he feels fortunate to be doing it, saying, “I’m just a chancer who got lucky.”
But Rylan is definitely not a fan of the changes that comes with it.
He said: “The second you start thinking about what you have done and what you’ve got, that’s when people change.
“I don’t want to change – I’m all right. a week of anonymity and solitude. He I’ve got my house and car, my mum’s said: “I never really take e a holiday because happy, my family is happy. That’s all I I’m so busy. But this year ear I was definitely need to know. planning to. And now w that’s out the
“I don’t want to sit there window window. I would uld have gone and go, ‘Wow, look at what anyw anywhere that t I could turn off
mym my make- phone, up take off this and face be of you’ve done!’
“I know I’ve done a lot and I know I’m a bit of an a anonymous. us. exception to the rule – but “We might ght get a week that’s enough for me. o or two in Cornwall later
“If I sat there and t this year. I’d be more looked back and thought, th than happy. y.
‘How did I do that?’ it would “I’m in my element probably send me insane.” wh when I’m around ound normal
He added: “There have been people, because I am one. tough times, of course but I’m not working There’s nothing celebby y about me.” down the mine, am I? Every job has its Rylan married former r policeman ups and downs.” and Big Brother contestant estant Dan
At the moment busy Rylan is craving Neal in 2015 and is stepdad to
There have been tough times but I’m not working down a mine
Dan’s son Cameron, 19. Speaking about hi his role as a family man, Rylan s said: “I met Dan when Camero Cameron was 12 or 13, so for Cameron it’s not something new – it just is what it is.
“It’s like every other family. I’ll hav have a go at him, he’ll have a go at m me, we’ll have a row, then he’ll ask me for 20 quid. It’s just your norm normal family set-up.”
He adde added: “Maybe I’ll have kids of my ow own one day but it’s not somethin something I’m sitting here desperado to do.
“I don’t re really plan things. If it was to happen, great! g If it doesn’t happen, then so be it it.
“But I’ll te tell you something: If and when I do de decide to have kids – and with due resp respect to everyone else in the industry – no one will know about it. I like my pr private life to be private.”
SHOW SHOPPER: As the Supermarket Sweep presenter
After a lockdown at home in Essex, “cleaning out drawers, getting all those little bits done that I always moan I’ve not got time to do” Rylan has been thrown straight back into filming for Supermarket Sweep.
The show is moving from ITV2 to ITV afternoons in September. He said:
“We did 25 shows in eight days. It was really intense.
“We were being quick to get it all finished in case there was a local lockdown. So they were like, ‘Let’s do three shows a day and smash it out.’
“It’s been odd going from not doing anything to doing three shows a day – very, very strange.
“But to get back to what I know has been amazing.”
The crew had to ensure filming was safe for the contestants and staff during the pandemic.
Rylan said: “The contestants were brilliant. The crew were amazing – very Covid secure. It was hard work but a dream.”
This year the Sweep is introducing celebrity contestants, including former Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp and presenter Denise van
FAMILY MEN: Rylan with his ex-policeman husband and Big Bro contestant Dan Neal
Outen. Rylan’s favourites were Joanna Page and Melanie Walters, the actresses who played Stacey and her mum Gwen in hit sitcom Gavin & Stacey. He said: “They were so excited to be there, they were so funny.
“Every break, they were like, ‘I I can’t believe I’m on here.’ ere.’ You can tell them two get on really well.”
Rylan has always s enjoyed TV game shows and in the 1990s he used to l ove watching Michael Barrymore.
He said: “I grew up p watching Strike it Lucky. y. I used to watch Michael hael Barrymore. The game me was secondary. It was more about him getting to know people and having a laugh. You can never take away the fact he was a brilliant host. Growing up I looked at people like him and thought, ‘If I got to do that job, as much as I’d take the games seriously, it’s the bits afterwards that are fun.
“Some people take their jobs too seriously. We’re not doing brain surgery. We We’re just having a laugh.” With d daytime telly and radio con conquered, Rylan has more pl plans for the future.
He said: “I’d love to have a chat show – but only when I want it.
“That would be a nice place to end up, sitting on the sofa with guests having a chat.”
We’re not doing brain surgery. We’re just having a laugh
Supermarket Sweep will be on weekdays from September 1, at 3pm on ITV. The Celebrity specials will be broadcast later in the year.